Kearney Staging
Kearney, Nebraska, and California · early February 1945
February opened at Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska — snow, cold, and the last stateside stop before the Pacific. Austin had left the 93rd squadron briefly for the 28th, then expected to return; for the moment he was acting assistant group operations officer in the same bachelor officers’ quarters as the commanding officer and his staff. Capt. Cook and the crew were there. They talked of naming the airplane Battling Betsy for Cook’s wife Betty. He started a $150 monthly allotment home for bonds and warned Cherry that silence might stretch once he left.
Dear Mother, Another busy day and it's still so cold too. Snow on the ground and still looks like more. How has everyone been? I haven't been able to get any mail since I left G.B. I sure hope this mail situation of mine doesn't get too mixed up. You see I was in the 93rd & am now 28th but will be 93rd again soon. I will send you a temporary APO No. soon. […] I'm living in the same B.O.Q with the commanding Officer & His staff. I'm the only officer lower than a Major in this building. Of course I have a Majors job. now also tho. I'm Acting Assist. Group Operations Officer until I get back with my crew. It was really a streak of luck that I got to come along with these guys. Just as I was about to give up One pilot up here broke his leg so Major Maley the Assist. Operations Officer had to take over this pilot's crew. So as I was right there trying to get across with this group the just made me the Assist. Grp Operat. Officer. […] I am taking out an allotment to send home 150 each month and I want you to buy bonds for me as it comes in. […] Now don't you be worrying about me. I'll write as often as possible but maybe there will be times that you wont hear for quite a while. But you can understand that. Love to all Austin
Historical note — Kearney staging and APOKearney Army Air Field was a Second Air Force staging base for B-29 groups leaving for the Pacific. Crews drew final equipment, waited out weather, and received temporary overseas addresses. APO meant Army Post Office — a numbered overseas mail address routed through a stateside postmaster (here, San Francisco). Until a permanent APO card arrived, families were told to use the temporary number. AAF was the Army Air Forces, still part of the War Department Army.
His temporary Kearney address listed the 19th Bomb Group care of the base post office. The permanent card would follow from the Marianas.
On 4 February he gave Cherry the Kearney address to use until the temporary APO came. By Thursday the 8th he was already at a California port of embarkation, writing on American Red Cross stationery from bachelor officers’ quarters, camera sealed, Swiss watch registered, and a thousand dollars’ worth of flying gear issued. He thought he would beat Cook overseas.
Hello Mother & All, Well I'm in a different part of the country today. I'm at a Port of Embarcation in California. Every thing is just fine. I sent my laundry out tonite & will get it back tomorrow. Didn't have any stationery with me so I picked up this Res Cross stationery at the B.O.Q. Hdqs. Hope all is fine around home. This adress will be my temporary APO#. You can use that now until I send you a later change of address. When you get my last & permanent A.P.O.# with a card it entitles you to send one package to me. Don't know of anything I'll need tho. After that the only thing you can send will be something I write & ask for. […] I have my camera with me but have to have it sealed up until I get across. Also this wrist watch has Swiss Movement & I have to register that also so I can bring it back when we come into the states again. […] The way things are going now I'm going to beat Cook & the others overseas. Well solong for now Love to all Austin Lt. Austin H. Winn, 0.774857 19th Bomb Group APO# 18179-CZ-3 c/o Post Master San Francisco, Calif.
Historical note — departure for the PacificFrom California embarkation points, B-29 crews and ferry flights crossed the Pacific by stages — often through Hawaii — toward the Marianas. Censorship sealed cameras until arrival. Package mail to a permanent APO was limited; after the first authorized parcel, families could send only what the soldier specifically requested. Austin’s temporary APO still routed through the San Francisco postmaster. Within a week he would write from “Somewhere in the Marianas.”