March 6, 1943 - Grounded Because of Rain

 Saturday Morning

 

Dear Mom + Dad,

              

We’ve been grounded now for two days in a row because of a rainy spell.  We are liable to staty down for a few days unless things clear up.  We’re now shooting landings and if the field is muddy you can’t do it because it would tear the field up too much.  I think it will do me good to have a few days lay off.  When it rains or isn’t good flying weather we get a half day off with nothing to do.

Yesterday afternoon they were very good to us and gave us open post from 1 to 7 P.M. and so we went to town.  That means of course that we will fly this Sunday providing the weather is all right.  I don’t know whether we will get out tonight or not but I have hopes that we will.  I imagine if we do it will be from 7 to 11 and not give us much time.  But at least, that is better than nothing.  I didn’t do much of anything in town yesterday except bowl a few games and run around town but it was worth just to get a way for a while.

I received you letter yesterday and today my Readers Digest caught up with me from San Antonio, so I’m all set in that regards.  Yes, when we leave they know our forwarding address and the mail get to you soon or later.

I’m enclosing a check for $5 I just received from Uncle Sam as payment for my traveling expenses down here.  It is a lot of bother to cash it and I don’t need it anyway so I’ll let you dispose of it.  OK?  Do what you want with it, buy yourself a pair of shoes or something, I don’t care.  $5 means nothing with all the money I seem to have lately.

That’s all for now.  I’ll write again tomorrow.

 

                             

All my love

Bobby

 

March 4, 1943 - Reach Proficiency?

     Thursday Evening

 

Dear Mom + Dad,

               Two nights have passed since I last wrote to you so I will take time out tonight and write to you.  I received your Sunday night letter yesterday and all is forgiven on missing the Thursday letter, incidentally I did miss it.  The mail seems to come in on time and I have the scheduled figured out.  It isn’t like San Antonio, thank goodness.

               I’d like to report to you that things are going fine but honestly I can’t.  My flying is not coming up to par as I had mentioned before.  I know darn well I can fly the ship but the question is whether I’m going to absorb it as fast as the army requires.  I’m beginning to show a little lag in my progress.  I now have a total of seven hours, and as you know between 8 and 10 are scheduled solo hours.  I need a few more hours before I’m ready to solo.  There is just nothing I can do about it.  Goodness know I’m trying as hard as I can.  I still have faith that I can make it but the reckoning hour is drawing near.  I know I can fly to but I may require a few more hours to reach proficiency than the army wants to give me.  Don’t feel bad about it as I’m nowhere near washing out and I’m not anywhere near that.  The next week or so will really tell the story so we’ll all wish a little harder this week and I have faith that everything will turn out for the best.

               The weather down here has certainly been cold for a change.  It is hard on me as I’ve been in a warm climate so much in the last year that I’m not accustomed to it.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a little snow tomorrow as it is clouding over and it looks like a storm.  That would sure be fun to see for the first time since I left home last year.  However, if we got bad weather we might not get Sunday off as we would have to fly if we get to far back on our time.  So far we are ahead of schedule so I think we’ll get it anyway.

               I’m now shooting landings, the last step before solo.  It is coming slowluy but I still have a little trouble with them.  I’ll get it though.  You mention spins in your letter and I can really do those now, get in them, pull out, etc.  Flying is really a thrill and I still get a kick out of it.

               That’s the news for now.  

 

                             

All my love

Bobby