November 29, 1944

Roswell Field

Nov 29

Dear Mother:

I have been intending to write this letter for several days and as you have suspected I was sick.  I ate some tuna fish sandwiches down in Houston and had myself some Ptomaine poisoning.  I have never felt so miserable as long as I can remember and as a consequence I have been sleeping when I should have been writing.  I hope you can forgive me.

Houston is really a pretty swell town to Officers in particular.  We got into town at 9 PM and didn't have too much time to see it but we saw enough to convince me that I shall have to go back.  We had no trouble finding rides around and finding accommodations because everyone seems glad to help out the poor little wanderers.  We had a little trouble finding a room but the Rice Hotel searched around until they found what we wanted which wasn't too elaborate.  Everything stays open until way into the morning and for once we found a city without bars and taverns all over the place.  I guess I don't really have too much of an argument of the city because we weren't awake for more than 4 or 5 hours during our stay.  We had to report back to the field at 11:30 AM to take off and it was then that I ate the fish.

by Marc Copeland

I will never eat a tuna fish sandwich again.  I have learned my lesson.  I had no idea what was wrong with me because this has never happened before.  I just felt like sleeping it off and I tried to do that all day Monday until we flew that night.  I went to the flight line and was sick twice before we could go up so I decided to see the flight Surgeon.  I was beginning to feel better after cleaning out my stomach which by the way tasted like fish.  I felt kind of silly going over but when I couldn't see the flight Sur for about an hour I was fit to die.  He finally got to me and gave me some stuff to take which tasted horrid.  I have been sleeping ever since trying to get rid of the awful headaches.  Well I got lots of sleep yesterday and last night and today I feel in the pink and have my appetite back.  I guess I am fully recovered.

We flew 1600 miles Sunday.  Most of it was above the clouds so I didn't see the cities we went over.  We went up to St. Louis and then west to Tulsa.  It was a 9 hour trip and rather boring but we had the Liaison radio on good music most of the way so it wasn't bad.

I am sending a folder from Houston to you and will send one about Texas to Grandma.  I guess she will like it.

With love

Austin

November 26, 1944

Dear Mother:

Here I am down here in the "Lone Star State" on our cross country.  Houston is a great town.  We stayed here at the Hotel on the 6th floor.  Will write you all about it later.

Love Austin

Rice Hotel is now Post Rice Lofts

November 23, 1944

Roswell Field

Thanksgiving

Dear Mother:

Here it is the day I had hoped to be home but thousands of miles away.  Well that's the Army for you I guess.

I hope you had a celebration in spite of my absence and had a big time.  I can just imagine the fun you could have if everyone got together again like we used to do.  Maybe in a year or so we can get back to normal again.

Military Thanksgiving slide show here

My Thanksgiving day here is about routine.  We got up at 4:30 to fly the first mission which was a Bomb approach mission.  There is not much to the thing except setting up the auto-pilot and following a P.D.I. (pilot directional indicator) on the instrument panel.  The Bombardier puts a correction on this instrument from his position in the nose and you follow a little needle.  It so happened that we flew a course of 90 degrees to 100 degrees most of the time and ended up at Hobbs N.M. about 150 mi away.  We then decided to fly some cross country and did this the rest of the time. We flew from Hobbs to Big Springs Tex to Marfa Tex down to Mexico then back over a big girls school to Pecos Tex to El Paso and then home again.  We flew the last 3 hours at 13 thousand indicating 190 m.p.h. which gave us a ground speed of 230 m.p.h.  I guess we covered well over 700 miles in 4:30 min.

Something like this, but as a B17 flies instead of by roads and international crossing stations.

When we got to Marfa which is an advance school we chased a couple of AT17's around for awhile.  This old B17 will go most any speed you want if you want it to.  Those AT17's didn't have a chance.  We were up solo with a bombardier for an instructor and usually they are rather afraid of the Pilots but this guy got quite a kick out of those A.T. 17s.  We flew the whole way without suitable maps and only used the radio compass.  I don't know what we would do if we lost that compass.

You should only of received one bond since I came back because that is all I have bought.  When we got here we were asked to buy one a month so that is what's happening.  Maybe I should buy more seeing I am going to have about $160 left out of last months pay.  I guess you can get them as well as I can if you don't object too strongly.

I just couldn't imagine what the Home Front could send which would interest me.  The package was so small I thought that it must be one of those little tiny games.  I guess the folder with the pictures was a very happy unsuspecting surprise.  What better gift could a fellow get from home and such an organization.  I must really congratulate the one behind the idea.  They are really on the proverbial ball.  Really I have been looking for such a thing for a long time myself but have never been able to find one.  I think someone with a brain was behind that gift.  This will be a constant reminder of the Home Front and the work they are doing.

The Blaisdells live in a little house about half the size of our downstairs.  They have no attic and no cellar but keep everything in that little 5 room house about large enough for 2 persons.  However they manage rather well considering Mrs. B is not too well.  They have one large cedar Box into which all the odds and ends go and everything else has to be thrown away I guess.  They have lots of walls for the size of the house so I think if you tried to cover it up with N.E. scenery they would like it.  I am sure they would appreciate some of the remembrances  of their "home" in Stoneham.  Their house is really rather nice inside because Fred has put a lot of work into it.  The kitchen is the only bad feature since it is too small.

I half guess that my cross-country will be made to Houston Tex.  We did not have too give a chance to pick what we wanted so I decided to go where my roommate and his buddies went.  I could have gone to Phoenix or Chanute Field but I decided against it.  I think I shall stay down where it is warmer.  I don't think the cold and I will get along too well when I get home.  You had better have plenty of oil and the heater going when I come in.  I will not set any dates this time because they are so likely to fall through.

I guess I have written enough for a day.  Mary's letter is the next if she is wondering.

With love

Austin

November 20, 1944

Roswell Field

Nov. 20, 1944

Dear Mother:

This letter will have to be very short and sweet.  I hope it gets out in the morning mail.  My coming home for Thanksgiving was just a lot of wishful thinking as it turned out.  I am sorry that I got your hopes up but I had not intended to.  As the schedule was posted we should have finished up here but that is not the case.  We fly on Thursday just like any other day and have a celebration that evening here on the post.  I am very sorry to have gotten you excited but it would mean a lot to me to get home.  I guess all I can say is that other things stand in the way.  Just think of me and I shall think of you all. Let me wish everyone a very thankful Thanksgiving because we all have a lot to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving Day in Italy, 1944

I received one of the firstest and bestest Christmas presents yet. I refer to the Home Fronts small but wonderful effort.  I will write to them personally and see that they get their just reward which could not be enough.  I think they made a perfect choice when they sent that little folder.  I will think of their efforts for a long time to come.

This will have to do till tomorrow when I will write again.  You are not being slighted but just put off in the regular Rounds fashion; but only put off till tomorrow when I can write.

With love

Austin

November 15, 1944

Roswell Field

Nov. 15, 1944

Dear A.P.

Have a little time to write in between P.T. and gas mask drill.  Every Thursday is gas mask day so P.T. is very short.  As it was we ran around the field with our masks on which is very strenuous exercise.

PT drills in gas masks

We flew last night and will again today if the weather clears up.  Last night we went on a 600 mi cross country and it took us a little more than 3 hours.  We ran into rain and snow about half way around accompanied by low ceilings so had a rather rough time.  A couple of our radios went out so we had a pretty unhappy trip.  Night cross countries are pretty easy.  You take up the general direction you are heading and then take out the drift by the radio compass.  It is all pretty easy.

Today the weather is socked in so the first flight this morning did not get off the ground.  Maybe we won't either so I am not planning anything this afternoon.

This weekend we get a 36 hour leave so we are going to see some of the country around here if things go as planned.  They have a big summer and winter resort up in the mts about 100 miles from here so we are going up and see some snow.  It may be a little expensive but we don't care too much as we haven't spent a heck of a lot of money lately except upon movies.  It will be a pretty good change.

We have been having personal affairs lectures lately and they tell us that we should have a will made out if we own anything of value.  However they tell us to have it made at home rather than here because of the lack of suitable witnesses to such.  They say that many of the witnesses we get here would not be available if it were to be executed some time in the future.  I think that it is better to have it made out at home when I get there soon I hope.

Do you think we could arrange a short trip to Maine when I am home again?  I sure would like to see Grandpa and Aunt Emma.  Maybe we could use some of those fish reels you found.  It sure could be a load of fun if we could.

Do you know if Mother got my last bond a short time ago.  She should have.  We are asked to take out a bond a month here and they twist your arm a little to see that you do.  I don't mind buying bonds and really think it is a good way to save money but this high pressure salesmanship is what gets me.  I guess I just hate to have people tell me what I should do with my money.  Maybe they have our best interests in view.  We are buying them anyway which is what they want.  Incidentally the officers have a 100% subscription on this post.  

I kind of wish Mother had found the time to see the West last month.  I guess I didn't to to sell the idea enough.  All she needed was a little more pushing and she would have come.  Maybe I fell down on the job.  This is a poor time of year to come because the weather is getting bad.  It is getting cold and damp and a lot like some of our March weather.  Mrs. Blaisdell in Phoenix says it is still swell around there and that they still get 80-90 degrees everyday.  However the nights must get cold even though it warms up during the day.

Last Sunday we went to the First Methodist church in town.  I'm sending along the calendar which you can give to Mother if she is saving such things.

Since I have started writing I have been to dinner and been to the flight line.  We did not fly because of the weather.  It doesn't make me too unhappy to stay on the ground but you rather hate to spend the time and not get the flying in.

Well I guess I shall go into town and get my watch cleaned and maybe but a book to read.  Do you have any good suggestions?

With love

Austin

November 14, 1944

Roswell Field

Nov. 14, 1944

This flying 5 hours a day is beginning to wear me down.  We have to get up tomorrow morning for another siege so this letter can't be too long.  We solo out tomorrow if nothing happens.

I am sure Mrs. Blaisdell would like most anything I could send.  I think a calendar would be very good because it can be hung up out of the way and not get stumbled over in their tiny house.  Please send what you think would fit the occasion because I am sure they would be glad to receive something from me even though she won't mention anything.

So you are wondering where my money goes.  I am sure I have little idea where it goes myself.  I have threatened to keep track of it but I just never get around to it.  However I have $200 right now which will come home next month.  Actually we have a lot of expenses and if it were not for the extra $75 a month I don't know how I could save much.  We get $246 a month out of which comes $35 a month board, $18 for a bond, $6 insurance and another couple for Red class or War Funds whatever they happen to have.  We also have Officer's Club dues and fees which run into $10 a month.  That takes 1/3 of my pay before I even get started.  Then we go to movies and to town and eat steaks and just plain ordinary pleasures.  Now I have received officer's pay 3 times and sent home $300 besides the $200 I have now.  Now if you add it all up you will find I have spent right now about $25 on actual pleasures in the last 3 months.  Of course I had a little when I started in  but that went into traveling which cost about $200.  Now you tell me where it all went.  I forgot to say we have cleaning and laundry bill.

Well I am beginning to want to see home again.  I sure would like to see some snow and some real snappy weather.  I saw Pop's picture in the paper and I did show it around.  I don't think much of that picture you sent.  I guess I should never had it sent up.  That reminds me that some day I must have another taken before I leave here.

I have been thinking about Christmas and need some suggestions.  Please send the powder in the next box.  I can always use it!!!?  We are still trying to get the paper off the taffy in the last box. 

With love

Austin

November 10, 1944

Roswell Field

Nov. 10, 1944

Dear Mother:

I have missed my chance to go to the movies and see "For Whom the Bell Tolls" so I am writing this letter before going to bed.  We fly the early mission tomorrow so it is early to bed if early to rise.

For Whom the Bell Tolls Trailer

This letter may reach you a day ahead of A.P.'s in which I stated I hope I pass my instrument check.  Well I came through by the grace of someone and the check rider so I guess I have a chance of getting through all right here.

Today we went up and shot landing all day.  About half were 2 and 3 engine landings and very strenuous.  You really need all the P.T. we have been taking the last year or two (it seems).  Anyway I am about worn out and feel like getting some "sack time".

We have had 10 hours of flying in 18 so you can see how tired I should be.

We are really having some fun now.  This is hard work but not so intense and never racking as instrument flying.  We also have a chance to make solo lands soon so we are kind of looking forward to the day.  It will come soon if we don't wear out sooner.

I am learning a lot about N.E. chance in Post War Aviation from your clippings.  It seems quite possible that some day Boston will again be the center of world transportation as it was 50 years ago. If so I guess fellows in my shoes may have a chance to make something of all the training they are acquiring along the way.  It is so valuable I can't see how it can be wasted.  It seems to be one of the best sources of ready made pilots who should by all authorities become the pilots of tomorrow.  Even so I am pretty new at this game as is most everyone here.  Thousands of hours are needed instead of hundreds such as I have.

I can remember when I used to look up at the airplanes that went over and wonder what kind of a man could fly them.  I could not visualize a common ordinary everyday man up there but rather someone who was a hero and had hero all over him.  He was always someone far away and never someone next door.  I could never recognize a pilot because it did not especially show on him.  He was no superman but rather probably a quiet spoken person who didn't think too much about the admiration of others.  His flying was like our driving and he probably admired our driving.  Yes everyone on this field who flies the B17 could have flown those DC-3s and we have some awful seedy looking pilots.  We have some boys also who look like hot pilots.

Well I don't have much to write about.  Nothing much happens.  We have no accidents to talk about.  I could gripe about the food because it is getting rather poor but I am gaining weight again and weigh 185 so I guess the food situation won't get much sympathy.  We get P.T. regularly and classes fill in our spare time so we are pretty much on the go.  Time flies so that we seem to be constantly getting ready for the weekends. They have a little snow up in the mts now so we are going to see it at our first convenience.  Class 44-4-J is here and ready to fly next week so what else can I say.  I guess I have run out of gab and paper.

With love

Austin.

November 8, 1944

Roswell Field

Nov. 8, 1944

Dear A.P.

I have finally broken down and decided to write again.  Even though we are on a tough flying schedule we don't have too many ground school classes and get a pretty good chance to sleep in the morning.

We are getting an average of 2 1/2 hours a day lately and are going on a 5 hour a day schedule tomorrow.  It gets awful tiresome but at this rate we are now going we will finish ahead of schedule.

Tomorrow we get our instrument check so by the time you get this I will know if I am to be a pilot or a co-pilot.  If I don't get checkitis or something I will have it made.  It will be tough concentrating for 2 1/2 hours but I guess I can stand it.

I may even get home for Thanksgiving if I am lucky.  We are due 7 or more days at the end of our training here and the end should come up in a couple of weeks.  If it does I will make tracks for the first plane going East and there should be a lot of them.  We may have a great Thanksgiving even yet.

Mother has been sending a lot of clippings from the papers about the problem of making Boston the center of air activity after the war.  If Boston is made the stopover on flights across maybe fellows like me can have a chance to find a job in what we like after the war.  Even though the competition for flying jobs after the war will be stiff the further I go in this training the better my chances get.

I was glad to hear you got down to Bridgeton last week.  I hope everyone was well and from what you wrote Grandpa seems to be his old self alright.

We got Radio Tokyo on our Liaison Set today and got quite a kick out of their broadcast.  They really have a lot of propaganda but it doesn't seem convincing to me.  We get it on 13.5 megs if you have a set.  You might get a laugh out of it.  They have a lot of good music anyway.  

For a recording and more details about Tokyo Rose, click here.

Well this is a rather brief letter but I am out of paper.  Well have to write again soon I guess.

With love

Austin

November 6, 1944

Roswell Field

Oct Nov 6

Dear Mother:

I have just received your box.  I guess it came through about as you expected.  Even though most of the cookies were broken I really like eating the crumbs.  However they were not too badly broken up so that I couldn't recognize what you had sent.  I like molassis (you know what I mean) cookies and my room-mate likes the Toll-House cookies so I guess we can get ride of everything.  You can thank A.P. for thinking of the candy.  It is really very good.  Yes the box is being enjoyed by all. (The whole barracks).

I have got a bad cold again.  I have all kinds of nose drops and listerine and inhalers but it still persists.  One of my friends had to go to the hospital because he had a temperature.  He had a couple of swell days talking to the WAC's and nurses.

WAC Recruitment Poster

You may wonder how I spend my Sundays when I don't fly.  Well it is very simple.  I try to enjoy myself in a quiet sort of way as far away from the Field as possible.

Yesterday we went to church which is a swell way of getting away from it all.  I like to go and sing and just listen to the music.  I guess the services don't mean a heck of a lot as you can see by the types of places I go.  First the informal Church of Christ and then the more formal less radical Presbyterian Church.  I really enjoy the newness of the services.  However I would still much rather be at home listening to Mark and George.

We next try to get something unusual to eat.  I don't go much for hot Mexican food so I got half a fried chicken which was rather tough but not bad. There are about 5 good eating places in town so we kind of make the rounds.  One place you get steaks, another for supper.  Then we go to a little bakery that stays open Sundays and get whatever we take a fancy to.  Yesterday we bought cookies and a donut shaped fruit cake then went across the street  to an ice cream stand which is really the from of the town's creamery and bought a pint of ice cream and ate our cookies and cake along with some wonderful peach ice cream.  I'll bet it looks funny to people to walk by or come in to see a couple of 2nd Lts eating ice cream and cookies out of a box but a couple of 16 year olds at the counter goggling us.

We spend a rather simple Sunday so I guess we are getting simple minded.  Anyway we enjoy ourselves so what more could you ask.

Some weeks and when we get a little more time we are going to the next town of Ruidoso up in the mts.  They have all kinds of cabins and all kind of things to do.  Soon it will snow up there and they have quite a few winter sports.  All I want to do is see some good clean white snow again.  I haven't seen any in a couple of years.  I also want to see some ice and teach my buddies from Texas how to skate or slide on a sled.  They don't know what they have missed.

Click here to watch a live camera feed of the town.

We are really getting a flying schedule this week.  Fly every day but Tuesday and 2 days next week.  5 hours a day for 7 days straight.  That is kind of taking a good thing too far.  At the end of that time we will have about 70 hours and ready to solo out.  We are going to pull a couple of buzz jobs.  Maybe we will get caught and sent to B24 school but I doubt it.  B17s don't have any numbers on their bottoms so no one can catch us.

I am going to apply for instructor at William's field if I have a chance.  I will again be near Phoenix and near enough to the West Coast to go out on anytime I get off.  I will also begin to build up my flying time and get out of the Jamion Birdman class.  I am not anxious to get overseas but would like to enjoy myself for a few more years.

Well it is time to dose my cold up some more.  Here's hoping it gets better soon.  I won't be able to fly too well if I can't concentrate on flying.

Thank you again for the cookies and everything.  Say who's idea was the apples?

With love

Austin.

November 1, 1944

Roswell Field

1 Nov 44

Dear Mother:

Well here are the money orders I have been promising for the last month.  They are the main reason for this letter so don't expect anything long.

I want $200 dollars put directly into my bank account so that the next time I am home I will have something to get to my new station on.  Also in case I run short of money I can have a little ready who knows I may land in Boston again with only 10 cents.  The other hundred is to go into War Bonds and the difference is yours to spend as you see fit.  You can use it on my expenses to you while I am away or you can buy yourself a new hat, do with it as you please but do something with it.

Bob Hope was here yesterday and they made a gala day of it.  You may or may not have heard the radio.  In any case I was there and saw the whole broadcast.  Hope is really a character and a heck of a lot of fun to an audience and to his group.  He is a born clown and can crack jokes about most any situation.  When a couple of fuses for the stage lights failed he had everyone rolling in the aisles with his wisecracks.  He also put on a show at the Officer's Club afterwards which was very much on the funny side.  Some of the jokes were a little shady and probably aren't able to be on the air but everyone enjoyed him immensely.

Bob Hope and Gale Robbins

Well slowly but surely we are getting in our time.  I guess I have about 40 hours now and about 20 more before my instrument check.  You had better wish me luck because I will really need it on that day.

I will close now because I am writing this between a Navigation class and P.T.

With love

Austin.