May 15, 1943

                                                            May 15
Dear Folks:
            Took our cross-country on Thursday. Went 140 mi round trip. Traveled at 3000′ and the air was smooth as silk. Saw several dry lake beds that were white with alkali. Also went over a small oil field. One red haired fellow from Kentucky got lost for a while. We about split our sides listening to his description of it after he got back. He told how he “went due west for a season” and then “due east for a spell.” Every tenth ship had an instructor but he rode in the rear seat instead of in the front as usual. I rode with my instructor and of course got a bang out of riding in the front seat.
            Yesterday a storm (no rain) blew in and we didn’t get any flying done. I’m C.Q. today. Each flight has a C.Q. each day. It consists mainly of sitting behind a desk in the orderly room and running a bed check at night. I’ve got a bad nite to run bed check because Sat. nite open post doesn’t end until 1 P.M. [A.M.?]
            Some of the boys got their photographs last week so those should come soon. Am sending some pictures taken here. Got a letter from Roscoe. Also got one from Dick Dreyer. He is working for John Deere in Iowa. He was offered the same job as I was and likes it fine. He’s deferred until Aug. and then hopes to get into Army. He has a bad eye & the Army won’t take him yet
            Glad you got a new pump. Will be a constant pressure and no trouble. Where is Effingham? We have something over a week here yet. The rumor is that we will be sent to San Angelo, Texas which isn’t far from here. Take the final exam in ground school Monday.
            Roscoe said his place had better drainage, anyway. He was down to the college and saw Arlan. Stanley has the mumps and is glad school is out.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
P.S. Please have 8 pictures of the group picture developed and send them down.
They are: L to Rt.
Front Row: Hardt, Gunn, Patteeuw, me
Back Row: Hugos (Manhattan), Harmon, Griffee (Hutchinson), & Hart.
Harmon’s first name & initial is “John D.”
We all stay in the same bay.