Dec. 10, 1943
I am finally over here in jolly old England! This is a very beautiful country just like I have read and heard it was. It looked especially good after we had been flying a long time and wondered how soon we would see land. The countryside is divided up into small fields irregularly shaped and they are divided by what appears to be hedges or shrubbery, but when you examine them closer they are made of stones and are covered by a thick jumble of vines, etc. It is very easy to understand and talk to the people although they talk a little different and use some different words, etc. But I notice they are just as amused at the way we talk. This pound, shilling, pence, etc. seems strange but we are getting used to it already. I have been to town the last two nights and it is an interesting experience, the shops, cinemas, etc. We drop in once in a while and have our spot of tea or fish and chips which is quite a dish here. I have had a few glasses of English beer or ale. It isn't bad but is not as good as our beer.

Dec. 13, 1943
I am getting more used to England's weather every day. I think it is even muddier than it ever was around home. The only thing I don't like is that our barracks is so cold. We only have two little round stoves about 2 feet high and ten or 12 inches in diameter and they don't do the work. That's the only kind of stove I've seen in this country. I guess they are being economical.

I've been going to radio school every day. I guess that will never end, but there is always something new to be learned.

Dec. 23, 1943
I still haven't gotten to town yet but hope to soon. I will have plenty money saved up by then. We couldn't get a pass til we had a mission to our credit and we have gone over on one now so I hope we get a pass soon. I hope we get the other 24 over with soon so I can come back home.

Dec. 25, 1943
I didn't have such a bad Christmas after all. We didn't have to do anything which made things nice. All we did is take life easy and also eat a turkey dinner, no pie though. We spent most of the day playing cards, etc. I also got to hear some Christmas music on the radio today which was the first I have heard this year and it sure sounded good.

Dec. 26, 1943
I had a very nice ride through the English countryside today. The other Hanson on our crew, who got malaria, was moved to a hospital several miles away and since we hadn't seen him for some tine are went over to our hospital here and got a ride in an ambulance to where he is. It sure seems funny driving along on the wrong side of the road. He is getting along fine now and looks well but I don't know how soon we will get him back.

Dec. 31, 1943
I am just taking life easy today. I went to bed last night at nine o'clock because we had gotten up at 5 in the morning to go on a mission and I was really worn out. I set my alarm for 7 this morning, but didn't get up. I stayed in bed til eleven o'clock then went over to dinner. This is the first time since I've been here that I missed breakfast. I got to see a little of German fighter planes and they really aren't much to be afraid of. They don't like to expose themselves to our fire long enough to get in a good shot.

Jan. 3, 1944
I had a tame New Year's eve. All I did to celebrate was to clean machine guns til 11 PM. I really did celebrate New Years day though. I never knew before that there was a shower house around and hadn't had a bath for 3 weeks. New Years day I discovered one and was I happy! I had a whole bunch of laundry too-2 suits of winter underwear, 10 pr. sox, 3 towels, and some hankies. So I got in the shower with all my dirty clothes and stayed there for 2 hours and killed two birds with one stone.

Jan. 8, 1944
We don't get cigarettes free here but just about. They only cost us 3 pence a pack which is about 5¢. That's all they've costs since we left the states. They are rationed here, 7 packs a week. or 14 cigars a week. I picked up several cartons on the way so I have plenty. We got a 24 hour pass the other day and went to town for all night. It was a fairly big town and there are a lot of interesting things. The trains sure seem funny. Passenger coaches are divided into compartments and the freight cars are little 4 wheel rigs about 12 or 14 feet long. I have never seen such a smoking people as they are here. You can see small kids about 12 years old smoking in front of their folks, and about every woman I have seen smokes. You can see them walking down the street with a cigarette about 3/4 of an inch long in their mouth. They sure go for french fried potatoes. They call them chips, and have a lot of small joints where they sell them. It reminds me of our hamburger stands--which you don't sea over here. They have different names than we do for many things. A barber is a hairdresser, a hardware dealer is an iron monger, a drugstore is the chemists, and many such things. I've got 3 missions in now and I hope the other 22 go by in a hurry. I was on one which according to the paper here was one of the deepest into Germany by the Americans.

Jan 13, 1944
We still have to go to school a couple hours everyday, to communications and aircraft recognition. They are two important things in this racket. We got our flying pay a couple days ago. I am going to buy a bicycle. Nearly everyone has bikes here as we have so much walking to do. They are an English make with small tires.

Jan 19, 1944
He went on a 48 hour pass Sunday morning and got back yesterday noon so there was nearly 3 days shot. In town I ran onto a model airplane shop so I bought a couple glider hits. I started in last night on one of the kits and the other Hansen on our crew is making the other one. We had a pretty good time in town. I went to see Robin Hood again. I saw it years ago. In one place one of the characters in the picture said, "I am going to Norwich tomorrow", and that interested me, because that happened to be the town I was seeing the show in and I didn't realize that it was such an old town. I got on a scale in town and when the arrow stopped I looked to see what I weighed and I was surprised and puzzled when I read 12 stones. I had never heard of such a thing. An English man there told me that a stone was 14 pounds so I figured it out that I weighed 168 lbs. with my clothes on--minus overcoat, so I haven't lost any. It is some job running around town at night, everything is blacked out and the town seems dead, but when you've been there a while you can find pubs, restaurants, etc.

Well, I've only got 21 more missions to go. I am gradually whittling it down. One of the guys in our barracks has a radio now and we have music all day now. We have quite a variety. The Germans broadcast good music and propaganda to us and we can also get British stations.

Jan. 26, 1944
I have to do some washing again today. Every time I get a bunch I take a shower and do my washing at the same time. The shower room isn't heated so I leave my winter underwear on while I'm doing my laundry and getting soaked.

Jan. 31, 1944
I have really been quite busy. I was so tired last night that I stayed in bed til 9:30 this morning--13 hours. I went on 2 missions in a row and it really played me out. I wouldn't mind about 5 or so like that in a row because they would go by that much quicker.

I am now sporting an Air Medal. They really aren't much. You get one when you have made five missions, then for each five thereafter you get an oak-leaf cluster, so you don't get them because you're a hero or something. You don't actually get a medal here but a ribbon to wear on the blouse. I guess they give the medal later on in the states.

Feb. 2, 1944
It's just 10:30 and I had my 'tay' and sandwiches. There is a little place here run by the Limeys to serve the laborers tea and lunch and we usually get a cup in the forenoon. I don t think the English could get along without their tea. They knock off work around 10 for tea then just get back to work in time to quit for dinner, then just get back to work in time to quit for afternoon tea, really a good system.

We get pretty good music on the radio most of the time, if we don't like what's on the British stations we can get French or German stations. We can also get both sides of the news that way.

Feb. 20, 1943
I finally bought a bicycle, I looked all over town for 2 days and finally had to buy a girls bike, that's all they had anywhere. It cost 11 pounds, 2 shillings and 6 pence, really high priced. Bike tires aren't rationed here and only cost the equivalent of $1.10. It sure saves a lot of walking. I went to a couple of shows in town. We were there 2 days. It is hard to get anything to eat besides fish or sausage and chips but we get along.

I have enough missions now to add an oak leaf cluster to my Air Medal.

Feb. 24, 1944
I really think our B-24's are wonderful ships but the 17's are also doing a good Job and I sure don't think they will become extinct for a long time. The only thing that makes us mad is that the Forts get all the publicity in the news.

I had a 48 hour pass a few days ago and stayed in town. We managed to find a little bit of gin and scotch and are also getting used to English beer. I think if anyone murders the English language it's the English. One thing they say is he've got, or she've got instead of he has, as we would say it. They also think nothing of damn and hell. I've even heard them used in British shows.

I've got thirteen missions in now so I hope it won't be long.

Feb. 28, 1944
I had an interesting day today. We were awarded our air medals (the ribbon). It was quite an affair. We were all lined up and when our name was called we walked up to the Colonel and saluted him then he pinned them on and shook our hand and we saluted again and walked away. We all laughed (quietly) at the guy's nervousness as they marched up to the Col. but when I heard them call Technical Sgt. Richard F. Hanson I was as scared and shaky as anyone else was.

Mar. 2, 1944
I have been taking life easy the past couple days, just reading, etc. They have an afternoon show now so that helps spent the day. They opened up a red cross club on the base which is nice, reading rooms, pool and ping pong tables, and they have a juke-box in the PX now that's the second one I've seen over here in England. I've only got eleven more to go.

Mar. 17, 1944
We are getting a week's furlough and I am going to see a bit of Scotland I guess. I think I will miss army chow too. About all there is in the cities is chips and tea and sausage.

Mar. 25, 1944
I spent the whole week at Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a very interesting place too. I liked it much better than London. I was going to play a little golf up there but didn't get around to it. I looked the town over quite well and went through the old castle. I saw several men wearing kilts. It looks quite funny to see their bare knees hanging out of their over coat. There were a couple old fellows walking around the streets playing bagpipes too. Many rulers lived in the castle, Queen Mary. etc. It is supposed to date back to 626 and is a wonderful building. The roof structure of the old banquet hall is of oak and not a nail in it. It is a big roof too. There are a bunch of old cannon around the wall. I don't see how they could turn out such work in those times. The people up there sure talk with a scotch accent. I enjoyed listening to them.

Mar. 29, 1944
I have gotten right to work since coming back from furlough and have eighteen missions now. Have to get to school now. It isn't work, more or less fun. Every once in a while they surprise us and flash a picture of a nude lady on the screen instead of an airplane.

Mar. 31, 1944
I had my fortune told in town the other day, on a penny machine--just as accurate as a gypsy fortune teller though. It said, "sudden luck will be experienced in schemes long delayed". That sounds good. Another thing I attribute my good luck to is that I never go up without that lucky cigarette lighter Dave gave me. I even carried it a couple times when it wasn't in working order, silly isn't it. I haven't laid in bed in morning these past few days off. I get up at 7:20 and get to breakfast. There are 3 of us who do, Chet, our first engineer and another guy. When we get back we build a fire then clean up the barracks and the yard around the barracks. We're ambitious aren't we! It gives us something to do though and when it's sunny and nice it's really enjoyable to be working around. This morning I hang my blankets out on the line to air out and in a few minutes it started snowing so I had to bring them in. This is just like spring at home. This afternoon I am going to take a shower and turn my clothes in to the laundry. We have pretty good service. It only takes 2 weeks. Today is also pay day so it's a big day all around.

Apr. 5, 1944(click to see the original letter)
Dear Grandpa,

It’s been a long time since I wrote you so I am going to get busy. It’s a beautiful day today, just like a sunny spring day at home, I think I will go for a bicycle ride after while and get a little of the sunshine. I have been taking life easy the past few days, about all the work I’ve done is to help clean up the barracks in the morning, the rest of the day we spend in reading, writing and also plenty of arguing as to when the invasion will start and about various things in the states from cars to politics. I got a couple letters from Mom yesterday some nice pictures of Lois. I never realized how much photos could mean, I certainly appreciate the ones the folks have sent me. I guess things are going pretty well at home, mom in gradually getting the house fixed up and I hope she can get a roof put on this summer and maybe paint it. I guess all of my nieces and nephews are fine too.

I had a week furlough a couple weeks ago and spent it in Edinburgh, Scotland, that is some pretty country, it is quite hilly and green. I went through an old castle there which dates back around 626, which the rulers used to live in, Queen Mary, etc. The Scots don’t seem to like the English so well and always point out to us the fact that they treat us better in regard to prices etc. I enjoy hearing them talk, they have a real brogue. It is hard to get anything to eat in restaurants except fish or sausages and potatoes so it was a treat to get back to camp and get a good meal. It sure is amusing to hear soldiers kicking about army food, no matter how good a meal someone always complains but I noticed that everyone who had been on leave was glad to get back to army chow. Is Fred in the army yet? I suppose everyone is busy around the ranch now aren’t they. I would like to see Lloyd and Ralph, I bet they are growing up fast. I have seventeen missions in now but I think we have to do 30 now instead of 25 so I will be a little longer getting through. I was lucky enough to get to see the enemy capital one day. I guess I will close for now tell everyone hello for me and I hope I can get over to your place this summer.

As ever,
Richard

My A.P.O is changed to 558


Apr. 8, 1944
I have been sitting around so many days doing nothing that I will be getting barracks happy maybe. This flying sure is funny. You fly often and you start hollering that you wish they'd leave you alone a while. Then when I have it easy a few days I am an eager beaver again. I even volunteered to go up on a check flight today so I could get a ride.

Apr. 10, 1944
They have a matinee movie in the afternoons, today we saw "Casablanca". It had an added interest to me for I was in that neck of the woods back in the old days. It showed the natives selling stuff. They started with a price about 10 times too high and let you talk them down to a few francs and still made money. I am going to have a cup of coffee now. I see there is a can of it on the stove. We are sitting around talking about what we are going to do when we get to the states--that's a favorite topic.

I've got nineteen missions over with now. Maybe I'll get to see the states in the summer yet.

[Note: This was my last letter before being shot down on April 12, 1944]