July 11, 1943

                                                            July 11
Dear Arlan:
            Had the first apple butter since leaving Kansas. We also get some honey and aprocot or plum jelly. Had water melon once last week. We can go to the cafeteria any evening and buy all the cold melon we want. The shows here at the post theater are 15¢ and first run shows.
            We have to sun our mattresses and blankets once a week on racks outside. One day 2 weeks ago a thunder storm came up and when we got back from class the water was running off the mattresses like from a tin roof.
            Passed my instrument check last week. Have been having “team rides” — one of us in the rear cockpit under the hood flys the ship by instruments while the guy in front sees that we don’t run into anything. While on these team rides we fly a triangular course to a couple of small towns within 30 miles by means of the compass. The man in back follows the compass and after a certain time is supposed to come out from under the hood and see the town below. We come surprisingly close most of the time.
            Flew last Friday nite. The ground crew set up the runway lites across wind instead of up wind so we had to wait an hour until they changed them. The only lights used were the small runway boundry markers spaced 400′ apart on each side of the runway. Since we couldn’t see the ground we put on a little throttle and let down until the wheels touched. Then for the last hour the boundry lites were “hooded” so that they could only be seen when directly in line with the runway. That’s what they use under combat conditions, I guess.
            My instructor became a papa last week — 6 lb. boy. There don’t seem to be any mosquitoes yet but I hear they get bad in August & September. Maybe you could get a used car. You shouldn’t have much trouble getting tires and the depreciation would be very little if you sold it again.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

                                                            July 11
Dear Folks:
            Had the first apple butter since leaving Kansas. We also get some honey and plum or apracot jelly. Had water melon once last week. We can go to the cafeteria any evening and buy all the cold water melon we want. The shows here at the post theater are 15¢ and are first-run shows.
            We have to sun our mattresses and blankets once a week on racks outside. One day 2 weeks ago a thunder shower came up and when we got back to the barracks from class the water was running off the mattresses like from a tin roof.
            Passed my instrument check last week. Have been having “team” rides — one student in the rear cockpit under the hood flys the ship by instruments while another student rides in front to see that they don’t run into anything. While on these team rides we fly a triangular course to a couple of small towns with in 30 mi by means of the compass. The man in back follows the compass and after a certain time is supposed to come out from under the hood and see the town below. We come surprisingly close most of the time.
            Broke the crystal on my watch and had a heavier one put in. Flew last Friday nite. The only lights used were the small runway boundry markers spaced 400′ apart. Since we couldn’t see the ground, we put on a little throttle and let down until the wheels touched. Then for the last hour they “hooded” the boundry markers so you could only see them when directly in line with the runway. That’s what they use under combat conditions, I guess.
            My instructor became a papa last week — 6 lb. boy. Got the cookies and thanks. Got your letter & one from Arlan this afternoon. Hear you’ve been getting some “white collared” help. Better not tell Rev. Elliot that I’ve been going to the Baptist church or he may raise his wages. About the nite flying, we put in about 2 hrs. apiece in two groups. Last week the ground crew set up the runway lites across wind instead of up-wind so we had to wait an hour for the change and that put everything late. Luckily, I was in the first bunch so got to bed fairly early. Hear the invasion of Italy has started.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
P.S. No mosquitoes here yet but I hear they get bad in August & Sept.