This letter came six months after the last one I posted, I’m guessing there were others but they seemed to have gotten lost over the past 70 years. My Dad was back in the states and hitting his folks up for cash. It’s interesting to think about how these servicemen moved around and the chaos that ensued if their paperwork got misplaced. It looks as though my Dad wasn’t paid for quite some time due to clerical errors.
It was also nice to see the camaraderie these servicemen had for one another.
Of course, what would a letter from my Dad be without some track talk? He spoke of an indoor runner he met whom he had seen run the 1,000 yard race and was spiked. I believe that track shoes in those days came with six spikes, each a half inch long. So if a runner was spiked, or stepped on, it would have done a lot of damage.
ARMY AIR FORCES
Flexible Gunnery School
January 29, 1945
Hi Folks,
Here I am at last writing to let you know what I’m doing and how I am. I really haven’t a heck of a lot to write about, just dropping you a line to let you know that I’m okay but slightly in need of some money.
If you could send me twenty dollars I’d really appreciate it. I won’t be paid this month or not until my service records catch up to me; the Personnel Division at Atlantic City put my service record in someone else’s envelope and I have this other fellows here with me. So until my service record arrives I won’t be doing anything, therefore I won’t be paid and I won’t be assigned but as far as I can find out I’ll be assigned a permanent party here at this field maybe for a year or more if I’m lucky maybe for the duration. I don’t think I’ll be sent overseas again at least not for six months or a year but you can never tell hat will happen or how badly they may need experienced crews.
I am still in the best of health and running around, have met a couple of my old buddies from the 379th on Corsica, we had quite a long talk about the old gang and the fellows who are in the old squadron. It certainly brought up fond memories and old acquaintances.
Do you remember Paul Zappula? The 1,000 yarder from Watertown who was spiked in the Seaboard Meet when Don Burnham won the race? Well, I met him the other day he’s a student going through gunnery here. He said that his leg is better and that he doesn’t know for sure whether he’ll do any running after the war. We certainly had a wonderful talk of the old track days in high school.
Well, folks this isn’t a very long or informative letter but I just want to let you know where I am and that I’m okay.
Give my love to the rest of the family and God bless you all.
Love,
Fran
Duke of Dead Air 