George Fish served as a pilot with the 390th Bomb Group.



Lt Fish (nickname "Beans") received his Xmas presents early in Nov 1943 but was instructed by a Xmas sticker "Do Not O. T. X." [Do not open till Xmas] which he dutifully followed. Unfortunately, Lt Fish was killed on a raid on Dec 11, so never knew what the package contained. (His letters stopped on Dec 8.)



His letters were to his parents and siblings during a two-month period in 1943, while stationed at Framlingham, England. He had a wife, Helen, and an infant son.



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V-Mail (Typewritten)

7 December 1943

Dear Folks,



I haven’t much to say as usual but will endeavor to make an interesting note and at the same time let you know that your son is still O.K. I didn’t get a chance to write yesterday as I took a little trip by command car up to the 94th Group to see a couple of buddies I left behind on my transfer. It was just a lucky break that I got to go as the car was going up and had room for me.



Might as well confess now about those interesting Xmas packages. As I have told you before, they have been of much concern of everyone in my hut and really the pressure has been terrific trying to get me to open them. Well, the guys were egging me again just before I came over here to write this and Helen’s letter and now I had better quit beating about the bushes and tell you, they’re still safe and unopened.



I had a great deal of fun this morning. Went over to another field by truck to ferry a ship back home. Seems one of the new boys was mixed up night flying two nights ago and landed at the wrong drome. They sent a truck down to pick him up rather than let him hurt himself and I had to go get the plane today. Well, to get on with the story, it took me one hour and fifteen minutes to make a seven mile flight and it was all within fifty feet of the ground. I really had a time buzzing the country-side in general and the fighter fields in particular. Must have done a very good job as we had a visit in vast numbers by buzzing P-47s this afternoon. That was a good ride this morning though and very welcome as I was getting very tired of nothing but formation. That is all we do it seems is haul and sweat flying tight.



Hey! No mail for the last three days from Helen and home for must be a week from the big Fishes. Have been wondering if the meat shortage has gotten you but then there is one very well camouflaged in the Staten category. Guess the mails have been jammed though as there was nothing but packages came in today. There will probably be large emphasis placed in that direction from now on though as it is getting very close to Christmas and I imagine the big shots want the gifts all delivered if at all possible.



I am going to play a ballgame tomorrow. My new equipment could be a great deal of help and I have been very anxious to try it out. We are up against a very good team which should make the going a little tough for us. At any rate we are prepared so will not be surprised at the opposition. We are going to give our “rookies” a chance too which will give us all the first real opportunity to look them over.



Guess that is all for this time except I will write another tomorrow to let you in on the score. Until then, I will say goodnight and good luck and sign off. I have to get to bed now and get some much needed sleep. Write soon and often. Your loving Son and Brother, Beans



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Wednesday

December 8



Dear Folks:



Now I will take it all back. Was beginning to think you had forgotten about us over here as I hadn’t heard from you in so long. I received a dandy letter from Mother today though and now must send my apologies.



To start off by answering yours Mother I will say yes. I took the boys over to see Will as you mentioned and we all had a rather dull time. The floor show at his place was rather nifty and hot but the trimmings elsewhere about the place were extremely conspicuous by their absence. Can’t complain in the least though and hope the rest of the parties are just as good. Some since have been very rowdyish and I can appreciate a nice quiet time now.



Just as you figured, I was a little bit amused at your rationing talk. Am sure glad we don’t bother with A & B coupons over here. My last ride was good for 2800 g’s and figuring it further, the whole bunch here used up 197,600. How many stamps does that require? Just in passing.



Hope Dad can get his car O.K. Can imagine that the Hudson is pretty well neglected if he is busy. Knowing his “love” for auto mechanics like I do, if he ever gets busy the car might accidentally receive a little neglect. Don’t know how I’ll be when I get out of the Army. I’ll probably have a hard time getting used to making my own repairs and taking care of maintenance. Now I just take a ride and tell my crew chief what went wrong as I come back. He fixes up my complaints as well as go over the whole thing looking for something or anything which might cause trouble. Sort of necessary though even if it is like a lazy mans life.



I’ll mention again about receiving the gifts O.K. You asked in your letter which evidently was written before mine got there. The boxes arrived in perfect condition and of course I tore right into them. I was stopped by “Do Not O.T.X.” seals though and the wooden lids are as far as I have explored. The lack of serial numbers evidently put them through channels which move much faster though because only one of Helen’s has arrived & that just got here three days ago. I still have seventeen days to wait though so they will surely get here by Xmas. She says there are three more from her and Pattie has sent one.



The life here is getting dull again. No excitement since Sunday which makes the next seventeen seem very hard to get. We are on a stand by now but haven’t had much luck on those. That is a part of the set up here. A standby is a form of alert which actuates the first stages of readiness. It is put on usually between four and five p.m. and if it goes thru, the full blue alert will be called any time up until midnight. In case of the red it is standby until midnight at which time, if not earlier, it becomes either blue (alert) or white (all clear). This is a red evening so far.



Sorry to hear that Lenny doesn’t like his new ship so well. I’m a little inclined to feel that after he puts to sea again and gets started he will like it better. Past experiences have taught me that no ship, no station, no field is as good as the last one. After new systems are learned though, the new one always gets better until there is nothing like it and the old fades into the background and obscurity but for memory. You know the American trait, “Bitch” like hell but die for it.



Guess that is about all for this time. Helen told me in a letter arriving today that she expected to move to Merced in four days. That would take she and Darryl away from you one or two days after Thanksgiving. I sure hope she will like living up there. She is a grand girl Mother and deserves a lot of happiness. I only hope she finds it until I can come back home to stay. I love her one heck of a lot. I’m still and always will regret the clouds I put before her and surely want to return and work my fool head off to blow them away.



That will be all for this time folks. Write soon and often as I really enjoy your letters. I look forward to every bit of home news I can get and really cherish that which I receive. It helps brighten this otherwise dismal place a lot. Goodnight to you all and I’ll be seeing you soon I hope.

Love Beans

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Our mess over here isn’t too bad. We get quite a lot of stew and hash but it is usually prepared quite well. I don’t care much what is on the menu if it tastes good so get along quite well. I haven’t had a steak since getting here and no fresh milk. We eat a lot of powdered eggs and milk but usually when we get up early for a mission we have fried eggs and bacon for breakfast. Don’t know for sure if it is the fattening before the slaughter or not but it sure tastes mighty good. (Borrowed pen out of ink.)



Whe! Where it all came from in the place is beyond me but I’m sure I have no more. So long for this edition. I’ll keep writing often and waiting for yours. Goodnight.

Your loving Son and Brother Beans



By the way, I’m an element leader now but still a 2 lou [2nd lieutenant]. I chuckle on pay day though.



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On 11 December 1943, George was flying B-17 #4237823 when it was shot down. He was Killed in Action (KIA).