Well, it's a good thing I sent that night letter for this is the first chance I've had to write. I went up to Omaha just before I left Lincoln. I didn't get a pass or anything, I just took off. I had quite a nice visit with the folks. They took me riding around town and then we sat on the porch all evening talking and drinking beer. I had a very enjoyable time. I met quite a few boys at Lincoln that I hadn't seen since Santa Ana. That base was quite the reunion place. I got separated from all the boys I was with. Just two of us come down here. I really don't mind so much because I've got such a swell crew. The pilot is WIlliam McCoy - he's 27 years old and married - he's all business. Our bombardier is Dan Shea - all Irish, a swell guy. He's 21, single and knows his stuff. He's good looking and has a nice singing voice. Our engineer is a sergeant whose name is Cooper. We were very lucky to get him for most of the engineers just came from schools but he has worked on 24s for six months so he knows what it's all about. Our aerial gunner - he's the assistant engineer, is 28 years old. His name is Pendleton. He seems Ok too. Then there's Coats from Ark. He's all talking about himself and can never keep his stories straight but he seems eager and I'll bet he'll be the best gunner we have. There're two gunners I haven't met yet and also the radio operator. I'll meet them this afternoon. We don't get a navigator for a month or two yet. We are scheduled to finish here the seventh of Aug. and by the looks of things I won't get a leave. The skipper used to be in the infantry. He went to O.C.S. and then after four months he went into cadets. He's really a swell person. i room with the skipper and Dan's right across the hall. He's alone now but will room with our navigator when he comes. The BOQ are nice, they have two beds, a table, two closets and one chair. The mess is very good and the officers club is just like a country club with a swimming pool right next to it. Also a tennis court. I told you I changed ships. They put me in the B24 or liberator - you know, the one with two tails. I flew in one yesterday for the first time and they seem OK. I'll tell you more about them after I get to fly one. I had another 64. It was the first one since I've been an officer though. The only thing they didn't do was take a blood test. I weighted 160 lbs. I guess I'll never weigh more than that. It seems to me I left Texas about May 20, a year ago, and here I am back again. In the officer's club you have to have your own bottle checked in or else all you can buy is beer. Say, how can you tell true nylon from half and half or such - you wear 9 and a half, roger. There's no reason why I can't get to Mexico now cause Juarez is just across the river. Well, I can't think of much more to say now so I guess I'll close until later.

Love,
Rae

P.S Put his in my album