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June 1945

Lt. Austin H. Winn United States Army Air Forces 15 Missions June 2, 1945 Marianas Dearest Mother And Sis, Received your letter today & the clipping of Lt. Handwerker and the City of Memphis. Was glad you got it and sent it to me. How has everything been lately. Hope you have been able to get the cotton planted & last years crop all picked.(HA) Yesterday I was on the mission to Osaka. That's the second time that we have bombed that city. Once was on March 14 and it was my second mission. We burned out 8 miles of it at that time. Haven't heard the results of this latest one yet. We have 51 sq miles of Tokyo burned up. I'm reading a book "Anna & the King of Siam". It's pretty interesting. I guess Miss Josie Belle is about as worried about Jack now as she was over seas. Doesn't look like he'll be able to be going out nites & etc. P.S. - I mailed you a check for $200 a couple days ago. I wish I could send you a picture of our plane now. It has 20 bombing missions now. A bomb with the name of the target for each mission. Also 3 Jap flags for 3 enemy fighters destroyed. There is some talk of sending it back to the states but of course we would not get to fly it back.(HA). It's about the oldest plane but here now that is still in good condition. They would probably use it for a training plane if it does go back there & we'll get a brand new one. I got a letter from Carl today. How's John Winn & his teeth cutting? How many teeth has he now? I got the last sheet of the Hi-Life from Olleta also today. Will I guess that's about all I can write for now. Have to go on No 16 you know. Oh, our engineer George Phillips was given a job in Ground Training Section, working with Cook so we will get a new engineer now. He was promoted to 1st Lt. today also. He has to make no more missions now. A good break for him. He is a Harvard Graduate and also went to YALE. Love, Austin

Lt. Austin H. Winn United States Army Air Forces 15 Missions

Sunday June 3, 1945 Marianas Hello Mother & sis, Well I did go on a mission last nite as was the plan. Weather was too bad over Japan so we called it off temporarily. I went to church this morning & enjoyed it very much. There is always a large crowd at the church services. I hung my laundry out on the line this afternoon. We get it washed in a washing machine like you have & then get it wet. We hang it out & dry it. Seldom iron anything. I have a lot of trouble with the wind blowing things off on the ground. Could you send me about 15 of the pincher type clothes pins? Say did you ever get the pictures to me & Lucas. They were about 2 x 3½. Lucas had a big mustache. I don't remember you saying you ever got them!

Later: June 4, 8AM Hello again. Looks like a pretty day today. Maybe its nice weather over the Empire also. We had pancakes & syrup for breakfast this morning. Was very good. We have to go to a Wing Critique & our crew is supposed to make a picture made by the City of Charlottesville sometime this morning. i'll get one if them sometimes. They will probably lend a print to The Charlottesville, Va. News paper also.(HA) I have a cute little souvenir I'd like to send you. I may get it off in the mail in a few days. Say I had an unexpected bill to pay this week & find that I sent all my money home. Next letter you send put a $5 bill in it. That will be all I'll need to last me the rest of the month.(HA) It will be O.K. tojust put the bill in the letter. Unless it's just handy to send a Money Order. I just sent $200 home about three days ago. That means you should get a check for $200 and one for $150 also this month. My Base Pay is 166.00 10% Overseas Pay: 16.60 50% For Flying: 91.30 Allotted For Meals: 21.00 Total - $294.90 Meals cost me 23.25 Then there are other expenses. Office Club Fees, Insurance etc. About $250. Above expenses. Love, Austin

Lt. Austin H. Winn United States Army Air Forces 16 Missions June 6, 1945 Marianas Dear Mother & Sis, Well I was on the raid on Kobe yesterday. It was a very successful raid. We got hit by flak tho. To piece I glad hit the glass in the nose of our plane. It shattered it up but did not come through. Guess that's pretty good glass. We had several attacks by fighters also & they really came in close with all guns blazing. Our night gunner [name?] hit one of the fighters & I think the pilot bailed out. We landed at Iwo Jima. Got back home last nite, about 20 hours after we left? Really sleepy this morning. I got a couple letters from you when I got back. You also mentioned in one of them that you had gotten the pictures. Send me some of the prints that I haven't seen. The other crew members will like to see them. Well so long for now. Tell Johnie Cake Hi Love Austin

Lt. Austin H. Winn United States Army Air Forces 17 Missions June 8, 1945 Marianas Dear Mother & Sis, How's everything today? I received a nice letter from you this morning. They have really kept us busy. Yesterday I went to Osaka again. We had to land at Iwo Jima & got home about 11:30. We were gone over 23 hours on that mission. Flying 16 hours. You were asking about an Oak Leaf Cluster. Well a cluster is the same as the original award for which it is given. Instead of giving you 2 or 3 Air Medals they give you one Air Medalsthey give you one Air Medal with one or two Oak Leaf Clusters instead of repeating the same medal. I now am entitled to the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. Ole Jack Benny is on the radio now. He's getting plenty of laughs. Jack isn't able to play Drop the Handkerchief is he! Did you say you had mine & Lucas' pictures in a frame? (Ha) I don't think we will get to go on a rest leave. What is John going to use the little shed on the side of the store for? To put the seeds in? Is he using the combine any yet? Did Lt. Handwerker send you 3 Rolls? You mentioned Hilda so I figured that was what you were talking about? Also, did you get the picture of me with my head sticking out the window & pointing at some bombs? We have some pretty rough targets coming up soon. I'll have close now. SoBye Bye Jack for tonite. Love Austin

"Guam"

June 8, 1945 Dear Mother & Sis, So you know where I am now! They released the identity of our island yesterday so now we can tell where we are. How has everything been lately? We flew and were missions for 6 days and then really pooped out. Some one else is flying our plane on the next mission. I heard from Withee and he was 38016 missions & 252 hours. I have 18 missions & 284 hours. Our flights are so much longer than any other type plane can fly. We are beginning to be able to get Coca Colas now. We are rationed to about 6 per week. The mail has been kinda scarce for the past few days it seems. I've been so busy I haven't had time to write anyone.

I just learned that today is June 9th instead of the 8th as I headed this letter. Hope everything's fine at home. Heard any more from H. Handwerker? There was some talk of sending another crew back to the States but the requirements were from 5 to 10 combat missions so we have too many missions for that job. (Ha) Anyway you'd just have to come back again to finish your missions later. Has Jack been getting home very often? Hope he is OK Next time you see him tell him hello for me and also he can send me his address sometime. Is Jack P. expecting to be inducted soon? I bet his mamma is really hating to see him leave. Maby since they have lifted the censorship of "Guam" we will soon be able to take some pictures around here! How did your pictures turn out? Well it's about bedtime so i'll close for tonite. Have you heard from any of my associates lately? We have some little moss that is blooming. Also our tomatoes and watermelons are blooming. Most everything else is being eaten up by bugs. Better go now Love and best wishes, Austin

18 Missions June 10, 1945 Guam Dear Mother & Sis, Hello there, it's Sunday Nite now. We didn't go on the Mission to Tokyo last nite. This afternoon I was kown on the beach and went swimming. Really got some sun too & my face is real red. Tomorrow I have to take a proficiency examination so you see we are still going to school, you might say.(HA HA) They may leave us off a coupla missions now & get a rest-up. What is John doing these days? Are the old trucks still running, sometimes? Didn't get any mail today. there were only a few letters for our whole barracks. I think I'll go to a show tonite. I sent you a little souvenir the other day. Air Mail so you should have already received same. I hope it gets there in one piece. Our crew was on censorship detail & also the enlisted men have "guard duty" & our Navigator has Office of the Guard. That's what we do when we aren't flying. They say we probably won't get a real leave at all. Maybe they"ll leave us off a few missions tho & rest on Guam.(HA) I wrote Clifford a letter tonite. First one in ages. Hope John & A.V. are in the states by now! They should fly John back I'd think by what the radio is putting out! How are the neighbors getting along? Haven't they ever gotten the electricity turned on in their house? Is grandpa abke ti be up around the house any? And did Uncle Wes ever send that wheel-chair you spoke of? I'll bet John has been hunting some by now! Are their many squirrels this year? You could send in an article to Lauderdale paper saying I was promoted from 2nd Lt. to 1st if you care to. also that I had completed 18 combat missions over Japan at this time. Well enough for now so I'll say Bye Bye for tonite. Love & Kisses Austin

June 12 1945 Guam Hello Mother & Sis, How's thing going this morning? We are cleaning up the place a bit expecting some big General to come around inspecting. Haven't flown any in several days now. Have been getting plenty of sleep too. Yesterday we took a proficiency examination which lasted 3 hours. Questions about all the jobs in a B-29. It's almost mail time now. Yesterday I got 8 letters. They had been pretty scarce but all came at once yesterday. Lt. Binder(?) asked me if you ever got the letter he sent to you. He said he didn't expect any answer but just wondered if you got it. I got a letter from Harvey Kinney yeaterday also. He is doing just fine. Yes we are getting a few Coca-Colas over here now. Usually we drink them warm tho. Occasionally we have ice cream at meal time. That really is a treat. I hobe we get a new plane pretty soon. Our plane Is getting kinda old by now & it'as been hit by flack you know. We have it repaired toh & is in pretty good shape. Glsd to get the clipping you sent along. I'll say so long for now. Love, Austin

June 13, 1945 -Guam- Hello Mother & Sis, Received your letter today. Seems like cool weather is staying right around there eh! Well yesterday I went back to the beach & had a swim. the sun really feels good. Still have 18 missions. I'll probably have an increase by the next time I write tho. How is Tony getting along with his fish deal? We have cucumbers about an inch long on our vines. And also a watermelon or two(ha) The moss is blooming and petunias are almost ready to bloom.

Later: Thursday Morning June 14th. Didn't get to finish this as I went to the show last nite. I saw "Saratoga Trunk". Was really glad to hear George has been home. And on the radio last nite we heard where several troop ships had pulled into the New York Harbor laden with released Prisoners of War. Hope John & all are home by the time you get this. how has everything been lately? Hope it isn't so cold as it was. Did John ever set out the pecan trees between the house & the store? You said something about the grain being ready to harvest out there soon. Can he get the combine in between the trees OK. they usually set pecan trees 75 ft. apart tho don't they. How is he doing with the combine, does it keep him pretty busy? When has Oletta heard from Billy? He should have about enough points to get out of the Army I'd think. I haven't gotten that letter from him yet. What is Hughey doing since school is out? I guess (?) will be going to Memphis to work again now. How is Mr. Keaton and Edward (his son) getting along? Did Lt. Handwerker send you 3 rolls of film? The sheets you sent me are really nice. I'm using them now. I have a rubber mattress, which I covered with a mattress cover. Then I have a sheet & a wool blanket. We sleep on regular Army cots. you know the little folding canvas cot like we use to have. They are OK with the rubber mattress. I'm sleeping on air.(HA)

19 Missions Saturday June 16, 1945 Dear Mother & Sis, How's everything? Well Yesterday I went back to OSAKA. June 15th was the anniversary of the 1st B-29 Bombing of Japan. I suppose you heard General Arnold's announcement from Guam on the raid. The General was on the field here the day before the raid and gave a little talk to all the Pilots. Oh, yesterday I got another package from Addie. Boy it sure is packed so nice. I got 2 nice rolls of cheeze a box of crackers, this stationery, and a big bag of hard candies. Several funny papers included also.(HA) Boy this Wisc. cheese is really good. I stayed in bed this morning and ate Cheeze & Crackers when I got up (8:30). Some of the crew have gone down to the beach to spend the day. I thought I'd write a few letters this morning & I might go down this afternoon. 3 of our gunners were promoted this month, now we have 1 Tech. Sgt., 3 Staff Sgts. & 1 Buck Sgt. 3 1st Lts. . 2 2nd Lt. & we don't have an Engineer at the present time. Phillips flew with us yesterday but he has a new job working in the training section. We will get a new one soon. Guess this is about all for today. Tell all hello. How's Grandpa? Love Austin

19 Missions June 17, 1945 Sunday Hello Folks, Have time for a few lines now. I went to church this morning and just got back. I'll enclose the little folder. How has everything been going lately? I got a letter from Withee yesterday. He has 36 missions in Now. He has to fly about 55. He is still a 2nd Lt. He expects his promotion any time now. I don't think I'll go on any rest leave. I'd rather try to finish my mission as soon as possible and get home. (HA) It's time for chow & I'll be busy this afternoon. Probably write you the next letter day after tomorrow. I'll say Bye Bye now. Love, Austin P.S. You wrote something in one letter about us towing a plane. No, we can't do that. I said we ferried a plane. In other words, we just flew a plane back from Iwo Jima to Tinian for the Groups over there. We left ours at Iwo to be repaired.

20 Missions

June 18, 1945 Monday Dear Mother & Sis, Hello there! It's almost time for supper now. I'll just drop you a few little lines real quick. Here's something I have a new (APO#334). You can put that on my letters instead of (APO 246 Unit 2) Made another mission last nite & am really tired today. We went to Kyoshu. Oh, I never did send those clothes home I mentioned. I packed them up but didn't ever send them. We had a crew picture made last nite before we took off on the mission. We are supposed to get a copy of it. Well This is all for now. I'll have time to write more tomorrow. Hope all are well. Bye Bye, Love, Austin (same letter)

June 19th Well everything's about the same around here today. I've been censoring mail this morning. Guess this is all. Love, Austin

20 Missions June 21st Thursday Dear Mother And Sister, Boy I received 3 letters from you at once yesterday. Was very glad to get them too. The clippings were very interesting. I'm glad you are going to get the Press now. Did you get 3 rolls of film from Lt. Handwerker? (Answer) Yesterday I went swimming. We took our lunch & stayed all day. I have a peeling nose this morning. It's raining again here today. I hope it's stopped enough there so farming can be done. Last nite our Officers Club opened up. We had a band here & a dance. About 40 nurses & Red Cross girls were here for the dance. Everyone had a big time. No, I don't need any memo books. thanks. Glad you got your phone moved & it's working O.K. now. How is Miss Lovey and her teeth pulling coming along? Thanks for mailing the packages. A Request: (Send me some SOAP, wash cloths, and candy.) How is Joe Harry & Faye Delle. Guess Edgar G. is having a good time. Yes I'm hoping to get a leave home after I complete my missions.(35) Don't think I'm moving up any closer. Well all close for now Love & Kisses, Austin

21 Missions June 23 Guam Dear Mother & Sis Just time to write a quick letter before supper tonite. I got a nice letter from you & sister both today. was glad to get the information I have been asking so much about. The pictures(HA) You never seem to mention them so I didn't know If you had ever gotten them at all or not. Was on the 21st mission yesterday. It was pretty rough. Lost a good buddis on it. Will tell you about it later but I have to wait until the right people have been notified. His next of kin. Here's a bit of news. We got a brand new plane today. Haven't flown it at all yet. The old one has kinda gotten attached to us & in some ways we hate to leave. Boy we really came within inches of going down over Japan yesterday. I can write about it sometime later I guess. We got our crew picture & it really is nice. It may be in the paper soon. If it's in the Ripley paper see if you can't get a copy of it from the news paper office. We may not be able to keep the one we have. Better go now. Love, Austin

21 Missions "Guam" June 25, 1945

21 missions June 25, 1945 Dear Mom & Sis, Today has been a very nice day. I flew the new plane this afternoon. Went up solo for the first time. Lucas stayed on the ground & another pilot & myself took the Big Bird up for a while. Did OK. We decided to keep our old plane tho instead of taking the new one It's such a trusty ole ship we like it better than a new one. Our ground crew is really a good bunch of boys for our old plane & if we get a new plane we'll also get a new ground crew. So they are the boys who take care of the engines & fix all the things that go wrong with the plane. Our plane has 28 missions on it now. That's the record number for our Squadron. I have flown 21 and they are all in the same plane. A few other crews flew our plane occasionally to put the extra 7 missions on it. We have a large picture of our crew (8x10) hanging up in our barracks. It belongs to Lucas tho. Wish you could see it. We are all going to try to get prints of this picture. The mail has been (?) over here lately. Some days no one in. our barracks even gets one letter. Maby it will pick up again soon & We'll be showered with letters all at once. There are several cute souvenirs of Guam available around here. I'll see if I can't cgt a couple soon & send home. How is Mr. Keaton? Hope the weather is dry enough so John can use his combine all he needs to. Well that's about all for tonite. Oh, yes since our Officers Club opened we have pineapple juice & ice to put in it. Really nice. Coca-Cola too. Love, Austin

21 Missions June 28, 1945 Thursday Dear Mother and Sister, Just time for a few lines before going to bed tonight. Am stuck on that 21 missions it looks like. They have left us off the last few missions for some reason. I think we will get a rest leave now one of these days. I don't expect to get the rest of my missions as quickly as the first 20 came. We are going to fly formation missions mostly. I had much rather fly the nite missions. Tomorrow I think see go to the Beach. We may take our lunch down with us. Today I got letters from you from 2 weeks to 7 days old. They were very welcome tho at that. Just got your letter where you first mentioned John Bishop's release from the Prison Camp. Has he arrived in the states yet? Also what's the news from A.V.? Don't tell this for a fact but if I do go to a rest camp it will be Sydney, Australia. I think that would be a good deal. The thing we are sweating out at present is whether we have to fly 30 or 35 missions. Some say 30 some say 30 to 35 so no one seems to know. The main thing is whether there is a crew to replace you or not. Well, tell John to take it easy on the Combine & don't save too many (?) per day. Hope I am home when he Combines the Beans! Tell all hello. Love Austin

21 Missions June 30, 1945 Guam Dearest Sister, Since I get so many nice letters from you, I thought I'd just sit down & write one especially for you. Today has been a scorcher and I've been trying to keep cool most of the day. We had intended to fly today but the mission was called off. Probably weather is bad over Japan or something. Oh, yes I saw the article about Gen LeMay flying to Washington. He didn't fly from Guam non-stop though. It was Hawaii to Washington non stop. Our new Commanding General of the 21st Bomber Command is General Power. I have to name one of these planes after a city. Since Memphis is already taken by Hardwacker I think I'll let the rest of the crew draw straws to see who gets the honors of naming the city. Might as well tell you they made me an Air-plane Commander and now I have a crew of my own. They are all new men to me. Lucas is still flying with the rest of our old crew and I have a crew that has 17 missions in now. I was given a plane to call my own and thus have a name for it. Today we got paid. I didn't send any extra money home this time above the $150 allotment. We may go to Sydney and I'll need some money if I do. How ever since this change in crew I probably won't go as quickly as I would have otherwise. Well I'll have to stop for now. Tell John & Johnie Cake hello for me! Love to all Austin