England
Jan 1, 1944

Dear Mom,
Well, here it is 1944 and I nearly forgot it while heading this. I probably will make that mistake for the next month.

Today was made a holiday by FDR as we got four days off in nine days – whatever, what do you know? It’s almost an unheard of thing.

Oh yeah I said I tell you about my Christmas. Well after a very good dinner here at 2:30 we went over to the service company for a dinner, party, and dance. I didn’t care for any more turkey and I got kind of bored at the party when the beer was gone and the noise started so a buddy, Bill Pollock, and I decided to head for the nearest pub where we stayed till it closed. We met an Englishman there who took us over to the school house where the dance was and introduced us to his wife and two daughters. Bill danced with the old lady till the dance broke up and I just sat around watching and talking to the old man.

After the dance, about midnight, we went home with them for a lunch and visited for an hour over a few glasses of beer. We left there about 2:00 AM and walked 3 miles back to camp getting in about 3:00. We have a standing invitation to come visit them again anytime.

It was the first time I’ve been in an English home and made a lot better Christmas than I had expected. Of course it wasn’t like home but it was as close as we could come to it.

I slept till noon Sunday and wrote a few letters in the afternoon.
Of course I wrote to you when I was firing. I worked (firing every 4 hrs. and slept in between) tonight and had the days off. The fireman (foreman?) is feeling OK now but went out this weekend so I’ll have to fire tonight, tomorrow and tomorrow night. He’ll pay me for that though.
We had a turkey dinner again today I was glad we did, I didn’t eat supper last night or breakfast this morning.

I got a couple more cards last night and a couple letters. One card (letter with it) was from Ann Banick. I sure was surprised to get it.

Well, I guess “the time has come”, etc.,
Love to all, Wayne

PS. One of the instructors from the school just came in and asked for five volunteers to make a demonstration jump tomorrow. I’ll let you know how I make out later.

Sun Afternoon, All O.K.