Thurs. night 3/29/1945.

“S. France”

Dear Elaine, Stan and the Kids-

Well we are really getting some spring weather here now. In fact this afternoon it was hot. Elaine, I was alittle afraid I might have been getting alittle of your life long ailment this afternoon but guess not ^[1]spring allergies.

I haven’t been doing much other than listen to rumors, which are common anywhere you happen to be in the army.

Andy went to see the show tonight, “Dragon Seed”, which I had already seen, so I have spent the evening trying to clean the tent up alittle. Also showed what I am beginning to do less and less of not that I don’t need to but just can’t see the point.

I probably wouldn’t even recognize Karen or Tom after not having seen them since the 1st of Feb. From the sound of your letter Tom is really keeping you busy digging him out of light cords, sockets and such. I guess —— —– about the same way, at least I probably —- so I had better shut up. Hope to see you before too long.

Love, Tom

Entries from the 417th Night Fighter Squadron History^[2]http://417th-nightfighters.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Chapter-4-pg44-91.pdf

249. MAR. 18. CPL R.C. MARSH WAS ROTATED TO THE UNITED STATES TODAY. A FORMER MEMBER OF THE 79TH FIGHTER GROUP, CPL MARSH TRANSFERRED TO 417 NFS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE WITH THE NUMEROUS ACQUAINTANCES HE HAD KNOWN IN A FIGHTER GROUP IN PRE-WAR DAYS. IT MAY BE NOTED THAT THESE NUMEROUS ACQUAINTANCES FORMED THE NUCLEUS OF 417 NFS WHEN IT WAS FIRST ACTIVATED.

250. MAR. 19. S/SGT GRACHEN AND CPL LANDY WERE PLACED ON TEMPORARY DUTY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR 30 DAYS YESTERDAY. S/SGT T. N. LARSEN AND T/4 R. MANUEL WERE RELIEVED FROM ATTACHED. 2ND LTS BERRY AND BOWMAN WERE APPOINTED 1ST LTS TODAY AND TRANSFERRED-TO THE 7TH REPLACEMENT CENTER TODAY FOR ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER TO THE U.S. ON ROTATION. MAR. 24. THE 417TH NFS WAS ATTACHED TO 64TH FIGHTER WING, 12TH TACTICAL AIR COMMAND, 1ST TACTICAL AIR FORCE, BUT IS STILL ASSIGNED TO 12TH AIR FORCE FOR ADMINISTRATION.

251. MAR. 25. 1ST LTS R.D. HAMILTON (RADAR OBSERVER) AND G.N. WILSON (PILOT) WERE APPOINTED CAPT’S TODAY. CAPTAIN HAMILTON IS AMONG THE ORIGINAL R.O.’S WHO FIRST JOINED THE SQUADRON AS AN ENLISTED R.O. IN KISSIMMEE, FLA. ATTAINING HIS COMMISSION IN ENGLAND.

252. MAR. 27. DECORATIONS WERE AWARDED TO PERSONNEL OF THE SQUADRON BY BRIGADIER GENERAL MEYERS AT A FORMAL CEREMONY THIS MORNING. CAPTAIN G.E. NELSON, WAS AWARDED THE LEGION OF MERIT AND M/SGT A.M. CHRISTENSEN, THE BRONZE STAR, BOTH FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN MAINTAINING THE PERFORMANCE OF TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. MAJOR C.R. MCCRAY WAS AWARDED THE 6TH CLUSTER TO THE AIR MEDAL, HAVING BEEN AWARDED THE 2ND TO 5TH IN FEBRUARY. CAPTAIN R.D. HAMILTON RECEIVED HIS 5TH CLUSTER AND CAPT. G.N. WILSON AND 2ND LT T.D. WELFLEY EACH RECEIVED THEIR FIRST CLUSTER TO THE AIR MEDAL. 1ST LTS N. HOWARD, & S.C. RIAL AND 2ND LTS J.W. CHELF, F.S. CAMPBELL, R.P. MANGONE, R.W. CONDON AND R/0 R.K. CORNWALL RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL.

253. MAR. 28. THE SQUADRON WENT OFF OPERATIONS THIS MORNING FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING ON A CONVERSION PROGRAM FROM THE BEAUFIGHTER TYPE A/C TO THE P-61.