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

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