Letters From War Wednesday: World War II – Bob Berkes
May 11, 2011
Posted in 305th Bomb Group, Bob Berkes, Everytown USA, Letters From War Wednesdays (LFWW), World War II
Tags: 305th Bomb Group, Bob Berkes, Everytown USA, Letters From War Wednesdays (LFWW), World War II
In this week’s Letters From War Wednesday, we feature an October 1944 correspondence from U.S. Army airman, Bob Berkes. Berkes would later serve over Northern Europe with the 305th Bomb Group as a gunner aboard the B-17 bomber, Forever Amber. But this note comes from Kingman, Arizona, while Berkes and his crew were still learning to fly.
Bob Berkes, kneeling third from left, would serve aboard the B-17 bomber, Forever Amber.
“I’m almost out of civilization, it seems to me,” he wrote. “The weather here is rather warm for this time of year. It gets up to 85 and 90 degrees and not very much cooler during the night.
“We had a wonderful dust storm Sunday night. We could see about two feet in front of us. The ones who were out in it wore gas masks so they could breathe. In the morning we had about an inch of dust over everything in the barracks.
“…I like this camp very well. It has its objections like any other camp, but I like it better than the old one. We have wonderful chow and really nice mess halls. We get to take all we want of everything so if you go hungry it’s because you like to sleep or you’re lazy.
“…I guess everyone from Albion is going into the armed forces, aren’t they? I thought maybe there would be a few of my classmates left when I got home to run around with, but I guess not.
“I like the army. You get to meet all kinds of people and see lots of country that you probably wouldn’t see otherwise, all medical treatment, room and board free. The only big objection I have to the army is not getting home.”
I co-piloted the B-17 Forever Amber with crew member Bob “Trouble’ Berkes. I would like to get in touch with him if at all possible. Please let me know either way.
Thank you, Bill
Did you ever get any information on Bob Berkes? He is my uncle. He is still alive and lives in Texas. I just saw this post on the internet and thought I would reply. Get in touch with me if you need information.