December 10, 1944

                                                            10 Dec. 1944
Dear Folks:
            As you can see I’m out of FAAF for the week end. We started for Minneapolis but had to land here for gas and couldn’t get off again on account of weather. That was yesterday afternoon and I think the weather has cleared enough for us to go back this afternoon. Lt. Grossman was going to Minneapolis to see his wife, who is “expecting”, and there had to be 2 pilots in the plane so I went. In these cross-countries I always get mixed up with some one who has just had a baby or just expecting one. Remember last Christmas?
            When we took off at Frederick the ceiling was low but weather here was supposed to be better. We climbed up thru the clouds and came all the way on top then let down again thru the soup by radio. At 3000′ as we came down we ran into freezing rain and started picking up ice. When we broke thru at 500′ we couldn’t see out of the windshield because of the ice. It was still raining and freezing and we landed by Grossman sticking his head out one window and I had mine out the other. We had an AT-17 and at 120 mph. the breeze really goes by your ears. Another plane that left Frederick after we did spun in here trying to land.
            Myers, my room mate, had a death in the family so he went to Indiana on a 7 day emergency leave. I sent a package last week. You will have to open it and give the shoes to Chris for Christmas. According to weather reports at weather office you got a good snow. All for now.
                                                John