July 31, 1944

Luke Field

July 31, 1944

Dear Mother:

I received your rather short letter with Blaisdale's address last Friday and decided I would look them up today when in town.  However I was rather surprised to get a note telling me to call them from the post.  So I called and was invited out to their house today.  And did I have a good time!!!

You can't imagine how it is to be about 2700 miles from home and find that you are home after just a short ride.  As they may write their house is rather small but is very comfortable.  I can imagine it was not much before they got it but it is rather nice now.  I don't know how they are maintaining themselves but they seem to do alright.  They live on a farm and have a horse, cow, and some chickens.

They made everything so nice for me.  This afternoon we went to a city park, "Encando Park" and went canoeing.  Mrs. B. doesn't get around too well now so she and the Mr. stayed at the car.  Irma, the other sister and her boyfriend and I had quite a time paddling around.  The pond is man-made of course but it is not very hot there.  Irma is really growing up but still raises a rumpus everywhere she goes.  I thought she would turn over the canoe a couple of times.  The park is very popular and I met quite a number of people I knew from the post.  They gave me a ride back to the post and really finished the afternoon right.  They took some pictures which may and may not come out so tell me as soon as you receive them.

Encanto Park

Well now is the first time that I think I may have made it.  All the confidence you all have had was not reflected in me.  I have sweated out each stage in its turn and each time you have thought of me as an officer I have seen myself as a Pvt. again.  I have never had any doubt that I would sometime "wash" but deep down in my heart I have hoped beyond hope that some day I would wear those gold bars and wings.  Now I think those dreams will come true.  Maybe I have the stuff to make a success out of things after all.  I have been put to the test for a year or more and have succeeded at something for the first time in life.  For once I have picked my goal and made it.  For once I have made better than average grades along the way.  For the first time I have found something around which I can build my life or my preoccupation.  For once I have succeeded when many others have failed.  In the future I think I will be proud of my cadet days, I will be proud that I was a member of this greatest army in the world. 

Now about coming home.  I have made reservations to fly home and have money for one way.  If I do get home I will have to draw money out of the bank to get back.  I can join the 300 club which means I will start off 300 dollars in the hole.  I would rather owe the family the money rather than some bank.  Everything is very indefinite as to the amount of leave I will get and I may get none at all so I will send a telegram if things begin to pop.  Maybe I will see everyone in 7 or 8 days.  What do you think of that?

I still haven't written to the other members of the family for some time and they may be getting impatient but you cool them off because I should have a little time this week.  By the way I have a copy of John Homer Miller's book "Take a Look at Yourself" loaned to me by the Blaisdales.  I have started it and expect to finish it this week also.  In fact I expect to catch up on my reading and letter writing.

I think I shall now go down to the P.X. and get something cold to drink.  It is rather hot even yet and a milkshake would go well.  I will close now in anticipation of a letter tomorrow.  It had better be there.

With love

Austin

2nd Lt A.C.

July 25, 1944

Luke Field

Phoenix Ariz.

July 25, 1944

Dear Mother;

I haven't much to write but have the spare time so I guess I can find the words.  We have 1 free period today so that explains the time on my hands.

By the way the feathers are still all over the place.  Every time I sweep up I find a new mess of them. The morning after the pillow broke on the ventilator we had to sweep with wet brooms and the barracks smelt like a chicken picking house.  Those wet feathers didn't smell too good.  I guess that's why the "tack" officers didn't come in that day.

Sunday morning I went into town to buy some more clothes.  I spent another hundred dollars but have all I will need for some time to come.  I still have to buy 2 bags and will then be done.  In all I guess this outfitting will take all of my $250 clothing allowance.  I guess I will be well dressed.  I will have clothes for some time to come.

I also went to the airport to see about flying home.  It will cost $150 one way and I have the money to get home but not back.  It seems like a lot of money to spend all at once.  Train fare is about the same but too slow.  I wouldn't consider a train anyway.  

As I wrote before I may not get home after graduation because I may be immediately be assigned to another station with 2 or 3 days delay in route.  If I come back to this post I will get 15 days which would be swell.  That would mean I would eventually be an instructor which I don't like too much.  I guess things will even up on the end.

I have some of my uniforms already here and tried on.  It is just like Christmas all over again.  You just tear open packages to see what you have.  I am well satisfied with what I got. (Someone just brought in another load and I have two more boxes.)  I will have to close this letter and get into my new boxes.  I should have some gabardines.  This is really Christmas only we have the presents and buy them too.

I am coming home with gold bars you know if I get through one more landing.

I must write to William as soon as I can.  I hope he has got back to work by now.  

I am beginning to wonder what I have in the boxes.

With love

Austin

July 22, 1944

Luke Field

July 22, 1944

Dear Mother:

I have finally decided to use my little spare time in writing a letter.  Of course I could be reading the news or the new S.E.P. or studying for a gunnery exam but I won't waste the time.  You see a lot has happened since the last letter.

I sure sweat out the Flight Officer list when it came out.  Over 1/2 of the class was made F.E. against about 30% of the last class.  And as in everything else my luck held out and I made the Lt. list.  Most of my friends were made F.O. but maybe my record pulled me through. It is not too good but it is not bad.  I think my year of college and the year of R.O.T.C. had a heck of a lot to do with it.  Anyway if all goes well you can say lieutenant when I get home.

Monday we had the 200' cross country.  It was an interception problem  You flew to a point and circled till 4 hour and then took off to rendezvous at a certain point at a certain time about 65 miles away.  I had to intercept a plane flying up a railroad at right angels to my course.  In other words I had to be on time to the second.  I flew up to my first point and had about 10 mins to kill so I flew up and down a couple of canyons and washes.  one was a bout 40' deep and I flew pretty near the bottom looking up at the sides.  I then took off for my rendezvous point and buzzed the desert in between.  A couple of ladies waved when I went by their house at 3 miles a minute.  I almost did a barrel roll for them but that is dangerous and against regulations.  I ran into a range of hills and flew through them rather than around or over them.  I came out on the railroad a little early so flew down the tracks to a station to get a look at the sign and found that I was in the right place.  I then flew down behind some hills and waited for my plane to come an rout I scooted right on time, he though.  It sure was a load of fun anyway.  I wish I had more low flying scheduled.

We are now flying cross countries and some are pretty rough.  I almost got lost Wednesday.  Iran into some bad weather over the mts which comprised 1/2 the course and had the first rain fail on my for about 5 months I guess.  It is some experience to be caught in a rail squall at about 8000'.  The weather was a little rough and blew me off course a little but I found my way to my next turning point all right.  It just so happened that the trip was called off just after I left the ground but they never did catch me.

We had been having some funny weather lately.  Cool moist air form the Gulf is up over this country and made to rise by the desert and met which results in towering cumulus clouds with thunder and lightning squalls.  As a result we had rain last night and my again tonight.  you can hear the thunder and I expect the rain will come soon.  I would like to run around in it.

Now that flying is about over and I am almost sure to graduate a 2nd lt. I will need some calling cards made up.  You must know what I mean.  Pop gives them away as well as do all important people.  I guess it is a custom or something.  They should have my name with middle initial only and have Lieutenant Air Corp Army of the United States.  Please see what you can do to get me some.

I am very sorry that William is in the hospital.  I guess by now his is out.  I don't see what could be wrong with him maybe he just needs a rest anyway.  I sure would like to get stuck in a hospital for a couple of weeks in a couple of weeks. 

Here is the latest rumor from the head quarters ("poop from the group" to the army).  It is quite possible that I am about to become an instructor of single engine planes.  They have a pretty large turn over in instructors here and it is likely that the Lt's will be made instructors and the F.O.'s will fly the P63's, 47's and 51's.  That is a heck of a break especially when everyone wants to get into a hot airplane.  Well I won't kick too much for a while.

You may remember that clipping you sent to me about the B29.  It just so happens that I knew all along all that and I guess a lot more than has been released to the general public.  The two pressure compartments are not all the B29 has.  It is really equipped to withstand a beating but hand up a much heavier one.  As far as that goes these new P63's are going to make someone worry in the Pacific and it is not Tojo because he has just resigned.

Well I will have to send Mary a few more pieces for the bracelet and you a few postcards and then I can leave Phoenix.  Just think I have been here almost 8 weeks now.  How the time does fly.  Well I will now read the new S.E.P. and then go to bed.

With love

Lt. Austin

Someone just threw and broke a pillow and the feathers are all over the place.  Big laugh!!!

July 8, 1944

Luke Field

Phoenix

July 8

Dear Mother:

I guess you haven't received any letters for some time and I hope you haven't worried but as usual the bad penny has turned up finally.

All last week we spent flying nights and sleeping and classes during the day.  Our schedule was pretty tight and I just couldn't bring myself to get up an hour early to do the important things.

Night flying consisted of cross countries and black out landings.  The x-countries were very easy but the landings were something else all together.  You have to feel for the ground and then have the plane in a 3 point attitude or any number of things can happen.  Out of the 2 sans flying we had no accidents and no students lost, a pretty good record.

Night x-coutries are a lot of fun.  They consisted mainly of flying towards a set of lights in an airway light line or following a predetermined heading.  The other night we ran into some low hanging clouds and I flew through a few.  It was rather against regulations but it was a lot of fun.  We also did a little night formation which was not scheduled.  Regulations don't mean too much here.  Single engine men are supposed to be a little cocky and so long as you are not caught violating rules nothing is said.  It is something like that old Greek myth about the boy who stole the fox and it killed him without him crying out because it was a shame to be caught stealing.  Of course they don't tolerate dangerous flying or flying that endangers civilians but as far as the army cares just bring that plane back in one piece.

Here is the schedule of last week.  It started at 1315 dinner.  1415 fall out for class 1630 till 1730 PT. We ate again at 1845 and went to the flight line at 1915.  We stayed there till 4:30 and then came home to be.  It is rather hard sleeping during the day when it is hot but I got used to it in a hurry.

I am now going over your last letter to see what I can write about.  Yes I sometimes wonder how it is possible for me to get where I am.  Each time I look at a plane I wonder can I fly that contraption with all its dials and gauges. Where did I get the ability to fly.  I almost bet I can't do it but when that engine starts and the instrument panel comes to life and the air begins to flow over the wings and tail there is no doubt if I can fly in my mind.  It seems so natural to fly.  It is so easy I wonder why so few do have the urge.

When I first hit the field I looked at what had to be accomplished before I got through.  With the completion of night flying I have finished almost everything.  I have about 20 more hours to go and if everything goes well I can get through them easily.

A Flight Officer is an officer in the Air Corp who has not lived up fully to the standards of a good cadet and therefore might not make a good officer.  Therefore he is given a rating one step before a 2nd Lt.  A fellow becomes a Ft. officer if he has had too many gigs, or poor ground school grades, poor flying grades, poor military discipline or for any of 12 different things upon which you are graded.  I hope I do not become one but one can never tell.  I have only had about 10 gigs in 2 months and no tours in 8 months.  My ground school grades are not too bad so I don't know what will happen.  I guess I will just have to sweat it out until the F.O. list is put up.

I was interested in the clipping you sent.  I want to see if any of the fellows I came in the Army with had gotten their wings.  I have found out from some of the fellows who kept contact with them that most of them are still in Basic and will not get to advance for another month.  Maybe I was lucky to come out here where they at least put us through an schedule even though they are washing out 1/4 of the class.  No one should get washed in Advanced but they are doing it here.

I wish you could be here when they pin the wings on.  However I shall save those wings and let you pin them on when I get home, if I do.  It is considered unlucky to wear those wings in the air so they will hold only sentimental value to me.

Graduation exercises at Luke Field are not what they are cracked up to be.  They are nothing like what you imagine or you have seen in the movies.  They start with a big parade and the parade was on the reviewing ground.  Here they have a large platform and at least 1000 chairs for the graduates and their parents.  Up on the platform are a dozen officers.  One gives you your wing the other your commission.  You salute one and shake the hand of the other.  As you leave the stand you get a set of gold bars or blue and gold bars if you are a flight officer. (You next pick out the prettiest girl in the crowd and kiss her and give a dollar to the 1st GI you salute).  There are not beautiful uniforms just plain suntan cloths.  I don't think I will get too much of a kick out of it.  I would much rather get home.  

I am going to write to Mary now.

With love

Austin