Parachutes

May 20, 1943

                                                            May 20
Dear Folks:
            It has been drizzling so we haven’t flown for 2 days. We had a lecture this morning on the care and packing of parachutes. They are pure silk and cost $250 apiece. They are 24 ft across when extended so you can see where some of the silk stockings go. Every 60 days the chutes are aired and repacked by a licensed rigger here at the field. The rigger has to have a license because the chute has to be folded just right or it may not open. We sit on the chutes when in the cockpit and the silk gets “hard” and has to be aired and dried every 60 days to keep it soft.
            Each instructor has his own chute assigned to him but we check out one very day from the parachute room and check it back when through for the day. The rigger has a proposition that if a man jumps and the chute opens, the rigger gets a case of beer but if the chute doesn’t open the rigger owes that man a case!!
            Our cross country course was from here to Monahans and then to Pecos and back here. It seems they pick that route so we can follow the sand! One day the sand blows from here to Monahans, the next day it blows from Monahans to Pecos, and the day after it blows from Pecos to here!! The story goes that they put this school out in this country to save gasoline. All they have to do is tie a long rope to the plane, put the cadet in and let it go and he flys all day like a kite.
            Tell Mr. Bennet that I got my wrist watch. Also got the Dispatches. I see Wally Anthony won quite an honor. Hugos gets the Manhattan “Mercury” every day so we keep track of what goes on there too.
            Sunday. It rained more on Thurs. so we didn’t fly until late Fri morning. Of course that put the schedule behind so we flew all day Sat. and this morning. Had quite a thunder storm again last nite. Must be part of the weather you’ve been getting. The 3 of us had supper at our instructors house last evening. He was raised on a ranch at Marfa, Texas, not far from here. Next to flying he likes cattle raising and always wears cowboy outfits when off duty. His wife works out here in the Dispatchers office. Had fried chicken and went riding after wards. They live in a tourist cottage.
            Passed my last army ride this morning and had a total of 65 hrs. We will have an open post to-morrow after noon and leave Tuesday we think. Came here on the train & most likely leave the same way. Got a letter from Wright and he told about the elevator he’s making.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
P.S. We’ve got another dog. He’s a little bigger than “Torque” was and we call him “Ground Loop”. Our upper classmen took “Torque” with them when they left. This pup has wool for hair and likes to be handled. I think I’ll send the radio home to have it checked over. It fades badly

Cross-country

May 15, 1943

                                                            May 15
Dear Folks:
            Took our cross-country on Thursday. Went 140 mi round trip. Traveled at 3000′ and the air was smooth as silk. Saw several dry lake beds that were white with alkali. Also went over a small oil field. One red haired fellow from Kentucky got lost for a while. We about split our sides listening to his description of it after he got back. He told how he “went due west for a season” and then “due east for a spell.” Every tenth ship had an instructor but he rode in the rear seat instead of in the front as usual. I rode with my instructor and of course got a bang out of riding in the front seat.
            Yesterday a storm (no rain) blew in and we didn’t get any flying done. I’m C.Q. today. Each flight has a C.Q. each day. It consists mainly of sitting behind a desk in the orderly room and running a bed check at night. I’ve got a bad nite to run bed check because Sat. nite open post doesn’t end until 1 P.M. [A.M.?]
            Some of the boys got their photographs last week so those should come soon. Am sending some pictures taken here. Got a letter from Roscoe. Also got one from Dick Dreyer. He is working for John Deere in Iowa. He was offered the same job as I was and likes it fine. He’s deferred until Aug. and then hopes to get into Army. He has a bad eye & the Army won’t take him yet
            Glad you got a new pump. Will be a constant pressure and no trouble. Where is Effingham? We have something over a week here yet. The rumor is that we will be sent to San Angelo, Texas which isn’t far from here. Take the final exam in ground school Monday.
            Roscoe said his place had better drainage, anyway. He was down to the college and saw Arlan. Stanley has the mumps and is glad school is out.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
P.S. Please have 8 pictures of the group picture developed and send them down.
They are: L to Rt.
Front Row: Hardt, Gunn, Patteeuw, me
Back Row: Hugos (Manhattan), Harmon, Griffee (Hutchinson), & Hart.
Harmon’s first name & initial is “John D.”
We all stay in the same bay.

Laundry situation pretty bad

May 9, 1943

                                                            May 9
Dear Folks:
            Its cloudy and cool this morning, almost foggy. Had the usual inspection and parade yesterday. For something “special” a General came through on an inspection in the afternoon but most of us had gone to town. An old 1926 plane landed here Friday. It was about the oldest plane I’ve seen still flying.
            The farmers in the irrigated district were cutting alfalfa last week. From the looks of the wind-rows it would be quite a crop. Most of them use pick-up balers. Somebody killed a big 4 ft. rattler out here. It was about 3 in. through and had 6 rattles but at least that many had been broken off.
            Haag and “Junior” Gunn were eliminated last week. Were flying upside down some and more stuff got lost — notebooks, pencils, seat cushions, etc. One man lost his sun glasses. Our class is back here working off the home field and the underclass has moved out to the auxilary fields. Some of the under classmen have soloed.
            Did you rent Fowles pasture again? Got a letter from Josephine yesterday. Said Chris was sitting at the window shooting birds out of the garden.
            Afternoon. Is still cloudy & uncomfortably cool in shirt sleeves. Static is so bad we can’t use the radio. About half the congregation were cadets this morning. Nobody had gotten those photos yet so I guess they are just slow. The foreign news sounds good to-day.
            The laundry situation has gotten pretty bad. It takes 3 weeks to get stuff back — and don’t always get it all back. Consequently, we do our own washing.
            I see where city people are supposed to raise chickens in their back yard to relieve the meat situation. Doubt if that will lower the price of eggs much!!
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
P.S. Got the Dispatches last week.

Rough riding

May 2, 1943

                                                            May 2
Dear Folks:
            The under classmen went to town yesterday for the first time so everything was pretty crowded. The restraunts are not allowed to sell raw milk to us and there seems to be no pasturized. We got payed this week but some of us were short $25 for some unknown reason.
            Griffee’s wife and 2 more cadets girl friends came down from Hutchinson last week and are here for the week end. One of the cadets and his girl were married last nite. The main highways in these parts are pretty well kept. There are 2 of them through here. They are concrete and have a double box culvert about every 1/4 mile. At every culvert is planted a little palm tree.
            How is that patch of brome grass coming? It should be alright to mail the watch here because we should be here 3 more weeks. We don’t have lilacs here but there are some sweet smelling, blue & yellow flowers blooming out on the range. Had a 1/4 in rain last week we were here. The air surely smelled fresh the next morning.
            What “date” are Chris & Jo “expecting”? Our squadron flew in afternoons last week and it was rough riding. The hot air rising makes “thermals” or bumps that affect the plane about like ocean waves affect a small boat. Have been practicing “chandelles” last week. It is a steep, climbing turn with 180° change in direction. Also did “stages” last week. The first stage was to make 6 landings within 200 ft of a line across the field. The second was the same as the first except we had to land across wind, which complicates it some what. I managed to pass both the stages and a 30 hr. Army check.
            Cadets can’t apply for furloughs except in an emergency. Sometimes they get “leaves” like Loren did if the schools are crowded. They said the pictures would be 2 or 3 weeks. The correspondence with the “Wichita lady” failed to materialize — probably because I forgot to answer the first letter!
            Rev. Wilkinson was an artillery officer in the last war. Yours truly,
John

Glorified unionalls

April 25, 1943

                                                            April 25
Dear Folks:
            Now have an under class. They came from Group IX so we know a large percent of them. I think about one-half of Barracks 1700 is here now. About 1/3 of the upper class is gone.
            Have had nice weather all week. We had the afternoon shift last week. Also flew Saturday afternoon because were getting a little behind the schedule. All 7 of us in our bay passed our 20 hour checks. Most of us have around 27 hours.
            Sunday afternoon. There was a nice service in church this morning. Its really hot to-day. Each barracks has an air condition unit in it and it helps out. The mess hall has one also and is really cool. I got 2 roll of film so don’t bother about trying to get it there.
            Thanks for the cookies. They arrived in good shape and everybody eats them — as long as they last.
            Suppose you have your other bunch of chicks. Saw the biggest whirlwind I’ve ever seen last week. Was about 30 ft. across and 400 ft high. Have lots of them in the afternoons. If you fly into the top of one it gives you a real jolt. Were issued a “flying suit” last week. It is really a glorified pair of unionalls made of heavy material and equipped with zippers. No pockets except one that slants at 45° across the right breast and one below the knee on the right leg. Everything falls out of the upper pocket when you stoop over and flys out of the lower one when running. Got a letter from Glen and he said he bought the place across the road. Supposed he meant the Wilson place. Got a box of candy from Marvel Lee.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

Soloed

April 11, 1943

Dear Folks:                                                            April 11
            Got your first letter the middle of the week and the last one yesterday. Also got the watch and a bunch of Dispatches. Yes, I got your letter from Arlan. He must be getting absent-minded like a professor!! Got paid last week but didn’t get to town in time to get a money order. You should put some bonds in your name or keep the money in payment on that $250. We had a real dust storm here last Tuesday from the northwest. The sky was clear of clouds but every few minutes a wall of dust would come over from the field, which is largely bare of vegetation. You might give $15 to the church. Sorry to hear about Adamsons. I wrote a letter to Roscoe and addressed it to Green. Hope he gets it. I must have not gotten his last letter.
            Air sickness is like seasickness. When used to it, it doesn’t bother. Some cadets never get used to it. One was washed out here for that reason. Of the 5 of us with my instructor 1 has been eliminated and another is up for an army check ride to-morrow. I soloed last Wednesday and the other 2 will solo this week.
            Got a box of cookies from Aunt Hattie. I ordered 3 enlargements of the picture taken for the class book. They should come to you C.O.D. — $5.
            Went to church this morning with Henry Haag, one of my pardners on the same plane. He comes from Wisconsin and took 2 yrs. of Forestry at Wisconsin University. Be sure and take some pictures of the colt.
            The radio reception is very poor out here. Can get only one station with volume full on.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

Dear Arlan:
            Got both of your letters last week. You’ll have to be more cautious when mixing letters. It might prove disasterous some day! Ha Ha! Got the radio fixed for $2. If you haven’t sent the camera don’t be in a hurry. Take some pictures around there. Can’t get film here either.
            Went to church this morning with Haag, one of the men with me under the same instructor. He comes from Wisconsin and went to Wisconsin University for 2 yrs. He tells stories about the rivalry between the Engineers & Lawyers at W.U.
            This sunshine is getting fierce and our helmets and flight caps have no bills on them. My nose has been peeling for a week. Of the 5 men under my instructor one has been eliminated and another is up for an army check ride to-morrow. I soloed last week and the other two including Haag will solo this week. Watching the rest of the men solo is quite funny. Of course its every bodys turn to laugh when the other fellow is doing it. One man landed across wind; another landed it perfectly about 10 ft. off the ground. One man got it down all right but couldn’t keep it straight on the ground and started to skid & turn in a big circle. When the dust settled he had given it the gun and taken off again for another try. One man went around the field 7 times before getting it down. The record at this field was 17 times, set by a previous class. One man came so close to the T-house (where we sit between flights) that he had to raise one wing to let it by. Somebody yelled to “open the windows and let him through.”
            Just got your card this afternoon. It takes about a day to get an air-mail letter here also. For some reason your card came through fast — 9th to 11th. Hugos got a letter from his girl & she said Farrel had resigned but didn’t say why. Yes we can continue the life insurance after we get out of army. In fact when we get our commissions we start paying the premiums ourselves. The book work is negligible so far. Take notes in class and study them before a quizz. Radio reception is very poor out here. Can get only one station with volume full on.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

Good place to loaf

April 4, 1943

                                                            April 4
Dear Folks:
            Am writing this at the Cadet Club in town. Came in with Griffee, from Hutchinson, & went to the Presbyterian church. Seemed a little strange to see civilians at church. Services were just like those at C.C. The church is small, stone, & nicely furnished. Pastor’s name is Wilkinson. I signed the guest roster so you may get a letter from the pastor.
            We are out of quarantine so having the week end off. This town is built around 2 large springs, 30 million gallons a day flow. The springs are surrounded by a large park owned by the county and it looks like an oasis compared to the surrounding sage brush & flat topped hills. There is a large swimming pool fed by the springs. The water is warm, 72°, & swimming is free.
            People are very friendly & typical “small town”. Most of the men wear Stetson hats & cowboy boots. The Cadet Club is a converted lodge building in the park. It is rough-finished inside & stone outside. The ladies of the town take care of it & furnish free stationary, coffee, & doughnuts. It is well furnished with soft chairs, radio, coke machine, etc. and is a good place to loaf. A dance is held here every Sat. nite but girls are scarce. The first class married all the eligible ones.
            There are no regular M.P. stationed here so cadets are appointed as M.P. for each week end. We saw a Western show at the one & only theater last nite. Had a new crystal & band put on my watch yesterday. We ride a bus from the field to town for 10¢ each way. This town is sure spread out — about 2 house to a block. The radio quit so brought it in to be fixed. Could use a camera some here so I asked Marvel Lee to send it & some film. Can’t get very much film here & I suppose its the same way there.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

The washing machine

April 3, 1943

Dear Folks:                                                            April 3
            The weather is warming up here now. A still, clear day to-day and about 80° in the shade, which is about the warmest day we’ve had. They cut grass here for the first time this week. Sun glasses come in handy because any ground that doesn’t have grass on it is white in color & reflects sunlite right up in your face.
            Got your letter of 29 on April 1. Also got 2 bunches of Dispatches & a card from Aunt Hattie. I have 15 pr. of socks so they’re all in pretty good shape yet. Some of them had holes which I sewed up with the kit Marvel Lee gave me. I haven’t mended any since leaving Classification Center. Was a little surprised at Bud going into the Army. What happened to Doctors Davies & Galley? — Must be more stock in the county. Looks like Arlan could do plenty of business there — if “Clay County” could be changed to a more foreign name. Ha! Ha!
            Half of us fly in the morning and the other half flys afternoons. Each week the schedule is reversed so that one bunch won’t get behind if there are several foggy mornings. Wear parachutes every time we go up. We were shown how to check the chute each time before we wear it and most of us check!!!, believe me. The “washing machine” starts this week, that is those of us are “washed out” or eliminated if thought to be unsatisfactory for Army Flying. Most of us should ?? solo this week or next. Usually 20 or 30% are eliminated but 60% of our upper class have been eliminated already. You can probably find a picture of a “Fairchild” PT-19 in some of my magazines.
            The local high school & grade school put on a minstrel show for us last Thursday & it was really good. All had our pictures taken for the class book this week.

Had a small fire

March ?, 1943

Dear Folks:
            Had a strong wind Thursday and late in the afternoon we had to go out and push the planes into the hangers. Also had a small fire in one of the barracks last week. One of the officers that are taking flight training left a cigarette on a locker which is wooden. We used fire extinguishers and a hose and soon had it out although it burned most of the locker and 2 officers belongings. One cadet was using a fire extinguisher and let the nozzle get away and several cadets got sprayed with foam. When he went in the barracks they got a fire hose rigged up & took it into the barracks. When the fire was out the man with the extinguisher came out soaked to the skin.
            The officers that are taking flight training came from the field artillery and infantry. They get a 2nd Lieut. pay plus flight pay of 1/2 of their base pay which adds up to about $300 a month. They also have all the privileges of an officer. One of them, Van Valin, is a nice fellow & we have lots of fun with him but the others don’t go over so good. One of them was eliminated last week.
            Forgot to tell you we changed to summer uniform week before last. It is kaki and wear a necktie only for inspections & going to town. I may send my woolen O.D.s home. Two light bombers were “buzzing” the barracks this morning and making lots of racket. They were painted in camoflauge and apparently from some combat unit. “Buzzing” consists of diving at the hanger and pulling out about 20 ft. above it.
            Mailed my wrist watch to-day. Have it cleaned and sent back as soon as possible. Got a box of cookies from Margaret Janson and a letter from Aunt Nellie. Also got the magazine. Hope you got my last letter as it contained $80.
            One of the cadets in my bay came from Nebraska and is only 18 yrs. old. He only shaves once a week and then got gigged last Saturday for needing a shave. He’ll never live it down! He is the youngest here so we call him “Junior.”
            Surprised at Henry going to all that trouble for his dog. Have you heard where Bud is yet?
            Just got your letter. Don’t think I got any letter from the school kids. The donkey kissing ceremony hasn’t come off yet. I know I won’t have to kiss it. They have 3 donkeys in a pen here at the field & some of us rode them for fun. They are plenty docile! Could you find me a leather strap for my pocket watch?
            Your truly, John

They have a donkey

March 24, 1943

Dear Folks:                                                                        Mar. 24
            This weather has been more like Kansas so far. The wind blows, the dirt flies, and then it rains. It rained last night & this after noon and looks like it would rain again to-nite. This is the rainy season here they say. The instructor told us that last summer there were hailstorms as big as oranges found here.
            Have 1-1/2 hr. in air so far. It is quite different from flying I did before. The plane is heavier, larger, and lands faster. Glad I had C.P.T. [cockpit procedures training?], though. About 1/3 of cadets have never been up in a plane while another 1/3 has had flying instruction. Some of them got air sick. They have a donkey here and the first man to solo has to kiss him on the nose and the last man to solo has to kiss him on the south end. It takes from 8 to 12 hrs. to solo.
            Sat. after noon. We are supposed to have Sat. afternoons & Sunday off if the weather during the week hasn’t thrown the schedule off. We are confined to the post for 2 weeks but the upper classmen can go to town which is about 1-1/2 mile away. Did I tell you Fort Stockton is about the size of Clay Center? — from what I hear.
            Had a formal inspection this morning and drill & P.T. this after noon. We have a recreation hall here with a bowling alley, pool and ping pong tables, radio, and Cocoa Cola machine. There is also a lounge which is furnished with floor lamps and soft chairs.
            Directions on the ground here are very hard to keep because the whole field and buildings are set around at 45° from north. It is easy to keep straight in the air because of the section lines. There is a large pond and some irrigated land north west of the field. Outside of that the ground is all brown in color.
            Just got your letter & one from Marvel Lee. Can’t have any pictures on display so will just keep the proof of Arlan’s. Yes, Guldberg who is the tallest man of we three that rented the car in S.A. is here with me. Martindell went to another primary school but I don’t know which. However, I bunk beside another Hutchinson man, Griffee, who worked in the Hutchinson State Bank and has done business with Marvel Lee. The trunk I mentioned was one I bought.
            Didn’t know Clarance Alquist was sick again. We still drill 1 hour a day which is about as much as usual. You might send me some more of those cold tablets. I used some and gave away some. Don’t need to send this letter to Marvel Lee or Arlan since I’ll write them.
                                    Yours truly,
P.S. (over)                                    John
            We have mosquitoes and flys here already. Would also like my pocket watch. I’m afraid my wrist watch will get dirty pretty quick.

Primary training

March 22, 1943

                                    March 22
Dear Folks:
            Arrived here Sunday nite about 9:30. It took us 26 hours to go 250 mi. We didn’t get breakfast on Sunday until 11 o’clock. At 4 we ate at a hotel in San Angelo, then we had chow after we arrived last nite.
            This place is really out in the middle of nowhere. Rode for hours through nothing but sage brush. The soil is white & sandy. The wind has blown strong to-day and everything is covered with dust. The barracks and grounds are new and really fine. The barracks are single story with a porch on all sides & floors are cement. The chow is very good. We get it cafeteria style. The camp is small and run entirely by civilians under contract to Gov’t. Even our flight instructors are civilians. The people seem very friendly & quite different from around S.A. There are no camps around here so we are treated pretty well. Am sending my trunk home (as required) and will send for it when I need it. Sending it C.O.D. express.
            Just took the trunk over & found out I could store it so won’t send it. The water here contains gypsom so all drinking water is imported. We pay for laundry as we have it done instead of so much a week. The beds are 1 3/4 width & have 2 sheets.
            Were issued one good leather jacket, one fleece lined flight jacket, helmet, goggles & gloves. Were shown the airplane this afternoon and will go up for first time to-morrow. The plane is a P.T.-19, “Fairchild”. Each instructor has 5 students. My instructor is about my height, about 40 and seems very quiet — on the ground. He may get pretty rough in the air. Barnett is his name.
            This place is 1-1/2 mile from the town, Fort Stockton. The upper class and several classes before came from California & we are the first from S.A. One of the lower classmen that came over with me bunks beside me. Will start ground school to-morrow also.
                                    Your truly,
                                                John