August 8, 1943

                                                            Aug. 8
Dear Folks:
            Got started last week with ground school, PT, and flying. The Cessna flys pretty easy. The only draw back is that it has 2 gadgets for every one the other planes had because of the extra engine. It is the same plane that we used to see going over there towards Canada. My instructor’s name is Forster and he used to be stationed at Ft. Riley. There are 5 of us to an instructor. Each of us got 4 hours dual time with him then 2 of us went up at a time for a “solo” ride — one as pilot and the other a co-pilot. We sit side by side and there are always 2 men in the plane when it goes up. The wheels retract and they impress us with the fact that it would be “very embarassing” to land with the wheels up. However, there is an indicator on the instrument panel that tells where the wheels are. Also, if the throttles are closed for landing and the wheels are still up, a horn will sound.
            Went to the Baptist church with a friend. Walked around the college campus. The buildings are made of sort of a burnt brick and nice looking but most of the grounds are covered with native grass and not very well kept. Of course the army has taken over the dormitories for aviation cadets that are being sent to school like at K.S.C. There are some fancy homes on the outskirts of town with landscaped lawns and all. Some have tall pillars in front like a typical southern mansion.
            We have a flock of fat pooches on the post. If there’s anything they like, its to run along with a group that is marching. One dog has it in for negroes and barks at every one it sees. There are also some trained guard dogs kept in a special pen and we have been warned not to make friends with them. Another cadet across the isle has a radio so we use it. We get up at 6 and lights out at 1030. Some evenings we have “link trainer.” Were supposed to fly this afternoon but it was called off.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
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