April 1, 1944

                                                            April 1
Dear Folks: Thurs. Had some spring weather then turned cold like Kans. We landed at another field and stayed over nite and then back here. We surely have a collection of doggies around here. Saw one in another squadron to-day. He is just a pup and looks like a little bear, cocks his head on one side to look at anything and goes off to sleep in a twinkling when things get dull.
            Your letter of Mar 20 came thru in 10 days Airmail. The V-mail isn’t too regular. It comes all in a bunch so some of it is on time & rest is late. Also got letter from Arlan. Which Fred Martin had a sale? I thot Fred Sr. sold out a few yrs. ago Don’t send me gum. Being on combat crew can get more than I can chew. Not that we waste it, however. Hope your face is better. Also, don’t send me soap, tooth powder or brushes or razor blades since I brought a lot over in my trunk. Hope the film gets here O.K. Picture of Red Cross “Clubmobiles” in Feb. “Life” looked very familiar. Red Cross surely doing a good job over here, Tell Hank. Did I tell you the overseas issue of “Life” is printed on thin paper & no advertisements? Got paid $133 for trip over here. And of course transportation was furnished! Also got monthly pay this week. We have changed the name of our plane to “Dragon Wagon” and will have a dragon painted on it. We are each painting our names under our windows. The planes in this group have some real names: “Wogpatterass”, “Sam Cran”, “Swoose”, “Huntress”, “Mad Bull”, “Pop’s Wagon”, “Ill Wind”, “Grinnin’ Gremlin”, “Belle of Mt. Rainer”, “Screamin’ Demon”, “Beachcomber” and more I can’t think of now. A traveling PX of officers clothes came around to-day and I went over and bought 2 shirts for our radio gunner. Hope Chris & Jo have place to themselves by now.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John