Dear Mom,

I certainly have been lax in writing lately but I promise it won't happen again. We have been very busy lately and I'll tell you all about it. In the first place we've been flying pretty regular and it's tiring so I get to bed early when we XXX. Pardon the blot but my pen seems to be acting up. Then what has really taken up my time is the fact that we've moved. They winterized our tents so we're all set for cold weather. They built a 18 inch wall all around the base of the tent then put a wall up in back so you can extend one side of the tent. The wall is about four feet high and it looks like this without the tent. When the tent is up it looks like this.

The base and wall is built out of large sandstone blocks about 18" by 10" by 8". They are very soft but they do the job. All the work was in moving our tent and building a stove and putting in a wood floor. The stove is made out of 50 gallon oil drum cut in half and a shell casing. We burn kerosene. The bottom of the shell casing is used as the burner while the rest is used to attach the stove pipe to the drum - it looks like this.

The base of the shell is fixed like this and fits in the opening in front of the drum. The holes are for draft. It does a pretty good job. The floor we put in is pretty funny. It's built from boxes and scrap lumber but it's a floor. Each one of us built a desk for writing and a few shelves for our junk. We're pretty well settled XXX now so we're getting back to normal again. Lew's radio works fine and we've got electric lights. We're all set for a long cold winter.

Well the package has not arrived as yet. I'm really waiting for it now cause I lost my pipe the other night at the show. So you drink, play cards, and keep up with the Jones's now, eh? Good for you - next you should take up bowling with Dad. I got a letter from Mae but I think I told you that already. I also got one from Ann and another one from Con. I also got the one you mailed, Pa, on the 11th. Say, 194 and 165, those are really scores - the highest I've ever bowled is about 175 and I only did that once. I got the birthday card OK. I'm not conceited or anything but I put the picture in my wallet. I sure like the one of the three pictures, they're swell. That one of Pa is good, too. Now all I need is a good one of you, Ma. I can't get any cards here so I'll just have to say happy birthday Pa and on the next one we'll get drunk together. Say, please send my address to Son and tell him to write me. Did you get that manilla folder I sent home - if so was everything in it? When we go to rest camp we'll be going to Cairo - that sure should be nice. It's too cold to go to Capri now so they send us all to Cairo. Maybe I'll get to see the Sphinx or however you spell it. It's raining tonight but we're quite dry and warm. There's only one hole in the tent and it doesn't bother anything.

I have kinda of a problem that I'd like to get your opinions on. I will get a chance to either take a reserve officers or regular army commission after the war. I've been thinking of the regular army - I could go to school and fly all the army planes - good salary and a pension at 45 years old. It's a good salary and not hard to take. Tell me what you think of it.

Oh yes, on one of our missions we got shot up a bit but we all got back safe and sound so everything was OK. It's a good thing a B-24 has more than one engine on it. But as they say war is war. You know the only thing worries me is that if I do join the regular army they might keep me over here in the army of occupation and they are going to keep a large air force over here. If I do join it will be for 25 years which is supposed to have four years of duty outside of the U.S. Well you don't have to worry yet cause I haven't decided for sure as yet. It's something to think about though.

Well that's all for tonight so I'll close with a happy birthday to you Pa.

Love, Rae