Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009 to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, Jim Stone, and Barry Marks

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GLC#
GLC09620.047-View header record
Type
Letters
Date
25 September 1943
Author/Creator
Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009
Title
to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, Jim Stone, and Barry Marks
Place Written
Childress, Texas
Pagination
6 p. : envelope Height: 27.3 cm, Width: 19.5 cm
PDF Download(s)
Transcript of document
Primary time period
Great Depression and World War II, 1929-1945
Sub-Era
World War II

Addressed to "Dad, Bee, Don, Jim, and Barry." He finished up with "maneuvers," and he is mighty glad to be back after spending six days in "the wilds of West Texas." He and thirteen others flew out in a B-18 bomber plane, they landed and began their duties. They lost one plane on the way and lost two cadets, the pilot, and crew chief. On Tuesday, he went on a Navigation mission, and completed three separate bombing missions in the afternoon. The next day, he filled bombs with sand and loaded them on trucks. Thursday contained two more bombing missions and overnight guard duty. He was on K.P. [Kitchen Patrol] on Friday and after supper, a small plane lost a wing in mid-air and blew up, killing two officers immediately on the field. He writes of Capt. Sayer, one of the officers who died, in high regard. The next morning, a heavy fog rolled in and they could not fly, which was good because everyone was a bit shaken. The following day they couldn't drop bombs so they went back to Childress a day early. They were "tired, dirty, and mighty anxious," from the tough conditions and the training accidents.

Mentions a new, "screwy" schedule for bombing raids from Midnight to 6AM, and plans on getting some rest after the close of this letter.

The letter is written on "Army Air Forces, Bombardier School, Childress, Texas," letterhead and is dated "Saturday nite." "Letters in a Box" notes that the date is September 25, 1943.

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