World War II Letters Home November 27, 1938-Estelles Wickenkamp

                                                                                                         November 27, 1938

(PAGES 1 TO 7 MISSING)

I wish all of you could have enjoyed that week-end with me.  I am invited to spend Christmas holidays there, so I think that is what I will do.  Gosh! I don't remember - did I tell you all about this in my last letter?  I can never keep track of my letters or what I have written.

Well, I must go to bed.  I will finish this tomorrow.  I have gained about 15 ponds in weight - too soft a life, I guess.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH

I got yours and Richard's letters today.  Thanks for the photos.  It seems as if John H. has both feet in it now.  That's too bad - I would like to see him make good.  I wish I could have stayed with him for a year or 2, probably I could have helped him out a little to get started.

Richard, if you can work under someone with experience at Campbell's Garage and get a fair wage it would be a good opportunity to learn.  You know it's pretty hard to pick up all the work on every type of car now days.  A year or 2 working under someone who knows the ropes would set you on your feet a little better.

I got a letter from Vernon today too, and he says W. Belous has been accepted and will be coming over with the next shipment.  I haven't seen any 'hunks' in the Air Force over here yet.  Vernon also said that Alice, Mrs. Lyons and Ida Zupko have bought fur coats ranging in price from $175 to $275.  Boy! They must think they are living with 'Lizzie" in Buckingham Palace.

I also got a letter from Esther and she said she got her chicken and dressing but didn't know whether it was Nicodemus of Nicholi.

We didn't do any flying today.  There have been a lot of low clouds and rain.  It has cleared up a little so some of the boys are night-flying tonight.  According to your letter you must have the map I sent as you said you followed my cross-country flight.

Saturday morning, the day I went to Wales, 5 of us went in Oxfords (solo on a cross-country to Farnboro, landed at Boscomdown, to Yeovil and back.  We didn't fly formation but were within a few hundred yard of each other the whole trip.

We were going about 180- 190 m.p.h the whole way.  a lot of the Staff Officers are leaving this station.  They are being raised in rank and being posted to a squadron, so for our next term we will have some new officers here.  I have about 25 hours solo and 20 hours dual flying here.  So altogether with civil school I have around 100 hours flying.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH

I guess I should finish this letter tonight or I'll never get it away.

Three of us went on a cross-country in formation with our instructors this morning to Stradishall (East of Duxford).  We stayed there for dinner and came back here by 3:30 p.m.  I didn't get any classes today.

I have been filling in a football pool tonight, to see if I can win any more money.  I'll send you a blank next time.  Nearly everyone in England puts their pennies on the football pools.  You can get as much as 7 or 8 thousand pounds for a penny investment.  Of course I would be satisfied with less.

I will try to write some more again on Sunday.

                                                                                             Love,

                                                                                             Estelles

(Note: The next letter will be dated January 2, 1939 and will be published on January 2, 2014)

World War II Letters Home November 26, 1938-Estelles Wickenkamp

                                                                                                     Brize Norton
                                                                                                     November 26, 1938

Dear Folks:

I suppose you have been wondering why my letter aren't coming very regularly.  The first excuse is that I have been going away on week-ends and the other is that we have been having our test exams and we are now "swotting" for the final exams.

 don't remember whether I told you or not that I bought myself a grey and wine woolen dressing gown and a pair of bedroom slippers o match when I was in London. I didn't have any and I needed them so that's how I treated myself.  My robe cost me 35 shillings and the slippers 11s 6d.  Also the other day in Oxford I bought some underwear and a couple of suits of pyjamas.  One pair pyjamas matches my dressing gown.  The pyjamas cos 5/6 a pair.  Yesterday I tried to do some Christmas shopping but I am afraid it is beyond me.  I can't think of anything to buy.  I asked for hints but no one would give me any, so if anyone gets nothing they are unlucky, and if they get something they don't like - they are unlucky. Which would you rather be?? When I was home I could have thought of hundreds of things I should have liked from England but now that I am here I can't remember what they were. So, what can I do? - maybe I'll see what Woolworth's have, ha! ha!

I have finished my night flying for this term.  I made 3 solo flights (circuits) and landings.  One night when the squad on fighter planes were flying they "wrote off" (completely wrecked) 2 planes.  One fellow landed before he got to the aerodrome and summer saulted over  a hedge.  He didn't get hut though.  The other fellow drove into the ground on the aerodrome.  This was another "write off".  The pilot bumped his head against the dash board and fractured his nose so they sent him to the hospital.

I won the station football sweep yesterday.  I don't know yet whether I won 1st or 2nd prizes but I think it is 2nd it comes to 5/8.  If I get 1st I'll have 10/10.  Either one is going to be a big help to me.

Last week-end i went home with one of the Corporals (Airmen) to Wales.  I was kidding him some time ago about going home with him, so he came up to me and said "Well, I'm going home this week-end - are you coming with me?"  He said he lived out in the country and didn't know what I would do, but I told him not to worry about that.  Anyway, after about 4 hours on the road he pulled up in front of a huge castle-like ancient building and said "Get out - here's where I live." Well, you could have knocked me over. I had figured on going to a small farm house.  A doorman opened the door and after climbing stairs and winding passages we came to his room.  The main hallways have hand carvings along the walls and no 2 carvings are alike.  Also, there are hand paintings in the ceilings. A most marvelous place, and the grounds around it are absolutely beautiful.

Back of the castle there is a lake with fish in it and pretty little paths bordered by well trimmed hedges leading to the water.  In the front of the house there is a pool filled with goldfish.  Honestly, I thought it was a dream.  I took some pictures of the place and will send you some as soon as I get more made.

We are getting a lot of rain lately and the weather is quite miserable in general. We had frost this morning. I don't suppose I'll see any snow this Christmas.

If there is anything you have in mind that you would like to have please let me know.  There's plenty of antique shops, etc., in Oxford but it's hard to pick out something that someone else would like.

I have to write a letter home tonight so I can't spend any time tonight.  In fact, until exams are over, I suppose my letters will be rather short.

Don't you ever tank any pictures? Moms says "the pullets lat 16 eggs a day and the old hens 8.  We are going to feed them mas".

                                                                                               With Love,

                                                                                               Estelles

P.S. Did you hear the one about the girl with the greased bum? Oh well, I don't think I'll tell you, you couldn't grasp it anyway.

The Book of Me, Written By You - Prompt 12: The Year You Were Born

This weeks prompt is the year you were born.

What happened:

• Historical
• Films
• Music
• Books 
• Televison

Or use any other historical (well known or otherwise) event.

HISTORICAL

• John F. Kennedy was inagurated as President of the United States January 20 (three days before my birthday January 23).
• The Peace Corps was established by John F. Kennedy
• Construction of the Berlin Wall begins
• Bay of Pigs (US Cuban exiles and CIA mount unsuccessul attempt to overthrow Castro.
• Last journey of the Orient Express Paris-Bucharest.
• Soviet Union lauches launches the first spacecraft to take man into space the Vostok 1 carrying Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin.
• The United States lauches first man in space Alan Shepard on the Freedom 7.

FILMS

• The Guns of Navarone
• The Parent Trap
• The Absent-Minded Professor
• 101 Dalmations
• Breakfast at Tiffany's
• El Cid
• The Misfits
• The Hustler 
• West Side Story (Best Picture of 1961)

MUSIC (1961 Grammy Awards)

• Song Of The Year: Moon River (Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini)
• Record Of The Year: Moon River (Henry Mancini)
• Album Of The Year: Judy At Carnegie Hall
• Best Rock 'n' Roll Recording: Let's Twist Again (Chubby Checker)
• Best Rhythm & Blues Recording: Hit The Road Jack (Ray Charles)
• Best Jazz Performance, Big Band: West Side Story (Stan Kenton)
• Best Country & Western Performance: Big Bad John (Jimmy Dean)
• Best Folk Performance: The Belafonte Folk Singers At Home And Abroad.
• Best Spoken Word: Humor In Music (Leonard Bernstein)
• Best Comedy Recording: An Evening With Mike Nichols And Elaine May)
• Best Soundtrack Album - Original Cast: West Side Story
• Best Soundtrack Album - Score: West Side Story

MOST POPULAR RECORDED SONGS

• Wonderland By Night - Burt Kaempfert
• Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
• Calcutta - Lawrence Welk
• Pony Time - Chubby Checker
• Surrender - Elvis Presley

BOOKS

Fiction Bestsellers  

• To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee (Pulitzer Fiction)
• The Agony And The Ecstasy - Irving Stone
• Fanny And Zooey - J.D. Salinger
• Mila 18 - Leon Uris
• The Carpet Baggers - Harold Robbins
• Tropic Of Caner - Henry Miller
• Winnie Ille Pooh -Alexander Lenard
• Daughter Of Silence - Morris West
• The Winter Of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck

Non-Fiction Bestsellers  

• The New English Bible-The New Testament
• The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich - William L. Shirer
• Better Homes And Garden Sewing Book
• A Nation Of Sheep - William Lederer
• The Making Of The President - Theodore H. White
• Calories Don't Count - Dr. Herman Taller
• Betty Crocker's New Picture Cookbook: New Edition
• Ring Of Bright Water - Gavin Maxwell

TELEVISION

• Wagon Train
• Bonanza
• Gunsmoke
• Perry Mason
• The Red Skelton Show
• Andy Griffith
• Candid Camera 
• My Three Sons
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents
• The Twilight Zone
• Mister Ed
• The Avengers (debuts in the UK)

 EMMY AWARDS

• BEST DRAMA: Hallmark Hall of Fame: Macbeth (NBC)
• BEST ACTOR: Raymond Burr: Perry Mason
• BEST ACTRESS: Barbara Stanwyck: The Barbara Stanwyck Show
• SUPPORTING ACTOR: Don Knotts: The Andy Griffith Show
• BEST COMEDY: The Jack Benny Show (CBS)
• BEST VARIETY: Astaire Time (NBC)

SPORTS (I happen to love baseball)

• GIANTS BEAT THE BRAVES 14-4 IN MILWAUKEE AND WILLIE MAYS MAKES BASEBALL HISTORY (Hitless in this series until today, Willie Mays smashes his first of four home runs in a single game)
• ROGER MARIS BREAKS THE BABE'S HOME RUN RECORD ( New York Yankee Roger Maris leads the assault to break Babe Ruth's 60 home run record set in 1927)
• MVP: National League: Frank Robinson (Cincinnati) American League: Roger Maris (New York)
• Home Run Leaders: National League: Orlando Cepeda ( San Francisco, 46) American League: Roger Maris (New York, 61)
• Batting Champions: National League: Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh, .351) American League: Norm Cash (Detroit, .361)
• Rookie Of The Year: National League: Billy Williams (Chicago) American League: don Schwall (Boston)
• World Series: New York Yankees over the Cincinnati Reds, 4-1
• The All-Star Game: 2 games played, National over American 5-4; Tie 1-1
• No-Hit Game: Warren Spahn for Milwaukee over San Francisco, 1-0 

BORN THIS YEAR (besides me)

• Scott Baio - Sept 22
• Barack Obama - August 14
• Peter Jackson - Oct 31
• Nadia Comaneci - Nov 12
• Frank Bruno - Nov 16
• George Clooney - May 6
• Lawrence Fishburne - July 30
• Michael J. Fox - June 9
• Wayne Gretzky - Jan 26
• Woody Harrelson - July 23
• Wynton Marsalis - Oct 18

COST OF LIVING

• Average Cost of a New House: $12,500.00
• Average Income Per Year: $5,315.00
• Cost of a Gallon of Gas: 27 cents
• Average Cost of a new Car: $2,850.00
• Bacon for 1lb: 67 cents
• Eggs per dozen: 30 cents
• First Class Stamp: 4 cents
• A Gallon of Milk: 49 cents

(Sources used: http://www.1960sflashback.com/1961; http://www.1960sflashback.com/1961

The Book of Me, Written By You - Prompt: 11: Military

Did you join the Military?    No
   Were you encouraged or discouraged?

Did a family member? Yes, but not regular it was for a particular incident.
    Regular or for a particular incident.

Did you or your family serve overseas in the line of Service either during a war or a posting?
Yes, my grandfather was in France in World War I and my father was in Korea.

Any thoughts, photographs, memories relevant. Below I will share starting with the American Revolution.

My DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Patriot is Jonas Eyler, who was born 27 November 1754, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and served as a private in Captain Rice's Company and Colonels Procter's and Morgan's Regiments. he was in the battles of Quebec, Trenton, Germantown, at he taking of Burgoyne and in several engagements with the Indians, length of service, about three years.  

Here is the Muster roll of Capt. Nehemiah Stokely's company, in the Eight Pennsylvania regiment of foot, in the service of the United States of America, commanded by Col. Daniel Brodhead, taken for the months of October, November, and December, 1778, and January, 1779. Listed under Privates, Jonas Eyler was on command at Fort Laurens in Ohio.

He married Anna Regina Harbaugh 24 April 1781 at the Moravian Church in Graceham, Frederick, Maryland. He died 19 April 1825.







I have two great great grandfathers who served in the Civil War. 

 Henry H. Payton, my paternal great great grandfather, was born October 1841 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. As a resident of Middleport, Iroquois, Illinois he enrolled as a private on the 24th day of July 1862 in the Company "A" of the 76th Regiment of Illinois Infantry Volunteers commanded by A. Andrew and was honorably discharged at Chicago on the 4th day of August 1865. 

I don't have any pictures of him, but he was described as being 5 feet f 1/2 inches, complexion light, hair light, with blue eyes.

While a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and line of duty at Moscow in the State of Texas, on or about 11th day of January, 1863 he contracted deafness by taking a severe cold which settled in this head, and could not talk on account of said cold until May 1863, causing such deafness of right ear and which had proved worse so that at the present time is almost totally deaf in said ear and partially deaf in left ear.

Here is a link to the history of The 76th Illinois Regiment.

http://www.illinoiscivilwar.org/cw76-hist.html

Henry Koch, my maternal great great grandfather, was born 6 March 1837 in Korhansen,Hesse-Kassel (Prussia) Germany. 
As a resident of Ohio, he enlisted as a Private on 4 August 1862 at the age of 25 in Company K 57th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out on 3 June 1865 in Washington, D.C..

Henry Koch was 5 feet 3 inches with blue eyes and sandy hair.

My grandfather, Francis "Frank" Percival Smith was born 17 December 1897 in Dekalb, Illinois. He enlisted 7 April, 1917 and entered service 9 April 1917. He was placed in the infantry and assigned to "H" 2nd Washington 161 regiment 41 division.
On 14 December 1917 left for England aboard the President Lincoln arrived in France 31 December 1917. He participated in the Marne offensive, second battle of Marne, St Michel offensive and Meuse Argonne. He was honorably discharged 12 June 1919.

My dad, Don Francis Smith, born 29 December 1929 in Spokane, Wasington. Entered into the US Army 5 April 1951 as a Private First Class. He was with the 526th Engineer Panel Bridge Company during the Korean War. 
He was honorably discharged 25 March 1953. 

Armed Forces Liberty pass

US Government Operators Permit

World War II Letters Home November 13, 1938-Estelles Wickenkamp

                                                                                             No. 2  Flying Training School
                                                                                             Royal Air Force
                                                                                             Brize Norton, Oxford
                                                                                             November 13, 1938

Dear Folks:

I suppose you wonder why I didn't write last week.  Well, a bunch of us boys went to London for the week-end, on Friday evening and came back Sunday night so I didn't get time to write then and I didn't have time during the week.

We have been night flying every Monday night for our group.  Wednesday afternoons we play games all afternoon.  We have played soccer and rugby.  Our teams are divided up into the "Colonials" vs. "English".  The Colonials include Canadian, Australian, New Zealanders, South Africans and South Americans.  We took the 'Gor' Blimies for a real ride in their own rugby game last Wednesday.  Some time we will play them a game of baseball and show them how it is done.

Doug and I stayed at the Royal Hotel in London.  We had a room together,  it was a real swell room with 2 single beds, and it only cost us 5/6 a night a piece.  We spent most of our time window shopping and gazing about.  We went to a few shows.  I made an investment and bought myself a dressing gown and a pair of bedroom slippers, which I had to have.  I'll have to buy myself some underwear soon, then I think my wardrobe will be complete for a while.

Every time we are in London we go to "Canada House" to see if anyone we know has come over, and also to sign our names in the register.  I was talking to a R.C.M.P at the doorway.  He is from Winnipeg.  They come over here for 2 year periods, this chap has been here about 6 months.  It's great to see a redcoat again.  I think if they had a few more of them over here and a better type of administration it wouldn't hurt England.  Give Mr. Austin and his right hand man my best regards.

I haven't done much flying for the last month on account of the weather - so much fog and drizzle.  As you probably know by now an Oxford is not aerobatic, but the other way I attempted to do a stall turn in one and as I went up I got the stick pack too far so when I turned down the tail came up over the vertical, my camera fell off the seat beside me and all the dirt off the floor fell in the top. (N.B.  I thought maybe one of the wings would drop off - but I guess it could take it).  Anyhow, I'll have to get that "stall turn" a little better next time. I don't suppose you know what a stall turn is, or did I tell you about doing them at Civil School.  Maybe I can elucidate if you will pardon my drawings.  After the following explanation you might try it on the wash machine.


Simple, isn't it! Instead of being in the position A, I got into position b.  Probably if I go into one of the those climbs real fast an hold the stick back i could get a loop out of one of them.  I won't try that yet because we are short of planes at the present.

The other day the C.F.I (Chief Flying Instructor) asked us what our choice of planes was after we completed our training here and go into a squadron. I put my name in for heavy bombers.  I would have gone in for G.r. (General Reconnaissance) but we would have to fly Ansons, which are about the same as a Oxford, for another and i didn't want to be on these little planes any longer.  The fellows that are flying harts (big planes) here have a choice of going on fighters (Hurricane and Spitfire) or medium single or twin engine bombers (Blenheim Fair Battle of Wellesley) the 3 that made the worlds record non-stop.  It would take me ages and pages to tell you all about different groups so I call that enough for this time.

We are having a test exam on all our subjects tomorrow and Tuesday.  We write our final exams about the 2nd week in December.  The exams this term will be the hardest exams we get.  After this we do more flying and loafing around and don't have any important exams, so i want to try and pull down some good marks this term.

If war should have broken out during the crisis, we would have just gone on training as per usual.  We wouldn't have seen active service.

I was looking through the register in Canada House and I saw the name of a fellow that was in the same form as I at Collegiate.  He is a civil school here.

I sent you some magazines, I include a large R.A.F. map.  I hope you get it.  You will be able to follow up on flights etc. on it.

I was supposed to go on another cross-country last Friday but the weather was hazy and the clouds were so low so I couldn't go.  I hope I can get on one this week.  If I do go, it will be from here to Farnboro, Bascombe down, Yoevil and back.

We had an Armistice Day Service in one of the hangars today.  All the planes were out of it, it is about 300 feet long and 100 feet wide.  All of the officers and Airmen were present.

The Senior Terms is away at Armament Camp so there were about 50 Officers, over 200 Airmen (riggers, fitters, clerks, etc.) and over 200 Airmen recruits, about 50 ex-service men and their wives.  So there were quite a few people standing there, oh yes, we also had the Air Force Band in attendance.  On Church Parade everyone wears their best blue and peak caps, and greatcoats, also I might say that a greatcoat is not worn without gloves on.  It was quit a sight as we all marched out of the hangars by squadrons - with the bank playing.  I wish you could have been here to see us.

So you blew yourselves to a good wind-electric. You should be able to have lights and the radio now without much trouble.  Did you get Oscar Olson to change that register yet?  Where are you cutting wood this year?  Have you had any frosts yet?

I suppose work is slowing down at the garage.  I got the letter Mr. Tait wrote.  I can hardly manage to write to you and Esther, let alone write to  a lot of other people that I should drop a line to.

Now that Rusty is gone you will have to get another puppy to feed.  Are there many wild ducks this year?  I suppose Richard has the old double-barrel all oiled up.

Well this will have to by my limit this week.  I'll see what I can do with my exams for the next couple of days.

                                                                                                       With Love,

                                                                                                      Estelles

Happy Birthday, Mom! - November 11

Today would have been my mom, Jerry Lynn (Wickenkamp) Smith's 79th birthday. 

This is the cake that my sister, Patti, and I decorated for my mom.

Mom was born 11 November 1934 in Casper, Natrona, Wyoming. Her parents were William George "Bill" Wickenkamp and Florence "Flo" Sybil Koch.

Here is a collection of mom through the years. I don't know when some of these pictures were taken. This is my tribute to my mom, Happy Birthday. I love you and I miss you!

Jerry Lynn''s Lincoln (California) High School senior picture

Mom and dad on their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2005