July 29, 1944

Dear Mom,

How's my best girl these warm summer days? Do you over go up to North Pond swimming live we used to?

They won't let us go in the water on the beaches around here. They must be afraid of unexploded mines. I think they tell up things like that just to keep is from sneaking off and goldbricking. They really have a job on their hands watching me, although it seems like I haven't had any time off now for quite awhile.

Every time my flight leader goes up, he makes me fly his wing. He says he can't afford to lose me and that's what he likes. When we do go up, we pull steady streamers from  the time we leave until we get back. In case you don't know what streamers are, they are similar to vapor trails. You've seen streaks way up high caused by airplanes. The  same thing can be done down low by raking the ship around in steep turns and dives. It leaves two white steaks of vapor coming off each wing tip. They do however, disappear quite quickly down low on the deck.

They called me up from group the other day and told me they had sent a story in to The Boston Evening American on me, about dive bombing mission we were on and they also said they were going to have a picture of me. He said he would send you a copy of the story along with a picture.

Don't let the papers fool you. I'm really quite safe. We have lost more boys in training than we have lost here. It's just according to how your luck runs and mine has always been pretty good.

As Ever

Al