Jake flies around the gulf coast

[mgc1961]

Jake has moved again. This letter is written on Edgewater Gulf Hotel stationary and accompanied by six photographs of the hotel, swimming pool, and beach. That is where Jake chose to live while he flew search-and-destroy missions as the co-pilot of a North American B-25 Mitchell, the same medium-sized bomber in which Stanley Washburn helped sink a Nazi submarine near Wideawake. The hotel was a very nice 1926 construction known for its locally elegant style and Moorish tower. It was later demolished to make way for a Sears store.

The letter is postmarked 03 August 1943.

From Biloxi, Miss.

Dearest Dad,

This is the first time I've had to write you. We have really been on the move as you may see from my post cards etc... I've seen just about everything in Florida and I'm ready to settle down again.

We are in a squadron of about twenty-five pilots. They are flying B-25's. I like the airplane but having never flown one we have to be co-pilots. This won't be bad as long as we get to fly our B-17's again. I don't know just what to expect right now. The Army does a lot of crazy things but I'm hoping everything will straighten out soon.

From the stationary you will see where we are staying. It is costing a little more than other hotels but it's worth it.

Our schedule is not hard. We fly not more than three searches a week. Of course we have cross-country flights and some classes, but we have a lot more time to ourselves than ever before. I can't tell you too much about the future yet, but we are fine and happy.

Your devoted son,

Jake Jr.

For a refresher course, here's the link to Stan Washburn's story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php/harveywasserman.com/bcnews.go.com/en.wikipedia.org/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x617168