December 30, 1943

Santa Ana Army Air Base

Dec 30, 1943

Dear Mother:

I have a lot of spare time now so I am writing and spending the time the best way I know.  Of course I could have written last night but I wrote to Cousin Emma in Hollywood.  I think I hsall go there over the New Year weekend.  She is really so nice I really enjoy the visits very much.

In a week or 2 or more you will get a package of stuff I have collected here in California.  There will be old letters, cards, etc. along with books, papers and other junk.  The reason I am sending them you may be able to guess.  We are sure to be shipping out in a short time and although I am not positive I will go I am not worrying as  much as these fellows who got low academic averages and too many giggs.  They have washed out a few fellows already for too many giggs.  My grades in school were not too bad and we don't know just how the averages came out because some classes got more credit than others.  Anyway I got a 95% in Physics, 87% average in Math, 93% average in Aircraft Identification, 93% in chemical warfare, 85% average in gunnery but fell down in Navel and at 78%.  I had one midterm examination that was very poor and it pulled the whole average down.

One thing I do know.  The squadron will be broken up and different sections will be sent to different fields.  We were not good enough to stay together.  I was going to leave a lot of friends anyway because a lot of fellows are being held over for some reason or another.  Only 7 from one section of 46 will leave.  In our section however (No I) we got all good averages and will have only 1 holdover if things all go well.  Our section by the way seta  few records around here.  We got the largest number of superiors in class (43 in a row) that has ever been recorded.  No one failed code, another record.  Got the highest marks in Aircraft Identification of any class (above a 90% average).  We carried the E flag for 4 straight weeks.  Oh well, we did pretty well but I only wish the whole sqn had done better so we could stay together.

There has been a rumor around that we are going to ship out of California to Arizona or Texas or some such place.  The reason is that the last class has not received enough flying time to leave for Basic and therefore we shall be shipped to some clear weather states where we have a chance flying.  This is a poor time of year to be flying out here.  Last week there were only about 1 1/2 fly hours per student and that is not enough.  You have to have at least 20 to get out. Well it really isn't too bad to see such rain if you don't have to fly but if you want to it is disappointing to see all the rain we get.

Maybe the Chamber of Commerce has fooled the whole country but not the natives around here or the soldiers who are training here.  We fall out at 5:45 and find a clear star-lit sky but it is usually raining by 8:00 and not later than 1200.  It isn't a bad rain but a slow drizzle that always seems so cold and penetrating.  Out here however they are warm and do not chill so much.  Some times it really pours and then it really rains.  The water comes up about an inch every where so that it is impossible to keep the feet dry.  We wear the wet shoes to dry them out and because they will dry out no other way.  The only trouble is that socks wear out fast and with no mother around to mend we just have to buy new ones.  It is terrible waste but then we figure our time is worth more than the stockings.

So far I have been very lucky and have lost only a few minor articles of clothing.  I have only lost one O.D. hat with the insignia on it.  I always thought that you would lost more than that but it seems that I am in with a picked outfit and they don't swipe so much as the regular "run of the mill".

I seem to be just rambling along here and not answering any of those questions you are always asking. Cousin Emma asked me if I ever got questions from home and if I ever answered them.  She said that her boy Robert hardly ever answered her questions and I guess I must seem that way to you too.  I gave her the only answer I know and that is that whenever you write you never have the old letters available to get questions from.  Right now I am C.Q. and don't have letters available.  I guess if you have anything you want answered you will have to write it on something special that I can carry around for reference.  By the way, the Independents are coming through very well and I have received the last 3 or 4 issues.  They are really swell; I must write something some day to put in.  You wrote that old Seward got his commission.  Well if I don't become a pilot I will look like him when I get home.

With love

Austin.

December 27, 1943

Dec. 27, 1943

Dear Mother:

I have finally gotten around to writing again and you can bet I tried to write before but didn't get time.  I have been working all my spare time studying or on details.  I fact no one has received letters from me except for an occasional one or two sent East.  I guess Pop A.P. and Esther got the only letters.

Christmas was very exciting out here for me because it was the first one away from home and I again went to Hollywood.  Robert Johnson was home again from some camp here in Calif. and he has many friends that are connected to the movie business here.  I guess he was a play producer before the war and is putting on 6 plays he came in contact with many of the popular stars of the stage and screen.  we went out to see some of his friends.  I met one movie stars that went to school with Robert but who is now in the Sea Bees. {?}

His name is Rick Vallin, his real name is nothing like that because he is of Russian birth.  He is really a handsome fellow and the movies lost something when they lost him.  He was a swell fellow and not a bit snooty as you might expect a movie star to be. {There is a 3 year gap from motion pictures after 1943, but no real clues to what he was doing during that time.}

See here for a more interesting bio than Wikipedia can give you.

  At the same place was a girl move star who had just completed a picture.  Although she was not the star and I really still don't know what or how important a part she played, she was very likable.

Of course I opened my Christmas presents as soon as possible and was rather surprised at all you got into that small box.  Everything is so useful.  The first and most important item seemed to be the slippers.  I have no other pair and I was beginning to hate walking around bare footed all the time.  The polishing equipment is the small metal box is the best outfit I have seen.  One of my main troubles with polishing buckles and buttons is that I never can find the cloth when I want it and I have had to keep the cloth in a bag and it is not so neat looking as a a metal box.  Foot lockers are hard enough to keep clean but things in metal boxes are much easier to keep.  The polish works very well on my belt buckle and makes it shine better than a polishing cloth.

The handkerchiefs are very handy and can always be used.  I have a cold now in spite of the sulphadyazine tablets we have had.  My next letter will be written on the new paper as this is the last piece of this.  The little game is rather handy but I guess the only chance I will be able to use it will be when traveling or on rainy days.  Whose ideas was the shoe strings?  It just so happened that I needed them but I am not usually caught short. (I haven't got space to write about all the rest but you know I really appreciate them).

I have got so much more to write about the Johnson's but I am very tired after that weekend.  He is a teacher of Science (math, chem, physics,) and Spanish.  She is about 60 years old and is a dear lady.  She is really a real mother to me.  The first thing she did when I came in was give me a big kiss.  "That's for your mother," she said.  I will write again tomorrow if possible.  As usual I am in as good health as can be expected and Cousin Emma says I look like a real Californian.

With love,

Austin.

December 23, 1943

Dec. 23, 1943

Dear A.P.

I got your air mail letter today in the second mail call at 1700.  It was post marked the 20th and you can see that it came right along.  It really did save time as in normal times it takes 6 days and lately mail has been coming through is 8 and 9 days.  Your last letter of the 16th came in 8 days.  It must be due to the strain on the Railroad caused by the Christmas rush.

THe watch situation is rather tough everywhere.  The clipping I am sending shows that recently they hooked a lot of red tape on to getting a watch here.  Don't get a Swiss watch for $50 because I can get one (if I am lucky) for $30.00 or less.  The watches are available for a short time each month and the supply does not last long.

Well our classes are coming to an end soon, in fact most of the finals come tomorrow.  That is the reason I have not been able to write for the last 2 weeks.  We have had 5 classes a day with a test every other day in each one of them.  That takes a lot of studying and cramming as you can not prepare for a test and do all homework and get enough sleep in the time we have.  After Christmas we will have a little more time off and I expect to write again more often.

I imagine Mary will be quite changed when I get home.  Everything will be changed when I get home. I wish I could be home for Christmas but the Air Corp has no furloughs over Christmas or any holiday although they do give out 72 hour passes for Christmas and New Years.  You speak of ski boots and I think of snow of course and how I wish I could get a hold of a snowball.  We see snow on the mts. about 35 miles away but it never gets cold enough here to make it worth while to hear heavy clothes.

I rather like the idea of a community club but to me it seems that it is coming too late.  I know that I could have enjoyed it much more before the war.  But as for the future uses I am sure they are all for the idea.  I am sure if it is well supervised that it will be a great benefit to everyone in town who will participate in it.

I too have been studying code and have passed an 8 word check which has given me a a passing mark for the course.  However I can take 10 and 12 and 14 early in the morning when I am feeling alert.  I could easily pass 12 words if it were not for a few letters that come over and make me think and at that speed you can't think and get the letters.  While you think you miss a few and 3 misses are all you are allowed.  Code is something you have to study every day and do intensive study if you want to get anywhere.  Out here they give you 1 hour a day of study with extra periods if you can work them in.  Some of the fellows can take 14 words with no trouble at all and some can take 20 which is the ceiling around here.  At that speed it is almost impossible to print the letters.  I think I shall send you a code sheet we used here.  It is primarily a practice sheet and the letters and send in series of 5.  You can not receive messages too well with it but receiving the unrelated letters is better practice than receiving messages where you can guess half that is sent over.

I must close now.

With love

Austin

December 12, 1943

Dec. 12, 1943

Dear Esther:

I guess it is about time I wrote again; seeing I got your letter last I will write to you first.  I have a whole foot locker full of letters to be answered but I can never hope to answer them all because my time is much too limited.  Tomorrow we start classes at 0700 and finish at 1200 then P.T. Drill etc till 1700 then chow and then studies.  That leaves very little time for other time.

We have gone on garrison rations.  That means that we eat.  We get a qt. of milk a day seconds on everything; jelly and jam each meal steak, ham, beef, or some kind of meat and gravy.  I am really going to get fat now.  We were issued rifles last week and so had guard duty this weekend.  I got the 0200 to 0600 tour this morning.  I had to challenge everyone on or near my post (sqns 37-42) and a supply house.  Just before 0200 it started to rain and we fell out with wool coats on.  Those coats will shed water better than any rain coat and they are warm as well.  We were given a pair of overshoes and a helmet liner so our outfit was pretty complete.  My post was rather muddy and every time I stepped off from the pavement I went into this nice California mud up to my ankles.  When it really began to rain hard it was rather miserable and I was sure glad to get back to the barracks at 0600 to have a nice hot shower.

You turn on all the showers in the room full hot and then adjust one to warm and stand in your own steam.  I went to bed and slept till 10:30 when I had to get up and go to dinner and then to traffic guard at 1200.

72 of us guard the camp from the civilians and the civilians from the fellows who have been restricted for some reason.  They have one road over which they can travel; mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, girl friends, wives, and all the relatives.  Since some of the girl friends are all right the fellows feel that this Sunday guard is a "good deal".  The center of activity is the Service Club and it is here that I was stationed.  Guess what?  I guarded the ladies Toilet to keep the women in and the men out.  What a job.  I guess I will never hear the end of that one.  The fellows got quite a kick out of me guarding the Women's Toilet.

Yesterday we were issued a 4 sulfadyazine tablets to prevent us from getting colds.  The reason seems to be that too many fellows have gone to the hospital with colds and strep. throat.  The tablets make you have wonderful head aches, etc. but if you drink a lot of water they go away.  The will kill a cold in a hurry the only thing is that they affect some people and make them very sick.  I am in what a call a formal guard mount.

12/13/43

That should have been I was in a formal guard mount because today the parade came off and we got the best commendation given for a guard mount on the Post.  It is kind of a formal parade; white gloves, rifles etc. all dressed up in class A's.  It is a formality that has very little meaning in itself.  It is something like the changing of the guard by the English.  Of course it is not so impressive but when it is done right it is something to see.  Well Sq. 55 put on a good show and the Colonel was very pleased with what he saw and commended the Sqn very highly.  As the whole thing is put on for the cadets by the cadets with cadets reviewed by the officers who wish to see it and if they are pleased you can bet that everyone is pleased.

We also set a new record for section marching and conduct for the Air base.  Section 55-1 (the one I am in) got 43 superior in class in a row thusly beating the old record of 12 out of 13 by a wide margin.  We were told that it is a record that is next to impossible to repeat.  This was a perfect record.  We are very proud because it entitles us to carry an E flag.  You can bet that all the officers and Junior officers watch us now and try to pick holes in our marching and conduct.

Now I will tell you a little about California.  It rains most every day either in the early morning or early afternoon.  It really rains and the sun shines at the same time.  But what beautiful clouds.  They look like big balls of cotton and when they open up the cotton comes down but fast.  But the sun shines every day also so that activity isn't cut down very much.

Well I can't think of anything else to write but will write again when I get the time.  As it is it took 2 days to write this one and the next may take longer.

The C.O's wife is having a baby so everything is "huba huba" as the Air Corp says.

With love

Austin.

December 11, 1943

December 6, 1943

Dec. 6, 1943

Dear Mother:

This letter may seem wrinkled but it should be because it has traveled quite a few miles before I even got a chance to start.

Saturday night we started out to L.A. as usual but being very late to start because of a late class and consequently the long line waiting for the bus out we got as far as Santa Ana and decided to go somewhere a little nearer to the base.

We went to Long Beach about 24 miles from Santa Ana.  It is a place very much like Revere Beach only it stays open all year around.  It has all the amusements and little gambling booths as they all have.  Of course the first place the Air Corp heads for is the very tame Roller Coaster.  We rode on that until I was almost sick.  I rode on the first car, the last car and the middle car.  I rode everywhere.  It was a lot of fun but much tamer than it used to be.

We next went on the Dodgeums, you know the little electric cars. {Bumper cars} We rode on them until my knees were black and blue.  They are so big that they kept hitting the little dash board and hood over the front of the car.  When you get a whole gang on those cars you can have a lot of fun.

Things were beginning to quiet down then so we went into one of these places where you roll balls to win presents.  I tried once and didn't win anything so I quit and called it a day.  My friend Bob Sundius (from Brooklyn) had better luck.  He won a package of cigarettes on the first nickel and won every time after for four times.  Missed a couple then won again until he had a carton of cigarettes which cost him about 75 cents.  Regularly they would cost anywhere from $1.15 to $1.50.  I guess that it is possible to win if you are lucky but not many people have the right kind of luck.  We decided that we had better not trust his luck any more so we quit.

We went back to the Hotel Room and got a good nights sleep and I can say that I did sleep.  I don't like sleeping in hotels however.  They can be noisy but noise don't bother me any more.  I do wonder some times who slept in the bed before me and I wonder who might try to get into the room while we are sleeping.  Any way when there are two together you can be pretty sure that nothing can happen.

Well about 12 hours have passed since I started this letter and this new paragraph so things may not follow too well.  

I have received several letters since I wrote last but I just can't find time to write.  I have to study nights for if I don't I may become a military holdover and I don't want.

So I don't complain hu..., well it's this way.  I always feel pretty good when I write and I forget a lot but right now I am burned up because right now I have enough giggs to walk a tour and it was because of someone else's neglect and general lack of responsibility.  We were issued rifles the other day because we are going on guard.  When they were put away today someone put his "piece" in the place I should have mine.  Because I didn't move it I got gigged for improperly putting my rifle away.  This fellow left his bold closed and I got his giggs.  Of course I can protest but I'll have to write a letter to the C.O. and attempt to explain why my rifle wasn't in the proper place.  Even then I can get 5 giggs for improper form for a military letter.  Really there is no appeal.  I have never walked a tour while I have been here and I am burned up with this system.  From now on it's A/C Rounds for himself and no one else.

Two sqns near us have been quarantined one for Scarlet Fever and the other for "Spinal Meningitis".  Of course we can't see those fellows and you can bet we are keeping clear of them.

This letter was not written on the way to L.A. as I expected and is pretty well tattered.

Tell A.P. that I have received all his letters and will send his air mail letter home when I have the occasion.  Get busy on that watch or tell me what the stay is.  I could have got a good watch Saturday but passed it up because I hoped you would send one soon.  I will have to wait a month now for another chance.

With love

Austin.

November 28, 1943

Nov 28 1943

Dear Mother;

A lot has happened since I wrote last.  Thursday was thanksgiving and we went to the beach for gunnery and the swimming tests.  We swam in the morning and went to the range in the afternoon.  You can bet that the water was very cold and we nearly froze to death.  I took the advance swim test and passed it.

It consisted of a 250 yd swim 1/3 back stroke 1/3 side stroke 1/3 breast stroke.  We then swam 45" under water, made 3 jumps from a 11" tower 1st at attention 2nd with a barracks bag so we could float and finally with a life preserver.  We then put on a suit of clothes (Better than the ones they issue) swam 100' took off the pants blew them up and floated back to shore.  We then blew up the shirt and floated with it.  It was a lot of fun except that is was much too cold for comfort.

We had coffee and sandwiches for dinner and left for the range.  It is constructed so that you shoot off over the ocean and many of the slags skip over the sand into the ocean.  The land is patrolled by blimps run by the Navy and the Coast Guard runs a cutter out 2 miles or so just out of range to keep small craft out of the area.  We first shot the 45 cal pistol for record.  Next we went to the machine gun range and shot 250 rounds at moving targets.  These were aircraft 30 cal. machine guns, the kind they used on all the early airplanes.  The machine gun was the most fun.  We next went and shot the Thompson submachine gun and finished with the 22 cal. rifle leading targets.  We had 50 shots.  Tell Pop that is where all the 22 shots are going; teaching us to hit a moving target.  The range was the best part of the training so far.

We came home to a wonderful turkey dinner.  What a meal. Mash potatoes, gravy, vegetable, turkey, vegetable, ice cream, nuts, candy, turkey dressing and everything.  I am sending a menu of the dinner which everyone got. (in a magazine that is coming)  I only wish that I was home for dinner rather than so far away.

Saturday I got out again and went to Hollywood to see Cousin Emma and "Cousin Will".  They are really very hospitable people and made me feel very much at home, so much so in fact that I didn't want to leave.  Their son Robert was still home from Peru and was headed for O.C.S.  They have a very nice little house with all kinds of fruit trees in the back yard.  Orange tree, fig trees, pear trees and a tomato plant that has been bearing for 2 1/2 years.  I am going to send home a pinecone they picked up in the mts. to burn in the fireplace.  Not only do the have what we have at home but the size will amaze you.  I am trying to find a box to fit it.  I will send it as soon as possible because it takes up too much space.

Thanks for the cake.  It was delicious and I happened to open it after chow when no one was hungry so I got all I wanted.  It was very good.

Tell Pop that the code is coming along but is beginning to slow up because I have hit my maximum for awhile.  If I can pass this 8 word check I have passed the course and got to the point where high speeds will be easier.

We are getting very well fed now and I begin to worry about the folks at home.  Rationing must be plenty tough now.

I have not had too many gigs since I have been here.  Things are getting tougher and you have to be more careful each day.  However our section took second place in the 3rd wing and we are very proud of the fact.

Well I am going to bed now.  I will answer Williams current letter as soon as possible.

With love

Austin.

December 11, 1943 to Mother

Dear Mother:

This will have to take the place of a letter for a while.  I am so busy that my spare time is very limited.

Now that it is the Christmas Season I am getting very homesick and wish that I could be home for a short time.  Christmas time was one that really meant the most to us and I know this year can not be the same.

With love

November 23, 1943 to Pops

{For those of you who are a little rusty in your Morse Code, don't despair!  My suggestion is to print this out and write the letters on top.  I will post the translated version in a week, if someone else doesn't beat me to it.)

Nov 23, 1943

_..  .  ._ ._.      ._       ._ _.   ,

_..  _ _ _     ..       _._  _.  _ _ _  ._ _       _._.  _ _ _  _..  .        ....  .         ._  ...  _._  ...       _ _  .  

._ _   .   ._..  ._..       _   _ _ _       _  .  ._..  ._..      _  ....  .       _  ._.  .._  _  ....       ..      ....  ._  ...   .          

._ _ _  .._  ... _       _ _.  ._.  ._  _..  .._  ._  _  .  _..          _  _ _ _    _  ....  .         _ _ _..      

._ _   _ _ _  ._.  _..  ...      ._       _ _  ..  _.  .._   _  .         ...   .  _._.  _  ..   _ _ _   _.           ._  _.  _..    

._  _ _        ...  ._  ...  ..  _.  _ _.        ._          ....  .  _._.   _._          _ _ _  .._.         ._       _  ..  _ _  . 

_  ._.   _._ _  ..  _.  _ _.      _   _ _ _       _ _.  .  _         _ ....  .        ._.  _._ _  _   ....  .   _ _        _ _ _  .._.      

_  ....  .      ...  ._ _  .   .  _..             ._ _  ....  .  _.       ..        _. _.  ._  ...  ...  .  _..         _  ....  .       _ _ _..

._ _   _ _ _  ._.  _..        _._.  ....  .  _._.  _._         ..           ._ _  ..  ._..   ._..          ....  ._  ..._  .      

._ _.   ._   ...  ...   .   _..      ._  ._..  ._..          _  ....  .       _._.  _ _ _ _   _..   .           ..         ._ _   ..  ._..  ._..

....  ._  ..._   .        _   _ _ _         _._  _.  _ _ _  ._ _          _  ....  ..  ...        ._ _  ..  ._..  ._..       _.   _ _ _   _                 

_...  .         _   _ _ _  _ _ _              ....  ._  ._.  _..                 

._  .._  _   .   ._.         _._ _   _ _ _  .._          _ _.   .   _         ...  _ _ _       _  ....   ._  _        _._ _   _ _ _  .._ 

_._.  ._  _.        ._.  .  _._.  .   ..   .._          _ _ _..        ._ _  _ _ _  ._.  _..  ...        ._        _ _  ..  _.  .._   _   .

._  ._..  ._..        _  ....  .         ._.  .  ...  _         ..   ...         ...  .  _._.  _ _ _  _.  _..        _.  ._  _  .._  ._.  .

..      ._  _ _        _ _.  .  _   _   ..  _.   _ _.          _  ..  ._.  .  _..           _ _ _  .._.       ._ _  ._.  ..  _  .. _.  _ _.  

_  ....  ..  ...        ._ _   ._   _._ _        ...  _ _ _   _ _ _   _ _ _   _ _ _

I am finding code a lot of fun because you advance when you are qualified to.  When you get good at it you hear a sound and write before you think. Some of the fellows can take 20 words per minute and the instructor can take about 40.  At that speed you can't write but have to take it on a typewriter or in short hand.  That seems beyond my grasp.  8 words per is the toughest place to pass because it is the stage between thinking and automatic action.

..      ._ _  ..  ._..  ._..       _._.  ._..  _ _ _  ...  ..         _.  _ _ _  ._ _          

._ _  ..  _  ....         ._..  _ _ _  ..._   .

._  .._  ...  _  ..  _.

November 23, 1943 to Mother

Nov. 23, 1943

Dear Mother:

I suppose you are wondering how I found ca.... Cousin Emma.  Well that is a long story.  I really intended to see her bur headed in that direction a little too late.  What really happened is that I over estimated my ability to get out of camp.  When it is Saturday night 10,000 fellows have the same idea.  Let's go to L.A. and one bus line with all special busses can not take care of the rush.

Many of the fellows found that they could get rides out of camp to L.A. for $2.50 but I decided that was too much to pay for a ride of only 30 miles.  As a consequence I got to L.A. too late to go anywhere.

We went to the end of a long line of fellows trying to get to Santa Ana to get the Pacific Elective into the big city.  We waited here for over an hour and got real hot thinking of the time we were wasting.  When we did get to S.A. we had to wait again for a long time so instead of waiting we paid $1.50 for a ride to L.A.  The regular fare is $.75 so we didn't get to bad a ride.  It was very late when we got there so had very little time to get a room and get settled.  I did get a chance to see the city a little but it was after dark.  

Same picture as on Nov 21.  The card is bent from writing on the bottom diagonally to the top right corner

I am sending a picture of the place we ate.  I marked the table on the picture and you can get some idea of the places they have here and they are inexpensive.  I had a very good meal for $.90 and had music to accompany it.  The music and singing came from a little balcony you can see in the upper right hand corner.  The place was a rather good place to eat and I think I shall eat there again.  The little yellow (orange) paper I picked up was in the middle of each table for those who wanted them.

I forgot to tell how you enter.  As you can't see where we got our food.  You entered at the front and walked around the side in a kind of long tunnel that was lined with gold fish cages.  The tunnel is between the falls and the table.  The falls were very beautiful and viewed through a curved glass window so that it looked like no window at all.  William would have really loved this place if unique mess is his fancy.  I don't think you will see anything like it in the East.

You seem to find such things all through L.A. Nothing quite compares with them.  You would really love the country.  Is is all so different that I can hardly believe I am so near to home.  I feel near home although I guess I am really a long way away. 

I am sorry that the card got broken but a young lady sat on my lap and crushed it.  Now I suppose I will have to explain that.  Well, we were walking down the street when a car with two delightful girls pulled up beside us (5 boys) and asked us if we wanted to go to a party.  Well I kind of hesitated because I didn't think all western hospitality was this but the car looked good, the girls looked all right and a party seemed the thing so we all piled in.  They were U.C.L. girls and they took us to a college dance.  It seemed that men are scarce out here also.  They had all uniforms at the dance.  Navel ROTC and Marine ROTC and a few regular Navy and the Army Air Force (us).  We met the house mother who was a kind old soul and helped us get a room up town to sleep in.  Guess what they drink at such parties.  Hot tea, with fruit juice.  Not very wild.  However we had a swell time.

Seeing we were a mile from the center of the city we convinced the girls that after the dance they would have to take us back to the city.  They decided at 12:00 PM (civilian time) that it was time to close down the dance so the 5 boys and 4 girls piled into the car (result: crushed picture) and went to a small diner in a ate some hamburgers and drank pop.  They left us off up town and we went to our room for a good nights rest.  It was about 2:30 and I was glad to hit the hay.  We slept till 9:30.  It sure is wonderful to sleep late once in a while.

There wasn't much to do after getting up Sunday so we went and did a little shopping and got some insignia (if you got the ones I asked for and haven't sent them you better keep them).  We came back early and slept on the train all the way.

It sure is a kick of a way to spend a weekend.

Now; "What is the difference between the Army Air Corp and the Army Air Force"?  Well you may ask a lot of people in the Army Air Force and they won't know but from what I have been able to find out it goes this way.  The Army Air Corp is the branch that corresponds to the United States ARmy and the Army Air Force is the same as the ARmy of the United States (You don't see.)  Before Pearl Harbor the Air Corp was very small and was only a part of the Army but now it has expanded to such an extend that is is a force in itself and is almost a complete, self sufficient outfit.  Don't let it worry you because in most places they are the same and the expansion is the reason for the change.  I don't think anyone cares about the difference.

I don't know anymore answers because I forgot all the questions so if I don't write the answers to your questions, ask again.

That watch will be very valuable out here because everyone elses is in the repair and you have to hunt to find out the time.  I hope you get the most for your money and get William's ideas on the subject because I will know what I want that is round.   Well I leave the rest to you and the family.  Don't spare the money because there is a lot more where that came from.  The government has lots of it and I have got a raise in pay.

The food is a lot better now.  It seems to come in spasms.  We get Roast Beef quite often with mashed potatoes and gravy and vegetable.  I am just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the buest bu not one can tell.

I will have close now because I have a lot of other things to do.

With love,

Austin

November 21, 1943

Clifton's "Pacific Sea" Cafeteria
Olive at Sixth, Los Angeles

Nov. 21, 1943

Dear Mother:

We got out of camp on pass Saturday night and this is the place we ate supper.  It was really good and one of those places where they have music and singing while you eat.  It was swell except that you had to pick up your own meal.

November 19, 1943 (2)

   Dear (oh well I started now!) Nov. 19,

Esther:

What a mistake!  My mind must be wandering terribly.  I am thinking about what I shall do my first night out.  Shall I go to Los Angeles and see the town?  Shall I go to San Diego and see Don Towse?  Shall I go see mother's cousin in Hollywood?  Well I don't really know just what to do.  I might go see one of Pop's relatives in Onterio (or something).  Why didn't Pop tell me about his relatives rather than Aunt Emma?  Really what would you do?

It really is about time that I thanked you for the box that came the day before yesterday.  The sweater was quite a surprise and a very pleasant one at that.  My friend from Belmont asked me who made it "my mother".  When I said it was my sister he was really surprised that sisters did such things.  Evidently in his home his mother does all the favors and the sisters are little or big pests as the case may be.  It really is the thing I need because the cold weather is setting in and the sweater looks heavy and wooly.  There is only one catch.  I can't wear it outside so everyone can see it because G.I. clothes only are worn in plain sight or for any formation.  It looks like I can wear it under my blouse.  I am sure your handwork will be put to a good purpose even though I won't be able to show it off.

The candy was a surprise also.  As I stood admiring the sweater I didn't realize that there was more in the box.  Not until I lifted it out to put it on did the kisses fall out and in the scramble that followed I got 3 pieces of fudge and a couple of kisses.  They sure went fast.  The fudge reminded me of the nights after you got paid with me around helping you eat your box of Sullivan Sq. candy.  It really was good.  I shouldn't have opened the box just before supper.  When these fellows are hungry nothing from home in the way of eats can satisfy them.

You can tell Pop that I passed my first code check but just barely passed it.  It was called a 4 word check.  20 letters a minute in 2 weeks.  It is a check to see that everyone is progressing in one of the hardest subjects we have.  Next we work on 6 words a minute until we can receive 12 to 14 a minute and then we can graduate without worrying. Code in it's self is not too tough it is just certain letters that screw up the works.  I have trouble remembering W and V and U and K.  I can do the rest all right.

Things are running along pretty smoothly and my worries are few except for the ever present little "demerits".  Down here you get gigged but each gig may have attached 3 or 4 demerits so you have to stay on the ball.  So far I have been fortunate as I have had only 5 demerits since I have been here.  I found out what they wanted and did what was wanted so the Sqn. Commander is happy and I don't get gigged.  Some fellows have tours and plenty of them.  One fellow has 24 tours and he is happy because he can get out in 3 weeks.  Well I find it easier to keep a good record and have my overnight passes.  By the way we have the best under classman pre-flight group.  We have the best commander.  We have the best everything.  We are "On the Ball."

Well I don't know what to write except that the further I go in this business the better I like it.  I have picked out the plane I want to fly.  It is the A-20A Boston Bomber.  Get William to show you one. 

A-20A Boston

 It is a plane that has one pilot, a Bombigator and a couple of crew men.  As I am too large for pursuit flying this is the one for me.  Oh well that is a long time off.  If the Sqn. keeps up the way it is I will have a good chance to fly it as the best Sqns to get wing get to fly what they want.

With Love

Austin

November 19, 1943

Dear Mother;

I am sending home this money order so you can do something about that watch.  Get the best you can but don't go over the $60.  I want it to be round and prefer it to be plain.  Do not get a water-proof, dust proof model if it is inconvenient because such watchs burst at high altitudes.  However if you can get a good water proof watch get it because it can always be left on the ground while flying.

I am getting out this week-end and will see cousin Emma.
With love
Austin

.- .. .-.    -.-.  ---.-. .--.   -- .- .. .-..

November 15, 1943

Nov. 15, 1943

I have just finished debating whether I should do my homework now and go out to the movies tonight and I have a good chance of flunking a test tomorrow or stay in and write this letter and study tonight and pass the test tomorrow.  I have decided that the letter choice is the better So;

Dear Mother:

We have a little time off now before evening chow because most of the cadets are over seeing Joe Louis and the rest of us have free time.  I guess the letter should be written because I owe more than one to you all by now.

See Brown Bomber Joe at 1:00.

I have gotten those 2 packages you sent.  I would not advise you to try to feed all my friends because when boxes come the friends multiply to unheard of numbers.  If I can keep it out of sight I can be sure of keeping the contents between 6 or 8 of us.  The Independent came regularly for 3 weeks and I haven't got any since I got to pre-flight.  I guess it will catch up with me.

I read the article in the Saturday Even. Post and thought it was very interesting.  The test that fellow took was one to determine the altitude a fellow is qualified to fly at.  None of us will take such a test until near the end of our training days.  He told about the bends coming on slowly after an hour or so at 38000'.  This is the height that we went too but stayed for only a very short time.  The article was on a whole very much like what I would have told if I had written it.

I am very glad that Mary likes her job and glad to hear that she got her promotion.  I haven't heard much about her "night school" work.  I wish she didn't have to go to school nights.  I should think that she would find it very tiring.  I wouldn't want to do it.  She seems to be the one that is really working for an education.  Tell her to send along something she has done.  I would like to see it.

So you got a map of the camp.  Well that is more than I have because such things are restricted around here.  Each day we get confidential information which we are not supposed to pass on.  However a map of this camp for those in the camp can not be too dangerous if they are handing them out to the parents of the cadets.

I am glad to hear that Ralph has passed his exams for Air Crew training.  It is just the thing for him and I am sure he can take the rugged life that my be before him.

You are getting to be a airplane spotter.  The P38 really whistle when it comes down.  The other day one dived on the P.T. field.  It really screamed and when it pulled out a black trace was left behind that came from the wing tips but immediately disappeared.  It looked like smoke and I thought something had happened.  The explanation seems to be that is pullouts at high speed the air over the wing tips becomes so jumbled up that it can be seen.  Maybe William can tell you what happens.  I really don't know myself.  I have a very good airplane spotters guide here and I will send it along when I get to the post office.

Can you go in an Army-Navy store and get me something?  What I need can't be purchased anywhere on the camp.  They are the little

  and the 

that go on an officers uniform.  Get the real brass ones that can be polished and get at least 3 pairs.  They will probably cost you 2 dollars but don't let that bother you.  They are worth a lot more than that to me.  Be sure you get the officers and not the enlisted man's badge that look like this:

  They are not what I want and I can not wear them any longer.  I hope I haven't confused you by drawing the enlisted men's set.  They are worth their weight in gold around here.

I am sending a "Cadet Patch" along which you or any one can sew on an old coat or something.  It is from some the fellows threw way because they are the wrong size and color.  Ours are blue and orange.

Now what do I think about Christmas presents.  Well right now you could get me a nice furlough and a plane ride home for Christmas and I will be satisfied.  That is just a dream  I have very few needs as you can well guess.  My clothing needs are well taken care of an it would take a couple of barrels of food to feed my friends.  Those insignia would be a good present.  What can I send home?  That seems to be the real problem.

Well I have spent enough time for a while.  How is the weather at home.  It is very foggy in the morning an hot afternoons here.  I will write soon I hope.

. _ _  ..  _  ....      . _..  _ _ _ ..._  .

Austin.

November 9, 1943

11-9-43

Dear A.P.

I got your letter that was written Nov 3.  I guess it takes a long time for mail to come and go all this distance and some of the things you write bring back memories rather than present day happenings.

I am able to write this letter chiefly because today I am the Fire Guard.  The F.G. is the hardest working white man on the base.  He is on a 24 hour shift and has the whole barracks as his responsibility.  He keeps it clean, salvages waste paper, keeps butt cans clean, shines brass, empties waste barrels, and has all kinds of duties the purpose of which are to keep the place looking as well as possible at all times and helping the others clean up so no one will get giggs.  It's a rough job and very little rest comes till after 2000.  The big catch is that you miss classes which are impossible to make up.  However most of the squadron is on detail and today was a repeat of yesterday.

We have Battle Ship Identification, Elementary Math, Ballistics, Military Courtesy, and Code.  The code is the big catch and even though we get an hour a day most every one has trouble with this class. We try to learn 4 new letters a day; after this it is just a period of speed up until you can take 10 words a minute.  We have a few who have code before and can take 25 words, which is very fast for most anyone.  They take the letters by the length of the sounds on a whole rather than the little individual sounds as you learn them.  These fellows help us out somewhat.  One of the Sgts. that teaches can take 40 words a minute and they say that at that speed it is just a continuous series of sound.  I will never attain that speed.

My money is beginning to pile up.  I don't know just what to do with it all.  I could buy War Bonds but can never get to the office where they sell them.  Is there any suggestions you can offer for my present situation?  I can always spend it when I get out but it will be just wasted, but you don't have to worry about me wasting my money.  It comes too hard.

I don't know what to do about the watch.  I really need one but can't get one unless I am lucky.  Then I don't know anything about watches so I am a little cautious about spending $25 or more.  

The army has a funny way of paying.  They give you $57 and then take back 10 or 12 for different expenses you have acquired along the way.  Each month we get $2.50 taken out for grass seed and other misc.  You get credit for $.15 a day but they take that back for use of the mess hall equipment.  You can't complain because no one seems to know anything about what goes on higher up.  As each pay check is made out somewhere else no one can tell what goes on.  you have to take it unless you are short $20 or more.

Well I have got to get about my duties. So

With love

Austin.

November 8, 1943

Oct 8, 1943

(most likely meant Nov)

Dear Mother,

            This is the first real opportunity I have had to write since I got down here to the  Pilot-School.  Sunday nights are no longer free to write as we have G.I. parties each Sunday which are real work.  Also we have home work from each of our classes each night. You see therefore that time is getting scarcer and scarcer and that is how the letters are coming, slower and slower.

            I got the box of cookies today and they look very good to me.  I don’t have to eat them like the last box because down here at the school we really are getting fed again.  When I had K.P. down here I didn’t think they were so well off; but now I know they are taking care of us and that is what I mean.  The food is really good too.  We get the food the civilians don’t get now and it is good compared with what they get at the Classification Center.

            I have got another haircut that is better than the one before.  This one is really short.  I was put in the 3^rd Wing down here and they have the shortest hair cuts off all the cadets.  They sat that 1” is all you need but if I have got 1 measly inch I’ll eat it. I’ve got a half inch and feel bald headed.  My hair sticks up and gives no protection to my head.  I always wanted a wiffel and now I know what one is like.  Now I can’t come home for months because you wouldn’t recognize me.

            I have just found out that a couple of more Stoneham fellows are here.  Crocetti is here as well as is Joe Fraser.  They are both in the C.C. area and under quarantine so I can’t see them and obey the rules.  I feel like going up and see them anyway.  Spencer Bobson is heading this way I hear but as yet hasn’t got here yet.  This is just a rumor.

            We are beginning to get gigs again and for some they are coming thick and fast but for me I have got 3 in 4 days.  If I can hold out till Thursday I won’t walk any tours.  That I will like very much. It means I have a good chance of getting out a week from Saturday.

            I just got up to see the fire in the mts off in the distance.  You may have read about them in the paper.  They are getting pretty bad and we expected to be alerted to fight them but as yet we haven’t.  You can really see the glow in the sky and at times it looks like the whole horizon for some distance is red.

            I am the last one of my group from Mass. to be going ahead.  The only other one who started with me is still unclassified and may be washed out.

            I must close now to do homework

With love,

Austin                         a/c

{ed. note - I can't find any references to a wildfire in November of 1943, but there was a large fire in Hauser Creek, California where 11 members of the military died.  They were not trained to fight fires, but were called upon anyway.}