Monday 0915
06-12-1944
Hello Darling:
We got some mail last night, and among the letters were two from you. They were #17 and 27. These guys that handle the mail here certainly have some time mixing things up don’t they?
You said you were wondering if we might have had some mail waiting for us when we got here, and we all got a kick out of that after the time we have had with the mail. We flew over here in just a shade less than two days, and we did not have any address till we got here, so we could not expect any for a while.
I don’t know if I should write much news in my letters to you or not honey. If you read them, and don’t see it. Like not even noticing my telling you I was in New Guinea. Perhaps if all you like to hear is the love stuff as Al calls it, I should just write a couple of pages of that. I think I could do it very easily too.
However I suppose that may have been an accident, so I am going to continue to write at least a little bit about what news I can. Whatever I am writing about though darling the love stuff runs all through all my letters. If no place else you can read it between the lines.
I also got a letter from Mary (John’s Mary) and she said you had been down for a weekend. You probably wrote about it, but I haven’t got that letter yet. I am glad you went, and I hope you had a good time.
George Burgess’s dad is no doubt very ready and willing for George to come home. Well George is even more ready to go I would say. I too think they deserve a trip back too, and hope they get it soon. Both George and his “Old Man” are pretty swell Joes in my estimation.
I don’t know how this film business will work out. We can not send undeveloped film home. The censors want to see what we took pictures of. On the black and white it is fairly simple. There is a place in Australia that is either run by the Army, or under their supervision, I am not sure which. At any rate they get the film developed there, and censor it. Also there is usually a photo unit in practically all the Squadrons, and they will sometimes develop the film for the boys.
Of course I suppose I can just take the pictures with the colored film, and save it till I got home. However little as I know about this camera business it seems to me to be a long time to wait to have them developed. They will no doubt spoil.
We will find out all the angles of such things by the time I come home as you said though darling.
You know since you asked me if I miss “Betsy” I’ve been thinking about it, and although I do in a way I really would not have much use for her. There is no place to go, and even on this hill that I cuss so much I doubt I could use her. I don’t think she could make it up the darn thing. The only vehicles they allow up the hill here are Jeeps, and even they have quite a time grinding their way to the top. So best she live out her last days in peace back in the good old U.S. Of course I hope whoever has her now treats her as gently and with the proper respect as I did! Ahem!?!
Do you ever find any little brown ants in your mail from me? I have often wondered, because we have a million of them crawling around here all the time.
In the letter I wrote yesterday I put an air mail stamp, because the envelope I had was not one with postage paid on it, even though it was an air mail one. The stamps I’ve got are all stuck together, so I could not stick one on the outside. So I just left the envelope open, marked it on the outside that the stamp was in the envelope and sent it. Let me know if you ever get it eh? If it is a success perhaps I will find some use for these stamps after all.
I love you darling – Always and all ways!
Love George?
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Letter Home 06-11-1944
Sunday 1500
06-11-1944
Hi Honey:
A couple of the boys in the hut are eating, and I can’t see how they do it. Not the fact that they are eating is what gets me. It is what they are eating. A can of bully beef no less! As far as I am concerned we get that often enough in the mess hall.
We just came back from a meeting, and at the meeting we found out that we won’t be doing much from now on around here. They are going to start working the new pilots. All we will have to do is attend a few lectures for the rest of the week. Unless they change the schedule.
After the meeting they sold our monthly ration of cigars. Each man got 3. I managed to get 3 from one of the boys that doesn’t smoke, so I am all set. I enjoy a cigar occasionally, and it will also help stretch my cigarettes.
We are all hoping and praying that the war in Europe ends soon. Then perhaps they can send all that power from there over here, and polish off these Japs that much sooner.
The quicker it all ends, and I get home to you, the better I will like it. I think we ought to have fun playing house together for keeps!
I love you lots and lots darling. Take good care of you for me won’t you? I love you.
Love George?
06-11-1944
Hi Honey:
A couple of the boys in the hut are eating, and I can’t see how they do it. Not the fact that they are eating is what gets me. It is what they are eating. A can of bully beef no less! As far as I am concerned we get that often enough in the mess hall.
We just came back from a meeting, and at the meeting we found out that we won’t be doing much from now on around here. They are going to start working the new pilots. All we will have to do is attend a few lectures for the rest of the week. Unless they change the schedule.
After the meeting they sold our monthly ration of cigars. Each man got 3. I managed to get 3 from one of the boys that doesn’t smoke, so I am all set. I enjoy a cigar occasionally, and it will also help stretch my cigarettes.
We are all hoping and praying that the war in Europe ends soon. Then perhaps they can send all that power from there over here, and polish off these Japs that much sooner.
The quicker it all ends, and I get home to you, the better I will like it. I think we ought to have fun playing house together for keeps!
I love you lots and lots darling. Take good care of you for me won’t you? I love you.
Love George?
Monday, May 24, 2010
Letter Home 06-10-1944
Saturday 2100
06-10-1944
Hello Darling:
This has been a long day of card playing. I played cribbage all day long practically, and lost about a dollar. We did have one lecture, but outside of that we did nothing.
The reason we had such an easy day was the weather. It started to rain yesterday evening, and it has been raining ever since. Not very hard, but very steady.
Tonight we went to eat at 5:45, and found the kitchen all closed up. They changed the meal hour from 5 to 6 to 4:30 till 5:30 so we were 15 minutes late. No one knew anything about it till too late, so they caught a lot of us short. We managed to fill up on bread, cheese, peanut butter, jam and water.
Some of the boys are trying to make some coffee in their hut, and it looks as if they are more apt to burn the hut down. They have a fire in a can with sand in it. Then they put gasoline in the sand, and light it. From our hut it looks like a real blaze. Someone just hollered that they had gasoline burning all over the floor. Oh well, such is life in New Guinea.
Last night one of the boys brought in some mail, and he had about 8 letters for Baker and I. Both of us were all set to enjoy them till we saw the names on them.
There is another Baker and Banes here, and all that mail was for them. We did not get even a post card. It would not have been so bad if we hadn’t thought we did have some. You should have heard Baker after he saw they weren’t his! He has had one Vmail letter since he’s been here, and he was really disgusted.
I think I will go crawl in my sack. I am awfully tired from the rough day we had.
I love you sweetheart very much indeed –
Love George?
06-10-1944
Hello Darling:
This has been a long day of card playing. I played cribbage all day long practically, and lost about a dollar. We did have one lecture, but outside of that we did nothing.
The reason we had such an easy day was the weather. It started to rain yesterday evening, and it has been raining ever since. Not very hard, but very steady.
Tonight we went to eat at 5:45, and found the kitchen all closed up. They changed the meal hour from 5 to 6 to 4:30 till 5:30 so we were 15 minutes late. No one knew anything about it till too late, so they caught a lot of us short. We managed to fill up on bread, cheese, peanut butter, jam and water.
Some of the boys are trying to make some coffee in their hut, and it looks as if they are more apt to burn the hut down. They have a fire in a can with sand in it. Then they put gasoline in the sand, and light it. From our hut it looks like a real blaze. Someone just hollered that they had gasoline burning all over the floor. Oh well, such is life in New Guinea.
Last night one of the boys brought in some mail, and he had about 8 letters for Baker and I. Both of us were all set to enjoy them till we saw the names on them.
There is another Baker and Banes here, and all that mail was for them. We did not get even a post card. It would not have been so bad if we hadn’t thought we did have some. You should have heard Baker after he saw they weren’t his! He has had one Vmail letter since he’s been here, and he was really disgusted.
I think I will go crawl in my sack. I am awfully tired from the rough day we had.
I love you sweetheart very much indeed –
Love George?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Letter Home 06-09-1944
Friday 0930
6-9-44
Hello Darling,
It looks like a day of rest ahead of us. I am not flying, and we don’t have any lectures to attend. The only guys that are busy are the ones that are flying. I guess I will just log a bit of sack time till the show tonight. If it is a stinkeroo like the one Wed. I will have to be all rested up to be able to sit through it.
They had one Mon. night that really was good. “Up In Mabel’s Room” was the title. There weren’t any outstanding stars in it particularly, but the ones in it played their parts very well. It was about the funniest picture I’d seen in a long time. Hope they have one like that again.
One of our boys went down to the line to see if he could catch a ride in one of the bombers. If there is one going up where our mail is he is going to try to bring some back. I sure hope he succeeds.
One of the boys was talking about his “Ever Loving Sweet Smelling Wife” the other day when we got our mail, and someone else said that he did not call her that all the time. When he does not get mail he words it a bit different, and calls her his “Ever Smelling Sweet Loving Wife.” I still say you are my “Ever Loving Sweet Smelling Wife” whether I am lucky enough to get mail or not though.
I fact I just consider myself lucky to get mail occasionally, because all the luck in the world must be on my side just to have you for my wife.
I love you – very much. Take good care of you for me won’t you.
Love George
6-9-44
Hello Darling,
It looks like a day of rest ahead of us. I am not flying, and we don’t have any lectures to attend. The only guys that are busy are the ones that are flying. I guess I will just log a bit of sack time till the show tonight. If it is a stinkeroo like the one Wed. I will have to be all rested up to be able to sit through it.
They had one Mon. night that really was good. “Up In Mabel’s Room” was the title. There weren’t any outstanding stars in it particularly, but the ones in it played their parts very well. It was about the funniest picture I’d seen in a long time. Hope they have one like that again.
One of our boys went down to the line to see if he could catch a ride in one of the bombers. If there is one going up where our mail is he is going to try to bring some back. I sure hope he succeeds.
One of the boys was talking about his “Ever Loving Sweet Smelling Wife” the other day when we got our mail, and someone else said that he did not call her that all the time. When he does not get mail he words it a bit different, and calls her his “Ever Smelling Sweet Loving Wife.” I still say you are my “Ever Loving Sweet Smelling Wife” whether I am lucky enough to get mail or not though.
I fact I just consider myself lucky to get mail occasionally, because all the luck in the world must be on my side just to have you for my wife.
I love you – very much. Take good care of you for me won’t you.
Love George
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Letter Home 06-08-1944
Thursday 1900
06-08-1944
Hi Honey:
In reading over your letters again I got to thinking about what you said about our being separated, but still we are together in love. I thoroughly agree with that. Once in a while I wish we were not so far apart, or rather I should say I always wish we weren’t. However most of the time I still feel close to you, and don’t mind it too much. I just feel that eventually we will be together, so until then we just have to keep faith and wait.
We were kept pretty busy today. We had two lectures this morning, and then my flight flew this afternoon. I like a rather full day like that. It keeps me occupied, and makes the time pass much faster.
We certainly are getting a gang of pilots in here. They are over running the place. It seems to me they will have to get rid of us soon. They won’t be able to handle all the men that are here. We are all ready to leave too!
Some of these new boys are from Bradley. I don’t know them very well. They were new trainees that came in just before I left. I do remember some of their faces though.
From what they say about how things are going back there I am glad we are over here. I never did go much for that instructor job, and now it is even worse than it was. The only thing good about it would be that I might get to see you occasionally. That is worth putting up with a lot of things I may not like back there.
Our stationary situation is not too good. In the whole hut I think there is just this pad and one more. I hope we find some soon.
We were arguing about writing on both sides of the paper, and decided we should. I think so too because of our paper shortage. I’ve been wondering if you were only writing on one side of the sheet in your letters because of the censors. If so you don’t have to worry. They don’t bother mail coming this way.
I love you sweetheart, always and all ways –
Love George
06-08-1944
Hi Honey:
In reading over your letters again I got to thinking about what you said about our being separated, but still we are together in love. I thoroughly agree with that. Once in a while I wish we were not so far apart, or rather I should say I always wish we weren’t. However most of the time I still feel close to you, and don’t mind it too much. I just feel that eventually we will be together, so until then we just have to keep faith and wait.
We were kept pretty busy today. We had two lectures this morning, and then my flight flew this afternoon. I like a rather full day like that. It keeps me occupied, and makes the time pass much faster.
We certainly are getting a gang of pilots in here. They are over running the place. It seems to me they will have to get rid of us soon. They won’t be able to handle all the men that are here. We are all ready to leave too!
Some of these new boys are from Bradley. I don’t know them very well. They were new trainees that came in just before I left. I do remember some of their faces though.
From what they say about how things are going back there I am glad we are over here. I never did go much for that instructor job, and now it is even worse than it was. The only thing good about it would be that I might get to see you occasionally. That is worth putting up with a lot of things I may not like back there.
Our stationary situation is not too good. In the whole hut I think there is just this pad and one more. I hope we find some soon.
We were arguing about writing on both sides of the paper, and decided we should. I think so too because of our paper shortage. I’ve been wondering if you were only writing on one side of the sheet in your letters because of the censors. If so you don’t have to worry. They don’t bother mail coming this way.
I love you sweetheart, always and all ways –
Love George
Monday, May 17, 2010
Letter Home 06-07-1944
Wednesday 1500
06-07-1944
Hello Darling:
Yesterday was a red letter day in a lot of ways. They started the invasion of Europe, which is world news. And I got 4 letters from you. That was most important at the moment. I got #18, 20, 35, and 36, and I don’t know where the rest might be.
One of them mentioned your being sick. You were not all better when you wrote it, but I sure hope you are by now. Perhaps I’ve been lucky in not receiving the one about your getting sick. I would have had to worry for a long time till I got this one that says you are recovering.
These “Ankle Your Girdle” things sound a bit complicated to me. I can’t quite imagine how they work, but if they do and help you keep happy, they must be OK. I thought you would be throwing all your girdles away by now. Or didn’t that diet you were going on when I was home take off as much weight as you expected? I don’t mind though honey. Even if you waste away to a shadow! I will still love you.
This hill that you get such a kick out of doesn’t appeal to me, and it doesn’t seem to be taking any weight off of me. I got weighed at the Allied Officer’s Club the other day, and I weighed 12 stone 5 lbs! A stone is 14 lbs, so I weigh 173. That is about what I did weigh.
One thing I think I am very apt to lose is my hair. It is really thin, and seems to be receding around my temples a bit. Perhaps I will come home bald. Would you mind that much?
Last night we had a lengthy lecture, and during it the news of the invasion came in. Everyone let out a yell for that! There was even a bit of drinking going on to celebrate it. I did not see any of it myself, but this morning the boys were talking about it. I bet there were some wild times in England and the U.S.
After the lecture we came back to the shack, and I was going to write you when the lights went out. We had a blackout, but not because of any air raid. The generator for the power went blooie, so we had no lights.
We just got our cigarette ration about a half hour ago. One carton per man, and we don’t know when they will have more. No one had had any hardly from the last 4 or 5 days. I also got a couple of cans of tobacco. Now I have to try to find a pipe. That seems impossible around here. Maybe I will get one from you one of these days.
You mentioned that we do not seem to have much to do, and most of the time that is true so far. When we fly we really work hard, and in this heat it wears us out, but other than that it is not bad. In fact at times it is downright monotonous. That is when it begins to get on our nerves, and that mail is really wonderful to get.
I think that is most of the news honey, and I am going to stop writing and read instead. Read those 4 letters I got yesterday!
I love you very much sweetheart. Take care of you for me? I hope your sore throat is all gone by now. In fact gone long ago! I love you –
Love George?
06-07-1944
Hello Darling:
Yesterday was a red letter day in a lot of ways. They started the invasion of Europe, which is world news. And I got 4 letters from you. That was most important at the moment. I got #18, 20, 35, and 36, and I don’t know where the rest might be.
One of them mentioned your being sick. You were not all better when you wrote it, but I sure hope you are by now. Perhaps I’ve been lucky in not receiving the one about your getting sick. I would have had to worry for a long time till I got this one that says you are recovering.
These “Ankle Your Girdle” things sound a bit complicated to me. I can’t quite imagine how they work, but if they do and help you keep happy, they must be OK. I thought you would be throwing all your girdles away by now. Or didn’t that diet you were going on when I was home take off as much weight as you expected? I don’t mind though honey. Even if you waste away to a shadow! I will still love you.
This hill that you get such a kick out of doesn’t appeal to me, and it doesn’t seem to be taking any weight off of me. I got weighed at the Allied Officer’s Club the other day, and I weighed 12 stone 5 lbs! A stone is 14 lbs, so I weigh 173. That is about what I did weigh.
One thing I think I am very apt to lose is my hair. It is really thin, and seems to be receding around my temples a bit. Perhaps I will come home bald. Would you mind that much?
Last night we had a lengthy lecture, and during it the news of the invasion came in. Everyone let out a yell for that! There was even a bit of drinking going on to celebrate it. I did not see any of it myself, but this morning the boys were talking about it. I bet there were some wild times in England and the U.S.
After the lecture we came back to the shack, and I was going to write you when the lights went out. We had a blackout, but not because of any air raid. The generator for the power went blooie, so we had no lights.
We just got our cigarette ration about a half hour ago. One carton per man, and we don’t know when they will have more. No one had had any hardly from the last 4 or 5 days. I also got a couple of cans of tobacco. Now I have to try to find a pipe. That seems impossible around here. Maybe I will get one from you one of these days.
You mentioned that we do not seem to have much to do, and most of the time that is true so far. When we fly we really work hard, and in this heat it wears us out, but other than that it is not bad. In fact at times it is downright monotonous. That is when it begins to get on our nerves, and that mail is really wonderful to get.
I think that is most of the news honey, and I am going to stop writing and read instead. Read those 4 letters I got yesterday!
I love you very much sweetheart. Take care of you for me? I hope your sore throat is all gone by now. In fact gone long ago! I love you –
Love George?
Friday, May 14, 2010
Letter Home 06-05-1944
Monday 1015
06-05-1944
Hello Darling:
We went on a little cross country yesterday morning, and did not get back till this morning. The weather socked in here while we were gone.
Gee I feel shakey this morning. It must be the lack of cigarettes or something. We haven’t been able to buy any for about 5 days. The monthly supply has not been dished out yet I guess. There are very few guys that have any. I am not the only one that is bumming them here. Everyone is.
I miss my pipe and tobacco on occasions like this. I packed both in my foot locker, and I probably won’t see it for moths. For that matter we don’t have much opportunity to get tobacco here. Maybe some day you could find a pipe and some tobacco to send me. I would no doubt get it for Xmas the way they handle the mail.
I have to go up in the tower this afternoon. I am supposed to help direct traffic I think, but I doubt if there will be anything for me to do. The regular personnel in the tower will do all the work. They just want an officer in the tower for a fall guy in my estimation.
The boys are playing cribbage, and cussing the cards. We all had a new pack that the Red Cross gave us when we left the states, but they don’t last long. All of them are dirty and sticky now. Everyone is usually sweaty when they are playing, and the whole place is so damp is the cause of it I reckon.
Another nice thing this hot damp weather does for us is deposit a beautiful green mold on our shoes and any leather or wood we have. I have a cap and my low cut shoes here, and the other day I took a look at them. They were loaded with mold. I suppose if we wore them often it would not be so bad, but we never have any occasion for that.
They got a new gang of pilots in today. Not P-47 pilots however. They are having a lot tougher life than we are. It is so crowded that all the huts are full, so these boys are living in tents. It does get to be a rough war at times here.
Evidently some of the boys have not been censoring their mail. Or else forgetting to sign their letters in the lower left corner of the envelope. They put up a notice about it the other day. I imagine they have enough enlisted men’s mail to take of without fooling with ours.
I think that’s the news of the day darling – Except to tell you that I love you – but definitely.
Love George?
06-05-1944
Hello Darling:
We went on a little cross country yesterday morning, and did not get back till this morning. The weather socked in here while we were gone.
Gee I feel shakey this morning. It must be the lack of cigarettes or something. We haven’t been able to buy any for about 5 days. The monthly supply has not been dished out yet I guess. There are very few guys that have any. I am not the only one that is bumming them here. Everyone is.
I miss my pipe and tobacco on occasions like this. I packed both in my foot locker, and I probably won’t see it for moths. For that matter we don’t have much opportunity to get tobacco here. Maybe some day you could find a pipe and some tobacco to send me. I would no doubt get it for Xmas the way they handle the mail.
I have to go up in the tower this afternoon. I am supposed to help direct traffic I think, but I doubt if there will be anything for me to do. The regular personnel in the tower will do all the work. They just want an officer in the tower for a fall guy in my estimation.
The boys are playing cribbage, and cussing the cards. We all had a new pack that the Red Cross gave us when we left the states, but they don’t last long. All of them are dirty and sticky now. Everyone is usually sweaty when they are playing, and the whole place is so damp is the cause of it I reckon.
Another nice thing this hot damp weather does for us is deposit a beautiful green mold on our shoes and any leather or wood we have. I have a cap and my low cut shoes here, and the other day I took a look at them. They were loaded with mold. I suppose if we wore them often it would not be so bad, but we never have any occasion for that.
They got a new gang of pilots in today. Not P-47 pilots however. They are having a lot tougher life than we are. It is so crowded that all the huts are full, so these boys are living in tents. It does get to be a rough war at times here.
Evidently some of the boys have not been censoring their mail. Or else forgetting to sign their letters in the lower left corner of the envelope. They put up a notice about it the other day. I imagine they have enough enlisted men’s mail to take of without fooling with ours.
I think that’s the news of the day darling – Except to tell you that I love you – but definitely.
Love George?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Letter Home 06-03-1944
Saturday 1630
06-03-1944
Hello Darling:
This has been a red letter day today. I finally got a letter! Just a little old V-Mail one, but a letter from my lovely wife! It sure is swell to get one at last I must say.
I agree with you on this V-Mail. It doesn’t have near enough room to say anything. I only use it when I have to. I got some air mail stamps the other day, but now I can’t use them. They are all stuck together. All of our envelopes and stuff get that way. However the air mail envelopes usually have a little glue left on them when we rip them open, so we can still use them.
The guy that went on the cross country yesterday brought back this mail. There were two of the 8 of us in this hut that got mail. Paulson got 5 letters. One was from someone who had been numbering their letters as they wrote them. He got #5, and none of the first 4. They certainly have our mail messed up!
I will probably have this one of yours memorized by the time I get another one. I have already read it 3 times. I wish Baker would sit down. Every time someone walks around the hut the whole place shakes.
The boys are highly disgusted with the mail situation. They are threatening to ostracize (I bet that is spelled wrong) Paulson and I because we got some mail.
One of them just wrote 2 letters. Each one had about 4 lines to it. He says he is through writing now till he gets some mail. You have no idea what a letter means around here.
I was all hot, dirty, and disgusted till Wurtz brought your letter in today. We flew this morning, and came back sweaty and tired figuring on taking a nice shower, only to find no water. We were quite fed up with the whole affair.
The boys right now are trying to wash up a bit with what little water they have in their canteens.
We took a little cross country ourselves this morning. We were up over Wan and Bololo. They have some fine names to try to write around here.
Last night the show was the one about the woman’s ferrying squadron. It may have been good to other people, but all the pilots found it very corny. Also there was a lot of this old flag waving in it that we got fed up with. Otherwise it was not too bad.
I was just thinking the other day about Johnny Black.
He must be over here somewhere. Maybe if you told me his Squadron number, and APO number I might find out where and run across him sometime.
Baker is accusing me of writing a manuscript because I got a letter today. Well to me it was worth it. I sure am a happy pilot tonight thanks to my darling wife.
I love you very much sweetheart. Seems like you are extra close tonight. Guess I will go read your letter again. I love you –
Love George?
06-03-1944
Hello Darling:
This has been a red letter day today. I finally got a letter! Just a little old V-Mail one, but a letter from my lovely wife! It sure is swell to get one at last I must say.
I agree with you on this V-Mail. It doesn’t have near enough room to say anything. I only use it when I have to. I got some air mail stamps the other day, but now I can’t use them. They are all stuck together. All of our envelopes and stuff get that way. However the air mail envelopes usually have a little glue left on them when we rip them open, so we can still use them.
The guy that went on the cross country yesterday brought back this mail. There were two of the 8 of us in this hut that got mail. Paulson got 5 letters. One was from someone who had been numbering their letters as they wrote them. He got #5, and none of the first 4. They certainly have our mail messed up!
I will probably have this one of yours memorized by the time I get another one. I have already read it 3 times. I wish Baker would sit down. Every time someone walks around the hut the whole place shakes.
The boys are highly disgusted with the mail situation. They are threatening to ostracize (I bet that is spelled wrong) Paulson and I because we got some mail.
One of them just wrote 2 letters. Each one had about 4 lines to it. He says he is through writing now till he gets some mail. You have no idea what a letter means around here.
I was all hot, dirty, and disgusted till Wurtz brought your letter in today. We flew this morning, and came back sweaty and tired figuring on taking a nice shower, only to find no water. We were quite fed up with the whole affair.
The boys right now are trying to wash up a bit with what little water they have in their canteens.
We took a little cross country ourselves this morning. We were up over Wan and Bololo. They have some fine names to try to write around here.
Last night the show was the one about the woman’s ferrying squadron. It may have been good to other people, but all the pilots found it very corny. Also there was a lot of this old flag waving in it that we got fed up with. Otherwise it was not too bad.
I was just thinking the other day about Johnny Black.
He must be over here somewhere. Maybe if you told me his Squadron number, and APO number I might find out where and run across him sometime.
Baker is accusing me of writing a manuscript because I got a letter today. Well to me it was worth it. I sure am a happy pilot tonight thanks to my darling wife.
I love you very much sweetheart. Seems like you are extra close tonight. Guess I will go read your letter again. I love you –
Love George?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Letter Home 06-01-1944
Thursday 1430
06-01-1944
Hello Darling:
I did not go to the show last night even though they had one. It was still raining when they were showing it. Not very hard I must admit, but I don’t think that much of the shows to sit in the rain to see one.
At the moment there is a big argument about a cribbage hand going on. One guy is not even in the game, and never played it, and he is trying to tell the two that are playing that they miscounted a hand. Everyone feels that if he thinks he knows so much about the game he should play it. And also they all want to play him for a shilling a point or so. From what I can gather of his way of figuring the boys really could take him.
We still have not been paid. I was over to the finance office yesterday, but only to send you that money. That was what I had from my last month’s pay, plus maybe just a little I may have won. Tonight they say they are going to pay us though, so I will be back in the chips again.
I did not fly today. If I remember correctly I am scheduled to fly tomorrow. I hope we either have some gunnery, or take a cross country. Those two I like best.
That fellow that we hoped would get us some mail (to bring up an old subject again) came back empty handed. He went to visit his brother. Until yesterday I did not know he had a brother, or that he was over here. He accomplished that part of his trip.
I guess that’s the news of the day darling. Except the always big news (at least to me) that I love you very much. Always and all ways. Take care of you for me?
Love George
06-01-1944
Hello Darling:
I did not go to the show last night even though they had one. It was still raining when they were showing it. Not very hard I must admit, but I don’t think that much of the shows to sit in the rain to see one.
At the moment there is a big argument about a cribbage hand going on. One guy is not even in the game, and never played it, and he is trying to tell the two that are playing that they miscounted a hand. Everyone feels that if he thinks he knows so much about the game he should play it. And also they all want to play him for a shilling a point or so. From what I can gather of his way of figuring the boys really could take him.
We still have not been paid. I was over to the finance office yesterday, but only to send you that money. That was what I had from my last month’s pay, plus maybe just a little I may have won. Tonight they say they are going to pay us though, so I will be back in the chips again.
I did not fly today. If I remember correctly I am scheduled to fly tomorrow. I hope we either have some gunnery, or take a cross country. Those two I like best.
That fellow that we hoped would get us some mail (to bring up an old subject again) came back empty handed. He went to visit his brother. Until yesterday I did not know he had a brother, or that he was over here. He accomplished that part of his trip.
I guess that’s the news of the day darling. Except the always big news (at least to me) that I love you very much. Always and all ways. Take care of you for me?
Love George
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Letter Home 05-30-1944
Tuesday 1145
05-30-1944
Hello Darling:
After just taking a shower I fell a lot better. It really gets hot in that cockpit in this weather. After each mission this morning I was wringing wet.
Last night we were supposed to have a movie, and I was going to write to you after that. However it took so long for the show that it was very late when we got back. I was tired and had to get up early to fly, so I went to bed right away without writing. I hoe you don’t mind?
The reason the show took so long was the sound track on the films was evidently shot. You could hardly understand anything when it was working and they had to stop it frequently to loop it again. Each time they took 10 or 15 minutes at it, but it still was terrible.
It was a good picture too. Betty Grable in “Coney Island.” One scene in it showed a hot dog stand doing big business, and you should have heard the moans and sighs from the boys when they saw those red hots! I think nearly all of them would have paid plenty for one right then. Little things like that can mean a lot over here.
This hut is turning into a cribbage outfit I guess. Since Gould and I started it about 4 others have learned to play it, and nearly every day there is a red hot game going.
We haven’t had any lectures in the last few days. I think the Major is out getting some more inside dope lined up. I hope if he is that the news is as good as it has been lately.
I guess I best go eat some dinner. Good bye for now. I love you very very much!
Love George
05-30-1944
Hello Darling:
After just taking a shower I fell a lot better. It really gets hot in that cockpit in this weather. After each mission this morning I was wringing wet.
Last night we were supposed to have a movie, and I was going to write to you after that. However it took so long for the show that it was very late when we got back. I was tired and had to get up early to fly, so I went to bed right away without writing. I hoe you don’t mind?
The reason the show took so long was the sound track on the films was evidently shot. You could hardly understand anything when it was working and they had to stop it frequently to loop it again. Each time they took 10 or 15 minutes at it, but it still was terrible.
It was a good picture too. Betty Grable in “Coney Island.” One scene in it showed a hot dog stand doing big business, and you should have heard the moans and sighs from the boys when they saw those red hots! I think nearly all of them would have paid plenty for one right then. Little things like that can mean a lot over here.
This hut is turning into a cribbage outfit I guess. Since Gould and I started it about 4 others have learned to play it, and nearly every day there is a red hot game going.
We haven’t had any lectures in the last few days. I think the Major is out getting some more inside dope lined up. I hope if he is that the news is as good as it has been lately.
I guess I best go eat some dinner. Good bye for now. I love you very very much!
Love George
Monday, May 10, 2010
Letter Home 05-28-1944
Sunday 2100
05-28-1944
Hello Darling:
We had church in one of the mess halls this morning. That building we did have it in before has been torn down. Now this one, the mess hall, is going to be wrecked too. So next week it will be somewhere again.
I tried to talk some of the boys into going to town this afternoon. However, around 1:30 everyone started to take a nap it looked like, so I just joined them. Not that there is anything to do in town. I only though of going in for something to do.
I saw Lyle Dowsett today. He and a few other guys that I don’t know were here to pick up some planes today. He said most of the boys up there are getting disgusted with the way the war is going. They never get any Japs to fight with.
Their main complaint is that the bombers go in, and bomb the Jap strips, and usually destroy all the Jap planes on the ground. So then they have no one to fight! Most of them have not been in more than 5 or 6 fights. They fly a lot of missions that they don’t see Nips though.
I am beginning to need a new haircut. I guess that first one I got was not quite short enough. I will try to do better this time.
A couple of the boys were carving each others hair the other day. I don’t know which one did the worst job on the other, but I am not ready to let them start on me yet.
I got 12 air mail stamps a couple of weeks ago, and now I can’t use them. They are all stuck together. That happens to everything here. Our envelopes too get stuck, but so far I’ve still been able to use mine. Certainly is a rough war!
I love you darling – all ways and always –
Love George?
05-28-1944
Hello Darling:
We had church in one of the mess halls this morning. That building we did have it in before has been torn down. Now this one, the mess hall, is going to be wrecked too. So next week it will be somewhere again.
I tried to talk some of the boys into going to town this afternoon. However, around 1:30 everyone started to take a nap it looked like, so I just joined them. Not that there is anything to do in town. I only though of going in for something to do.
I saw Lyle Dowsett today. He and a few other guys that I don’t know were here to pick up some planes today. He said most of the boys up there are getting disgusted with the way the war is going. They never get any Japs to fight with.
Their main complaint is that the bombers go in, and bomb the Jap strips, and usually destroy all the Jap planes on the ground. So then they have no one to fight! Most of them have not been in more than 5 or 6 fights. They fly a lot of missions that they don’t see Nips though.
I am beginning to need a new haircut. I guess that first one I got was not quite short enough. I will try to do better this time.
A couple of the boys were carving each others hair the other day. I don’t know which one did the worst job on the other, but I am not ready to let them start on me yet.
I got 12 air mail stamps a couple of weeks ago, and now I can’t use them. They are all stuck together. That happens to everything here. Our envelopes too get stuck, but so far I’ve still been able to use mine. Certainly is a rough war!
I love you darling – all ways and always –
Love George?
Friday, May 7, 2010
Letter Home 05-27-1944
Saturday 2100
05-27-1944
Hello Darling:
We just came back from another lecture. Part of it was lousy, and part of it good. They had an old gunnery film they were trying to show, and most of us had seen it. Then to top that they had to run it twice. The sound track was not connected the first time. We got tired of sitting through that.
The part that was good was a talk by a Col. out of the intelligence office. He really had some good stuff. All the latest dope on the whole South West Pacific area. A lot of it I can’t write about of course, but it was all good. We seem to be licking the Jap everywhere we have met.
His air power has been greatly weakened around this area especially. Our losses in comparison to his are negligible. In fact they lose more planes in the states training then they do around here. Practically never do they lose any to the Japs. Nearly all the accidents they have here are due to our own fault. So here is one little pilot that is going to be as cagey as possible. On account of I love my wife very much, and want to come home and live with her for lots of years to come yet.
Just as we were leaving the meeting Major Smith told us there would be another trip to that native village today. Everyone let out a loud groan, but he said no one had to go. It would be strictly a volunteer affair. I don’t know how many of the boys will get discouraged by what happened the last time.
We had a fair show last night. Warner Baxter in “Crime Doctor.” It was an old picture, but a fairly good one. They always have 6 or 7 shorts along with the movie. We don’t mind that too much except when they are official films for the Armed Forces alone. Most of them we have seen in the States. Still the movies give us something to do.
I love you very much darling. Take good care of you for me eh?
Love George?
05-27-1944
Hello Darling:
We just came back from another lecture. Part of it was lousy, and part of it good. They had an old gunnery film they were trying to show, and most of us had seen it. Then to top that they had to run it twice. The sound track was not connected the first time. We got tired of sitting through that.
The part that was good was a talk by a Col. out of the intelligence office. He really had some good stuff. All the latest dope on the whole South West Pacific area. A lot of it I can’t write about of course, but it was all good. We seem to be licking the Jap everywhere we have met.
His air power has been greatly weakened around this area especially. Our losses in comparison to his are negligible. In fact they lose more planes in the states training then they do around here. Practically never do they lose any to the Japs. Nearly all the accidents they have here are due to our own fault. So here is one little pilot that is going to be as cagey as possible. On account of I love my wife very much, and want to come home and live with her for lots of years to come yet.
Just as we were leaving the meeting Major Smith told us there would be another trip to that native village today. Everyone let out a loud groan, but he said no one had to go. It would be strictly a volunteer affair. I don’t know how many of the boys will get discouraged by what happened the last time.
We had a fair show last night. Warner Baxter in “Crime Doctor.” It was an old picture, but a fairly good one. They always have 6 or 7 shorts along with the movie. We don’t mind that too much except when they are official films for the Armed Forces alone. Most of them we have seen in the States. Still the movies give us something to do.
I love you very much darling. Take good care of you for me eh?
Love George?
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Thank You and Welcome!
I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who has been reading the site recently. I am very happy that you have found these letters enjoyable, and I hope that you continue to do so.
A special thank you to a few sites in particular:
GeneaBloggers - A great community of people where you can find hundreds of site devoted to discovering and sharing the personal stories of our ancestors.
Dr. Bill's Ancestor Stories - Another great site for personal family histories
Dan Curtis - The site of a professional personal historian working to illuminate the world one voice at a time.
And to all the other people who have visited and linked to the site, thank you as well! I will try to add links to all of your sites as I go along.
Enjoy!
A special thank you to a few sites in particular:
GeneaBloggers - A great community of people where you can find hundreds of site devoted to discovering and sharing the personal stories of our ancestors.
Dr. Bill's Ancestor Stories - Another great site for personal family histories
Dan Curtis - The site of a professional personal historian working to illuminate the world one voice at a time.
And to all the other people who have visited and linked to the site, thank you as well! I will try to add links to all of your sites as I go along.
Enjoy!
Letter Home 05-26-1944
Friday 1630
05-26-1944
Hello Darling:
The boys that went to the native village yesterday really had quite a time. They could not get the boat they used in close enough to shore, so they had to use a big native outrigger canoe to get in.
On the way back to the boat they had it overloaded, and the sea was rough, and it sank. They spent 2 ½ hours in the water before they could be picked up.
Quite a few lost their wallets, and I guess some of them had nice cameras too, and they either lost them, or they were ruined. Some mess indeed!
To top it all off they had lost so much time that they did not get back to the harbor till after 6 o’clock. There is a submarine net at the mouth of the harbor that they close at 6 sharp, so they could not get back in.
They sent Morse code messages with flashlights trying to talk their way in. All of them wracking their brains to remember the code they had been taught. After all their work the only reply they got was one word – “Laughter” They had to stay out till they opened it again in the morning.
A lot of them spent the night on the boat. Some went out to a small island about a mile or so off the mainland. None of them had a very comfortable time of it. The sea was rough for those on the boat, and the sand crabs bit the ones on the island, so they could not decide who had it roughest.
At lease those two trips have given us something to talk about. Things here have been fairly monotonous otherwise.
I hope they have a good show tonight. They did not have one last night even after the rain postponed the one Wed.
I love you darling – lots and lots –
Love George?
05-26-1944
Hello Darling:
The boys that went to the native village yesterday really had quite a time. They could not get the boat they used in close enough to shore, so they had to use a big native outrigger canoe to get in.
On the way back to the boat they had it overloaded, and the sea was rough, and it sank. They spent 2 ½ hours in the water before they could be picked up.
Quite a few lost their wallets, and I guess some of them had nice cameras too, and they either lost them, or they were ruined. Some mess indeed!
To top it all off they had lost so much time that they did not get back to the harbor till after 6 o’clock. There is a submarine net at the mouth of the harbor that they close at 6 sharp, so they could not get back in.
They sent Morse code messages with flashlights trying to talk their way in. All of them wracking their brains to remember the code they had been taught. After all their work the only reply they got was one word – “Laughter” They had to stay out till they opened it again in the morning.
A lot of them spent the night on the boat. Some went out to a small island about a mile or so off the mainland. None of them had a very comfortable time of it. The sea was rough for those on the boat, and the sand crabs bit the ones on the island, so they could not decide who had it roughest.
At lease those two trips have given us something to talk about. Things here have been fairly monotonous otherwise.
I hope they have a good show tonight. They did not have one last night even after the rain postponed the one Wed.
I love you darling – lots and lots –
Love George?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Letter Home 05-25-1944
Thursday 1800
05-25-1944
Hi Honey:
Some more of the boys went on that trip to the native village, and they are not back yet. We certainly are sorry for them if they have to spend the night there. I don’t really think anything like that will happen, but we have been wondering about them.
I lost the little bottle lighter Mom gave me yesterday. I always carried it down to the flight line with me, and that is where I lost it. I had better keep a good eye on my Ronsom now, or I will be out of luck.
I don’t think I told you about the day we fixed it, or did I?
Anyway it would not hold fluid for any length of time. Otherwise it was ok. So we took all the cotton out of it, loosened it up, and replaced the wick in a way that it will be absorbing more of the fluid. So far it is doing good.
Which reminds me. I meant to ask you to get me a few flints if you will. I think you could just put them in one of your letters. They are not very big you know.
After all I wrote yesterday I’m just about out of news today, so I think I will quit for now.
I love you sweetheart – very much!
Love George
05-25-1944
Hi Honey:
Some more of the boys went on that trip to the native village, and they are not back yet. We certainly are sorry for them if they have to spend the night there. I don’t really think anything like that will happen, but we have been wondering about them.
I lost the little bottle lighter Mom gave me yesterday. I always carried it down to the flight line with me, and that is where I lost it. I had better keep a good eye on my Ronsom now, or I will be out of luck.
I don’t think I told you about the day we fixed it, or did I?
Anyway it would not hold fluid for any length of time. Otherwise it was ok. So we took all the cotton out of it, loosened it up, and replaced the wick in a way that it will be absorbing more of the fluid. So far it is doing good.
Which reminds me. I meant to ask you to get me a few flints if you will. I think you could just put them in one of your letters. They are not very big you know.
After all I wrote yesterday I’m just about out of news today, so I think I will quit for now.
I love you sweetheart – very much!
Love George
Monday, May 3, 2010
Letter Home 05-24-1944
Wednesday 1530
05-24-1944
Hello Darling:
Last night after supper I stretched out on my cot for a short rest, and I did not wake up again till nearly midnight. As a result I did not write to you. I hope you don’t mind. I still love you even when I slip up occasionally on my writing.
Right now I feel nice and dirty, and there is no water, so I can’t take a shower. I’ve been lying out in the sun for an hour besides to make things worse. I hope it gets turned on before tonight. It gets chilly taking a shower when the sun goes down.
The reason I was so tired last night was because we finally took that trip to a native village. We took a boat to get there, and it was a three hour ride up with another three back. We did not get back till a little after supper time.
It was interesting to see the village, but I hope I never have to spend and length of time in one. They certainly aren’t the cleanest places in this world. At that this one is a fairly civilized one too. At least it is in closer contact with white people.
We got a surprise when we were just arriving on the boat. There were 4 little kids in a canoe, and they were singing. All of them were naked (as most of the kids in the village were, although a lot of the girls and boys that were 8 or 9 years old wore grass skirts, on in the case of boys a small piece of cloth wound around them like a towel) and these kids had a pole and a paddle to manipulate the canoe with. It was a hollowed log affair. When we got close enough to make out what they were singing we got our big surprise. It was that song “I’ve Got Six Pence to Last Me All My Life” and they had it down pat. Both the words and the melody.
A lot of the natives even understand English. Most of the older ones only understand “Pidgin” It is a massacre of the Kings English. The younger ones go to school, so they are a lot better. There is a mission there that teaches them. Some of them are very good, but they let the village policeman do practically all the talking and interpreting.
The village itself is a dirty place with the pigs and chickens wandering all over as they pleased. Still there were some amusing incidents happened while we were there.
The natives sell everything and anything they can. The Australian government has put a standard price on most things, such as coconuts, bananas ect. However the native’s standard price is “Two Bob” That seems to be all they know, although they are a lot smarter than they seem. “Two Bob” is about 32 cents in American money.
A slight pause here while I help Garst eat a can of peaches. They got canned fruit occasionally in the PX, and he got a few cans. They were good too!
To get back to the native’s a few of the boys bought melons that they call “Paw Paw.” I know it is not spelled that way, but that is how it sounds. The Aussie that was with us said they were very good. Like a ripe plum, but they still have a flavor all their own.
There weren’t very many of them, and one guy was asking a native if the had any more. However he was saying that he would give him “Two Bob” for some “Pom Pom.” That caused quite a bit of confusion and laughter among the natives. “Pom Pom” is a native woman!
I did hear one story of some native in one of the villages around here offering some “Pom Pom” to one of the boys for two Pounds. That is nearly $6.50, so I don’t think he took any. From what I saw I think anyone would be nuts to have any part of them even for free!
Most of them were old weazened up women. They were only a few young ones there, and they said that those girls were 15 or 16. By the time these natives get to be 30 or so they are really old. Their diet does not tend to keep them in very good physical condition. Most of the kids have big pot bellies, and it is not because of being well fed. They are just bloated from some lack of vitamins in their diet.
It is just starting to rain, so it looks as if we won’t have a show tonight. I hope that they have it tomorrow night if they do call it off because of the weather tonight.
There goes the chow horn, so I think I will sign off for now. Perhaps tomorrow I will think of some more of the interesting things of the village. They are quite simple though in everything of their lives, so it does not tend to be too much so.
I love you very much darling. Take care of you for me?
And of course I hope –
Love George?
05-24-1944
Hello Darling:
Last night after supper I stretched out on my cot for a short rest, and I did not wake up again till nearly midnight. As a result I did not write to you. I hope you don’t mind. I still love you even when I slip up occasionally on my writing.
Right now I feel nice and dirty, and there is no water, so I can’t take a shower. I’ve been lying out in the sun for an hour besides to make things worse. I hope it gets turned on before tonight. It gets chilly taking a shower when the sun goes down.
The reason I was so tired last night was because we finally took that trip to a native village. We took a boat to get there, and it was a three hour ride up with another three back. We did not get back till a little after supper time.
It was interesting to see the village, but I hope I never have to spend and length of time in one. They certainly aren’t the cleanest places in this world. At that this one is a fairly civilized one too. At least it is in closer contact with white people.
We got a surprise when we were just arriving on the boat. There were 4 little kids in a canoe, and they were singing. All of them were naked (as most of the kids in the village were, although a lot of the girls and boys that were 8 or 9 years old wore grass skirts, on in the case of boys a small piece of cloth wound around them like a towel) and these kids had a pole and a paddle to manipulate the canoe with. It was a hollowed log affair. When we got close enough to make out what they were singing we got our big surprise. It was that song “I’ve Got Six Pence to Last Me All My Life” and they had it down pat. Both the words and the melody.
A lot of the natives even understand English. Most of the older ones only understand “Pidgin” It is a massacre of the Kings English. The younger ones go to school, so they are a lot better. There is a mission there that teaches them. Some of them are very good, but they let the village policeman do practically all the talking and interpreting.
The village itself is a dirty place with the pigs and chickens wandering all over as they pleased. Still there were some amusing incidents happened while we were there.
The natives sell everything and anything they can. The Australian government has put a standard price on most things, such as coconuts, bananas ect. However the native’s standard price is “Two Bob” That seems to be all they know, although they are a lot smarter than they seem. “Two Bob” is about 32 cents in American money.
A slight pause here while I help Garst eat a can of peaches. They got canned fruit occasionally in the PX, and he got a few cans. They were good too!
To get back to the native’s a few of the boys bought melons that they call “Paw Paw.” I know it is not spelled that way, but that is how it sounds. The Aussie that was with us said they were very good. Like a ripe plum, but they still have a flavor all their own.
There weren’t very many of them, and one guy was asking a native if the had any more. However he was saying that he would give him “Two Bob” for some “Pom Pom.” That caused quite a bit of confusion and laughter among the natives. “Pom Pom” is a native woman!
I did hear one story of some native in one of the villages around here offering some “Pom Pom” to one of the boys for two Pounds. That is nearly $6.50, so I don’t think he took any. From what I saw I think anyone would be nuts to have any part of them even for free!
Most of them were old weazened up women. They were only a few young ones there, and they said that those girls were 15 or 16. By the time these natives get to be 30 or so they are really old. Their diet does not tend to keep them in very good physical condition. Most of the kids have big pot bellies, and it is not because of being well fed. They are just bloated from some lack of vitamins in their diet.
It is just starting to rain, so it looks as if we won’t have a show tonight. I hope that they have it tomorrow night if they do call it off because of the weather tonight.
There goes the chow horn, so I think I will sign off for now. Perhaps tomorrow I will think of some more of the interesting things of the village. They are quite simple though in everything of their lives, so it does not tend to be too much so.
I love you very much darling. Take care of you for me?
And of course I hope –
Love George?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)