Tag: Class43I

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

Don’t know what I’ll get

July 24, 1943

Dear Folks:
            Had an intermural air show this morning. The 6 best men in each squadron put on a competitive show in different events. The public was invited and there was quite a crowd. My squadron, the 5th, came out second with only 9 points below the winner. However, A flight of the 5th Squadron, also mine, won the safety plaque. We damaged one wing tip with no injury to personnel in about 3700 hr. flying time. Those of us who didn’t fly put on a drill formation.
            Sunday. It is cloudy and a little cooler to-day. This last week it has been unusually hot — 105°.
            “A” flight of 5th squadron had a picnic out at Lake Nasworthy yesterday afternoon. The “G.I. taxi” took us out and the instructors came also. There were several row boats there so we took some rides around the lake.
            My instructor, Lt. Watkins, says they can’t get a maid so he has to do the baby’s washing. The day after the baby came the four of us students were talking over the days work with him and he ask us if there were any questions. Schilke said there was one thing we had been wondering about and that was whether he preferred the 3 or 4-cornered type. Watkins looked blank for a minute and then, trying not to smile, said he preferred the 4 cornered.
            Went on another cross country to Hamilton and Cisco and back last Monday. We landed at both places and the fields were just pastures and not very smooth at that. At Hamilton, a woman was running some cows across the field when I got there. It was the longest trip we had been on and took 3 hrs. One of the under classmen ended up in Oklahoma on a cross county last week. Some of the boys that washed out in primary are now over at Concho Field taking the new navigator-bombadier course there.
            Got the Dispatches. How do these air-mail envelopes get there? Yes, we take plenty of training after being commissioned if we’re not made an instructor. We don’t use any big stuff until after getting wings. I put in for twin-engine advanced but don’t know what I’ll get. It will either be twin-engine, single-engine, or combat-observation for the next 9 weeks.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
Jo, hope you’re feeling better by now. Arlan, would you have trouble getting instruments to practice with?

Finished code

July 14, 1943

                                                            July 14
Dear Folks:
            Had a hard rain this morning and of course our mattresses were out again. Went on our cross country last nite to Abilene, Harpersville, and back. The towns are much easier to see after dark although not so easily identified. Camp Barkley near Abilene really shown. Abilene and Harpersville are on a civil airway so between the two towns there were rotating beacons every 10 miles. On each beacon is a code light telling how far it is from the town. Saw several oil derricks and they have them covered with lights. The air is so smooth after dark that the plane stayed on the compass course with hands and feet off.
            Finished code to-day. We had to receive and send 8 words (5 letters per word) per minute on the buzzer and receive 4 words per min. on the light which flashed on in time intervals corresponding to “dots” and “dashes”. For example, one short flash and two long ones is W. Over the earphones a W would be heard as one short “buzz” and two long ones.
            I see that farm machinery is going to be taken off the ration list. I notice the livestock aren’t bothered with flies down here. The plane on July 19 “Life” is one like we use. Sweetwater is about 70 mi from here and we used the airport there on one of our cross countries. The plane on page 73 is one like we used in primary. That article is a good description of what we do here. The only trouble is that all the women are at Avenger Field and all the men at Goodfellow. Speaking of women Maxwell, from Chicago, has a girl writing to him from every place he has been stationed and he has been in the Cavalry for 2 years. He has to write about 12 letters a week.
            Sunday. Went to the Baptist Church again this morning. The night flying is over for us at this base. Will be here at least 2 more weeks. The radio went dead again. Am sending some pictures taken at Ft Stockton. The window [cleaning] scene was taken one Friday nite while getting ready for the Sat. inspection. The man looking over his shoulder and on the donkey is Griffee from Hutch. Got the Dispatches. Got exempted from the final in meteorology.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

Apple butter

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.

Having an air show

July 3-4, 1943

                                                            July 3
Dear Folks:
            Went on a cross country Monday. Went to Brownwood and Junction and return in 2.5 hours. We landed at Brownwood. Got another 2.5 hrs. night flying in on Thursday nite. The sky was over cast and some lightning from a thunderstorm about 30 mi away. Used the landing lights in the wing and no flood lights to land by this time.
            Have been having quite a few thunderstorms this week. They’re individual storms and not those line storms you have and occur in the afternoons. The temperature has surely been even. Hasn’t changed on an average since we got here. Haven’t seen a thermometer but I think it rarely gets above 90°
            Am now taking some more code. Haven’t had any of that since pre-flight. We also go swimming once a week during PT period.
            July 4. They are having an air show this morning over at Concho Field which is about 5 miles from here. I think I told you it is a bombadier school. Our instructors are taking the planes from here and putting on a formation flying exhibition. The bombadiers will have some target practice for exhibition. Also will be some gliders in the show. About 6 twin-motored transports took off from Goodfellow this morning with a big glider behind each. We could go over if we wanted too but have seen most of it.
            Got the Dispatches. Also a box of cookies from Aunt Hattie. McDill and I went to Baptist church this morning. The preacher was a regular old fashioned evangelist. Also had communion. The only thing they left out was a “ducking” ceremony. Had dinner and went out to the park and took a nap on the grass. Got paid last week
            Hope you got your hay up. We fly from 9 P.M. to 2 A.M. and get up at 8 the next morning. Only fly at nite once a week, will get a total of about 8 hr at nite. Yes, we get Sat. nite until 2 A.M. and Sunday until 10 P.M. as open post. Does Dale stay out there?
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

First night flying

June 27, 1943

                                                            June 27
Dear Folks:
            We’re using a different auxiliary field this week — Oates Field, they call it. It is bigger than the one we used last week so we can make running takeoffs when practicing spot landings. That is, instead of stopping after landing and taxing around to the end of the field for another takeoff, we just give it the gun after landing, make a short run and take off again.
            The farmers are combining oates this week. The 2 farmers next to Oates Field use combines like George Potter had and Farmalls on rubber. They sack the oates on the machine and drop the sacks around the field. Also near Oates Field is a big dairy with about 150 head of Jersey milk cows. Every windmill has a large covered tank about 10 ft off the ground beside it. The houses are small and there is usually just a shed for a barn. All of them seem to have good tractors & equipment. They grow alfalfa, sudan grass, cotton, oates and some kind of cultivated maize.
            Did my first night flying this week. The air is really smooth compared to day time. The plane has the red & green & white wing tip lights (running lights) you’ve probably seen. The instrument numerals and pointers are painted with a florescent paint. A florescent light is played on the instrument panel and the only thing that can be seen are the things painted with the paint. There are also a powerful pair of landing lights in the edge of the wing but we won’t use them just yet.
            The runway has a string of dim boundry lights around it and at the end of the runway is a big flood light by which we land. The cities are easily seen because of the lights. The exhaust shoots out a plume about 5 ft. long just beside the cockpit. The instructor rode for 3 landings and then crawled out and we had to go around alone for another hour of landings.
            Also getting instrument flying now which is application of the Link trainer. The instructor rides in the front seat and me in the back seat which is covered with a hood so that all one can see is the inside of cockpit.
            Got your letter & Jo’s, also the Dispatches. I see some sunflowers in bloom along the roads here. The order came out last week that we don’t have to wear neckties in the heat of the day. Of course we didn’t wear them with the flying suit but to ground school and chow.
            43-J, the under class, just arrived last nite. Quite a few from Ft. Stockton that were our under class there. We are going on another cross country Monday, to Harpersville, & Curtis Ranch and back. Am sending $1 for Karen’s war bond.
            Tell Wright to get a picture of his combine & “crew” and send it along if he can. This plane has 450 H.P. Yes we can get cool water most of the time. There is also a coco cola machine in the orderly room and one in the flight building.
            No, Jo, I don’t feel a day older. And what do you mean, “surprise”? I heard rumors from the West coast 2 months ago. You might put dark glasses on Karen in the day time to get her “orientated.” No, we wont get any target practice until we get to Advanced. Did Loren go to single-engine or twin-engine advanced school?
                                                            Yours truly,
                                                                        John

Solo cross-country

June 18-20, 1943

                                                            June 18
Dear Folks:
            Had a little rain last nite and it was fairly cool to-day. We have been using a small auxiliary field this week. Its cut out of the mesquite on the other side of town. Some one has a nice Hereford bull in the pasture next to it. He comes up to the fence to see what goes on.
            Went on a solo cross-country trip yesterday from here to Sweetwater and Abilene and back. Flew under a small thunder storm that was just starting and was right across my course. Wm. Jackson, who had the same instructor with me at Primary, washed out this week. Also Spears, the boy from Kentucky whom I think I mentioned before. Lost my sun glasses this week. I think I told you about those flying suits in Primary with the pocket on the leg below the knee. Well, we have the same thing here.
            Sunday. Went to the M.E. church in town. Griffee said his wife wrote that there was some hail stones fell around Hutchinson as big as baseballs. Haven’t heard from Marvel Lee this week. Got your letter this afternoon and glad to hear everything’s O.K. I should think a vet would know all about mean mama cows. Ha! Maybe the cow didn’t know that he knew!
            “Flying” the Link is harder work than the real plane. After turning around several times and climbing and gliding one could swear the thing was standing on end. Of course the instruments say otherwise and when you can’t see the ground the instruments have to be relied upon and not the sense of balance.
            I won’t have much time to look at the Royal Purple so would be no use to send it. Don’t expect to hear much from you until after harvest. Has Wright gotten a driver yet? Hope your rain lets up some. Also got the last bunch of Dispatches and the magazine. Guess thats all for now.
                                                            Yours truly,
                                                                        John
P.S. Got a letter from Aunt Jessie.

                                                            June 20
Dear Arlan:
            We went on a solo cross-country last Thurs. Went to Sweetwater, Abilene, and back; took 2 hrs. Flew under a small thunder storm that was just forming on my course. Flew by compass and check points on the ground. W. Jackson, who had the same instructor as I in Primary, washed out last week; also Spears, the red-headed boy from Kentucky, whom I mentioned before
            Lost my sun-glasses last week. Have the same kind of flying suit as at Primary, with the pocket below the knee and that’s how I lost them. I hear you’ve been mixing it with a mama cow. Suppose you can say you got run over by a truck! Ha! Here is a clipping from the Industrialist. What wonders this war hasn’t wrought!
            Yes, the expense of being an officer around most camps is terrific. If the army don’t take you in you won’t have missed any thing of value. Should be here a little over 4 more weeks. Guess thats all for now
                                                            Yours truly,
                                                                        John

WAACs are taking over

June 13, 1943

                                                            June 13
Dear Folks:
            The man that bunks next to me got married last nite. McCarty is his name and he came from Indiana. The WAAC’s are taking over several jobs here at the field. There’s now 2 of them in the control tower. Don’t think I told you that we wear earphones and while up solo have the radio tuned to the tower so they can call us in if necessary. We also have a microphone to call the tower if necessary.
            San Angelo is sure full of soldiers on Sat. nite. A large percent are air corp enlisted men stationed here and Concho Field, a bombadier school next to this field, and several more post around here. The stores close at 9 P.M. on Sat. There are also lots of farmers on the streets.
            Got a letter from Aunt Hattie & will send it. I had just sent a letter to her the day before this one came. Got the radio O.K. and post office is only about 1 block from here. It seems to work pretty good but this place is like Ft Stockton in that reception is no good in the daytime. It makes no difference since there’s no time to listen to it either in the daytime.
            No, we don’t get any strawberries. A “shave tail” is a 2nd Lieutenant. I never heard of a bomber mile”. Hope the oats materialize. Most of the Lieut. here have cars for some reason or other. I suppose because they live in town and the bus is crowded with civilian workers that come out here to the maintenance shop.
            Went to the First Presbyterian Church this morning. It is larger than the one at C.C. A visiting pastor gave the sermon. Had a good steak dinner afterwards.
            The “washing machine” has started again. We get a 20 hr. check this week. Not surprised that Glen got caught fishing. The army sent our names to home town papers for “propoganda”. All cadets get officers training.
                                                            Yours truly,
                                                                        John
P.S. Just got a card, Grandma & Grandpa, announcing your new status. Congratulations! Don’t let it go to your heads!!!

Dirt and dust

June 4, 1943

                                                            Jun 4
Dear Folks:
            A storm blew up this afternoon so we got off a little early. A cloud came up from the south and the wind turned to southeast. The dirt and dust blew off of the field and across the hanger and barracks in drifts like snow. It blew that way for 1/2 hr. before it rained so you can imagine the condition of everything.
            Got your letter Monday and one from Arlan and 2 bunches of Dispatches. I soloed yesterday and am getting used to some of the cockpit handles. The mechanics call the cadets “gagets”. I have my camera registered so can take some snapshots. We’ve all had our pictures taken by the Army 2 or 3 times for “propoganda” purposes. Got paid another $25 to-day. The ground school courses right now are “Navigation” and “Radio Communication”.
            The 3 of us that had supper with the instructor were what was left from original 5. The other two that had supper, Jackson & Feightner, were not in my bay. Hope “Tippy” is convelesing properly. The only animals here are 2 fat cats that hang around the mess hall.
            Sunday. Instead of PT we had a sing-song in the theater yesterday. The theater has an electric organ and the “organist” is a private. He’s really good at it, too. He walks with a cane, so the air corp must have taken him in for his musical talent as an entertainer.
            I just remembered there’s a birthday in the family — today isn’t it? Happy Birthday.
            We had week end off so went to the First Methodist church in town. It is a rather old building and about 1/4 again as large as the M.E. church in Clay. It has a regular pastor and an assistant. We ride a bus to town for 5¢ each way.
            Don’t think I told you I’m taking time on a Link trainer. Its a minature plane with a hooded cockpit and turns, climbs, & glides like a regular plane without leaving the ground. The theoretical path it would make over the ground is traced by a stylus on a paper at the operator’s desk. Thus the check on how we are “flying” it. The idea is to be able to fly a plane “blind” or only by instruments such as would be necessary in a fog or cloud. It’s quite an ingenious machine.
            Might call the colt “Tex” although I don’t know which one would be honored, the state or the horse.                        Yours truly,
                           John

Do they rave!

May 30, 1943

                                                            May 30
Dear Folks:
            I sent the radio and class book home before leaving Ft Stockton, hope they arrived. Please have the radio checked over and sent here.
            Boy, is this place rough! Its just like pre-flight — with airplanes. There are 2 “shave-tails” on every corner and do they rave! Our flight instructors are Lieutenants and they rave also. I think in a week we will become somewhat immune but right now we jump just a little when we see an officer. We get an officer’s training course and flight training to boot. One of those is a full days work.
            We won’t get out this week end. The plane we use is a Vultee BT-13, 450 HP. It takes a crew of 3 or 4 ground men to keep each one in shape. The cockpit is full of handles, gagets, and instruments. The cockpit has a plexiglass cover so some of the noise and wind is shut out.
            Sunday Morning. Didn’t have revielle this morning. The chapel is about a block from here and McDill and I are going over. McDill was an under classmen at pre-flight with me.
            The under class here is made up of classes from Uvalde, Ballinger, and Fort Stockton. The first call on week days is 5:45; Then drill, PT, class work, and flying, not in that order but changed around every day. Lights out at 10 P.M.
            The chow is served cafeteria style and I think it will be more uniform than the civilian feed was at Ft. Stockton because it varied every day or so from the best down to the worst.
            Had communion at the chapel this morning. The chaplain’s name is Cartwright. We notice the change in altitude and humidity. This is 1900 ft above sea level while F. S. was 3000′. There is quite a section of cultivated land around San Angelo and although it is nearly flat it is farmed on the contour — to save rain water I suppose. None of it is irrigated I think. There’s a small river running thru the town. This field is right on the southeast edge of town.
            We all had another eye check last week. We have to wear gas masks for 15 min. each P.T. period in order to get used to them. Note the address. I don’t think that first one I sent you was right. I will write Marvel Lee and you might send this to Arlan if he’s back at school.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
P.S. this place is set square with the world so the sun comes up in the east again. Farmers around Ft Stockton were binding oats when we left.

[in his mother’s handwriting:]

Address
Notice >          A/C McClurkin J D.                    he thot he gave
                        Class 43-I Upper 39                  us wrong address
                        Goodfellow Field                        Save this.
                        San Angelo, Texas

Pretty busy

May 26, 1943

Dear Folks:                        5-26-43
            Arrived last nite and been pretty busy ever since. We are back in G.I. barracks like we had in pre-flight. We are back in the Army, so to speak. No civilians around. All the help are enlisted men. Seems this country is a great sheep country. There is a theater and chapel here on the post. I don’t know much more so will close for now.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John