March 2, 1943 - Having Some Doubts

Tuesday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               Another day dawns to a close and I’m sitting down again to write you.  Today was a cold dreary day with snow in the air and some of the came down.  We are flying mornings this week and we have managed to fly today before the real bad weather sets in.  It was sure cold up there in those open planes but they manage to bundle us up very well.  You should see our flying suits.  They are leather and line with sheepskin and are complete from boots (lined) right up to helmets + includes lined pants and jacket.  They are really warm and you look like an eskimo bundled up in them.

               Things in flying aren’t going the way I would like them.  For some reason it doesn’t seem to be coming the way I’d want it to.  If things don’t pick up soon I’ll find myself going back to the army again.  I’m not kidding and I want you to know how I’m doing.  Goodness knows I’m doing all I can it just seems I’m not catching on fast enough.  Perhaps I’m being a little optimistic about it but that’s how I feel about by progress right now.  I’ve really had no word from my instructor but I can feel it.  It’s not that I can’t fly it that I may need a little more time that the army wants to allot me.  Don’t feel bad about it as I don’t as I’ve had no indications of washing out, this is just my idea on my progress.  Lets forget it now and hope that the future will change my viewpoint.

               We got paid today for the month of February.  I received $65.72 clear and I’m carting around over a $100 in my pocket.  If I can get around to it I may send some home.  However, the future is so uncertain that I may keep it in case anything should happen.  It seems that I’ve had more money than I can spend lately.  It seems now when I get down to $30 that I’m almost broke.  It’s just that I don’t get a chance to spend it.  Yes I do get off now and then but even then I don’t spend much.

               I’ve been waiting to hear from you the last few days and I guess you forgot my usual Thursday letter.  By the way did you notify Readers Digest for my change of address?  I’ve noticed the new one is out and I haven’t received my copy as yet.

               Well that’s the story for tonight.  Keep those fingers crossed for me.

                

              

All my love

Bobby

March 1, 1943 - Weekend Open Post in Pine Bluff

Monday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

               I neglected you for the past two days simply because I’ve been busy observing Pine Bluff on my open post.  It was at least an interesting if not too fruitful from the standpoint of women.  I did go out with one on Saturday night but it wasn’t what I was looking for.  Then on Sunday I passed up a blind date that one of my buddies want to fix me up with.  I rean into him and the girl in the afternoon and I’ve been kicking myself ever since for not taking her out.  Now all I have is he phone number and a darn good prospect for a date next Saturday.  I spent a good part of the afternoon with my instructor, Mr Skipper, who is really marvelous, both as and instructor and as a man.  At the Oasis (a night club) Sunday afternoon I got involved in a jam session with a cadet who plays piano.  I played with him on the drums and we had a great time and incidentally collected quite an audience to watch and hear us play.  Didn’t know I was a show off did you?  All in all the weekend was a pretty good time.  The cadets really rate in town and the people treat you wonderfully.  You just can’t ask for more that we have right here.

               We are not flying today because of bad weather.  It rained last night but is is clear now and the sun is shining.  However the haze is very thick and visibility for flying is very poor.  Thus we are grounded.  I just hope we don’t miss too many days in any one week for if you do you have to fly Sunday.  Our flying time is just about on schedule but a few bad days could ruin it completely.

               This is all for now.  If I receive a letter from you today I’ll try and write again tonight.

                

              

All my love

Bobby

February 26, 1943 - Can Take Off & Land / Now Precision Flying

Dear Mom + Dad,

               I suppose that you notice that my writing has thinned down a little.  The reason was that my pen really had a regular groove worn in so I got to filing the point down sharper.  It is about time I did that.  It really writes a lot better now.  My mail finally caught up with me today and I received six letters which means I will be busy answering them for a while.  Your letter also arrived in the batch with the rest along with the one that was sent back.  Thanks for the picture of Mary, it really isn’t a bad a shot of either one.  I’m happy for the kid and I hope she makes out all right, but I’m sure she will.

               My flying time is beginning to creep up slowly but surely.  I passed the four hour mark today.  In another four hours we’re do for solo flying.  I can take it off and land it so I think I may be able to solo.  At least I can get up and come down in one piece.  I’ve been through most of the maneuvers now and it is getting now that you are required to do precision flying.  It is rather hard an it takes time but I think I can make it.

               We are getting open post tomorrow night and Sunday and I will get my first chance to see Pine Bluff.  We will be off from 7 P.M. to 1 A.M. Saturday night and from 7AM to 7AM on Sunday.  All in all a good deal.  I feel that I need the time off to o as the routine gets me down once in a while. 

               I heard from Booky today and he has been accepted for O.C.S. at the armored force school in Fort Knox, Kty.  He is trying to get a furlough while he is waiting (his) turn to go.  I hope he has some good luck.

               I must get on to some of my other correspondence so forgive if I quit here.

                  

All my love

Bobby

February 24, 1943 - Bad Weather - Grounded

Wednesday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

              

               Your letter of Sunday night arrived today, the first one that cane here direct.  It was sure good to hear from you.  The mail seems to come in pretty fast around here.  Your Sunday letter left Monday morning and I got it this morning, you couldn’t ask for more.  It will be a pleasure after the poor situation I had in San Antonio.

               I suppose by this time you are pretty well informed of my flying experiences.  Today we have bad weather and were grounded all day.  It wasn’t raining but the clouds hung low and visibility was poor.  As a consequence there wasn’t a P.T. (primary trainer) up all day.  When you have bad weather you have a half day off, the time you would normally be on the flying line.  It was nice to have the time off and to lay around.  However, it just means that we will have to make up the flying time later.

               I guess we are going to get an open port on Saturday night and possibly Sunday, if we don’t have to make up flying time.  I don’t think we will make it up this week though so we’ll probably get off.

               I’m glad to hear Dick Clarke is doing well in primary.  I agree with him it is a tough job but it is thrilling and flying is a lot of fun.  I’m really nuts about the flying part of this.  Will you try again to get Dick’s address?  I think you sent it once and I lost it and never did use it.  I’d really like to drop the kid a line.         

               Well that’s all I have time for now as I must hit the books a little.  

              

All my love

Bobby

February 23, 1943 - ". .the earth comes spinning at you crazily."

Tuesday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               And so another day at primary draws to a close and thus come the time for another letter home.  Today was a good day for me on the flying line and everything seemed to go well.  Yesterday I was rather disgusted as I had a bad day but today I really had the feel of the plane.  It’s funny how your idea changes on it from day to day.  You’re up one day and discouraged the next.

               The old routine is beginning to slow up again.  I’m so darn tired of living under military surveillance that it just gets me down.  I’d sure like to be a free man and be able to do what I wanted again.  I know what it is I’m just getting tired of it all.  I really think I need a furlough but I have to still plug along and keep the old chin up.  I’m not really discouraged, on the contrary, but I guess you know what I mean.

               As I said before my flying seems to be coming along swell and I’m getting a big kick out of it.  Today, my instructor put me in my first spin and that is a terrific sensation.  You climb straight up into nothing and then the plane stalls, you fall off the and the earth comes spinning at you crazily.  It is a wonderful sensation that you just can’t describe.

               I now have a total of 2 ½ hours in the air and though that isn’t very much, I’m beginning to get the hang of it.  In 8-10 hours you are supposed to solo and the time really does seem to mount up.  The next week and half will probably tell the story as then the wash outs will really start.  I’m not worried as I think I’m going to squeeze through.  However, you can never tell just how your are doing for sure, so I still have my fingers crossed.  Regardless of what happens it has been a lot of fun and I really have enjoyed it.  As I said before I think I’m going to make it!  Just keep praying for me.

               This weekend I’m expecting to take in Pine Bluff.  If the weather continues nice and we get our flying time in we will have the weekend off.  From all reports the town is really the stuff.  It seems that the cadets really rate as we are the only military personnel in the vicinity.  From the stories I’ve heard it is really paradise.  Well, we’ll soon find out.

               I guess that’s all for now.  I should be hearing from you direct very soon now as I’ve been here a week.  Mail doesn’t have so far to travel anymore.

              

All my love

Bobby

February 22, 1943 - 1 Hour 45 Minutes In the Air

Monday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               I neglected you last night simply because I had received a few letter and I want to keep caught up on them so please forgive me,  I’m now a fairly experienced pilot and have one hour and 45 minutes in the air.  Of course that is a mere scratch on the 60 I have to have before we leave primary.  I am beginning to see where I’m showing a little progress.  I’m still not at home at all but I can see a slight pick up each day.  It is really great fun and I enjoy the flying part of it immensely.

               The half of a day that we are not on the flying line is spent in ground school.  Compared to pre-flight we have not time at all and I thought that we had no time there.  It sure keeps you on your toes.

               In flying today I took the plane off and managed to wobble it up in the air.  I also made the most of landing too.  You just don’t waste any time in learning the maneuvers.  I have confidence that I can make it but you can’t tell.  It seems that everything comes so fast that you’ll never learn.  I still have my fingers crossed.  However, all in all, it is a lot of fun and I like it immensely.

               Not much else to tell you about except about the flying I’m doing and I’ve told you most of that so I’ll call it quits for tonight.  I’ll write you again tomorrow if I can find the time.

              

All my love

Bobby

Grider Field "Into the Blue" - 2/20/43 Edition

  

February 20, 1943 - First Flight

Saturday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               Your Sunday evening letter caught up with me today and it seemed swell to hear from you.  Will you give my best to Harold and Mariam and tell them I got a kick out of the pictures of Lee and the letter.  That kid sure has grown since I saw him in June.  But then I suppose that’s natural as eight months has gone by since then.  It seems like an awful long time since I was last home and I guess it is.  I will say that I’ve enjoyed my life more since I’ve been in the air corps that I did in the “medics”.  Of course it hasn’t been a happy time but I’ve liked my work much more and I’ve had better treatment all along the line.

               Today it happened!  I went up for the first time.  It was really a big thrill to get up there in the sky and fly around.  We were kept on the ground for 2 hours because of poor visibility and as a consequence we lost a lot of time.  Each instructor has five students under him and as a consequence I got only 21 minutes.  Perhaps the biggest thrill of all was when we climbed to 2000 ft and the instructor says take over.  It sure is a strange feeling being up there at those controls for the first time.  It isn’t as easy as it looks to control that darn thing.  I managed to zigzag it along for a short while.  I can see now why so many wash out.  For if you can’t get the feel of the plane in the time allotted to you, you wash out.  I think I can do it but you can’t tell yet.  I’ve still got my fingers crossed.  Regardless it is a big thrill and I know I’m going to like it.

               We go up again tomorrow for another crack at it to try and catch up a little on the time we lost because of the bad weather. It rained a little afternoon but it looks like it will be clear again.

               There is only one bad feature of our life here.  For some ungodly reason they won’t let us have a radio.  I had to turn mine in the other day to be returned at the time I leave.  I’ve never heard of anything like that before in the army but it is regulations here so I have to abide by them.  I’m sure going to miss that little jute box.  Outside of that everything is fine and I love it.

               If the weather continues good next week, we should have an open post next weekend on Saturday night and all day Sunday.  I will then get my first chance to look the town over.  I hear that it is really swell and that the cadets really rate.

               I’m going to send you a copy of the paper of the school here in a separate envelop.  I imagine it will aid you in understanding my new life.

               I guess that’s the story for tonight.  I’ll try and get another note off tomorrow night.  However, if you don’t hear from me it is because I’m busy.  Incidentally I mailed you on my average in pre flight as an upperclassmen I got my marks.  Just before I left and it was 91% instead of 89% which is just a little better.

              

All my love

Bobby

February 19, 1943 - Flying Tomorrow

Friday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               I have a few minutes so I will drop you a few lines.  I didn’t get up in the air today but I take my first trip up tomorrow, the first thing in the morning.  However today we did start one of the OT’s up, and learn all the procedure.  I’m really taking an interest in it and I’m looking forward to that first flight tomorrow.  I will then get my first crack at flying as they let you do a little straight flying even on your first trip.  I still don’t know anything about it but the sooner I give it a try the better.  I feel I can do it but I still have my fingers crossed.

               I’m really tinkled pink with this whole set up.  We have swell instructors both flying and school.  The school itself is run by civilians and is only supervised by the army.  That makes it nice.  We really live like kings here and I think I’m going to like it.  Flying looks like a lot of fun.  The only drawback is that we have less time here than we did in pre-flight, believe it or not.  That wasn’t much as I guess you know and now it is less so figure it out for yourself.

               That’s the story for tonight.  I’ll try and write again tomorrow.

              

All my love

Bobby

February 18, 1943 - "...Living Conditions Here are Top Notch..."

Thursday Morn

Dear Mom + Dad,

               I have a few minutes to myself so I’m going to start a letter to you and give you a few more details than I did last night.  Let’s start back in San Antonio.

               On Monday night Peg came out to supper and she got a terrific kick out of it.  Previous to her coming that afternoon we had of all things two parades, one at three, the other at four.  That sure was a fine way for us to end up our career in flight.  It made us as mad as the devil at the time but that’s all behind now.

               We had to get up at 2:30AM and I didn’t get to bed until almost 12.  I didn’t get very much sleep.  We ate breakfast and took off for the train.  Naturally the train wasn’t there.  After waiting about an hour it finally got there.  Thus started our trip almost.  The distance from camp to San Antonio is about five miles.  To go those five miles it took just about three hours.  We laid over in San Antonio for all that time be we couldn’t get off the train so it didn’t do us any good.  There wasn’t anything unusual about the rest of the train ride except the length of time it took us to get here.  The darn train seemed to go awful slow, in fact it did.  It took us almost a day and half to travel 600 miles, so figure it out yourself.

               We pulled into Pine Bluff about 2:00PM yesterday and boarded buses to come out to the field.  Then we signed a few papers, ate, assigned to barracks, unpacked, got our books, etc.  In doing those things we spent the rest of the day and evening.  Then a slower, shave, wrote to you and then to bed on my innerspring mattress.  I really slept on that thing last night.  It was swell.  In fact the living conditions here are top notch, good food and good quarters.

               We start out on our schedule of classes today.  I think that tomorrow we will go up for our first flight and possibly even today.  They don’t waste anytime on us here.  I’m ready for it, as I’m anxious to find out whether I can fly of not.  Let’s hope so.

               The field itself is not very large.  The only ones here are the cadets and there are not too many of them.  It will get increasingly smaller as we start flying as almost 50-80 of us are destined to wash out unless we should have an unusual group.  That seems like a high percentage but this is where they begin to take the toll on us as we do actual flying.

               We get weekends off most of the time.  From 7 to 11 on Saturday night and from 7 to 7 on Sunday.  So at least we will have a little time off now and then.  I’m not quite sure just how out time off works but the above is reliable as far as I can determine.

               I guess that’s about all the dope I can give you now.  I’m hoping for the best and I’ll try my darnedest to make it.  Write me soon.

              

All my love

Bobby