Indian Creek, Miami Beach, FL

Indian Creek, Miami BeachMany luxurious homes border on this tropical waterway.  Over its smooth surface Gar Wood races his famous “Miss Americas”

Miami, Fla January 23, 1944

Pvt. D. E. Phelps

912^th Tr. Gp. Sq. 121 Flt A

AAF Training Center #1

Miami Beach, Fla

1/23/44

Dear Dad,

Haven’t got time to write a letter home today.  I’m trying to get caught up on both my letter writing and sleep.  We had a big parade & review this afternoon.  By the sun was hot and in a parade you can’t wear sun glasses.  Well take it easy.  I’ll write later.

Love, Dan

Mr. H.S. Phelps

54 Willow Ave

W. Somerville, Mass

Notice that this postcard is without a stamp, and our Private Phelps auspiciously wrote “FREE” where the stamp should go?  That’s how we won WWII, through audacious acts such as this, and writing “FREE” everywhere our troops went in Europe and the Pacific.

Private Phelps was part of Army Air Forces 5th district, activated in 1943, headquarters in Miami Beach.  In addition to training U.S. pilots, the center trained Royal Air Force pilots as part of the lend-lease agreement with Great Britain.  The 912th Training Group was a squadron of refueling planes that saw plenty of action in support of bombers in World War 2, and is still active today.  

What became of Private Dan Phelps is a mystery.  The town of Somerville, first settled in 1630, has about 75,000 people.  The Middlesex County Registry of Deeds goes back to 1974, and the only listing for a Phelps in Somerville is a 1993 bankruptcy for someone who may or may not be a direct descendant.  Thankfully, the National Archives List of Army and Air Force World War Two Casualties lists an Ernest Phelps, so as far as I can tell, Dan survived long enough to go back to his home on 54 Willow St.