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July 1944

(Editor's note: This appears to be a typed form letter) HEADQUARTERS LINCOLN ARMY AIR FIELD, LINCOLN I., NEBRASKA. SECOND AIR FORCE CLASSIFICATION AND ROUTING POOL __________1944. Dear This letter will be a little different from most of those you receive from me. It's an arrangement that the Commanding Officer here at the Army Air Field, Lincoln, Nebraska, has made to keep our families informed of where we are and what we are doing. Since we will be here only a short time and will have plenty to do and little opportunity to write, this is a fine means of letting you know about this station and what we are doing here. Just a short while ago the train pulled into the siding and I found myself on the Army Air Field, Lincoln, Nebraska. It's a big place and plenty busy. It's the Classification and Routing Pool of the Second Air Force. Nearly everyone assigned to Second Air Force passes through this field and after a few days here is assigned to a permanent Second Air Force Bomb Group or Air Base Unit. The chief reason that everyone comes through this station is to be processed. I have just finished processing, which means simply that I was paid in full, issued what clothing I needed, physically examined, and all my records were brought up to date. Now, when I leave here and go to my permanent station I will have everything necessary, and there will be nothing to interrupt my training. I would like very much to hear from you, but since I will be here only a short time, perhaps you had better wait until I send you my permanent address before writing. Right now I am awaiting shipment. I have been classified as _______________, and in a few days will be off to my new assignment with the heavy bombardment airplanes which are a part of this Air Force. I'll write again as soon as I can.

Officers Club ARMY AIR FIELD Lincoln I, Nebraska Sunday Nite 16 July Dear Mother & all, Have had a busy day all day. And expect to be busy for the next 10 days. Don't know how long I'll be here but it won't be so very long. If you haven't already sent the pictures to me make you had better wait until I get to my permanent base. I just ate supper & I had 2 steaks sandwiches. They sure tasted good too. What is everyone doing around home now? Most everyone is writing letters here now as this is about the first chance we've had. I made pretty good connections on the train. Got here right on time (7PM Friday Nite) Got a room at the Lincoln Hotel & went to a show that nite - Reported to the Base Sat morning I met the boy I rode with from New Mex to Texas. So we have had a good time together as he has a nice convertible Ford.(Ha) We were off Sat afternoon & nite & had to report again at 7:30 this morning. This is a nice town I think. We went out to Capitol Beach last nite. A place something like the fair grounds in Memphis. Road a lot of the contraptions & had a good time. We have 10 days processing & training which we get at this field. After that is up we will have more leisure provided we aren't already shipped out again. No chance to come to Halls. Will either be Neb, Kansas or New Mex. I think. I'm moving to another barracks tonight. Don't know how I'm gonna keep my clothes clean. Won't have time to send them to the laundry. Maybe I can get them dry cleaned though. I'll give you my address here. I'll try to let you know when I'm leaving here. But san't give out any Military information. If I tell you not to write any more you'll know I'm leaving here. How is John Winn? I really enjoyed playing with him while home. Sure hope the pictures of him turn out O.K. I better close for now. With Love & Best Wishes for all. Austin Lt. Austin H. Winn 0-774857 SQD. B 2nd AF-CRP, LAAB Lincoln, Nebraska P.S. I may be sending the leather bag home again soon! (HAHA)

Officers Club Army Air Field Lincoln I, Nebraska I'll give you my address here. I'll try to let you know when I'm leaving here - but can't give out any military information - if I tell you not to write any more you'll know I'm leaving here. How is John Winn? I really enjoyed playing with him while home. Sure hope the pictures of him turn out OK. Kello & Betty Close for now With Love Best Wishes For All - Austin Lt. Austin H. Winn O-774857 Squad B 2nd AF-CRP, LAAB Lincoln, Nebraska - P.S. I may be sending the leather bag home again soon! (HAHA)

Tuesday nite July 18 Dear Folks, I didn't get to write you yesterday. Was busy all day & had to read my mail last nite (HA HA) Yesterday I got the first mail I'd received since being here. I got 16 letters—about 6 or 7 from you & sister. Today I got a letter from Jack. It was written June 29th though & had gone to Roswell & then here. HasMiss Josie heard from him any more? I wrote him a letter last nite. We have had lots of walking to do as this is such a big Base. I also got a letter from Harvey. Heis in the Aleutian Islands & one from David Lynn too. I got some V-Mail stationery & plan to write to all of them tonight. How did the pictures turn out? I bet some of them are a sight! I'll get my roll back Thursday if I can get to town that day. I haven't been back to Lincoln since Sat. & probably won't. We are having a full days work now so I don't venture out at nite. What is John Winn doing now? Does he say "ggo ggo" much. I got 2 copies of the Laud Co Papers Today. I didn't I have my address changed as I'll be leaving soon anyway. My meals are costing me about $1.30 a day here - I'll be glad to get to the next place. We pay each meal just like eating at a restaurant. I like my new watch swell. I can see what time it is at nite when I wake up too (that is if I wake up.) I better get on some of these other letters now. Tell all the neighbors hello for me. Love Austin

I got the papers & left - They weren't too long- I hadn't missed them - Thanks just the same though

U. S. ARMY AIR FORCES Wednesday nite 19th Dear Ones, Got a letter from you today. I came pretty close in guessing the right address when I was home didn't I? The only thing I missed was Sqd B. Today I went up in the pressure chamber to 30,000 ft. Also got several lectures on first aid, oxygen use, desert survival, sanitation etc. Is John Catching any fish yet? I just couldn't see going fishing while I was home. I don't seem to care that much about it. Course if I had more time I guess I'd like it more. Am glad Otho has your fan all fixed up. Does it put out a good breeze? Has Miss Josie heard from Jack any more since he was home? I got a letter from Carl today & he was "at sea". Have you ever got that bond that they took out of my June check? I hope they aren't going to be too slow about sending them home. I won't get flying pay this month as I haven't done any flying. That's $75 off but it'll make it up next month & get two months' flight pay at once if I am flying - which should be. That about all I know for today? Guess the cows are all OK? Love to all, Austin

Thursday nite July 20 HOTEL CORNHUSKER Lincoln I, Nebraska Dear Mother & Sis, I got the pictures back a little while ago. So while in town I thought Id just send them on to you. Some are pretty good. I especially like the one of mother & the baby. You should notice how sad I looked in the picture with Oletta. I wasn't really feeling that bad I'm sure.(HA) I have already sent Oletta one of that picture & also one of Hugheys. She will give it to Hughey & you can put these in my photo album. I haven't been able to get any film from her as yet. I'll just write on the back as this letter is going to be pretty heavy as it is now. I'll send the negatives home in another letter. Am making it just fine and like it here very well. I bought a $50 bond today which I'll mail to you tomorrow. The bonds that are coming to you out my checks may not come for a couple months according to the finance office but when they do begin he says they will come regular. I'm running out of ink. Guess I better say so long about here. Bye now. Love to all Austin You can give Mrs. Josie Bell her pictures. She may need 2 to send Jack one & keep one too - aren't they good of her? Has she heard from Jack yet?

Officers Club Army Air Field Lincoln , Nebraska Saturday July 22 Dear Mother & Sister, How's everything? I got your letter today. Also the Lauderdale Co. Paper. I guess you are pretty lonesome since sister has gone back home. Well my stay here is going to be a short one. So no need to send anything impt. to this address. Course I'll get the letter in just a few days longer even though I am gone. I'm going into town tonite as this will probably be my last nite here. I've enjoyed it here very much. The weather has turned cool & is real pleasant. I washed a shirt this morning. (Ha) Just kinda experimenting to see what it would look without being ironed. At least it's clean. (Ha) I also got 2 shirts cleaned so am not entirely out of clean clothes. I haven't received a letter from you yet that was written since you got my complete address. This morning's letter was dated July 19. Am glad they heard from Jack again. Have you gotten the pictures I sent to you? Robert Winn is here also & he is going to the same base that I do. We still don't know where we're going. I'll let you know as soon as possible. Have gotta right smart a running around to do in order to get everything in Ship Shape for shipping so must leave you now. Tell all hello. Give the baby a kiss for me. Love to All, Austin

U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES Sunday July 23 Hello Mother, Am still here. Have you gotten the pictures I sent yet? It's beginning to get hotter around here & looks like rain this afternoon. I got a letter from Oletta & you this morning. So sister finally got to see the Doc! Am so glad everything is just swell. We still have no idea where we are going from here. Maybe we'll know tomorrow though. Wonder why they were so long making the pictures at Brown's. When you get my new address will you send them to me & I can mail them back after I've looked them over. That is some of them.(Ha) How did Hughey like his picture? Ha, I sent him one of the pictures of me with the mustache. I may go into town and see a movie this afternoon. I didn't send the leather bag home yet. I thought I might need it in moving to the next place. I haven't been able to get a single roll of film here in Lincoln. Boy I'm sweating. You know it's really bearing down. You know just before a shower how hot it can get! Looks like Hitler is having a little trouble with his own army doesn't it. I see John is the Big Shot at the election (HA.) How did you like the convention speeches? I didn't listen to any of them. I better go now. Love to all. Bye, Austin Monday Morning I'm going to Alamogordo, N.M. Just about a bad as (?Pyore?).

U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES Monday July 24 Dear Folks, Just a Note. How's everyone? Will write you when I arrive at next station. You can write to me. my home, 0-774857 A.A.A.F. Alamogordo, N. Mex That's about half way between Roswell and El Paso. Here's the new shoulder patch I'll wear in the 2nd Air Force. Send the pictures as soon as you get my address. I'd sure like to see them. Tell all hello Love, Austin

OFFICERS' CLUB ARMY AIR BASE ALAMOGORDO. NEW MEXICO Wednesday July 26 Hello Mother & Sister, How's everything? I just arrived back in the "Land of Enchantment" about 12 noon today. I just had my dinner & will write you a few lines. It is truly the land of wide open spaces. I have pretty nice quarters.Robert Winn is in the same room as I am & there is another officer here named Winn. I haven't seen him though. The trip by train wasn't bad. We came on a troop train though but that was more comfortable because we could go dressed as we liked, or UNDRESSED! I dropped you a card from Kansas City. We were there for a couple hours. I guess you've found this spot on the map by now haven't you? It's kinda south west of Roswell. 80 miles from El Paso. The field has 2 theatres. It's about 13 miles to the town of Alamogordo. And it's smaller than Ripley. About like Henning I guess. Lots of dark skinned people there though. The address you have will be O.K until I give you a new one. We will be assigned to a squadron tomorrow I think. I better go now. I wanta look the field over & do what little odd jobs I can today. I shipped my foot locker & barracks bag by express. It should be around here somewhere. Tell all hello. Bye Bye With Love Austin Lt. name 231st AAF BU AAAF Alamogordo. NeW Mex. Explanation of abbreviations: 231st Army Air Force Base Unit Alamogordo Army Air Field

OFFICERS' CLUB ARMY AIR BASE ALAMOGORDO. NEW MEXICO July 26 Same Day Hello Folks, Just mailed you a letter about an hour ago but have since found my new address— Lt. Austin H. Winn O-774857 Combat Crew B.O.Q. Hq. AAF Alamogordo, New Mexico Tell John Winn "Hi". Love to all, Austin

U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES Thursday July 27th Dear Folks, How is everyone around Cherry? Things are going smoothly around here. We haven't been too busy so have managed to keep cool enough. Is the weather still as hot there as it was when I was home? This climate is so dry that the heat isn't so noticeable as it is in a humid climate. But we have mosquitoes here. I'm going to get a mosquito bar to sleep under today. Don't worry about anything though. We are being well taken care of. I'll probably turn as red as a beet out here again. Am thinking of cutting my hair real short again. I haven't received any mail at this field yet but got a telegram about 5 min ago.(HA) I couldn't imagine who could be sending me a telegram. It was a girl from Roswell. Said she just got to thinking of me etc.(Evelyn) I wrote Jack a letter just now. I also ate lunch a few minutes ago & have a formation to meet at 1:30. so I cannot write very much at this time. Robert Winn & I have a nice little room about 10 x 14 ft. A little chest of drawers, electric lights. & he has a radio so we'll do O.K. there. Our showers are in a separate building about 50 yds. away. I haven't started any flying yet. The planes really look swell. Have you ever got a picture of the B-29? There are plenty of high ranking officers around here. Most all of them are Capt. Majors & Colonels. We are the first group of men to come to B-29s right out of training. These guys have already completed all their missions over Germany or in the P cific and are back. We are pretty lucky to get in these new planes. I'll be going now Love, Austin

ARMY AIR BASE ALAMOGORDO. NEW MEXICO Thursday afternoon 27th Hello Folks, Have already written once today but have a little spare time now & maybe I won't have tomorrow. We are having a stag party at the officers club tonight. The picture of the plane on this stationery is a B-19 - They don't use it at all now in the Air Force. Oh yes I just ran across the picture of this B-17 "Winsome Winn". Wonder why they named it that. It a real picture not just a drawing. What is John doing now? I hope grandpa is back at home with you. Did he lose out on the pension or is it still worrying him? Did you get the enlarged picture & the pictures of me? (HA HA) I thought the picture you & John Winn was just swell! Maybe you have a frame for it or can get one anyway. Have you had any fish to eat lately? The meals here are even higher than they were at Lincoln. Break. .50 .Dinner .70 Supper .85 Maybe I can lose some weight around here. I gained it though while home & at Lincoln. 179 pounds now. Well this is the end of my stationery. So'll say so long, Love, Austin

U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES Sunday nite July 30, 1944 Dear folks, Just time for a line at two before bed time. Today has been rather nice for this part of the country. I didn't get up til about 10AM then went to church. I got my orders today & am assigned to a class that is already through 1st phase so I won't stay here but 1 month if everything works out O.K. Most all the rest will be here 2 or 3. There were 4 guys that got in this early class. I met my Airplane Commander today. He is Capt. Cook. After flying here 1 month I'll still have more training at some other field. Can you imagine such a thing? I'll never get overseas at this rate. No that plane you sent wasn't the one I was looking for. that's OK. It was a 2 engine plane. AT-17. I've got some more letters I should answer. Think I'll have to go to bed though& see if I can answer them tomorrow. I kept some of the pictures & will send them on home. Well I'll be busy all next week I expect. There is sure plenty to learn about this big plane. Yes that was a real mustache, only 4 days old. I cut it off as soon as the picture was made. I didn't trim it up or anything just happened to pass this photo shop and took the picture as a gag. Does Oletta realy want one of them! I still have several of them. HAHA Love, Austin