Podcast
Letters Home
Hosted by Letters Home · EN
A serial story of a WW2 B-17 pilot from Lowell, Michigan in his own words. We dive into letters written by Captain James Bruce McMahon during his time in World War 2 that he sent to his parents, siblings, and friends back home in Lowell, Michigan. His relatives will be reading his words and giving some context to what was happening in the world and in Lowell at the time he wrote these.
See the primary sources at lowellmuseum.org
Follow the Lowell Historical Museum on FB
Follow Letters Home on Instagram @lettershomelowell
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 57: Epilogue
Oct 900:45:49Tap to summarizeThis is our final episode! We don't read any letters, but we reminisce about our favorite memories of recording the podcast, we talk about unsolved mysteries, and we give an update about what happened to Bruce and his family in the years immediately following the war.Thank you for listening to Letters Home! Our episodes will remain on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the Lowell Historical Museum website and Youtube channel. If you’re listening now, go back and start it over! The digitized versions of Bruce’s letters will also remain at the Lowell Historical Museum website so you can read Bruce’s own words! You can also follow the Lowell Historical Museum on Facebook and the Letters Home Podcast on Instagram at LettersHomeLowell. Check out music by Roger MacNaughton, stream lowellradio.org, and continue to support the Lowell Historical Museum. Thank you for listening to Bruce’s story.
Transcribe →
Episode 56: The Last Letters- September 1945
Oct 200:46:12Tap to summarizeWe read Bruce’s final letters in this penultimate episode! He’s waiting to be discharged and looking toward the future. Original music by Roger MacNaughton
Transcribe →
Episode 55: The End of the War- Aug-Sept 1945
Sep 1800:36:37Tap to summarizeThe end of the war is here! Japan surrenders and Bruce awaits his next move. And waits, and waits...Original music by Roger MacNaughton.
Transcribe →
Episode 54: Baby Marta- July-August 1945
Sep 1100:43:55Tap to summarizeBruce is back in Dallas after a leave home to see the birth of his daughter-- Mary Marta McMahon. We also learn that Frank is taking flying lessons with Lowell's Hedge Hoppers Club, Bruce is contemplating what he's going to do after the war, and the United States drops two atomic bombs on Japan.Original music by Roger MacNaughton.
Transcribe →
Episode 53: Love Field, Dallas- May-June 1945
Sep 400:30:00Tap to summarizeBruce tries to settle into his final stop in the Air Corps-- Love Field in Dallas, Texas. He reveals more of his feelings about his time in England, and not-so-patiently waits for his first child to arrive. We also answer more listener questions!Original music by Roger MacNaughton.
Transcribe →
Episode 52: Victory in Europe- May 1945
Aug 2800:36:43Tap to summarizeThe war is over in Europe! Germany has surrendered! Bruce is in Kingman working Air Transport Command, visiting Needles, California, and writing letters home about Lotta's poor health.Original music by Roger MacNaughton.
Transcribe →
Episode 51: Back in Kingman- April 1945
Aug 2100:27:26Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Bruce is back in Kingman, Arizona without Margaret, as she stays back in Lowell to have their baby. We read a few love-struck letters Bruce wrote to his parents about his wife, we learn about what a communications officer is, and Mussolini is captured. Also-- a return of Bruce's friend Major "Pappy" Odle.Original music by Roger MacNaughton.
Transcribe →
Episode 50: The Beginning of the End- Jan-April 1945
Aug 1400:43:15Tap to summarizeIt's our 50th episode, the premiere of our final season, and the beginning of 1945. In this episode, Bruce and Margaret are starting to plan their future after the war, Bruce returns to Kingman, and the world mourns the loss of President Roosevelt.
Transcribe →
Episode 49: Arizona and Illinois- Sept-Nov 1944
Aug 700:39:51Tap to summarizeIt's our "Season 3 finale" and we're reading the last letters we have from 1944. We read about the trip that Frank and his daughters-in-law took to visit Bruce in Arizona, we learn that Bruce and Margaret take a detour to Chanute, Illinois, and the year 1944 finishes with some big life changes.
Transcribe →
Episode 48: Newlywed Life- September 1944
Jul 3100:33:41Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Bruce and Margaret "honeymoon" at a redistribution center in Miami before moving to Kingman, Arizona for Bruce's next assignment at Kingman Army Air Field. We read letters from both Bruce and Margaret describing their tough time finding a place to live in Arizona.Original music by Roger MacNaughton.
Transcribe →