Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.050 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Childress, Texas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 October 1943 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 27.2 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad and Bee." He writes that he is twelve days away from "those coveted wings." Tried to call home this morning, but didn't make it through. Finished up ground school, and they've been flying from 6PM-1AM this week, and don't get off until 3AM. The next few days will be spent dropping bombs to reach their quota.
Sends his congratulations to Ken for getting promoted and wants to know when his wedding will be, as he wants to be there. He'll probably get a ten-day leave after graduation before rejoining his tactical unit.
The letter is written on "Army Air Forces, Bombardier School, Childress, Texas," letterhead and is dated "Sunday." "Letters in a Box" notes that the date is October 10, 1943.
Robert "Bob" Stone was a Bombardier in World War II and served in the Pacific Front. These letters, were compiled by Bob's wife, Sheila M. Stone, and Ali Adair into a book named Letters in a Box. This book details Bob's service to his country, and his life after the war. Bob's letters were donated to the collection by his wife, Sheila M. Stone, in 2017. It contains a variety of letters, postcards, patches, pins, photographs, and scrapbooks that relate to Bob's training and combat missions.
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
Sunday
Dear Dad & Bee -
Here tis another week gone by which brings us just 12 days away from those coveted wings. It's so exciting that it's hard to believe that we've come all this way.
I put a call in to you this morning and as yet at 2:10 I haven't been called back. I still hope that it gets through cause I'd sure like to speak to you again. I haven't heard from you Dad, since maneuvers but I guess it's cause you're so busy. As yet I haven't received my O.D.'s but I imagine they'll come in a day or so, Bee. The Grapevine came and it really was swell. I think Ann did a good job on it. Many thanks. Before I forget Dad, would you please send me Eddie Greenbaum and Aunt Grace's addresses? Please don't forget this.
We've just finished up all our ground school classes except for meteorology which we'll wind up this coming week. We've been flying from 6:00 until 1:00 at night all this past week. It's been a long hard routine and it's been
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most tiring. We're behind due to bad weather and so last night we flew three missions and didn't get off the line until after 3:00. We don't have any open post and we've got to report to the line again at 7:00 tonight. For the next 12 days we'll be in the blue most of the time trying to get all our bombs dropped.
Starting monday we'll begin our worst schedule so far. We get up at 3:00 in the morning of all hours and fly from 4:00 until 12:00. Talk about your round-the-clock bombing, that's certainly it. What they won't do to tire us out.
That certainly is wonderful news about Ken's promotion. Everything good seems to happen at once. Please congratulate him for me, but really I have no time to write. I'm sure he'll understand. Be sure to let me know if he's going to get married any sooner than he'd originally planned. I'd give anything to be home for that day. If all goes O.K. we ought to get a 10 day leave before going with a tactical unit. It would be too wonderful to think about. Cross your fingers.
Hope I can get my call through. By the way, do you think you can dig up an extra shoe stamp? If so I could put it to good use.
Write often - Lots of love -
Bobby
[envelope]
A/C R. L. Stone 12120188
Class 43-13
Squadron 7 Flight D
Childress, Texas
Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
N. Y.
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