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May 1944

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico Friday Nite May 5th Dear Mother, Well I'll try to send you a few lines before bed time. We had a very hot day today. This morning I fired 80 rounds with the 30cal Carbine rifle. It really is a nice rifle and I could hit the bulls eye pretty near every time. Tomorrow I begin flying the B-17. We've studied all this past week on the operation of the engines & other equipment. These planes are over a 100 ft wide and about 20 ft high. I saw a show last nite. We can do what ever we like at nite. Leave the posts if we like. There's just as much to do here on the field though as in town. (even more) I saw Roy Crowder yesterday. /He was going to work on the line as I went to the Oxygen dept. to get my mask fitted. How's that boy getting along now? I do hope you're well also. Has the water gone down some so John can farm? Has anyone heard from either Waits or Jack since I've been gone? I wrote to both of them since I've been here. I've never heard from Dotty any more. Guess it's better that way though. I've not written to her either. Did I tell you about the letter I had gotten just before coming home! Maybe sister will remember it anyway. Anyway I hope she has eaten something by now. I know three of the fellows on the picture with me from Memphis - Finnie, Trask, Benford. Tomorrow is Saturday and the end of a week. We won't be flying or going to school this Sunday. Talking about how big this plane is, the tire tread is 24 feet around. The plane weighs about 40,000 lbs (20 tons). Will hold over 3000 gallons of gasoline etc. I can't tell the exact amounts & all that I'd like to tell you. I better get to bed now so I can get up early enough in the morning. We just get ourselves up now and there's no one to wake us up. Tell all hello for me, and loads of love, Austin

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico Tuesday afternoon 5-9-44 Dear Mother of all, Was glad to get your letter just now. Hope you've gotten rid of that cold and can see John Winn all you want to. Well I flew the B-17 4 hours & a half yesterday and will fly tonite from 6:30 PM to 1:00 AM in the morning. I have a good instructor, a captain who just came back from England one month ago. I got the bag with the clothes & shoes OK. Thanks a lot. I sent you a little picture of Wither and myself. We were in town yesterday afternoon a few minutes. That back water is really staying up a long time isn't it? Have you seen the picture Bonnie Lynn took of us together? I want to get one of them when you do. It's almost supper time so I better eat & get down to the flight-line. I sent Mrs Sullivan a thank you for the present. Solong now Love & Kisses, Austin

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico Thursday Nite May 11, 1944 Dearest Mother, I'm over at the Recreation Hall so thought I'd drop you a line of two. How's everyone doing around the place? Is grandpa at home or still in Tipton? I got a nice box of cookies, candies, chewing gum, peanuts, etc. from Adeline yesterday. She really sends the nicest things. I sent her some ear-rings while I was in El Paso and she was so thrilled over them. Also sent me a couple snapshots of her. I may send these in a letter & you can send them back if I ask you too. Not tonight though 'cause I'll mail this while I'm over here tonite I live about a half mile across the field from here & about 3/4 mile from the flight-line. I really am getting enough walking. Hardly ever go back to the barracks at noon time unless I have to go change from flight clothes to my uniform. We are wearing khaki now most all the time. Wear our pink pants & green shirts sometimes if we're going to town or at nite etc. I hardly ever go to town though. Well Sunday is your day. I do hope you have an enjoyable one. I'll be thinking of you. I'm flying Sunday nite. Tell Sister John & John Winn all hello for me. Hope the baby is big enough to come up to see you in his vehicle. Gotta be going now. Love, Austin

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico May 14, 1944 Sunday Dearest Mother, How's everything around home now? It's still very hot around here. I'm flying quite so have only a few minutes to write this. Just wanted to send you a line or two on Mother Day. Do hope you had a nice time today. I guess John Winn is getting larger every day. Has he been up to your house yet? I just wrote Waits a letter this afternoon. I bet John was glad to catch that big fish after no luck for so long. Wish I could have helped you eat it. It seems like we been here on this field for a long time. Will be 3 weeks Thursday. I've already eaten supper tonight. We had chicken, bread pudding, ice cream. Coconut Pie & Ice Cream for dinner today. I like the big planes OK. They will fly on 2 or 3 engines too - or even one engine in some cases. We practiced 2 & 3 engine landing yesterday morning for about 3 hours. I got up at 4:30. Will fly tonite till 1:30 but sleep till 9:30 in the morning. I better go now & get into my flight suit. We are due on the line at 6:30 this afternoon. Love To all Austin

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico Tuesday May 16th "Nite" Dear Sis, I enjoyed your letter very much today. Am so glad you can push John W. up to Mothers now. I bet she enjoys the boy a lot. I've been flying again today. Up at 4:30 this morning & also have flown every day for 5 days (Sunday nite). Most the boys just fly every other day & go to ground school the other day but some-how I got a different deal. I'll get finished up with my flying earlier than they will. I have around 40 hours in now, just get 105 while I'm here at this field. Tell mother "D Day" has no special word that D stands for. Just an Army Slang. We always have an "H Hour" for starting a Cross Country flight, if our H Hour is at 9:00 and we take off at 8:00 we just fly around locally until 9:00 before starting on the cross-country. At least that's my idea of it. Did I tell you these planes weigh about 20 tons without being loaded with bombs etc. I can't figure out why I don't hear from Jack either. I've written again since I've been here. Have you heard for sure that John Bishop has gone over-seas yet? I hope John has some luck with his fish-lines this time. I gotta go now. Love to all, Austin P.S. I haven't gotten the Laud. Co Ent. since I've been here. Would you could see if my subscription is out? Thanks.

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico Tuesday Nite May 18th Dear Mother, How is everyone today? I'm all O.K. except a little tired after flying under the hood all afternoon. I have 43 hours in this plane now and like it better every day. I got the paper (L.C.E.) yesterday so hope sister hadn't already called them about my subscription. Tomorrow's your birthday, wish I was there to spank you (ha ha) Maybe Sister will spank enough for both of us. How's John Winn? Does he cry much? So Sister & John carried him to church already. Am glad he acted so nice down there. I just read a little joke in the paper - it says = Before babies are born you give showers for them & after they're born they repay you ten fold. I'll be glad to see the pictures anyway. Did you say you were sending them? I have to go now- Hope you had a happy Birthday & have many more in store. Love, Austin

POST CARD Mrs W.H. Winn Henning Tenn. R-2 Dear Mother, Just a hello & a view from Ruidoso Way. Started you a letter but will finish it when I get back to the base. Came into town this afternoon for a little bit. Tell all hello. Love, Austin

Dear Dad, I hope this letter finds you well. I'm writing from Waycross, Ga., where we're stationed now. The weather here is pretty cold and snowy. The mountains are beautiful with all the snow on them. Take care, Kello

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico May 19 Friday Nite Hello Mother & all, Happy Birthday to you, and how's the rest of the folks? Have been pretty lousy today but just had a good supper & a shower. Wither & I are going to a movie here on the Field tonight. I got a letter from you today also one from Adeline & one from Bobbye!! Bobbye is a girl I met while in El Paso. Don't know if I'll have time to do any corresponding with her though. Sunday Nite: Oh, me I'm sorry I didn't get this mailed before now. We went to the show Fri. nite & were busy all day Sat. We had a formal retreat parade & passed in review before a General. It was the 2nd anniversary of the RAAF. This morning Wither & I went to church in town. Will enclose programme. We are flying at 4:30 in the morning & will have duties until 12:00 tomorrow nite. We also fly every other day next week. Sunday too. I've been carrying this letter in my pocket since Fri Nite. Reason it's so wrinkled up. Was glad to get the clippings from the newspaper. I knew some of the Tucker boys. I had already written to Cousin Wilbur. Guess he'll hear from us both about the same time. That reminds me. I'm sending you that small picture you asked me about. I have intended to send it for a long time but must could think about it while I was at the barracks. Must say goodnite & write another letter before going to bed. Tell sister, John & J.W. hello. Love to all Austin

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico Wednesday May noon 24th Dear Mother & All, Hope you haven't worried by not getting a letter from me for a few days. Have really been on the run this week. We are flying every day. And some of the days were 18 hours long - up at 4:30 and then had (?) till 10:00 Monday night - up at 5:30 Tuesday & flew till 1:00 this morning. Now up at 9:30 & as soon as I eat lunch will go back to flying till around 7 this afternoon. And doing OK with my flying though I think. Wither is pretty worried about his. I think he is getting a check ride tomorrow & they may wash him out of B-17s. It's the instrument & blind flying part that he has trouble with. I've been getting a lot of mail the last few days & am behind on my writing too. Saw the piece in the Laud Co. Paper & also got the Hi-life which Had a write up about me. Did you see that! After this week is up I'll probably be ready to begin my cross-country & high altitude flights. We were cruising around last nite up about 2 miles high. But we can go up 7 or 8 miles in these planes. I made 100 on my navigation test the other day. We had a test on engineering yesterday, and one on instrument flying a couple days ago. I haven't heard from either of them yet though. Tell sister & John & John Winn hello. Do you still call him both names at J.W.? I better get on over & eat. Then I've gotta go back & change into flight clothes then walk about 3/4 mile back to the flight-line. Hope the water's down. Is John still fishing? Tell grandpa hello too, hope his pension is settled one way or the other. Love to all Austin

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico Sat. Morning Dear Mother, How's everything by now? We had a big rain last nite & didn't get to fly any later than 10 o'clock so I was glad to get the extra sleep. It's a few minutes till eleven now. I've gotta go eat & be on the line at 12. I'll probably get my instrument check this afternoon. Withir failed on his & they washed him out in B-17s. He is sure down hearted about it too. He has to move this morning to another barracks with the other boys who didn't get by. That leaves me in a room by myself. I'll sure miss him. He's been with me since Oshkosh - I'll probably git another buddie now sometimes. Several of the boys are going on an overnight Cross Country today. They will come back Sunday afternoon. They go to San Francisco, L.A., Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City etc. I'll probably go on one next weekend. I got the paper you sent to me. Thanks but I had already gotten the one. Did you renew my subscription? John Bishop is back at Ft. Meade Maryland. He expects to go over soon though. How's Jack & Waits! Has anyone heard from Waits since his dad died? I got a letter from Wilber D. the other day. The baby must be growing by the size of that foot. (haha) Well I better go eat now and get to flying. We fly Sunday afternoon also. I know that John is getting a lot of farming done with two tractors. Nope I haven't over slept yet. We've been getting up at 4:30 when we fly in the morning, and 6:30 when we fly afternoon. Love to all Austin P.S. Mary sent me the pictures we took out by the store. Have you seen them?

Officers' Club Roswell Army Air Field Roswell, New Mexico May 28th Sunday nite Dearest Mother, Will send a few lines here tonight before bed time. Have been flying all afternoon. Did O.K. - I am ready for my Solo check now the next time I go up. They have us scheduled to fly every day next week including next Sunday too. I should be about through here by then. Tomorrow I have ground School from 8:00 till 11:00 then have P.T. 11:30 to 12:30 then lunch then Link Trainer in the afternoon and flying from 6:30 PM to 1:30 AM. We usually eat breakfast about 2AM when we fly off nite & then go to bed & sleep till around 10 o'clock the next morning. So we usually get around 7 hours sleep a nite anyway unless we stay up later than usual. Doesn't leave any time for writing letters though much. Well I'm living all alone over there in the barracks now. But Wither did spend Sat. nite with me. (haha). His bed is still there but no covers. So he took some off of the boys bed that was on an overnite Cross-Country. I'll probably be on one next Sat. & Sunday. I'll drop you a line from where ever I go to. Either to the West Coast Or Kansas City maybe. How's John Winn doing?Tell sister and John hello for me. The month is about up. I'll soon be getting paid again. I may send a bond to you. I signed up to buy a Hundred bond each monthbeginning with my June check. That will come straight to you from the post & will be taken out of my check by the finance dept. thought that would be the best way to save up some money. Missed out on the mail today. Didn't get any at all. I usually do get at least one letter a day. We get mail twice a day (11am & 4pm) on week days & only at 11 am on Sun. We had a little cloud come up this afternoon & a light shower. Clouds don't bother this B-17 very much. It is the safest airplane made I believe. I flew "Hells Angels" today. That's a plane that has been in England for a good while. It's made renewal mission over Germany. It has at least 2000 names & addresses of soldiers from every state in the Union & even some addresses in England written all over it. It's a real sight just to look at. (names painted with white paint and it looks like a jig-saw puzzle from a distance) It's getting kinda late for me now so I'll be running along now. Am feeling just fine and like it here O.K. still. Hardly ever get off the field but surely we won't be so busy after this next week unless they send us to a school to learn office jobs ect. which they are doing to some of the boys in former classes who haven't been assigned yet. I told you I got the pictures from Mary. Have you seen them yet? I can send them to you to look at if not! Love to all Austin

MARINE BARRACKS U.S. NAVAL STATION SEATTLE 99 WASH. May 30, 1944 Dear Austin, Received your letter yesterday and was tickled to hear from you. It had to be forwarded from the Base and was a good while reaching me. Well a good bit has happened since I last wrote to you. I guess the big wigs decided I wouldn't make a radio operator worth anything so I was transferred. They were probably right about it too. I don't feel bad about it tho because they dropped a bunch of us and after all that's a pretty tough responsible job. They sent the younger fellows to the infantry as replacements and one other oldtimer and myself up here. There are 98 of us in this detail and all of us are 30 up to 40 years old. This makes me realize I'm beginning to get some years behind me. I was 31 last April. We are being sent to Alaska or somewhere in the Aleutians for guard

duty. We will be out there for a years at least so the muscle-butt goes and I don't doubt it. I'd sure rather be up here tho than in those disease infested jungle islands. We certainly saw some beautiful scenery on the way up here. I'd like to try the trout fishing in some of the streams we passed on the way up. We also had a nine hour lay over in Oakland, Calif. and got a chance to ride the ferry across the bay to San Francisco. Saw a good bit and had a nice time. We are certainly having it easy up here. We have liberty every day at 3:30 and weekends too if we want them and so far no duty. I've been out two or three times to see the city but other than that they have just all that I want right here at the station. Well buddy I wish you all the luck in the world and I know you'll make the grade and come out on top. Write to this address when you can they will be forwarded to me. P.S. I use the "e" in my name. Yours, Harvey