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USAAF Letter

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 1:24 pm
by gerrykan
I thought folks might like this even if it is not a vintage photo.
The letter is on Foster Field, Texas stationary, but he says he is assigned to nearby Matagorda Army Airfield, Texas, USA.
On July 30, 1941, the United States Army declared its eminent domain over the area. This former Military airfield was built during WW2 in 1941 and used through 1945. It was closed by the military after that and returned to the family on December28, 1945. This airfield was once used by Deke Slayton & other former astronauts in a private (commercial) space venture in the late 1960s/1970s. Several attempts to launch kerosene/liquid oxygen vehicles were made there, none of which succeeded. The site was also one of the early NASA considerations for a launch site before they settled on Cape Canaveral.
The present day photos of the peninsula illustrate its' desolation, so I can understand why a young man would not care to be stationed there.

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Matagorda Peninsula Army Airfield in 1943.

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Source: http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Air ... us_NE.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Matagorda in 2009.
72TA Airfield in the first image is where the man was stationed. The mentioned Port O'Conner is to the left of the Airfield in the photo.
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A dwelling built on the ramp.
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A runway.
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Source: http://matagordapeninsula.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: USAAF Letter

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:57 pm
by thidisbogus
This is very interesting. Thanks for posting...

Re: USAAF Letter

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:39 am
by Ingo
yeah, interesting. Thanks!

Re: USAAF Letter

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:10 pm
by zepher11
Yes, thanks for posting. I love the letters home as it really gives one a sense of what was going on in the average Joe's life. I like that he had the luxery to type his letter. Makes it easy to read... :)

Re: USAAF Letter

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:34 am
by Dave M38A1
Super Interesting,
Let's you know how the average soldiers felt.

Thanks,

Dave

Re: USAAF Letter

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 1:54 pm
by the wire
I agree with the other posts - I find these letters from the "average joe" to be the best way to really connect with the history they participated in. I recently came into possession of dozens of letters my grandfather wrote my grandmother for the duration of WWII (he was in from 1941 through VE day). Aside from being a priceless family treasure, they provide such great insight into what the average soldier witnessed and endured.