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PODCAST

Letters Home

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

history

All Episodes

00:45:49

Episode 57: Epilogue

Letters Home ·

2025/10/09

This 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

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00:46:12

Episode 56: The Last Letters- September 1945

Letters Home ·

2025/10/02

We 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

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00:36:37

Episode 55: The End of the War- Aug-Sept 1945

Letters Home ·

2025/09/18

The end of the war is here! Japan surrenders and Bruce awaits his next move. And waits, and waits...Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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00:43:55

Episode 54: Baby Marta- July-August 1945

Letters Home ·

2025/09/11

Bruce 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.

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00:30:00

Episode 53: Love Field, Dallas- May-June 1945

Letters Home ·

2025/09/04

Bruce 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.

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00:36:43

Episode 52: Victory in Europe- May 1945

Letters Home ·

2025/08/28

The 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.

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00:27:26

Episode 51: Back in Kingman- April 1945

Letters Home ·

2025/08/21

In 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.

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00:43:15

Episode 50: The Beginning of the End- Jan-April 1945

Letters Home ·

2025/08/14

It'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.

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00:39:51

Episode 49: Arizona and Illinois- Sept-Nov 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/08/07

It'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.

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00:33:41

Episode 48: Newlywed Life- September 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/07/31

In 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.

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00:29:11

Episode 47: Wedding Bells- August 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/07/24

Bruce and Margaret finally tie the knot and we read the wedding announcement from the Ledger, as well as what Bruce's brother Roger thinks of the marriage. We also read a little bit about Bruce's homecoming to Lowell and his next assignment in Miami.Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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00:32:52

Episode 46: Final Missions- June-July 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/07/17

This is it for Bruce's time in Thurleigh. In this episode, we read about Bruce's final missions and letters he sent while waiting to go home to Lowell!Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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00:32:59

Episode 45: D-Day- June 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/06/19

This is "the day" Bruce and his squadron have been waiting for-- D-Day. June 6, 1944. We read Bruce's letter that describes his experience in the invasion and we learn more about what exactly happened on that day. Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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00:35:41

Episode 44: The Lalley Episode

Letters Home ·

2025/06/12

We take a brief detour from Bruce's story to talk more about his cousin Bill Lalley, who was also a pilot shot down on his very first mission. Bill spent a year on the run with the resistance and in a prison camp before being liberated and returning to west Michigan. We read excerpts from Bill's memoir "365 Days: A World War 2 Memoir" to learn about his harrowing year. We also welcome a guest, Bill's niece, Annette Lalley Ritzema.Orignal music by Roger MacNaughton. Featuring

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00:35:26

Episode 43: Preparing the Invasion- May 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/06/05

In this episode, we learn more about how everyone is preparing for D-Day, including people back home. We hear some family updates about Bruce’s brother Roger heading in the army and Bruce's cousin Bill going missing in action after a mission. Bruce also asks his parents what they really think of his future wife and makes plans to get married when he returns.Original music by Roger MacNaughton

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00:35:37

Episode 42: Account of a Mission- May 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/05/29

In May 1944, Bruce wrote an account of a hypothetical mission that was published on the front page of the Lowell Ledger. We read this novelization of a mission in this episode, as well as get an update on his front teeth and our mysterious rebus puzzle.Help us solve the rebus puzzle letter on the Lowell Historical Museum website, our Instagram (@LettersHomeLowell), and our YouTube. Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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00:27:23

Episode 41: Captain and His Kids- April 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/05/22

In this episode, we learn about Bruce’s new ship, he has the chance to visit with some family members, and we pose a puzzle to our listeners. See the rebus puzzle on the Lowell Historical Museum website, our Instagram @lettershomelowell, and our YouTube video. Comment with your solutions and help us out!Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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00:31:11

Episode 40: Eggs, Ice Cream, and Candy- April 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/05/15

This episode is all about food. Bruce reveals how he gets fresh eggs from local farmers, the addition of an ice cream bar on the base, and his candy deliveries from his family. We also read about a heavy bombing day for the Allies and we learn Bruce’s “toothy secret.”Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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00:30:53

Episode 39: Somewhere Over the North Sea- March 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/05/08

In this episode, we read the letter that Bruce wrote from his plane that was published in the Ledger. We also hear about preparations for D-Day and learn something new about a very important artifact.Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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00:23:27

Episode 38: Big Week and Baby Blitz- February 1944

Letters Home ·

2025/04/24

In February 1944, Bruce wrote about raids in London during the "Baby Blitz" and flew a mission to bomb German factories as part of an Allied campaign called "Big Week" to prepare for the invasion. We read about Bruce’s time at the Ye Horse and Jockey, and make guesses about how and when Bruce earned his Distinguished Flying Cross medal. Excuse the static--we're a small operation!Original music by Roger MacNaughton.

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