July 26, 1944

Dear Mom, Pop, Avis, Shirley, Marie,

How's my favorite family doing these days? Busy as bees I suppose, Speaking of bees there's one flying around a can of open jelly here on my desk. I've made three passes at him from a twenty degree angle and shot wide the whole three times. My guns must be out of harmonization. On my third pass I nailed him on the right wing tip. He's probably gone home to repair his battle damage.

Bill wrote and told be that he and Ruth told you where I was. Seeing that you are as hard as "nails" (Oh! Oh! here comes that bee again). Time out while I plaster him. Mendy just walked into the tent and scared him off. Mendy's headed for London Town. We get five days a month off and we fly back to England to break up the monotony. My five days hasn't come around yet. After reading the papers and hearing about the flying bombs, maybe I won't head for London, however, I will enjoy my leave, it's about time they're giving them out. It'll be my first one since last November when I was home.

If you read Ruthie's letter you may have read that I'm allowed to wear my E.T.O. Ribbon with three stars on it. One for flying over occupied territory from England, one for "D-Day" and one for over here. Also I'm entitled to the Air Medal with four Oak Leave Clusters. They're going up little by little. Maybe some day I'll even be a small time operator.

I would like to own a washing machine over here. It costs anywhere from $8.00 to $12.00 to have laundry done over here. If you bought all the clothes brand new it wouldn't cost you over four or five dollars. I do my own, at least it occupies my spare time. Yesterday one of the kids put his colored socks in with his underwear and now he has pink undies. What a mess.

We have a good bunch over here and we do have a lot of fun. You have to make your own. I'm gaining a little weight again. I'll send you a couple of pictures of my flight that was taken outside the tent. Tow of the buys weren't there.

Take care of yourselves and I'll see you soon. Regards to all my friends and love and kisses to the family.

As Ever

Al