August 31, 1944

Aug 31, 1944

Dear Mother:

I just haven't thought to write lately and I don't know how long it has been since the last letter.  Anyway there has not been a lot to report on latest developments.

The biggest news yet; the news that has prompted me to write this letter, is that we go to Gila Bend tomorrow instead of the 10th as was expected.  We go on D.S.* so my address will not be changed.  We are going to get 10-14 days of gunnery so I will be getting some flying again.  We had a special meeting today and we were told that we had 1 hour to get a parachute and that we had only this evening to get ready.  I have a B-4 bag so I can pack all my chino's in the bag and leave my good uniforms here and not get them wrinkled.

*D.S. means Detached Service.

I went to see the Blaisdells Sunday (yesterday) and had a swell time riding all over the country South of Phoenix.  We went looking for a large irrigation dam and a swell lake to swim in.  We found the dam and went swimming in a very swift river.  After swimming for a while we went to look for the lake and mud to my astonishment we found a lake out here as pretty as most any back in the East.  Of course there were no trees around it except desert almost to the edge but it was nice and sandy and very shallow for almost a 1/4 of a mile out.  It was in a kind of canyon and we had come in over the dry riverbed that feeds it.  The water was clean and blue.  I guess if you decide to come out you had better see one of these lakes.

The lake was in what I would call a reservation and we came in on an old dirt road about 15 miles long.  All along the road flocks of quail flew up. There were herons and some other long legged birds around in the river along with some very large ducks.  We also saw some Jack Rabbits and (wolves). It really was a swell day and everything went fine until one of Irma Blaisdell's friends decided to sit on my lap and uncreased my pants so I have had to send them to the cleaners.  But it was well worth while.  The B's are so swell to me I can't really thank them enough for what they do.

I went to a dance Saturday and met another girl.  I danced until 12 PM with her and then went to a dance called the Swing Shift Dance from 1:30 till 5:00 AM.  We got so tired of dancing we went out to a riding school to go riding in the moonlight.  The place is supposed to be open all night but the man in charge must have been in a sleep because we got him out of the wrong side of his bunk.  He wanted to know what people do all night long so that they could get out there and wake him up at 4:00 o'clock.  We went for an hour ride which is the most unromantic thing you can possibly do.  We had asked for tame horses but we didn't want to have to hold a carrot in front of them so they would go.  All they seemed to live for was to get to the end of the trail so they could run home, but not run fast, just fast enough to shake everything loose and warm the seat of your pants.  If I should go again I will ask for a decent horse.

We go to Phoenix at 6:30 just in time for a big fire and I finally got to bed at 8:00 and got up at 9:30 to clean up and meet the Blaisdells.  I guess I have a new record on sleep for one night.

I haven't got much else to say except that I am looking forward to getting to Gila Bend.  When I begin to get some more work I will be satisfied.  I will also get my flying pay.

With love

Austin

August 28, 1944

Aug. 28, 1944

Dear Mother:

I don't have a lot to write but found these two pictures while I was rummaging around in my spare pockets and thought here was an excuse to write a lot and say nothing.

When I first went to Blaisdell's I met the fellow that is going to marry Betty.  He is a pretty good looking fellow and has a swell personality.  He is a P.F.C. teaching Link to the cadets at Williams Field.  He really is a swell fellow.

From the picture you don't get a very good picture of the state.  There is more trees and grass shown than there is on many sq miles of the state.  However the pictures were good and you may get an idea of what I look like in my cadet days.  You may notice something on my right hand pocket which is not a pen clip but a ribbon fastened with a pin.  I got it at a Sadie Hawkins Dance.  I had a lot of fun at that dance which is one thing they have a lot of around here.  I don't know what I could tell you more about the picture except that they were taken in the driveway towards the field and taken with a 620 camera.

Now I want you to be sure to give Fred one of the pictures of me which you have at home because I am about to send him one of these.  Don't forget please because I promised him and my word will be mud if you don't.

Very little has happened lately.  We have formations at 9AM and 3PM and that is all.  All the rest of the day we do as we please.  I am getting lots of extra sleep and sunshine by the swimming pool.  Life is pretty easy.

Can you send me Ralph's address.  I would like to write to him if it can be arranged.  Please get it and send it in the next letter.

When you get that box together you can send it.  I have 2 more pair of shorts but send along at least 3 more because mine are going to pieces fast.  If you want those woolen socks to mend I will send them along.  You can buy some of that powder off Mr. Weeks and send that too.

There is nothing new about our assignment except that it is still very indefinite and that someday I may have to fold myself up into the smallest plane in the A.C., the P39.  I am looking forward to it.  It will be the training all of us have been waiting for.

With love

Austin

August 26, 1944

Aug. 26, 1944

Dear Mother:

There is not much to do this weekend so I am sitting out a few at the dance here to write.  I should be enjoying the Phoenix night-life but that doesn't appeal too much to me at present.

So far I have had no change in orders although many of the others have.  We now have some more Flight Officers in our group and some of our original men have been removed for instructor and utility flying.  They are not considered to have gotten the breaks.  As yet my luck still holds and someday I may get a chance to ride in a hot ship.  If I do I certainly will be thrilled.  You can't imagine how much fun it will be.

Tomorrow is Sunday and I will go to church with my buddy Lt. Smith.  We will have to get up early (10:00 AM) to get there on time but that is not too much of a hardship.  Afterwards I will call the Blaisdell's house and see what they will like to do.  Maybe I can give them a little fun out at Sky Harbor Airport.  Maybe they don't trust me?  Would you?  It is pretty well known that we will go to P39 school at Victoriaville Calif and then to gunnery or vice versa.  However it makes little difference to me other than the AT6 will not be so much fun after the P39.

I bought a pair of dark glasses the other day and they started me to thinking.  You know Air Corp pilots are a rather exclusive bunch with their natty uniforms, crushed hats and swagger.  Of course they have wings but they also wear, almost to the last man, a pair of dark glasses.  I think if you see any or many pilots you would see what I mean.  You know if you are told you are the best long enough you begin to believe it and even truly you begin to show it both in appearance and action.

Ray-Ban's contribution to WWII

My buddy has finished his voting so I will have to close my letter and see what is going on.  I haven't written all that I could lately but have been enjoying newfound freedom.  I guess these little notes will have to do until I get something from you to write about (hint-hint)

With love

Austin

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.