April 12-18, 1944. Leaving South Carolina

     Betty and Ang were each "en route" during the middle of April 1944. Betty returned to Chicago by train. (She remarks it was a "nice trip." I know the train went through DC because she talked about it when she visited me here in Maryland. I believe the trip took all night and it may have been a "nice" trip, but I can't imagine it was "pleasant.") She has many people to catch up with in Chicago, and seems to spend every day visiting with people or shopping with her sister-in-law Jen. Much of this visiting takes place at the home of Betty's Great-Grandmother, "Gram" Harrington.
   Meanwhile, Ang and his crew fly to Africa, via South America. He’s frustrated about what he can tell her that won’t get cut by the censors, but does a pretty good job describing what he has seen so far. His flights are designated as “A” for Administrative on the Individual Flight Record. He talks about crossing the equator and the Amazon which makes me wish I'd asked him what it was like to cross the ocean by air, compared to crossing by ship with his father when they came to the U.S. from Greece in 1926.
     In his scrapbook, Ang makes note of his “Natal” boots on a photo of him in Africa. He also mentions them later in an October letter. Their crew was among the many that flew to Africa from the Natal airfield in Brazil. I’ve seen mention of these boots on many WWII sites. Most of the time, the person mentioning them says they wished they had purchased several pair. Too bad they didn’t have a way to have other crews buy more as they came through Natal! Imagine if they’d had the internet!
     I’m guessing the long 8 hour flight on the 17th must be the flight across the Atlantic.

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Wednesday, April 12. Up early and down to station with box. To Red Cross luncheon. Dinner with Evelyn. Packed and bathed.
  Form 5. A-12, Administrative flight as navigator, B25-J, 5:20h
April 13. Up early and finally got my cleaning. Had a real nice trip and even got into the diner. To bed about ten.
  Form 5. A-13, Administrative flight as navigator, B25-J, 5:45h
April 14. Up very early. Burt in different car. Had early breakfast. Talked and read all day. Folks over in evening. Tired.
  Form 5. A-14, Administrative flight as navigator, B25-J, 4:35h
April 15. Up about eleven and to Grams. Then shopping with Jen. Had letter from Ang - no news. To Grams and stayed all night.
  Form 5. A-15, Administrative flight as navigator, B25-J, 5:40h

Weds.
Hi Honey:
I’m sorry I haven’t dropped you a line—and God knows how long it will take for this to get to you—but I have been busy. We are not permitted to call or wire—so!
I’m in good shape and everythings O.K.—so please don’t worry. Don’t worry if you don’t get mail from me for awhile—I’ll do the best I can but you know army regulations. My temporary A.P.O. no is on the envelope—use that until you get my permanent one.
I have to scoot now—sorry its such a short note—I’ll do better when I get a little time. Say hello to the Schrickers--
Love, Ang

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​[Letter. postmark 4/15/44—passed by Examiner]
Somewhere in South America 
 4/15/44
Hello Darling: 
Man, this censored mail is killing me—they don’t leave you much to say. About all I’m positive that I can say, is Hello & Goodbye. I suppose once I get use to it, I’ll be able to rattle the letters off without trouble—but I sure am having my troubles now.
We’re all in good shape—working hard, but kind of enjoying the newness of everything. There is one custom down here that I’m all for—and that is the afternoon siesta (I guess that’s how its spelled). Man that three-four hours sleep in the afternoon sure is wonderful. I think that’s one custom we ought to adopt in the states.
Please excuse the paper—its provided by the Red Cross—and its better than nothing.
This is about all I have time for now. Give my love to the folks—and tell them not to worry about me—I’ve never felt better in my life. Although, I must admit I’m beginning to miss certain people like the devil.
As I’ve said before—this is about all. Please don’t worry about me, honey--
I love you very much. Love, Ang

******
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[Letter. postmark 4/17/44—passed by examiner]
4/15/44
In Brazil
Hello Darling:
They are more lenient with us here—we can even tell you that we are in Brazil—as you will have noticed. There are quite a few other things that I can tell you now—so here goes!
I am now a real short-snorter—we crossed the equator some time back. Of course we didn’t dunk each other—or get our hair shaved off—but it was something. After all, we don’t cross the equator everyday.
We also crossed the Amazon river—Gosh, what a body of water that is! The mouth of the river is ninety miles wide—it took us a half hour to cross. It sort of takes your breath away when you look down on it. The Miss (the heck with it—I’m not even going to try and spell) it was never like that.
I guess everything is big down here—especially the jungle. It just seems to stretch for thousands of miles—and so dense it looks solid. There never is an opening—just one tree on another.
I sure am glad we didn’t have any trouble in it—cause if we would have had to crash land in it—you probably would have been drawing my missing checks for the next 20 years or so. Phew—I sure am glad I’m out of that! I sure feel sorry for these A.T.C. [Air Transport Command] boys that have to do it all the time—I’d feel safer in combat any day.
These Brazilians are allright—a clean cut people, even if they are dark. We tipped our waiter a quarter—and he was so grateful—he did everything but feed us. Lit our cigarettes—put sugar and cream in our coffee. (By the way—I think they use Chase & Sanborns down here) and did everything but shine our shoes. Man, I sure go for that service.
They have dozens of silk stockings down here. If I find out that I can mail them home—I’ll send you a couple of pair. I’m sure you’d appreciate that.
I guess that will have to be all now darling—give my love to every-one. I wish I could give it to you personally.
Love, Ang

Envelope from first letter.

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From Ang's scrapbook, in his tent in Africa. His caption: "Dumped our equipment off and they took our plane away. Gave us a leaky old tent. Look at that pile of equipment - that's the source of the disgusted look. Notice the Natal boots."

April 16. To Mass and dinner at Grams. To Adams with K. & boys. Had snack and then to Baffes[?]. Nice evening - bed late.
April 17. Up early - did some laundry then to station for bags. To show in evening. Bed about 12:30. Tired.
  Form 5. A-17, Administrative flight as navigator, B25-J, 8:00h
April 18. To Gram’s all day. Wrote Mom and Ang long letters. Then for dinner and home by 9:30. People here so bed late again.
  Form 5. A-18, Administrative flight as navigator, B25-J, 5:00h

Form 5. Individual Flight Record. April 8, 1944.

Form 5. Individual Flight Record. April 1944