March 19, 1944
Dear Folks: Mar. 19
Just got your letter of Mar 6 saying you got my V-mail from England. I should be getting some letters soon by the new APO number. I’ve only sent one or two V-mail and rest have been airmail. Got my pictures back last week. They were developed by the army and censored so believe they will get thru O.K. I am keeping negatives of some and prints of others and will send them a few at a time.
James Cagney of the movies was here a few minutes last week. One of the men in another hut bought a cocker spaniel pup. Same kind as the black dog I told you about. This one is taffy colored and is about a month old so his ears are about as big as he is. The enlisted men have a little mongrel pup. Surely is cute. They are going to make him a coat and take him along on raids. I was alert officer one day last week so spent half of one nite censoring mail. Surely had a lovely day on St. Patricks day. Wasn’t a cloud in the sky and we had doors and windows open. Did I tell you we dress up in blouses for evening meal? The mess hall has some pot bellied stoves and we always toast our bread by holding it on a fork against the stove.
Sounds like our weather is a lot better than yours. Got Marvel Lee’s new address to-day. Not much going on. Will write to Marvel Lee & Arlan. Got a V-mail from Jo of Feb 29.
Yours truly,
John

Taking a pup along on raids?!! I don’t know about this…
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I believe it happened quite regularly…
Here’s a photo (not 391st…)
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/907
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Just done a little more research and the dog, Salvo, was quite a celebrity. I don’t necessarily agree with what happened to him, however they were extraordinary times and I suspect it helped men cope with what they were facing on a daily basis…
Details of Salvo can be found here…
https://bpl-hc.blogspot.com/2021/01/flying-dog-at-barksdale.html
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