24 March 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." Good news! He found a note from Barry in his tent and took a run over to see how he was doing. "If he'd been on a football week-end, he couldn't have looked healthier." Barry will by flying back to the states to enter the V-12 program and he couldn't be more jealous. He's sure his parents are just as thrilled that Barry will be coming stateside. He's completed thirty-four missions and it's a "rotten grind mentally and physically." A number of other crews have completed their forty missions. He has never seen so many drunken brawls from celebrating. The officers…

GLC09620.168

29 March 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Greenbaum

Addressed to "Eddie." He writes it was good to hear from Eddie via his official report. He's completed thirty-five missions, and is "sweating out those last five raids as if they were fifty-five." The strain and tension are hell. The big news is that Barry got into the V-12 college program. It's offically the rainy season and he experiences ten to twelve downpours a day. He is upset over those who write how lucky he is to be in the "Sunny Pacific" and writes "you can have it all, any time!!" He gives his best to Dotsie and the boys. Post-Script: He thanks him for the box of chocolates…

GLC09620.169

29 March 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He's sweating out his last few missions and the crew is all a little jumpy. "In this game you've haven't won until the last ball is pitched, or in this case 'till the last burst of flak has been evaded." He is ready to be done. He saw Barry and he is excited and nervous to be returning to the states. He thanks Bee for a book of "GI laughs," and it's lived up to its' name. He asks his parents not to send any more packages as he hopes to be out by next Christmas. He's sorry to hear that O'ma has been sick, and just sent her a letter. He thanks his father for taking…

GLC09620.170

9 April 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He's been getting letters at every mail call, and thanks his family for them. He ran down to see Barry, who should be leaving for the states soon. He's eagerly awaiting a package with the "bay rum" from Jacob Stone. He did not meet Mr. Peterson, a colleague of Uncle Eddie's, but received a card and a box of chocolates that Uncle Eddie had sent him. The missions are coming slowly, but they're up to thirty-seven in total.

GLC09620.171

11 April 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." A brief note enclosing some pictures he took of Barry [not included]. He only has two missions left to go.

GLC09620.172

15 April 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He completed his thirty-ninth mission. It doesn't mean anything until he flies his last mission though. He and his crew have been the flight leaders for the past ten to twelve missions and they're now the most senior crew. He hasn't seen Barry for a while and expects he's already left for the states. He heard of the President's [Franklin D. Roosevelt] death from a broadcast picked up in San Fransico. He writes that everyone feels a "definite sadness and a real loss at a time like this." He's grateful they have capable military leaders. They are now curious…

GLC09620.173

18 April 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He hasn't flown his fortieth mission yet, but wanted to drop a line as he was finally promoted after eighteen short months. Promotions are few and far between overseas, but desk officers tend to get promoted faster. They received a few new crews with fresh faces and "newly pressed khakis." He hopes he can say he flew his fortieth mission in his next letter.

GLC09620.174

22 April 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He flew his fortieth mission! The entire crew feels like "free men again with a great pressure removed." It will still take some time to go home as they will stop in Oahu first. His joy was spoiled when he had a letter returned from a friend marked "missing." He was flying in Italy and wrote to his friend's Commanding Officer to see if it was a mistake, and he hopes it was. He's glad his ashtrays made it to his father, and thanks him for the canned treats. He enclosed a clipping from American Magazine [not included]. He says to tell Barry he might've found a way…

GLC09620.175

22 April 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bunny Marks

Addressed to "Bunny." He completed his fortieth mission and it's a real relief. It will be a while before he comes to the states, but he doesn't have to fly any more missions. He was promoted to first lieutenant and he asks her to say hello to Ken Marks for him.

GLC09620.176

27 April 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He's been traveling around and taking it easy. He visited with Jack Naylor and went to Barry Marks' old outfit. Barry left the week before, probably by boat. He writes that his parents should hear from him soon. He still hasn't gotten over the feeling of completing forty missions and is working on his sun tan. The weather is very hot and he has been taking salt pills and drinking a lot of water. He warns his parents that he will eat them out of house and home.

GLC09620.177

30 April 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He received a number of packages and thanks his parents for the film and canned treats. He sends a "million thanks for the bay rum" which he almost threw out as it was concealed in a mouldy bread loaf. Oahu is overcrowded and he and his crew are stuck in the Mariana Islands. He's "as red as a lobster" because he's been lounging in the sun getting the "so-called forty-mission tan." He went to an officer's house and believes some "strange enlisted men" stole $170 out of his wallet. He's not too upset because he used most of his luck to complete forty missions.…

GLC09620.178

3 May 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone

Addressed to "Dad." He writes a million thanks for the "over generous check for a party" his father sent him. He turned the check into traveler's checks and plans to have a "real blow-out" when he and his crew hit Honolulu or San Francisco. Still no word on when he'll be leaving, but they're all lounging around in the sun, catching up on letters, and generally taking it easy. He still resents the men who stole money from his wallet, so he hasn't gone swimming for a while. He's sorry to hear about the death of George Carrington.

GLC09620.179

11 May 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." It was "swell to talk to them the other day." It's great to be living like a human being and they had a "mighty wet party" and he thanks his father for treating the crew. He and the crew are at the rest camp devouring fresh food, milk, and relaxing. All is well with him, and he hopes to see his parents in early June.

GLC09620.180

15 May 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, and Bunny Marks.

Addressed to "Dad, Bee, + Bunny." A friend of his brought a big stack of mail from the Mariana Islands and he was surprised to find they heard about his fortieth mission indirectly. He wrote about ten letters at the same time, so hopefully his parents will receive their letter shortly. He thanks Bunny for her sweet letter. All goes well, and he's gaining weight with every meal. Milk is a real treat after a year of only water and GI coffee. He should be home in about ten days if all goes well. Most of them are sent to the mainland by boat rather than plane.

GLC09620.181

14 July 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Typed letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Life is extremely dull in Camp Davis, a German prisoner of war camp in North Carolina. He was put on a list to have an administrative job, but he doesn't have any experience. He hopes he won't be sent for a refresher course before getting assigned to a non-combat job. He doesn't understand why the army is holding on to everyone. He hopes to call tomorrow on his father's birthday and thanks them for a "perfectly swell" leave at home. The letter is dated "Camp Davis, Saturday 14th, 1945." A post-it note that came with the collection notes the letter was written…

GLC09620.183

17 July 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Typed letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." He enclosed a newspaper clipping about the closing of of Fort Davis, GLC09620.232, to show his complaints were "well founded." He will hear about his assignment by the end of the week most likely, and he hopes he'll be at a redistribution or separation center. He does not want to go to Texas. He hopes his parents have a great time at Alderbrook.

GLC09620.184

20 July 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Typed letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Nothing is definite for his future assignment. His interviewing officer placed a few calls to get him assigned at a redistribution center and they're holding him rather than sending him straight to Texas. He writes that he is incredibly lucky to have met a good man in the army. The camp is closing and they aren't taking any more people. He won a duplicate bridge tournament and received a free meal for two in town. He took a pilot friend of his. He'll let his parents know as soon as he is assigned and hopes they are catching a lot of trout.

GLC09620.185

9 November 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Object

Title: to Jacob Stone

A postcard to Jacob Stone from Salt Lake City, Utah with a packet of salt attached to it from the Great Salt Lake. He writes that all is well and he will write later. The photo on the postcard is "John Cobb beats the Eyston record for speed on the Salt Flats of Great Salt Lake."

GLC09620.403

1943-1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Scrapbook

Title: U.S. Air Corp Service Memories Part One

Robert L. Stone's scrapbook from World War II. It contains 197 photos of living conditions, people, and small mementos such as newspaper clippings, tickets, and menus. It also includes a list of all 40 combat missions that were completed noting the date, location ad length of time it took. Also a part of Oahu, Hawaii and the Mariana Islands. The second part of this scrapbook is GLC09620.351.

GLC09620.350

1944-1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Scrapbook

Title: U.S. Air Corp Service Memories [Part Two]

Robert L. Stone's second scrapbook from World War II. It contains 49 snapshots from camp and fellow soldiers. Also a part of Oahu, Hawaii and the Mariana Islands. The first scrapbook is GLC09620.350.

GLC09620.351

February 18, 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Postcard

Title: to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, and other family and friends

Addressed to "All." Hasty card to say he is off of quarantine and went into Nashville to meet Lois and Phil for cocktails and expects to see them for dinner later in the week. Postcard has a picture of a silver B-24 bomber plane called the "Flying Fortress" flying on a light blue background with "Keep 'Em Flying" in red lettering.

GLC09620.009

February 19, 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Postcard

Title: to Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Bee." A brief note asking for all of his "underwear shorts" and the pair of "high black sneakers," in addition to a few things he asked for by phone. Postcard has a picture of rows of planes, with servicemen in uniform standing in front of the planes at attention. The sky is still dark, and there is a bar of green at the bottom edge of the card.

GLC09620.010

February 20, 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." He is on detail as a runner in the section headquarters and writing this letter when he is sitting around. No word on when he will start his "psychs" but could start next week. Mentions that many fellows are getting their classifications and disqualifications, thirty-five men have "washed out," and many more are waiting to hear back. Writes briefly about being out of quarantine and meeting Lois and Phil for dinner at the Andrew Jackson. He and the other men now have Wednesdays and Fridays off. Details rigorous training program of two lectures, drilling, and mass…

GLC09620.011

February 9, 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He had a "pleasant and relaxing rest leave on Oahu and Kauai." They luckily don't have to fly a ship back and are on an "ATC [Air Transport Command] ship." They were surprised with leave after a rough mission which left them "pretty badly scared." They packed and left the next morning. The crew completed twenty-two missions, with eighteen left to fly. He is looking to purchase a few things and place a few calls in Oahu. He was happy to hear his parents' voices. He also met Mr. Kellett, a friend of Jacob Stone's who is an "A-1 fellow" and invited him to lunch. He and…

GLC09620.159

February 20, 1945

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." All is well and he has flown twenty-five missions now. He normally flies with the same crew, with an extra person now and then. He's certain that he wrote to his parents about the boys and where they're from. He would've notified them immediately if any were from the east coast. They're an "A-1 crew as proven by several close calls that we've pulled through together." They finished up the "nearly professional" looking officers club a few days ago and hope to have a "gala opening" in a few days.

GLC09620.162