Brrrr! — after two years in the U.K., I’m no longer used to this kind of climate. Yes indeed, a long, cold winter is in prospect. Long underwear (which most of us seldom wore) will be selling at a premium during these coming months. — Brrrr!
Now that I’ve set the proper mood, I’ll continue: We flew here from Compiegne on Saturday, arriving about noon after a 2 ½ hour, 450-odd-mile trip (over 600 miles by train or truck, actually).
Last Saturday night I dreamed that I was at home. After several hours at W. 703 (it seemed), I casually remarked “By the way, I’m stationed in southern Germany now”. No one seemed the least bit surprised – especially me! We knew we were going to Erding two weeks before we left N.I; the stop-over at Compiegne was an unexpected development, however. And so, Bob, Herb, and I have reached the end of the trail – this should be our last regular assignment in the Army overseas. Any further traveling should now be to the west! All in good time, of course.
Here at the ARC Aero Club, where I am writing this, there is an autographed picture on which the following is inscribed: “To the boys of the 9th Air Force Base Depot – quite a mess, isn’t it? – Jerry Colonna”. Ha! A memento of “Professor” Colonna’s visit to the base – and a more or less accurate description of the situation here as well!
Erding is officially the 9th A.F.B.D. – Air Strip R-91 is also located here. You will find Erding (our depot is on the town’s outskirts) about 35 kilometers (roughly 20 miles) to the northeast of Munich (German spelling: Munchen). Before Germany was unified and federated under Bismark, this area was known as Bavaria. To some extent, it is still known as Bavaria, speaking from a geographic point of view.
I can’t say as yet what this place is going to be like – we are not at all settled down, only partially unpacked. There is lots of room for improving the living conditions. It could be quite a nice camp, if the Army will go to the trouble of fixing it up. The main difficulty at present is the over-crowding — there are three times as may men as can be comfortably accommodated in existing facilities.
Like the U.K. and France, Germany is most attractive in appearance, except for the cities, which are bombed to hell. The smaller towns and villages are in better shape and are very quaint, though lifeless.
[letterstohome copyright 2008]