Mac's Letter

(Note: I have copied the following from the original- faded- hand written letter. The parens are mine for explanation.)

* UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES *
February 24, 1944
Dear Junior:
Just read your letter and when I saw the picture, I wanted to cry like a baby, but I guess it would not help any. I’ll tell you a secret though. One night when I was in the Italian hospital, I had a terrific stomach ache - lack of food I guess. Damn near starved to death, no doctors or nurses around. So, I just broke down and really cried. It helped, too, stomach stopped hurting and I went to sleep. That was the worst I ever felt. All in all, I can’t complain as to the treatment they gave me. Saved my life. I got a bad broken neck and brain concussion out of the deal, and consider myself lucky. I was paralyzed all over for about 3 weeks, am coming out of it though. My hands and arms have been the slowest to come back. You can tell about how weak they are from the way I write. Can’t use a pen at all. They are snapping out though. My legs are fairly strong and have just reached the point where I can stay up most of the day. It looks like I’ll be down a long time yet. I don’t know much about our accident except that I distinctly heard three shell bursts. I passed out trying to get to the hatch (escape). Came to on the way down with my chute open, passed out again before I hit the ground and came to in the hospital where I stayed until our boys came into Naples
Oct. 1. happy Day!
Bill (Mayer his pilot) was in the same hospital with me. He just had a few burns and was sent to a prison camp where the Germans got him when the Italians quit. His wife hears from him. Al Nash, tail gunner, is also a prisoner of the Germans. Bill said that Aldo’s (navigator) chute didn’t open. Nothing has been heard from anyone else. We are still hoping and praying that they are safe somewhere. Rod O’Connor (our Squadron Commander) came by to see me last week on his way to Salt Lake. He is getting a Group and going to the Pacific. He told me again what a fine job you did and he isn’t the only one that has told me the same. I knew you would. Mary Lou and Anita came to see me last week. Brave girls! They both want snap shots. I thought of you but didn’t know your address. Remember the ones you took of Bill and Paul taking baths in the wide-open spaces of Africa? They would like to have any available.
Bill, Heberg, Grooms and Bentley all in same barracks!
If you will send me the pictures, I will have prints made and send the negatives back to you. We would appreciate it very much. I sure would like to have the negative of our plane, after it was hit. I believe Jarrett had it. Do you have his address?
I have often thought of how close you came to be with my crew that day. Thank God you weren’t. I’m glad that I was with my crew if it had to happen. I have heard about Ken (Spinning - my pilot) and all the rest. It’s hell.
Best of everything old man. Hope I can be back in sometime.
Your friend,
Mac. (2nd Lt. Elmo F. McClain.)
Mrs. Paul Wernich Mrs. William H. Mayer
2457 North 46th Street 478 12th avenue North
St. Petersburg, Florida.
Milwaukee, 10 Wisconsin.
(Note: As I recall, Mac was our Squadron Bombardier when they were shot down. I was named the new Squadron Bombardier. This is a key assignment, because you are the only bombardier using a bombsight. All the other bombardiers - in the other planes flying in the Squadron formation - when they would first see the bombs, from the lead plane, leave the bomb bay, they would hit a toggle switch on their panel, whichthen released their bombs. None used their bombsights to set up for the drop! Initially, each bombardier set up his bombsight. But, the resulting target coverage was quite broad and erratic. So, the powers that be, decided to put the best bombardier in the lead plane. He would set up his bombsight on the target, with all the others dropping on his settings. It worked better - the key being: a skilled bombardier, a skilled pilot and a quality- lead B-17 airplane.