Tag: wwii

1940s Letter William Shepard to Lois Shepard

On By jenbumannIn letter, ShepardLeave a comment
This letter was written between 1943 and 1949.

Friday

Dearest:
Had a bad day today. Now we dont dare
have any. The cadet standards are up to pre-war
levels and we havent a snow-balls chance
in hell now. Only 50% remain out of the group
now. I expect that I may go too as I know
my flying isnt the best, while not the worst.
I fly to conservative my instructor says. Well
perhaps I am a bit settle down. I cant get
excited over it. I just enjoy it and plod along.
If flying can be called plodding.

I just want you to be prepared if they do
pull up my number. If they do Ill probably
go to a reassignment center and then God
knows what. One thing I’m sure of. If I do
get transferred out of this I want you, If it
looks as if I might go over, to spend a few
weeks with me. Leave the children at my folks.
The thing is to be mentally prepared if something
should happen.

Dont let all this scare you. I am going to
give them a run for their money. Dammit all, I
may not be 18 years old, but Im not hoary and grey yet.

[page 2]
I enjoy flying and can fly and well too.
I know it. My acrobatics are good. Where
I get into trouble is trying to do things my
way instead of the armys. for instance in
a spin today I held the rudder a bit longer
than usuall because the spin seemed faster.
The instructor didnt like it at all. Oh well
Ill try to straighten out.

How are things going in Dayton? Loe[?]
is a working girl. Are you taking over her
household duties? OK by me except I draw
a line after 8:00 P.M. in the evenings. Dont
try to slip in an early one (as if you would).
I was only foolin Dear. I start to write
something down to kid you and it seems to
be off-color when its in writing. Guess Im
am off-color character. Im strictly in a mean
mood tonight so Id better close. I might eat
you up. Not a bad idea Hmmm. Nice dish
anyhow.

I love you always. Can you love a nitwit?
If you can we’ll get along.

Your Bill
P.S. Love to KW & Susie. (her dress is still undone as yet.)

September 1, 1945 William Shepard to parents…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, UncategorizedLeave a comment

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1945_09_01_p01

Sept 1, 1945

Dear Dick & Dad:

Perhaps in a few days you will have a civilian son again. You will probably hear from me in the next month, sometime, to drive over into Indiana to Camp Aterberry to pick me up.

At the present time I am just waiting for orders to go to the separation center, swimming and sleeping in the meantime.

I sold the car, as I coudnt afford to keep it. I got to much out of it, $910.00 to pay me to fix it.

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1945_09_01_p02

while I was here the rear end started growling too and I figured $250 to fix it up. For what I sold it for and the $250.00 I can buy a new one.

When I get home I think that Ill run up to Canada to hunt ducks, geese & deer. Probably 15 or 20 days.

Duck season starts Sept 25 and goes until Dec 5. and Deer season starts Sept. 15 & lasts until Nov 25.

Im planning on going up about October 1st, it doesnt hurt anyting to plan it that way.

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1945_09_01_p03It will probably be the only chance for a few year that I’ll have to hunt up there.

Ill bet that you folks had a grand time up there. I m happy that you could spend so much time up there.

Give my best wishes to all. I will see everyone soon.

Love
Bill

July 7, 1945 William Shepard to Lois and parents…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, UncategorizedLeave a comment

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1945_07_07_p01

July 7, 1945

Dear Louie & Dick & Dad & Family,

Had a pleasant trip out, arriving without any delay at 11:00. I have the week-end off before starting training again. It seems as if I was wrong about giving over right away. We will be here 10 weeks and then it will be a while before any-thing happens. Ill tentatively advance the date to the 1st of October.

I stepped off the plane into a pile of sand. That is Tucson, a big pile of sand. The base is real nice the food is out of this world. Ill probably weighed 250# by the time I leave here.

The radio has caused some comment and I’ve been offered $40 for it already. It sure works good out here. I can get a dozen

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1945_07_07_p02

s dotations.

Tell herman that I looked for trousers and they had no 38″ waists. The PX is very small here.

P.S. Davis-Monthan field was named after two tucson boys killed in the last war. A bit out of the ordinary in names for a field.

P.P.S. They will never name a field after me.

 

August 6, 1944 William Shepard to parents…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, UncategorizedLeave a comment

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_08_06_p01

1704 W. Broadway
Enid, Oklahoma
August 6, 1944

Dear Mother & Dad:

It has been several weeks since I have written. Have been very busy. As a f’rinstance I flew 18 hours last week. I am now finished with my first phase. Tomorrow, monday, I start instruments, radio and night flying.

I am getting fatter than a pig. I weigh 190# now. I eat to darn much. I was turned down for fighter pilot because of heigth so It dont matter so much. Ill try next for attact aviation. If the war keeps on at the rate its going Ill never

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_08_06_p02

get any combat experience in Europe, Well It’ll be at least 6 months yet.

Kenny sure is growing. He is much taller and heavier. He is pestering me now. Ill be happy to get him and Susan home. I know he is anxious to see his trains. Thanks ever so much for getting them. He also enjoys his tinker toys. Goes to church sunday also. Some  boy. Sue is also growing. Her head is almost healed.

Lois has been having a few headaches lately. I think that she needs her glasses refitted.

It has been unbearably hot lately 100 to 105 daytimes. Thank gosh it can’t last much longer. Ill be here in Enid until September 7th, or 8th.

Ill probably go either to Waco Texas

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_08_06_p03

or to Altus, Oklahoma. Ill get multi-engine training.

Lois & I have been getting out a little now. We have a  crowd here. Pennochle playing deluxe. We went out last night & saw ‘Gaslight” with Ingrid Bergman & Chas Boyer. It was O.K.

Well Ill close & wish you good fishing. I don’t get to write much so Ill try & get another letter out in a week or so.

Have a good time in Canada.

Love
Bill

July 15, 1944 William Shepard to parents…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, Shepherd, UncategorizedLeave a comment

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_07_15_p01

1704 W. Broadway
Enid, Oklahoma
July 15, 1944\

Dear Dad:

Everything is going fine so I thought that I would write a letter. This finishes my second week here in basic. I have had about all the actual flying I will get. From now on its instrument flying and cross-country and night work. Im getting along fine.

The weather here is hot as blazes although we have a cool place to stay. I fly 6 days a week. It is a pretty long day but I dont have to study evenings. We go swimming a lot. K. W. likes it fine. Sue is beginning to. Ill be happy if we can always find as nice a place

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_07_15_p02

as this to live in. Enid is a bit smaller than Muskogee but better laid out. The air base is 4 miles south. We take turns driving. I have a B card and need it too. The oldsmobile only gives 12-14 miles to the gallon. It needs an overhaul. On a trip I get 16-17. It is a club coupe and we can pack all our belongings in a rear seat & put the matress in them. The trunk is empty when we move. It is nice and roomy well Ill close and mail this Ill write again soon.

Your son
Bill

June 10, 1944 Lois Shepard to in-laws…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, UncategorizedLeave a comment

 

301 N. 26th St.
Muskegee, Okla.
June 10, 1944

Dear Dick —

Have expected to hear from you again. Haven’t gotten the Saturday mail yet – so maybe there will be a few letters from home today. They have been few and far between.

The news of the invasion was a relief wasn’t it. I’m afraid it will take a while but I’m glad it has started. We got as a car – the ’39 Oldmobile $700. It needs a little work but much better than the Studebaker which is still advertized for $300 now & has to be sold by Sunday. That was just a story to get rid of the thing quick. The car we have has loads of space to pack things. It is a coupe – & no seats in the back but room behind the front seat for Bills & my trunks & a place for Kenny to sit. We could even fix a bed back there for them. Then the trunk is plenty roomy also. It is black & looks very nice. Radio-heater-clock. Tho they all need a little work done on them.

Bill had to fly this morning as it rained

[pg. 2]
Thursday all morning. He will be home at noon today tho. He had O.D.[?] Wednesday of this week, so we thot we’d have the whole weekend & here he has to fly this morning. Bill had his 40 hr. check then 40 hr. re check – he’s still in – tho he had me worried again. I refuse to worry any more.

Sue is taking her morning nap but it is about time for her to get up & I’ll have to get the kids cleaned up as we’ll have to take them to town with us.

We wanted to go out tonite but Sat. nite is the only nite Mrs Kelly goes out so we’ll have to wait. Maybe tomorrow nite.

Sue is awake so I’ll close –

Love
Lois.

No date [aft March 1944] William Shepard to parents…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, UncategorizedLeave a comment

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_nodate_p01S.O.G.A.F.P.S.(P)
S.A.A.C.C.
San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother and Dad:

Here I am again, in a barracks. All the fellows are swell. Its just as if I was a G.I. (dogface) again. We all live together, eat and march like O. C. S. Only it is easier. Not too easy. The meals are swell here. Best since Pendleton. Up at 5:15 and quit at 5:00 we also have plenty of calisthenics, running and sports.

Looks as if I would get through, at least I feel like it. Just saw “See Here Pvt. Hargrove” its a scream and the best army picture

 

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_nodate_p02

that I have seen. See you when you get the chance.

Tell Herman Ill write him soon. I hope to get some pictures of you all soon.

Well Ill close and give you a chance to write. Do. Give my regards to everyone

Love
Bill

April 29, 1944 William Shepard to parents…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, UncategorizedLeave a comment

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_04_29_p01

2413 Elgin Ave
Muskogee, Okla.
29 april, 1944

Dear Mother and Dad:

Ill dash you off a letter and eat. I awoke late this morning and have written a ream of letters.

It is still cool here. The wind is always blowing. I wont know how to fly in calm weather when it comes, if it does.

The flying is coming along O.K. I have 5 hours 40 min. now. I will probably solo when I get about 10 hours. It is so strict now that Ill be lucky to get through. If I should happen to wash out, Ill call Lois and have her come down for a short visit, as I will

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_04_29_p02

probably go overseas right away. If I don’t, then you folks can come down and bring K W and Susie. Do you think that would be okay? If everything goes as planned, you all will be coming out about July 1st.

No news of any importance so I’ll close.
All my love
Bill

Early 1944 William Shepard to parents…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, UncategorizedLeave a comment

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_nodate2_p01

Dear Mother and Dad:

Well the waiting is over and I have passed the tests. I start training Monday March 13, 1944. I should finish training in November or December. I will probably get test-pilot work, but if I dont, Ill get fighter aviation. Its what I want.

I miss you all. It was sure nice being home. Ill get another leave when I finish training. (I hope) Ill be in Texas until I finish. If you all can why dont you come down this summer? About a week

letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_nodate2_p02

or two before I graduate I want Lois to come down. We can talk about that later.

I dieted for five days when I came down. Then I just got in under the limits.

All my buddies passed the exams, but most the other fellows in the bunch washed out twelve out of twenty five failed. Only six out of twenty five made pilot. Bob Orr, Cleveland, Bill Stewart, Texas, Maness, S. Caroline, Pick-?, and Steve Butler, Youngstown made navigator.

We all buddy around together

Well folks, Ill sign off for a while

Love
Bill

~1943[?] William Shepard to parents…

On By jenbumannIn letter, letters, Shepard, UncategorizedLeave a comment

letter_shepardw_to_shepardr_1943circa_003_p01

Hello Mother:

Here is that oft promised letter. About finished here. I think Ill go to Enid Okla. in about two weeks. I have 58 hours now. I will have my acobatic check ride soon. It will be easy as acrobatics are easy for me: I seem to fly better upside down. I always was crazy. Ill be glad to get to a larger ship. Lately Ive wanted some more power on the nose. The new trainer has about 500 H.P.

We have a 39 Oldsmobile coupe or did you know? It sure is a nice car. I bought it from a boy in the Rainbow Division here at Camp Gruber.

It is a club coupe so we have plenty of room.

letter_shepardw_to_shepardr_1943circa_003_p02

I wish I could go to Canada with you but it will wait.

Well Ill close for now.

Your Son
Bill

P.S. Send Carls address