[303rd-Talk] VE DAY

[Maurice Paulk]

My memory for that day is still quite vivid. Just to be sure I copied this from 
my letters home on the 303rd's web site. 

MAY 19- 3 pages -- rec'd May 31 - Started this when I went on pass [8th] - 
warehouse & office a madhouse--no time. Didn't expect a pass. Probably 
VE day restriction. Dudley 3 PM--Harold had the 8th & 9th off. Had quite a 
time - sober but far from sane celebration. After tea left the house at 5:30 PM.
Wandered around town looking at show bills, penny arcades till 7 PM. bored
-went to milk bar & drank hot & cold milk shakes & coffee. Went out into the 
street & got into a "snake dance" - marched around town for 3 hrs singing, 
shouting, firecrackers, anything for show or noise. Visited with Chief Constabul 
Campbell. Home at 2 AM - made coffee & in bed at 2:30. up at 9 am wed. the 
9th. Sat on Harold's bed & talked till 10 am. Mom Parkes brought breakfast to
us upstairs. Went up town for the parade--missed it. Met the milk bar gang & 
in the pm went for a jaunt in the country side [bus?]. Evening show 8-10 - 
looked in on the dance. Back "home" at 1 am. Thursday 10th-- up at 6 back to 
camp. Tell you about 10hr flight over Belgium, Germany & France later.
Flight was a week ago.

   Prior to this unexpected pass we stood in review in the morning, band 
played. They lit a trench in the shape of a V & an E--filled with either gas 
or napalm.
   While in the milk bar Harold & I with another girl [for the looks of it] 
took a 14-15 yr old girl that had had a pint over the seven[ as the English 
would say]. The girl with Harold forgot her purse so they left me standing 
on the corner with blonde drunk laying on my shoulder so she could stand 
up!! A little white haired lady crossed the street- made some remark, giving 
me a dirty look. I said "Lady I didn't pour it down her!" She made another 
[forgotten] remark, turned back across the street and crossed in my direction
on the other side of the street.

Maurice