July 6, 1944

Dear Folks: How does this V-mail come thru compared to air-mail now? I put an air-mail stamp on the V-mail and it is supposed to go air-mail. Wonder if it does. We are re-painting our floor so have all the beds and most of the furniture pushed up in one end. It is slightly crowded and will paint the other half to-morrow. The Limeys helped us to celebrate the 4th of July. We had a Gypsy fortune teller, bingo, darts, and a beauty contest for the girls. Another Gypsy rented his horses out for riding. Civilians around here were invited to the party and quite a few came. Among them was a 9 yr. old blind boy who played the piano. I didn’t hear him but the boys said he could really play and they took up a collection for him and he got several hundred dollars.
            While all this was going on Watkinson (Watt) and I got the little monoplane again and we shot some landings. I don’t think I told you before but we have another Irishman on our crew. Name is Jack Dougherty and a good bombadier. Doc. Melvin is away on detached service so have one less in our hut for awhile. Just finished reading “One Man’s West” and now reading “I Married Adventure” by Martin Johnson’s wife.[*]   John

[*Osa Johnson]