Friday

May 26, 1944

Dear Aunt Leona,

I received the picture and box yesterday; it was a long struggle. The pictures were a little disappointing, weren’t they. Only a couple were good at all.

I’ve started another roll, and I hope we have better luck this time. I’ll have to start looking for some more film. I haven’t used the ones you sent, yet. By the way, did mother get the cartridges back from the last two rolls? Just tell her to keep them for me.

We’ve really been flying the last week, that’s why I didn’t write. Gosh, our crew is sure sweating out these missions. Day before yesterday we loaded about 50 hundred pound bombs and then had to unload twelve because we didn’t make the last mission. While we were up yesterday I took a few pictures, but whatever you do, when I send them don’t show those pictures to everybody. We’re not supposed to take pictures like that.

I got a shot of our pilot and co-pilot when we landed. Speaking of landing it’s been so hot here that it’s hard to land the plane on these cement runways. The runways sure get hot from the sun.

We’re going to have another party just before we leave; to make up for the last one, I guess. We sure had a swell time while we were there. It’s not everywhere where you’re begged to eat another steak and French fries.

I got another letter from “Bobby” saying he got the pictures I sent. Two letters in two weeks is pretty good for him.

I’ve been watching my watch pretty closely and I hope for Frank’s sake it keeps running. This morning when I got up it was an hour and five minutes slow, but I think I must have changed the time when I wound it up last night. I hardly think it would lose that much time over-night. I hope not, anyway?

Last night I saw a crazy picture, “Once Upon A Time” with Cary Grant. It was the story of a caterpillar who would dance—but only when a little boy played “Yes sir, She’s my Baby” on the harmonica. It sure was goofy.

I was glad to hear grandma is getting along—with her dieting. I’ll try all the harder to get home now. I think it can be arranged by next month. But I can’t say it too loud. So we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Love

Don