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.}

November 4, 1943

Nov. 4, 1943

Dear Mother,

            Yesterday we moved from classification over here to pre-flight.  This card will have to do for a while as I am endeavoring to get “on the ball” here and get into the routine of my present stop.  We are still in our barracks and this area is just like the other only much nearer to things going on.  Well until I get time to write a letter

With love

a/c Austin L. Rounds 31359264

Flight B Sqn. 55

SAAAB

Santa Ana Calif.

November 1, 1943

Nov. 1, 1943

Dear Mother,

            I just had to hurry this letter a long because I got so much from home today and home is very much on my mind.  First I got the box and was very happy when I saw the candy and cookies within.  There may be more but I haven’t been able to get down beneath the cards, candy and cookies because if you made it known that you have food from home it didn’t take long for the news to get around.  It would be rather hard for one person to send all the stuff these guys could eat.  I liked the box very much.

            I also got the two Independents you sent and the first thing that drew my attention was the death of Seymour Soy.  Of course you had written about it but when the fellows around me saw the notice they began to think how close that comes to them.  Of course it couldn’t happen here, but even then we get to see the possibilities if extreme caution is not used.  The air is still safe and the place for me is above the clouds where I can see what goes on all around me.  That’s one trouble with the flying done at the colleges, it is done at too low an altitude and safety precautions are not much good when you have only 500’ between you and the ground.  Precision flying is what they want but precision at 500’ is not the safest.

            I also got your letter and enjoyed it very much even though it was short.  I am glad to hear that Mary has got a watch and I wish I could say the same.  As a matter of fact I am going to be paid again and all ready have too much money on me.  What would you suggest was the best way for me to get it home.  I have close to 75 dollars here and I want to get rid of it in a hurry. My next pay day will add $67.50 more to it.  I want to spend some for a watch but I can’t seem to get there when the watches are for sale and you can bet the few they get here are snapped up in a hurry.  I am a little cautious about buying such things and as a result may never get a time piece.

            I like getting the Stoneham paper each week and look forward to it even thought the news is close to a week old.  It really is one of the highlights of my week.  The paper takes all precedence over my reading.  By the way could you send the Herald more often (maybe once a week).  I would like to see it more often.  I really miss “Terry and the Pirates” and “Smiling Jack”.  Tell me just what are you suppose to write on those cards?  They seem much too nice to just write short messages on.

Terry and the Pirates tv show clip.  Enjoy the cheese!

Drama with Smilin'Jack           

            The day after tomorrow will be moving day again.  Wednesday we really go to work.  We will go to Pre-flight and it is this that I have waited 5 months for.  I am now going to get started on the job of flying.  We are going to study aircraft in all its fazes, code, and other connected subjects.  However don’t stop writing because the mail will come to the same post office and the same fellow will sort our mail and it will get to us as usual.

            I would like to send something home to everyone and there is a lot of stuff I could send home. There is all kinds of air corp stuff you could wear, bracelets, rings, insignia of all sorts etc.

            I am now reading Pocket Books.  I have read about a dozen now and I have a well stocked library here. I must do something with them but I don’t know if you could read them or not.  I enjoy most of them very much.

            By the way how to you spell Aunt Emma’s last name?  Ntecerous?  That is how I spell it but I don’t know if that is correct.  I rather hesitate writing to often when I don’t know how to spell right.  I most close now, so.

With love

Austin.