March 28, 1943

Dear Mother,
          I received your letter last week so
seeing this is Sunday night already I think
it is about time to answer. I got up
this morning with good intentions of going
to church. Then a fellow was asking how
to get to Duncan Field so I went with
him to see Harold Belding. I loaned him
some money once and thought I would
collect it. He is A.W.O.L again. So I didn't
see him. This makes the 4th time he has
been A.W.O.L so I guess it is the guard house
this time.
          Did you have church this Sunday?
I bet it did seem funny not to go to church.
Has there been anymore sickness in Berkey?
Irene wrote and told me about it, but
I received her letter the same day.


          It has been a grand day out today.
The sun has shown all day. It was
rather hot put there was a good breeze.
          Last week we were rather busy all
the time. We had a clothing inspection and
had to mark all our clothing. We had to
check and list all we have to receive yet.
Gosh it sure was a job. April 15th we
have another clothing inspection.
          I got some pictures from Luella and Marie
this week. I'll have to find time to write
to them and send them back to them. They
really are keeping us on the beam down
here. I am going to try and get a pass and
go to Houston to see if I can locate
Ilene Whitman and her husband. See if
King's have her address.
          I don't know if you know when Irene's
birthday is or not. it is April 20th. Just in
case you want to send her a birthday card.
It will soon be 4 months since I had a
furlough. I may be able to receive another
one. I don't know yet for sure. Maybe in
May or June. I sure would like to be
home on my birthday. I think if I do
have a furlough there will be a surprise in it.


          I am going to have to find time to write
a few letters. I am behind in keeping up
my letter writing. Gosh time I receive a
letter everyweek from you, Marie, Luella and
Lenore and a few others and Irene everyday
I have quite a few stacked up to write.
          Lights go out at 9:00 o'clock so it doesn't give
us much time to write. I try to answer
all my letters. I owe Mr. Meyer a letter but
I don't know what to write about.
          We have been getting some poor meals
to eat again. They don't have any bread lately.
          Well I can't think of much more to
write about. So I guess I will have to close
and get to bed. Five o'clock comes around
rather early. Goodnight and I hope there is
no more sickness in Berkey. Gosh how why


is it that disease like that has to start
out. Well I guess this is all for now. Write
soon. Tell Ruth I am expecting an answer.
                                  Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on April 4th.

Background Information (and comments):

• I'm guessing the sickness/disease in Berkey may have been the flu. The following information was found. Berkey is in NW Ohio, about 1/2 mile from the Michigan border. Ralph's first days in the army were spent at Ft. Custer.

Experience in 1943-44

Although influenza was inconspicuous during the preceding winter, each succeeding season carried the possibility of a severe epidemic which, with crucial operations mounting in many parts of the world, might be critical. Advance information was desirable. The virus laboratories of the Commission oil Influenza of the Army Epidemiological Board were still alert in various areas, and the continued high incidence of respiratory disease held the attention of all medical agencies. Commission investigators identified influenza B widely but largely subclinically in two institutions in Michigan during March and April; two cases of type A were also found. Sporadic cases of type B were also detected at Fort Custer, Mich., and among students at the University of Michigan.¹⁹ 

March 21, 1943

Dear Mother,
          Well here it is the first day of
spring. It is rather cool and quite windy
here today, but otherwise it is a swell
day. No clouds to be seen. I went to
church this morning. We had a nice
service and next Sunday our new
chapel will be dedicated. I hope I will
be able to go to that.
          What have you been doing lately?
I have been rather busy here all
week. We have quite a few big bombers
in for repair. I have been on the rifle
range Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday
afternoon. I had a physical overseas
exam. I guess this is just to find out
how many men in the outfit are fit
to go across if we ever do. Quite a
few are home on furloughs now and
more leaving next week. They get

seven days at home and traveling time.
They would allow me two days comeing and
two going and 7 days at home. Maybe I
will be able to get a furlough in May
or June. I am going to try for one around
my birthday. I haven't heard from any
of the kids this week. Only Irene and
I hear from her everyday. She said
she wrote a letter to you the other day.
          My barracks won the barracks
inspection so we don't have to answer
revilles in the mornings for a week. One
half hour longer to lay to bed. Well
I guess this is all for now. I got your
letter last Wednesday. So long for now write
soon. Thanks for the money.
                                       Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on March 28th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Ralph's birthday was May 30th. He was born in 1919.
• Just out of curiosity, I looked up the date of Easter in 1943. It fell on April 25th, which is the latest date it can be. It hasn't fallen on April 25th since 1943; the closest in my lifetime was in 2011 when it was on April 24th. 

March 17, 1943

Dear Mother,
          I received your letter you wrote Sunday
today. Gee was I surprise. Most usually
it is on Wednesday that I never receive any
mail. Irene's letters don't come on that day even.
I think it is because Sunday holds them up.
Irene's and your letter must have come through
on a fast train. Both were mailed Monday.
          I was going to write before this but
I really have been to busy. Monday we
started on the day shift on the repair line.
We get up at 5:00 A.M. and have to be at the
hangers at 7 o'clock. Saturday night there
was a B-24 and a B-26 bomber came in
for a general overall job. This morning there
were 5 A.T.18 twin motor transports come
in for a complete overall job. This is really
looking like an airport now. So many big
ships all around. The B-24 is so big we
can't get it in our hangers here. It is
warm enough to work outside on them anyway.

     
We really have been haveing some hot days
here this week. Just like summer. Monday
is was 87 degrees inside the barracks, and
out in the sun it was really hot. I don't
know what it will be in the summer time
here.
          Next week there is another big gang leaving
on furloughs. I may be able to get one soon. I
hope so, about the latter part of May or in June.
Gee it seems like it has been a long time
since I have been home, and yet it seems
like the months are going by fast.
          I got a card from Mr. Meyer. He told me
about the funeral. Irene told me about the
fire in Sylvania. It was the man who use
to run the bowling alley in Sylvania.
          Well news is scarce for now. So I guess
I will have to close. I hope spring does get
up there to you pretty soon. You really have
had a tough winter. I don't know who will be
sent to Dayton yet. Maybe none of us. Goodbye
for now and thanks for the money. Write soon.
     
                                    Love Ralph.

The next letter will be posted on March 21st.

Background Information (and comments):

•  Here's some details on the B-24, the B-26, and the AT-18:

B 24 - LIBERATOR 

• 
   
  The B-24 was employed in operations in every combat theater during the war. Because of its great range, it was particularly suited for such missions as the famous raid from North Africa against the oil industry at Ploesti, Rumania on August 1, 1943. This feature also made the airplane suitable for long over-water missions in the Pacific Theater. More than 18,000 Liberators were produced.
  The B-24D on display flew combat missions from North Africa in 1943-44 with the 512th Bomb Squadron. It was flown to the U.S. Air Force Museum in May 1959. It is the same type airplane as the Lady Be Good, the world-famous B-24D which disappeared on a mission from North Africa in April 1943 and which was found in the Libyan Desert in May 1959.
  
  
  SPECIFICATIONS
  Span: 110 ft. 0 in.
  Length: 66 ft. 4 in.
  Height: 17 ft. 11 in.
  Weight: 56,000 lbs. loaded
  Armament: Ten .50-cal. machine guns and 8,000 lbs. of bombs
  Engines: Four Pratt & Whitney R-1830s of 1,200 hp. ea.
  Cost: $336,000
  Serial Number: 42-72843
  PERFORMANCE
  Maximum speed: 303 mph.
  Cruising speed: 175 mph.
  Range: 2,850 mph.
  Service Ceiling: 28,000 ft

MARTIN B-26G MARAUDER

Although the Marauder did not make its first flight until November 25, 1940, its design showed such promise that 1,131 B-26s were ordered by the Air Corps in September 1940. The airplane began flying combat missions in the Southwest Pacific in the spring of 1942, but most of the B-26s subsequently assigned to operational theaters were sent to England and the Mediterranean area.

Bombing from medium altitudes of 10,000 to 15,000 feet, the Marauder had the lowest loss rate of any Allied bomber--less than one-half of one percent. By the end of WW II, it had flown more than 110,000 sorties and had dropped 150,000 tons of bombs, and had been used in combat by British, Free French, Australian, South African and Canadian forces in addition to U.S. units. In 1945 when B-26 production was halted, 5,266 had been built.

The Marauder on display was flown in combat by the Free French during the final months of WW II. It was obtained from the French airline Air France training school near Paris in June 1965.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 71 ft. 0 in.
Length: 58 ft. 6 in.
Height: 20 ft. 3 in.
Weight: 37,000 lbs. loaded
Armament: Eleven .50-cal. machine guns; 4,000 lbs. of bombs
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800s of 2,000 hp. ea.
Cost: $227,000
Serial Number: 43-34581
Displayed as (S/N): 42-95857

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 285 mph.
Cruising speed: 190 mph.
Range: 1,100 miles
Service Ceiling: 19,800 ft.

The Lockheed AT-18 was an advanced trainer based on the Lockheed Hudson. The USAAF placed an order for 300 AT-18s on 8 May 1942. All 300 aircraft were powered by 1,200hp Wright R-1820-87 engines. Production was split into two blocks. 217 aircraft were produced as AT-18-LO gunnery trainers, equipped with a Martin dorsal turret armed with twin 0.50in machine guns, while the remaining 83 aircraft were produced as AT-18A-LO navigational trainers. These aircraft had the turret removed and had space for the pilot, the instructor and three students.

March 12, 1943

Dear Mother,
          Received your letter today so I will
be prompt in answering it. We are in the
shops now. We don't have any work to do
so I thought this would be a good time to
write a letter.
          You talk about your cold weather at
home. Today here in the barracks the
thermometer was 82 and outside in the sun
it was really hot. Tonight there is a
good breeze and it has cooled off a lot.
          Beginning today, and every Friday is
gas alert day. Everyone at the post has to
carry his gas mask with him. This morning
about 10 o'clock they set off a screening
smoke. You couldn't see from one barracks
to another. Boy it was sure dense. Then
a jeep drove around and they used tear
gas. Everybody was glad to have his
mask on. I got your letter today and one
from Irene. Luella's letter came yesterday.


          Has the sugar factory finished up this
year yet? I have been wondering if they got all
the beets through. They really had a cold
winter to run the beets through in. I can
imagine how they sliced after being frozen
all winter.
          I hope you get over your cold and get to
feeling a little better. Quite a few fellows are
hearing from home that everybody has had
bad colds. I guess it is because out east
they can't get fuel to keep warm. I suppose
when spring does come it will turn just
as sudden as the winter did.
          I was issued my dog tags today. The
first ones I have had since comeing into the
army. They sure get around to issueing
things in a hurry.
          Well there isn't much more to write
so will close for tonight. Write soon. I don't
have much news.
                                         Love  Ralph.


The next letter will be posted March 17th.

March 9, 1943

Dear Mother,
          Well here it is Tuesday morning. I didn't
get a chance to write Sunday. I went into town
around noon Sunday and then went to the zoo.
Another fellow and I was together. We ran
into a couple of girls I met at Duncan Field
and we started to take pictures of the zoo. They
had seven rolls of film and we took them
up. There brothers were with them. One
was about Dickie's age. Gosh it seemed good
to be around kids again. It takes your
mind off of all this army stuff for awhile.
          We are haveing typical March weather
here this morning. One day it is nice and
warm and the next day it is cloudy cold
and the wind blows a gale. Today it looks
as if it could rain any minute. We have had


just one good hard shower since I have been
down here.
          Yesterday I got a box of cookies from Marie.
Gee was I surprise to get them. She never
mentioned them in her letter. I guess I will have
to write a letter this week to all of them back
home. Gosh there is so many to write to. I
hardly know what to write about.
          There may be a possibilty of my comeing to
Dayton Ohio for a couple of weeks to school on
the Areoprop. If I do I will try to get home
one week end while I am there. I do know
whom they will send. If they send anyone I hope
it will be me.
          The furloughs have been opened up again.
They say that everyone will receive a furlough.
Of course, those that have had them will have
to wait till all have had there's. Maybe I will
get home around May or June. They are only
giving 7 days and traveling time. I hope that
I will be able to get a furlough then, but that
is another thing a person can't count to much
on. Have Harley take a picture of his car
and send it to me. I would like to see what
kind of a car he has. I bet he enjoys it a
lot. Has it a radio and heater in it?


          Well there isn't so much more to write
about now. Irene said Roger Russel was home
on an 8 day leave. Him and Bessie Herky was
down to see Irma and Irene the other night.
I sure wish I could drop in and surprise
all of you. Don't know what the score is anymore
down here. All the rumors of moving out of here
has ceased. Next week we start the day
shift in the shops. Have been on the lines
here at night for 10 weeks. It will seem
good to be able to get out nights again.
Well I guess this will be all for now.
So long for this time. Write soon and
often.
                                    Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on March 12th.

Stinson Field Texas March 1, 1943

Dear Mother,
          Well here it is March already. We
are haveing grand weather here and that
is about all we are haveing. Since going
on field rations are  meals are really
poor. We haven't had potatoes for
three days now. We have boiled rice
baked roast pork, gravy, bread and butter
for yesterdays dinner. Dinner today for
was boiled turnips, carrots, cabbage
and mutton. Most everybody said it was
goat and it smelt like it. Tonight we
had spagetti, boiled cabbage, bread,
butter and lamb stew. You couldn't
hardly get in the mess hall for the
smell. It smelt like Gus and Margrette's
place up on the 40 when they lived
there. I don't know what is going to
happen if we don't start getting better
food. Fort Sam Houston hasn't had potatoes
either. Maybe we would be better
off if we moved acrossed. We don't
know when that will be either.


          Last month Monday there was a plane crash
near the field and two were killed. Over
the weekend there was 3 more plane
crashes and all the pilots including
6 were killed. They are old ships,
just training planes wore out.
          I went to church yesterday morning
and in the afternoon went into town
to a show. I saw "Hilters Children" it
was a good proproganda picture.
          Well not much news around here
so I guess I will close it is 11 o'clock
at night. Just finished working. We got
paid today. Just send my income tax
papers into the postoffice. I will pay
the tax after I get out of the army. There
is talk of exempting a soldier from all
taxes. If this goes through I won't
have to pay any. Goodnight for time.
Write soon.
                               Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on March 9th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Since 1943 was not a leap year, but 2016 is, Ralph's letters will be off now by a day. He wrote this on Monday, March 1, 1943, but I am posting it on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. I liked it when they fell on the same day of the week.
• The "show" was Hitler's Children. 
• Here is a link to the original trailer of the movie: http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/34542/Hitler-s-Children-Original-Trailer-.html
• Here is a website and a summary: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034856/  Information is also on Wikipedia.

This lurid exposé of the Hitler Youth follows the woes of an American girl declared legally German by the Nazi government.

• Directors:

   Edward Dmytryk, Irving Reis (uncredited)

  Writers:

   Emmet Lavery (screenplay), Gregor Ziemer (book)

  Stars:

   Tim Holt, Bonita Granville, Kent Smith |
• I found this information on a website about one of the plane crashes: 

Two Cadets Are Killed In Airplane Accident

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 28 (AP).---Two Brooks Field cadets were killed about midnight Saturday, the Brooks Field public relations office announced Sunday.

They were Aviation Cadet Warren M. Pickett, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Pickett, Overton, Neb., and Aviation Cadet Marquis B. Taylor, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roule Taylor of Wauchula, Fla.

The plane crashed while on a routine night training flight.

Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX 1 Mar 1943