A quick letter today that Maj. Gillham writes after he is unable to fly to Kyushu.
Tokyo
17 Apr 1946
Dearest Lovely,
This morning we drove out to Tachikawa, the air base about 30 miles out of town. After a month of pretty weather, spent mostly in the office, this morning it has turned off about like when I went to Hiroshima. All plane flights were cancelled and we returned to Tokyo and will go on the train tonight. If it clears off tomorrow morning we will get the plane at Osaka; if not we will continue by rail.
When we returned we went by the Red Cross Officers Club and then played "go." I think I am better at "go" than billiards. Do you remember the difficulty we had clearing the pool table at Gulfport one time? I haven't improved much since, and billiards is a much more difficult game.
The Red Cross Club is a nice spacious place over near the Diet Bldg. It must have always been some sort of elite club. There is a ballroom, verandas, lounges, game room, etc.
I didn't realize I was going to have the opportunity to write this letter. It gives me another chance to tell you that I love you and am longing to return to your side. It is wonderful to have a deep, understanding and lasting love like ours.
Love,
Bill
Tokyo
17 Apr 1946
Dearest Lovely,
This morning we drove out to Tachikawa, the air base about 30 miles out of town. After a month of pretty weather, spent mostly in the office, this morning it has turned off about like when I went to Hiroshima. All plane flights were cancelled and we returned to Tokyo and will go on the train tonight. If it clears off tomorrow morning we will get the plane at Osaka; if not we will continue by rail.
When we returned we went by the Red Cross Officers Club and then played "go." I think I am better at "go" than billiards. Do you remember the difficulty we had clearing the pool table at Gulfport one time? I haven't improved much since, and billiards is a much more difficult game.
The Red Cross Club is a nice spacious place over near the Diet Bldg. It must have always been some sort of elite club. There is a ballroom, verandas, lounges, game room, etc.
I didn't realize I was going to have the opportunity to write this letter. It gives me another chance to tell you that I love you and am longing to return to your side. It is wonderful to have a deep, understanding and lasting love like ours.
Love,
Bill
*********************
Tachikawa Airfield was completed in 1922 and was the first Japanese airfield to offer scheduled commercial service. In 1937, a Kamikaze-type plane became the first to fly non-stop from Japan to London. After the war, the decimated airfield was refurbished by the Allies and used primarily as a troop transport field. Today it is still a military field, operated by the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
