Tag: AdvancedTraining

Lasted exactly 65 seconds

September 22, 1943

                                                            Sept 22
Dear Folks:
            Am writing this at San Antonio. Ten men from our flight came down to go thru the high altitude chamber that I went thru when here before. The rest of the flight will come later. Left Lubbock at 9 A.M. yesterday and got here about 12, landing at Kelly Field which is right beside Pre-flight here.
            This time we went to 30,000 ft. in the chamber and stayed there 45 min. while practicing the use of oxygen equipment. To get the oxygen we wore a tight fitting mask over nose and mouth and it was connected by a flexible tube to a pipe from the “plane’s” oxygen tank. In order to walk around in the “plane” the mask had to be disconnected from the pipe and connected to a portable bottle which snapped onto our belts. After doing this awhile we went on up to 38,000 ft. While up there 3 of us volunteered to take our oxygen tubes loose to demonstrate the effect of no oxygen. I lasted exactly 65 seconds. Things just started to fade out then after the observer turned on the oxygen and I got 3 breathes everything snapped back into place and I didn’t remember passing out at all.
            There has been lots of changes made here at pre-flight. The upper class system has been abolished and now the upper and lower class live at different sides of the camp. The summer uniform here has been kaki shirts and shorts. Those shorts are really comical looking. They wouldn’t look so bad if they were short but they are pants that have been cut off just above the knee. Stayed in a barracks here last nite and couldn’t get a pass to go to town.
            Sunday. We left Kelly Field at 2:30 Wed afternoon and got back here about five. Then put in 3 hours of night time that night. Collected my parachute and flying clothes last week — all brand new. Suppose you had a busy week last week. Hope you’re feeling O.K. again, Jo. Have a meeting this morning at 10 and flying to-nite so won’t get to church. We did some skeet shooting on the gun range here, using 12 gauge shotguns.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
Won’t know about leave until Oct 2 or 3 which is after graduation. If I get one I’ll come up thru Hutchinson. Will phone when I know (collect!).

Sent announcements to Dr. Olsen, Aunt Hattie, Aunt Nellie.

 

 

Flying togs

September 18, 1943

                                                            Sept. 18
Dear Folks:
            Got your letter to-day. Hope Jo is still getting along alright. The $40 you’re paying for your dress is tame beside what I’m paying out — $160. I am not getting everything now, will wait to see where I’m sent. We get a $250 uniform allowance and will get the balance of what we spend for uniforms in cash. There is a rumor that we will get 10 day leaves. About 1/3 of the other class got leaves. We won’t know until we get our orders the day before graduation.
            I hear there is a hurricane in the Gulf. Corpus Christi is probably getting a blow out of it. Arlan said the white tom cat had been eating lots of rats. Mrs. Dodson had better censor her own mail before she breaks the morale of “the navy”. I’m a “flight lieutenant” for 10 days. Under a rotation system each man has to be a class officer at least once while here. I have to march our flight to mess, flight line, etc. Flying will taper off some now since we have about all the required time in and are required to fly at least 30 min. a day until graduation.
            Sunday. Went to a football game last nite between Texas Tech. and a team from this field. Tech won 26 to 19. The Tech freshman wear little green caps with their names, prefixed by “Slime”, on them.
            The M.E. church was packed this morning, even put chairs in the aisles. Have a northeast wind and some dust in the air this evening, as a result of the hurricane I suppose. Picked out our flying togs (free, courtesy Uncle Sam) leather, fleece lined jacket and pants, winter and summer helmet, leather gloves, fleece lined boots, wool sweater. The pants have zippers full length of the leg. Will give you a phone call if we get leave.
                                    Yours truly
                                                John

 

 

A regular “rat race”

September 12, 1943

                                                            Sept. 12
Dear Folks:
            Guess the weather is changing to fall weather here. Twice last week the sun set a clear as could be and about midnight a cloud came up and the wind from the north really raised a dust. They sounded the fire siren to get the enlisted men up to hold the airplanes down.
            We landed at Abilene one nite last week and stayed for about an hour. When we got there a bunch of planes from the Marfa Advanced school were landing so when we got mixed in it was a regular “rat race”. They had some of the latest pursuit ships parked on the field including several navy ships.
            Monday. Well we had a full day yesterday. We took off for Hobbs at 12:45 A.M. From there we went to Wink and then to El Paso it is barren looking country. We crossed a mountain range this side of El Paso at Guadalupe Pass. We were at 10,000 feet and the tops of the mountains on the north side of the pass looked to be level with us. Of course the pass was several thousand feet lower. The mountains have no trees and very little grass. The Rio Grande has a wide green strip on either side.
            The airport at El Paso is on a coast to coast airway, the same as Wichita, Kans., and all kinds of army and navy ships go through there. There are more mountains on the edge of El Paso. The town is not very clean and has lots of Mexicans. Some of us got passes and crossed the river into Juarez, Mex. which is about as large as El Paso. Before crossing the border we had to change all our money into U.S. $2 bills. The streets are lined with shops selling souvenirs, hand-made jewelry, leather goods, etc. Glad you got the silo full so quick. Uncle Tommy lived close to Aunt Hattie didn’t he? Send the picture to Marvel Lee since its only one I have.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
We took off from El Paso at 9:00 P.M. Sunday Evening, landed at Wink and had to stay there until 1:00 A.M. because of storms & finally got back here at 4:00 A.M. Monday.

 

 

Had a nice visit

September 4-5, 1943

                                                            Sept 4
Dear Chris and Jo:
            Have been having a little rain and cooler weather lately. It still warms up in the daytime however. We didn’t fly Tues nite because of rain and Thurs nite were supposed to go on a cross country but due to thunder storms near here we had to shoot landings and fly in formation until 3 A.M.
            Since becoming an upper classmen we fly 3 days a week in the daytime and 3 days at nite. Have reveille at 9:20 every morning.
            Got your letter to-day and sorry to hear you’re still having attacks. Arlan came out this morning and I saw him for 15 min. He stayed in town all day and we had a good visit in town this evening. He will leave for Corpus Christi in the morning. He got here Thurs. evening but couldn’t get ahold of me because of flying.
            Sunday. Were supposed to fly last night but rain put it off so we went to town instead. Went to M.E. church this morning. I tried to get some film for you but no luck. Speaking of peaches, I see they are $5.60 a bu. down here. Got a special delivery letter Monday saying Arlan would come around this way if I could be sure I could see him and if I didn’t let him know he would not come. I didn’t phone since we were night flying and didn’t know when he would come so was surprised when he phoned Fri morning.
            We have the Post band play for us every Thurs. noon during lunch. Can get over night passes for Sunday nite since being an upper classmen. Pretty nice for married men. The dog had her pups when the last class graduated and they’re out of reach under a barracks. Hope you got some rain. Yours truly, John

                                                            Sept 5
Dear Folks:
            Had a good visit with Arlan. He got here Thurs. nite but I was flying and so he didn’t get ahold of me until Fri morning when I saw him for 15 min. He stayed all day and we went to town Fri. nite. He left Sat. morning. That was the first car I had driven since being in San Antonio.
            Have been having a little rain and cooler weather lately but it still warms up in the daytime. We didn’t fly Tues nite because of rain. Thurs nite were supposed to go on a cross country but because of thunder storms near here we had to shoot landings and do formation work until 3 A.M. Sat. nite were supposed to go on 2 cross countrys but it rained again.
            Went to M.E. church this morning. Officers clothing is kinda high in price. Tried to get some film but no luck. Peaches are $5.60 a bu. down here. Arlan said you were filling silo. I got the special delivery letter Monday but didn’t phone because of night flying and uncertainty of when Arlan would get here. Was surprised when he phoned Fri morning.
            We have the Post band play for us every Thurs. during lunch. Can get over-night passes for Sunday nite since being upper class man. Pretty nice for married men. The dog had her pups when the last class graduated. They’re under a barracks where no one can reach them. Had our pictures taken for class book.
                                    Yours truly, John
Just found out Capt. Potter, commandant of cadets is a K.S.C. grad of ’37 in Agri. I think.
Let me know when this letter gets there.

 

 

Flying in on the beam

August 29, 1943

                                                            Aug 29
Dear Folks:
            Got your letter, Dispatches, and magazine last week. We had a busy week last week. Flew Thurs. and Fri. nite until 1 P.M. and had final exams in all our ground school subjects. The upper class is graduating Monday. We start on a new schedule Monday. Have reveille at 9:20 and day flying 3 days a week and night flying 3 nights. Also P.T. and 1 hr. ground school a day.
            We do formation and cross country work at night also. There are quite a few oil wells around here and each one has a light on it so the ground is pretty well covered with lights. Not that they do any good for it would less confusing to see just the towers lighted instead of the whole country.
            Have been doing a lot of instrument flying last week. It includes finding the field by flying in on the “beam”. We will make a cross country using the radio beam.
            Mr. and Mrs. Topperwein, famous shooting experts, put on an exhibition for us Thurs. He looks 70 and she 60 and they really could shoot what they were looking at. Any time he missed a shot she would yell, “Daddy!”
            I see Bob Davis is stationed at Clovis, N.M. Its not far from here and we went over it the other day while on a formation trip. What color is your car, Arlan? How many pigs have you by now? Can’t think of any thing else right now.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

 

 

Formation flying

August 20-22, 1943

                                                            Aug. 20
Dear Folks:
            Thanks for the cookies. They got here in good shape on Thursday. I’ll write Marvel Lee also. We’re having a “stand-by”clothing inspection this morning and I’m writing this on my bunk while the supply officer and sergeant are checking the amount of clothes each of us have. It seems we have to turn in our original issue when we graduate. We heard that awhile ago so I didn’t send the wool clothes home.
            Got a letter from Jo. She sent some good pictures of Karen and Chris. We had rain Tues. for first time since coming and a couple of days cool weather afterwards. Wed. we went on a low altitude cross country to Canyon, Portales and back. We flew at 500′ and could really see things on the ground. Some cows even started running. That was in the afternoon so the air was plenty rough at that altitude.
            (Sunday.) Got a new bottle of ink as you can see. The bus service between here and town isn’t so good. The buses are too small and don’t run often enough. Went to town last nite for first time on Sat. nite. Surely don’t see any drunks.
            Have been flying formations some last week. Have a 3-plane formation with our instructor riding as a co-pilot in the lead ship. Looks like this: [drawing] Last Tuesday after the rain we were in formation and the instructor took us out over a cloud layer. He would skim along the top of the layer and then let down into it until we lost him and were on instruments. Of course we pull up and were soon in the clear again.
            Got a letter on the 20 written by Jo, dated Aug. 6, addressed in your handwriting and postmarked Aug. 12 in Hutchinson. Wow! I see Mr. Dodson finally figured out where Merrill is. Am sending some C. of C. propaganda. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not selling Texas. Marvel Lee ask[ed] about getting wings. I don’t think you can buy the real article. Of course jewlery makers make any design they want to. After graduation I’ll see about getting some extra ones. Graduation is Oct. 1 and I ordered some announcements.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
Does your car fit in the north garage Arlan? Do you have any idea of the milage on it? Can you get tires? What gas card do you have?

                                                            Aug. 22
Dear Marvel Lee:
            Thanks for the cookies. They got here in good shape on Thursday. It seems we have to turn in our original clothing issue when we graduate. Got a letter from Jo and some good pictures of Karen. Had some rain Tues. for first time since coming here. Have been flying in formation some last week. Use a 3-plane -> [drawing] formation with our instructor as co-pilot in the lead ship. After the rain Tues he took the formation out over a cloud layer and skimmed along on the top of it.
            Wed. we went on a low altitude cross country to Canyon, Portales, and back. We flew at 500′ and could really see things on the ground. Some cows even started running. It was in the afternoon so the air was plenty rough at that altitude.
            The bus service between here and town isn’t so good. The buses are too small and too few. Went to town on Sat. nite last nite. Surely don’t see any drunks.
            I don’t think you can buy genuine pilot’s wings but jewelry stores no doubt have a lot of designs of their own. Graduation is Oct. 1 and I ordered some announcements.
            No, we don’t get any jumping practice. It seems the army doesn’t believe in practicing something you have to be perfect at the first time. The whole cross country into N.M. took 3 hrs. but were only in N.M. one hour.
            Navigation is drawing a line on the map to the destination and measuring the magnetic course on the map. Then designate check points such as roads, towns, lakes along the route. Before taking off you figure the time to arrive over these check points. After getting on the course these check points are picked out on the ground and identified to see if the wind is drifting the plane off course.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
The number is my army serial number and a new regulation requires it in our return address.

 

From 5000 ft

August 13, 1943

Dear Folks:                                                            Aug 13
            Got the Dispatches this week. Congratulations on getting the mortgage paid. Finally got out of the state of Texas — for 1 hour. We went on a cross country to Tucumcari, N.M. and Adrian and back. About 100 mile northwest of here the land drops over a cliff about 200 feet and looks pretty rough from there north as far as can be seen. The ground is varying shades of red with sprinkled green grass.
            That was Wed. and we went on anther one to-day — Friday. This one was to Big Spring, Abilene, and back. That was back in our old San Angelo territory and we saw the same territory we saw coming up here but from 5000 ft. Apparently we are on sort of a large flat plateau because any way we go from here the ground starts to get rough. Went over some dry lake beds that were white, alkali I suppose. Since 2 of us are in each plane, one flys while the other navigates and then trade around.
            Sunday. Went to the M.E. church and then out to McKenzie State park which is just north of town. There is plenty of grass and shade there and quite a few people were out on picnics.
            No, we don’t get mail on Sunday. Got the letter with the pictures last Monday. Use the address without “TEFIS 498” because it confuses the clerks since there are also enlisted men squadrons here of the same number. There are both twin-engine fighters and bombers and also 4-engine bombers. These planes are just trainers. Yes, Griffee is here. No, I haven’t a vacation coming and don’t think putting up prairie hay would be one. Ha! How did the brome grass hold out? What are you going to use for a kitchen??? Everything will taste of iodoform! Will try out the new title on this envelope.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
Arlan, here’s 40 to put in the venture.

Wheels retract

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
Note the address

Planes are twin-engine

July 29, 1943

                                                            July 29
Dear Folks:
            We left Goodfellow at 4:30 this morning and took a troop train which ended up here at 1230 to-day. I’ve been here 6 hours and I hope the first impression of this place lasts because it was a fairly good one. We don’t wear ties which is a change — I think I forgot to mention that we had to wear ties the last 2 weeks at Goodfellow. The barracks here are the same at Goodfellow except we have a telephone and water cooler in each. The cold water in the pipes is as cold as well water.
            The planes are twin-engine but haven’t been up in them yet. About 1/3 of Class 43-I went to single-engine school at Mission, Texas. McDill, Patteeuw, Poxon, Ross, and others of the under class that came from pre-flight with me went to Mission.
            The country around here is flat and has a big crop of maize and cotton on it. This field is 10 mile from town. According to the schedule we will fly some on Sundays. The town of Lubbock has a radio station but it isn’t on a national hookup. A man across the isle has a radio.
            Hope the book and film got there O.K. The news from C[S]icily is still good. I don’t know whether this address is complete or not but it will do for the present.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John