Don’t like to give up flying

August 19, 1945

                                                            Wilmington N.C.
Dear Folks:                                                19 Aug. 45
            Well, we finally got back to N.C. Left there at 11 this morning and got here at 3:30. The major arrived up there yesterday with the new starter. He hasn’t come back yet. Maybe he had trouble and will be calling for parts. Ha! He lives up there also. I got a used car radio from Mr. Schuerman and brot. it back with me. The Schuermans thot I had a southern accent. If I have it’s no wonder and I came by it honestly. We were gone 10 days but they didn’t fly here either.
            I haven’t found out about a discharge yet. They say we will get only 10 hours flying a month. I haven’t made any post war plans yet. It looks like things would be unsettled for awhile. Right now I can’t see working in an office. I’ll have to look over the opportunities in Clay County. I don’t like to give up flying but it would have to pay for itself.
            The pasture would go good with the place. I’d think 25 or $30 per acre would be enough for pasture but I don’t know real estate prices. There should be an authority around there besides Dick. Has the grass got any blue-stem in it? We could raise the money. Will probably be in the army 2 or 3 months yet. I got the new car insurance policy from Marvel Lee. All for now.
                                                            John
P.S. Got a letter from Jo. No addition yet? Now that the war is over, what’s the holdup? If Mouse is eager to please he is new around C.C. Universal was anything but eager when I was around there. I usually get your letters on Thurs. The letter from K.S.C. was from Prof Helander. A company wants a machine tool man. The position would be: “assistant to the chief small tool consultant” — hmm!

[in his mother’s handwriting:]

John Leaving Army Sept 2 Fort Leavenworth

War is over

August 16, 1945

                                    Richland Center, Wis.
                                    16 Aug 45
Dear Folks:
            As you see I’m still in Wis. Well, at least the war is over and that is something. We couldn’t get a starter here so are waiting for one to be flown up from N.C. All planes were grounded for 48 hours and now the weather is bad between here and there so we are just waiting.
            We worked on the plane Monday & Tues trying to start it without a starter. We gave it up and started out for Schuerman’s home 60 miles west of Madison. Caught a ride with another Lieut. coming out here and got here just as the whistles and bells starting sounding off.
            Would like to be “stuck” as close to home as Ralph is. His father is the Moline dealer here. There are 3 boys, all in the army, and 2 girls at home. Yesterday Ralph and I installed a chime door bell in the house.
            I don’t know what the story is on getting out of the army but will try to get out as soon as possible. Wonder if I’m an uncle yet.
                                    John

Out of a job soon

August 12, 1945

Dear Folks:                                                12 Aug.
            Am on a cross country. Schuerman lives here and I came along to navigate. Also had 4 enlisted men as passengers. They lived in Chicago so took the train from here. I took a train to Milwaukee and visited Lyter’s. Mrs. Lyter was away at a church meeting so didn’t see her. Dr. & Doty were home and Ruth came Sat. Jack is going to be assistant at Springfield when he graduates this fall. Dr. Lyter’s brother came Sat. nite. He is a publisher in Dayton, Ohio for the United Bretheren. Had to leave there at 10 this morning as we were going back at 1 P.M. When I got here, found the electrical system had gone out on the plane. We can’t do anything [until] 9 to-morrow morning. It is a short in one of the starters — just like a Ford. Can’t find out until to-morrow if they have a new starter here or not.
            Rather good news been coming in lately and looks like I would be out of a job soon. Hope they make up their minds soon. Am also sweating out becoming an uncle again. The farmers are threshing oats up here. The corn is just silking and looks rather short. Maybe it grows that way up here. Oats looks good. The temperature seems about the same as N.C.
            I suppose we will be confined to the post for 24 hours on V-J Day — if we are back there. My car insurance runs out to-day so will have to park it off the post until I get a card from Marvel Lee saying it has been renewed.
                                                John

Air Force Day

August 4, 1945

Dear Folks:                                                4 Aug. 45
            Put in 30 hours flying in July which is the most I’ve flown since last Dec. 1 Aug was Air Force Day as you probably heard. We flew in a 9 ship formation over the town. The P-47’s buzzed the town. In the afternoon the field was open to the public. The pictures I cut from the newspaper the next day. Brig. General Anderson was on the field and all 9th Airforce men had to sit around that afternoon until he came. He was formerly in the 9th and is now head of 1st Airforce in which we are now.
            Got a letter from Capt Strieber of my class at Chanute Field. He is an air inspector at Sherman, Texas. Also got a letter from Capt. Smaltz of the old Group. He sent the orders for the 11th & 12 clusters for the air medal — 10 more points.
            Tell Chris & Jo I got their radio done. I don’t have delivery service so they will have to come after it! I’m building a little phonograph that will use a radio as a speaker. Also fixed an old radio that belongs to our “farm house”. Schuerman, the man that rode with me from Greenville bought a 1940 Plymouth for $640 from a ship yard worker. It is not in very good condition, however.
            Sunday. The Chaplain is a 1st Lt. and a one man show. He preaches, plays the organ and leads the singing with a not-good-but-loud voice. Preaches good sermons. Had communion to-day.
            Will have to polish the car this week. This damp salty air is hard on everything. Even leather shoes mildew if not worn for a week. Pay day again last week. Are you going to have any tomatoes? Had turkey for dinner to-day. Lots of wives around here especially on week ends. The babies, bassanetts, and scooters about take over the officers club.
                                                John

Something to aim at

July 28, 1945

Dear Folks:                                                28 July 45
            Has been a long dry spell here. Hasn’t rained for a week so did quite a bit of flying. I was somewhat surprised at Arlan’s engagement but not nearly as surprised as you were apparently. You are right, of course, about not getting married until you have a business going. However, training in a profession, especially veterinary medicine, is the equivalent of a business. If Arlan goes into missionary work after leaving the army this would be doubly true. It is true that the future does not look absolutely secure but I doubt if the times looked all rosy to a neutral party even when you were married. It seems to me that having an unknown quantity in the future gives people something to aim at, whether they like it or not at the time. When a nation starts looking only for security progress has stopped. Look what happened to France and her Maginot Line. Such are the dreams of youth. Ah me! Enough of that. Got a little off the subject, I’m afraid.
            Sorry to hear about the wheat crop. What kind of combine did you order? How does the cultivator work on the feed that was drilled? I can see you feeling sorry for the cats — to the extent of $1 a week. I’d smother the pussy cat. Maybe you could step on her neck instead of her foot.
            Buddy’s T/4 rating is equivalent of a sargeant. Our operations building is a farm house that was left on one corner of the field. The barn is used by radio and engineering. I also got a driver’s license. Haven’t had one since loosing my billfold. I finally eliminated a squeak from the car that I had been hunting for ever since I got it. It was caused by the bumper support touching the fender where the support passes thru the fender. I’ve paid Arlan $640 haven’t I? Will send him a check for the rest.
            I was going on a cross country to Tulsa & Wichita this week end but have to fly Sunday morning so its off. Maybe some other week.
                                                John
P.S. Can you find out Cloyce’s address? Might get up there to Norfolk.

Fly back and forth

July 21, 1945

                                                Wilmington
                                                21 July 45
Dear Folks:
            Am writing this while sitting around the operations building (soft chairs) waiting for a mission. The missions last from 2 to 4 hours. We are on duty every other day and come down here while on duty. That’s all we have to do. I don’t hardly believe it yet and am waiting any day for some one to “organize” this section. We let the target out on 1200′ feet of cable and fly back and forth along the coast.
            I was somewhat surprised to get Arlan’s letter saying he is engaged. It is a good thing you didn’t get a pen because I sent him a pen and pencil. They were not expensive but will do to carry around.
            I had the car worked on this week. New spindle bushings, wheels aligned and new distributor — $25. It will need a new clutch next I think. The speedometer couldn’t be fixed because of lack of parts.
            I got Jo’s radio put to-gether but have to tune it up yet. I also got a wedding announcement from Randall whom I knew at Chanute Field. I got the clothes O.K. on 19th. Could you ask Henry’s Drug to “slip” you another 127 film? I see you have a new preacher.
            If I had arrived at Greenville a week late they would never have known the difference. They didn’t know I was coming or what for. Hope you have your wheat cut.
            Sunday. Went to Wrightsville beach this afternoon. It is 8 mile from here & closer than Carolina Beach. The sun shown all day for first time in a week. It rained 24 hours steady in middle of the week.
                                                John

Too many “th” in it

July 12, 1945

Dear Folks:                                                12 July 45
            We stayed in Charlotte yesterday. Left there this morning about 11 and got here at 5:30. Took our time and stopped to eat muskmelon and ice cream on the way. I see lots of P-47 and a few B-26 on the field. They probably use the B-26 to pull targets for the P-47 to shoot at. Will find out the score to-morrow. There are tall pine trees all over the place. The field is 4 mile out of town.
            It was cloudy and cool all the way here to-day. What a name this field has. Too many “th” in it. Take some pictures of the harvest if you can. Don’t use this address yet.