W45AUTH\WA93P-AW.DOC

 

31 missions   08-09-45

Dear Folks

            How’s everyone? Suppose your all excited about the new Atomic Bomb! We were over there also last night – and Russia has declared war on the Japs also.

            Looks like the presence of this new bomb has no effect on our missions though. I don’t have any more time to write tonight, maybe tomorrow night though.

            This should shorten the war lots.

            Glad to get the letter from John and know he stayed with you all thru the night. How is Louise and the baby. Did they all three stay with you?

            Pardon the scribbling, guess we’re just kinda mad because they don’t go ahead and use more Atomic bombs instead of sending us out again.

Love to all

Austin

 

 

32 missions  08-11-45

Guam 7:30pm at home it’s 4:30 am

Dear Mom and Sis:

            Suppose by the time you get this we’ll know what’s going on around here. Yesterday we bombed Tokyo and about 3 hours after we landed everyone was celebrating like mad because the Japs had offered us Peace terms. We still don’t know if the war is over yet or not.

            They hit us again with flak yesterday. I was flying on Lucas’ wing and he got hit also knocked his hydraulic lines out and had to land with no brakes. Everything went OK tho & non one was injured. Tokyo is about the toughest target left in Japan.

            We had an engine quite as we got in sight of the home field and landed on 3 engines.

            Well here’s hoping the fighting is all finished by now & we can get home soon.

Love to All

Austin

PS The way people were shooting pistols & flaires it wasn’t safe to venture out of your hut here last night. Today all fire arms were turned in to Armament.

 

Top

Bot

Assn

rank

name

rem

6S

2S

AC

1st Lt

Winn, Austin H. (died)  Oletta =

RT2 Box 49 Henning TN 38041

 

1S

CP

1st Lt

Smith, Kent G. (died)   Audry =

Box 16 Tendoy, ID, 83468

 

 

N

1st Lt

Alexion A.

Unk

 

 

B

F/O

Doganges  J. T.

Unk

 

 

V

1st Lt

Butler  P. F. 

11 Crosby St. South Yarmouth, MA,02664

 

 

FE

M/Sgt

Fiegel H. J. (died)     Mary Lou =

RT3 Box 62F-1,Spicewood, TX, 78669

 

 

R

S/Sgt

Jones  W. F.

Unk

 

 

CFC

T/Sgt

Daniels  T. N.

Unk

 

 

LG

S/Sgt

Cuttrell  I. G.

Unk

 

 

RG

S/Sgt

Cutrer  W. E.

Unk

 

 

TG

Sgt

Rowen  C. A.

Unk

 

08-15-45

Dear Mom and Sis:

            War’s over! And what a happy bunch of people over here on Guam. I suppose the people in the states are just as happy.

            Don’t know exactly what the deal will be for coming home but what ever it is I’ll probably by among the 1st bunch to get back from Guam. I got 32 missions in & I think the ones with over 30 missions will get back first. However transportation may be another thing and we might come back by boat which would take a month I suppose.

            Our planes were out bombing again last night. We were scheduled also but were taken off at the last minute.

            Well there isn’t much else I can write now. I’ll let you know as soon as we find out anything definite.

Love to All

Austin

08-16-45

Dear Mother & Sis:

            Well the mail came thru. I got 10 letters this morning. About 5 were from you and sister. Glad you got the Neckless and Air Medal OK.

            Is John still down at Bonnies? Know sister stayed up at your house all the time he was gone. What’s that boy John Winn doing these days. Can he do any talking yet?

            We are still waiting to find out what they will do with us. Am glad to hear W.C. is home. I hope Billy will soon get there also.

            We are going to have to start cleaning this place up I think. Was the planes and police up the area. Hope we can soon get started home.

            I know the fans uncle Wess made ar nice & keep the house cool.

            I’ve been on Guam 6 months today. Better go now.

Love

Austin

PS Picture enclosed. Everyone on crew except Smitty our co-pilot.

 

M-51 City of Annapolis

08-31-45 Guam

Dear Mother and Sis:

            Sept will be here tomorrow. Exactly a year ago I was leaving Alamogado on my way to Great Bend. Lots of things have happened since haven’t they. Tonight I’m going uo to Tokyo again on a mission. I hope this will be the last time I’ll have to fly up there. I think it will be. We got paid today. I’m sending along a check which you cane have deposited in my account at the bank. From now on instead of buying more bonds just deposit my checks in my personal account at the bank, OK.

            Have been reading a good book, “Disputed Passage”. It’s pretty interesting so far.

            Nope, I haven’t heard from Wilber since “VJ” day. I did get about 6 letters this morning tho, 2 from you and Sis.

            I need to get my cloths in off the line now so I’ll be going. Have been ironing my shirts, trousers, handkerchief, etc. Lately. We have several irons at the Officers Club which we can borrow for 24 hours at a time.

            I’ll write again when I’m back from this mission. Our planes have been dropping supplies to the Prisoners of War Camps. Suppost you have heard the interesting reports by Radio of the landings in Tokyo harbor. Well bye bye for now.

Love to All

Austin

09-03-45 Guam

Dearest Folks:

            Received 2 nice letters from you today. You seemed to expect me to just start right home as soon as the war is over. Well there still haven’t been any definite news about that.

            Yesterday V.J. day and Sunday I was back over Japan. We were up there about 500 strong in a display of Air Power. We buzzed over Tokyo & vicinity for 3 hours while the Emporer & MacArthur wer signing the Peace Terms.

            We got a good look at the cities we had been bombing. They were really destroyed. Pictures will be in Life Magazine soon. Try to get one.

            I suppose that will be my last mission to the Empire.

            Here’s another picture of our crew. This time we got the co-pilot Smith into it. He is the first from the left standing.

            We have to fill out another questionnaire by the 25 of Sept stating if we want to stay in the Army during the present emergency. I will answer “No”. I will try to get out as soon as possible.

            Major Cook took my plane & went to California on a business trip for the Army. The whole crew was made up of Californians. They are staying “5” days. I hope your able to read this scribbling. I’m in a big hurry so please excuse the writing.

M-51 City of Annapolis

 

Lt A. H. Winn 0-774857  Hamilton Field  California

 

Sept 30th 1945 Sunday nite

Dear Folks:

            I’m back in the good ole USA. Came by plane from Guam. Sent you a telegram this morning instead of telephoning as it takes so long to make connections by phone.

            Well here’s the dope. I reported to the Port of Debarkation at Hamilton Field CA. They will have orders ready Oct 4th sending me to some Re Distribution center in Western Ark. I don’t remember the name even. So they said we didn’t have anything to do until the 4th so we came to San Francisco for the night. I’ll get a leave from camp in Ark. So it’ll probably be around 10 days before I get home.

            Looks like I may be staying in the Army a while longer.

            Feeling fine. Hope your the same. Tell all hello

Love

Austin