St. Petersburg Florida

Wartime love letter featuring a street map of ‘The Sunshine City’

“Dear Jackie, Well here goes for a line or two. I am out on the pier where the dance is to be held this evening. The Army Band is our source of music and they sound fine to start off with. When I got back to the hotel I will drop you another line or so & let you know who won. The dance floor is fairly large & on the second floor of the pier. The dance is only for our flight so there should not be too many soldiers here. I am enclosing a pair of pictures but it would be a grand idea if you were to burn them. The moon and ocean were beautiful as we walked out here & I wish you were here to meet me. Anyway I’ll be thinking of you. My Love, Steve.”

This heartwarming love letter was written in October, 1942 by an American pilot stationed in St. Petersburg, Florida to his sweetheart in Midway City, California. It includes the original mailing envelope, marked ‘Rush Soldier’s Mail’, with a return address that indicates he was in the 603rd Bomber Squadron.

The verso of the letter presents a simple street plan of ‘The Sunshine City’, identifying primary transportation routes and numerous locations of interest. Also called ‘The Perfect Home City,’ St. Petersburg was totally transformed by the outbreak of World War II.

Source: St. Petersburg History