Wayne's Journal

Saturday

In England, Verne wrote, ”One fellow said Thank God, now I can live one more day at least.”

01-27-45

Another mission scrubbed, thank the Lord. It was to Hamburg. It scared us the minute it was briefed. One fellow said “Thank God, now I can live one more day at least.”¹ I felt the same way. Slept most of the day.² No mail as yet. Mail from Aileen has been darn poor since getting here. I expected better from her. Perhaps I’ve failed her also.³

Notes & Commentary

¹ By January 27, the 390th Bombardment Group (H) had lost 12 combat crews and their B-17s: Two to flak and nine to enemy aircraft. Another aircraft disappeared over the North Sea. One pilot, one top turret gunner and one ball turret gunner had been killed in action and their bodies brought back in returning aircraft. One pilot, one ball turret gunner, one waist gunner and one togglier had returned with wounds requiring their hospitalization.

“Operations Historical Report for January 1945.” 390th Bombardment Group (H) History, January 1945, Headquarters 390th Bombardment Group (H), 24 February 1945, microfilm B0426, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1973, frame 987. See also “Statistical Control Historical Report for January 1945.” 390th Bombardment Group (H) History, January 1945, Headquarters 390th Bombardment Group (H), 24 February 1945, microfilm B0426, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1973, frame 992.

² The mission was scrubbed after the mission briefing. Verne slept most of the day because he, as had the other members of combat crews, had risen a long time before dawn to prepare for the days mission.

³ Aileen had nothing to do with the lack of mail. Mail was critical for morale. Given the psychological stress the troops were under, a lack or delay of mail was always a problem. This was especially true for mobile units engaged in combat. Located at airbases, Wayne and Verne were more fortunate than others. Their lack of mail was primarily caused by movement to a new base. Wayne experienced this when he first arrived in the South Pacific and again in August 1944 when the 42nd Bombardment Group (M) relocated from the Russell Islands to Hollandia in New Guinea. Verne is experiencing it as his combat crew moved from the States to Station 153 in England. I have to wonder how those who rarely received mail coped.

It was a prodigious task to move all the mail going to the millions of American servicemen overseas. The volume was immense. For example, the Army Postal Unit at Station 153 in January 1945 . . . .

Received and dispatched 3,382 sacks and pouches of mail.
Received and dispatched 522 pieces of registered mail.
Envelope and stamp sales amounted to $6,287.60. [An Air Mail stamp cost 6¢ in 1945.]
Wrote 2,723 money orders amounting to $137,887.89.
Paid 573 money orders amounting to $14,493.62.
Number pieces of mail given directory service – 3,145.

“563rd Army Postal Unit Historical Report for January 1945.” 390th Bombardment Group (H) History, January 1945, Headquarters 390th Bombardment Group (H), 24 February 1945, microfilm B0426, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1973, frame 1012.