Harold “Keith” Fredericksen, the middle son of Harriet and F. Christian Fredericksen, was drafted on November 11, 1943. He elected to join the Army Air Force and became a tailgunner on a B-17, eventually serving with the 548th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group stationed in England.
Grandma Fred saved Keith's letters home, along with pictures, official goverment telegrams and letters, and all the V-mail. It's from these sources we share this story. The first saved letter arrived in December, 1943 and from that point chronicled the happenings of the time, Keith's training and the goings-on at home. Please note the historical events of WWII during 1944. At this point, D-day has already happened in Normandy. Paris has been liberated. During these letters, U.S. Troops reached the western German border, Rommel has committed suicide, and Allied Command commenced an airborne assault on Holland. It's September at the beginning of this series of letters. Keith is in Lincoln, Nebraska awaiting orders. Will he see war action or be left stateside like he keeps telling his mother?
September 28, 1944 - Somewhere in the United States
(return address APO NY) - I know this letter is way overdue but I've been waiting for something different to happen. Hope you didn't worry. Nothing definite has happened, you probably guessed my letters will be censored from now on. All I can say is I'm still in the Unites States and living like a king, waiting for the weather to clear up….I don't know how I am going to make out writing letters that are censored….I can't think of anything else I can write. Please (underlined 3 times), don't worry, I'm absolutely okay.
September 1944 - Individual Flight Record - 2 Missions, 13:50 in-flight time, longest 7:35
And then the orders came ...
(Historical records show the 385th Bomber Group was sent to Great Ashfield Airfield, England.)
October 8, 1944 - Somewhere In England
October 8, 1944 - I feel like I should write you again, but I don't know what I can tell you. I mean, more than I could in a V-mail. It's just like I told you, this is just a place like Lincoln. We can be shipped any place in the world from here….The camp here is just like any in the U.S. If we hadn't crossed a hell of a lot of water, I don't think we would know the difference….We do get a six hour pass every nite. The nearest town is three miles. You walk every place, no travel on the roads….Please don't worry about me Mother.
October 8, 1944 - V-mail - Maybe I should have cabled but I was afraid you would have a nervous breakdown or something. I am safe, happy and healthy….Dean Aman is over here somewhere, I just missed him at the POE. I'll watch for Arden here too, I heard he got a short furlough. We won't be at this field too long but my APO will always be the same.
October 10, 1944 - This is the third letter I've written you since we hit this beautiful island. It really is beautiful too, only everything is small compared to the U.S. As you can probably tell we're at a permanent base now. We get a lot more schooling here, I'm sure getting sick of it.
October 19, 1944 - Anywhere in England - I got my second letter from you today. It's really alright I got two others, one from Charlie W and another from Gladyce S. both went through Ardmore….We should get a pass in a couple of days. We're all going into London, it is about a three hour train ride from here. It is the largest city in the world, you remember. Think of all the famous sights I'll see, I hope….We should be sergeants in a couple of days. You still haven't told me anything about Jack's wild idea. I surely hope he forgot it. He'll probably be hunting soon. I sure wish I could be there to go with him. Next fall, maybe. Don't worry about me, I'm not doing anything dangerous.
October 22, 1944 - Just a line to let you know I'm still okay. The weather here is horrible so cold and rainy….
October 26, 1944 - …After two days in London without any mail I thought that I'd have a big stack of mail. So I jumps up and runs every step of the way, at least 50 feet and what do I get? One letter. What a blow to my morale. (There is a long description of his trip to London.) Your letter sure sounded good, cutting the barley, plowing and the mountains being hazy. I can see it just like that. I hope you get my share of hunting this year, Jack. I wish I could send home all the shotgun shells I shot today. Yes, we're still shooting skeet, I'm getting good too.
October 29, 1944 - It seems I just wrote you but I know how nice it is to get letters from you and I know you feel the same way. I have been getting quite a few letters from you lately, four yesterday and one from Jean…It was the letter you wrote about Herman "kicking the bucket." The harvest sure is dragging isn't it? Remember how it dragged last year too? It still is something to keep Jack from having too much time on his hands and start him thinking again. I hope it keeps your mind sort of busy too, so you won't worry about your boys too much. There really isn't anything to worry about but I know you. I wish they could keep us a little more busy here but the weather causes a lot of trouble….It was good to hear from Jean. Nice that Orval could be home so much. Wish I could have seen him, I could stand a good laugh….You notice I'm a three stripe general now?
October 1944 - Individual Flight Record, 10 Missions, 39:25 in-flight time, longest 5:30
November 3, 1944 - V-mail - Just a line to let you know I'm still okay. I sure hope you are getting more letters from me than I'm getting from you……
November 3, 1944 - I was really lucky in getting some Christmas presents for you. A lighter for Jack and set of salt and pepper shakers. I'll mail them today. Hope you write soon. It would be nice to know where Dean A. or Arden went. Dean might be near here and I could see him.
Bonners Ferry Herald - November 9, 1944 - Tail Gunner is Promoted
November 7, 1944 - V-mail - (received November 22) I got two letters from you today. Your first V-mail. You don't have to write so big about half as big as you did…It sounds like Orval went to the Great Lakes, too bad. Hope I get more mail from you.
November 12, 1944 - Boy there is sure something wrong with our mail mother. It's been more than a week again since I've heard from you. I shouldn't be griping about it but it makes it hard for me to write so I don't imagine you are getting letters too regular from me. But I'll try to write every other day and I know I'll get a big stack of letters from you soon. The farmers around camp are plowing. There are fields all in around the living sites. The camp is spread all over for camouflage. All the guys around here have bicycles. I haven't bought one yet, always borrow one…I was glad FDR was elected again. He is a good man.
November 14, 1944 - V-mail - to Jean - Had a good day for mail, got Mom, Chuck, Gladysce. Red, our bombardier saw your picture the other day and decided he wanted to write to you. I gave him your address. The weather keeps us out of blue a lot….Chuck didn't seem to have much to say, seemed to think he was moving out, know where Orval is now. Bye Kid. Notice I'm a Sgt. Please!!!
November 15, 1944 - I'm still sweating the packages out. All the guys here are getting their Xmas parcels already. If you ever get a chance to send a package, send Lux soap, brushless shaving cream, hair oil. I could also use handkerchiefs. In case you wonder, we have Red, our bombardier, censor our letters. He doesn't read them.
Red & Keith - known as "Whitey" to his buddies because of his white blond hair
November 23, 1944 - Here it is Thanksgiving Day and time to write you again. It's too bad the ground is so dry you can't plant winter wheat, but if Jack gets the ground all plowed this fall, you ought to be able to get the spring wheat in early. We had the day off but on account of the weather, as usual. They gave us a nice dinner - turkey with everything that goes with it.…All the guys are getting Xmas packages. Yours haven't gotten here yet….There isn't anything to worry about.
November 26, 1944 - V-mail - I'm pretty tired tonite so we'll have to settle for another v-mail. Today was Sunday but I couldn't make church. We had to fly. That's two days in a row. Sure wish I could tell you everything I've done, all the places I've been and everything I've seen. It will make a swell story when I get home that should be next summer sometime….Everything is under control, no need to worry.
November 30, 1944 - V-mail - Dear Jack, Don't feel like writing a real letter tonight. Going hunting sounds swell, I've got a hunch I'll be there next fall to go with you. Be sure and hang on at least another year and something will surely have happened by then. Stay out of the army for sure, this war is dangerous business. They tell me they are killing guys over here. Yes, I sure would trade the Duck-foot for a disc, that Duck-foot never was any damn good. There are lots of things going on over here I would like to tell you about but can't, make a swell story when I get home. I'm getting so I like this English beer but boy the beer in the barrels tastes like American. Give mother my love and you take it easy. [Signed "2 Brother"]
November 30, 1944 - General Orders - Air Medal - For meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombardment missions in the air offensive against the enemy over Continental Europe. The courage, coolness, and skill displayed by this Enlisted Man upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
Sources:
“Two B-17’s Collide, Uncle Keith Died” by Gary Fredericksen, August 2009.
Family Archives and copies of official records
Wikipedia, RAF Great Ashfield Airport
Harold Keith Fredericksen:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
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