Paul Estep

Dear Bert,

I have already written to Mrs. Hartman and would have written to you, honest, but I can hardly think of anything to say. Now that it has been over 90 days I'm sure the censors will not let this out.

Ted, Slick, Oldenburg, Fierman, Lauch and I got out of the plane before it sank beneath the water. All that was left afloat was a nose wheel which we all held on to. The water was ice cold. Oldenburg was the first to go, Lauch and Slick (Sorensen) followed. We all tried our best to help them but after so long a time we had to let them go or drown ourselves. Fierman went about eleven o'clock at night. Scotty and I stayed on just before daylight. I kept telling Ted if we could just hold on until daylight maybe someone would pick us up but about 4:30 A.M. Scotty couldn't hold on any longer. I tried with all my strength to keep him up but all at once he sunk and took me with him, then I knew he was drowning so I got free of his grip and swam for the top. Upon reaching the top, all I saw was the wheel. Of course, it was dusky and I didn't see anything of Ted afterward. Ted had a slight cutover his right eye but nothing serious. If someone would have picked us up everyone would have made it. Believe me I did everything possible, I'm sorry.

Donald G Smithey