September 22, 1944

Sept. 22, 1944

Dear Dad:

I hope you don't disapprove of the heading too much.  Here it is the day before Mary's birthday and me a couple of thousand miles away.  I sure wish I could be home again for a short time.

You know I have a feeling that I shall not be here too much longer.  It's just a feeling but we have heard some pretty good rumors.  They now need tail gunners on B29's and 2nd Lts are expendable.

Well I guess I can't get off the post tomorrow as I had hoped.  I have been given special orders to report to the PX main office to officiate at an inventory.  I don't know just what is in the wind and  I hope it won't be too boring.  You know there are a lot of pretty girls working in the PX so maybe I can get to meet a few.  Also there are a lot of malts and milk shakes which may go well if we can get the major to leave for awhile.

Tell Mother to not take my last letter too hard.  I guess I was a little sarcastic and exaggerated the situation a little.  Things are not as bad as they look up.  All I want is a good assignment in Calf, anyway to get out of the hold Luke Field has on me.  Luke is a kind of jinx field for me and I feel that the sooner I leave the better.  I guess maybe I have got itchy heels.  It just seems that I am stagnating here doing nothing.  I want to get going again.  I guess it's hard to settle down to nothing after an active 14 mos.  I guess you must know what I talk about.

You know I find something out here that makes me want to stay more and more.  People seem to be so much nicer to you out here.  There are so many things going on.  The people are so much different.  I almost wish I were free to spend a year out here to bum around and really find out what the west is like.  I guess you can remember your days out here and I bet you wish you could come back and look around and look up your old friends.

You know i have been wondering whether I should encourage Mother to come out.  If she doesn't come right away it will be too late because the rich tourist trade will begin to come.  Most of the  people that come, come here like the wealthy from around go to Florida.  This is a winter resort and I doubt if Mother would enjoy it as much as in the spring.  Next month will be the time for her to come if she comes at all this year.  Maybe you had better talk to her about it because I guess you could convince her one way or the other.

I had no idea what things cost out here on the field when I got back but I am now beginning to find out.  Meals are costing between 60 and 90 dollars a month which to me is an outrageous price to pay for your eats.  However we have no place to eat except the Officers mess and we pay more than 2 dollars a day there.  They collected $20 at Gila Bend for board and room: I also have quite a laundry and cleaning bill each week.  It must run to $4 a week.  Then I have an occasional "Coke" or soda and that knocks off $.50 a day to say nothing of entertainment which has under it bus tickets, theater tickets, dance admissions, meals in town, gifts and a hundred other things.  maybe there is a reason why they say we try to keep up a bold front anyway.  It isn't so easy as I had thought.

This letter seems to be getting deeper and deeper and I am getting nowhere.

I guess I really have nothing much to say and have taken 3 pages to say it now.  We are on the old schedule reporting 9 and 2 each day which effectively breaks it up.  I also have 3 P.T. periods and 2 retreat formations I am making.  I also have been moving into another barracks so I guess I am busy after all but it is the wrong kind of busy that grips me.  We still have classes on Wed. Fri and Sat which we take in.  Even though this doesn't seem like much it really breaks up the day so that you have an hour or two and then have to be somewhere.  I never can get off the Post unit after 5 o'clock. If I get a chance I will have a picture taken.

Tell Mother to get those shirts on the way.  I may go to Calif in the near future and may need them.  You know my wish is a command.  (consult A.A.F. regulations)

I will have to sign off as always.

With love 

Austin

September 20, 1944

Luke Field

Sept. 20, 1944

Dear Mother:

Luke field is again my stomping grounds and I might say I am none too pleased.  I might just as well be a poor civilian as to be what I am now.  We are again back on the 9 and 2 schedule which completely ruins the day if you have other formations to meet.  Each meeting they give out details and I got one today for next Sat.  I and 6 others will make an inventory of the PX Saturday night and Sunday morning. 

Now of all the times for an inventory they picked the best.  In the past they have been on Wednesdays and during the day but now they want us to do it on the one night a week we have free and the only morning we have to sleep.  It was a job formally done by the civilians but is now done by 2nd Lts's for whom because of an oversight by higher ups, they have no flying jobs.  2nd Lts are now taking over jobs formerly done by W.A.C pvts and feather merchants.  Boy if that isn't a case what is?

I'm not the only one dissatisfied with the way things go because there are 60 of us doing jobs done before by W.A.C.'s and non-commissioned ground personnel.  It sure makes you feel swell to know that you are ready to do something worth while in the war effort by be sidetracked into a grounded job even while they are screaming for replacements in the theater of operations.  It sure makes you feel good to see brand new P51's, P47's and P38's leans on this field ferried by WASPS while qualified Army pilots fight to get a mere 4 hours a month just so they can collect their flying pay and each one would give his leg to just have a chance to fly a P51.  Somewhere someone fumbled the ball and we at the bottom are the ones on the short end.  But I am resigned to my fate and will hold out to the end.

I forgot all about Mrs. Week's dollar.  You can send it along right away if you wish.  Please have her put her name on it so I won't send it in an odd moment.  Please don't encourage too many people to send money as I will have no place for it.

Well if that box is ready you may as well send it.  I guess I am here for a few more weeks and even if not I guess it will catch up with me.  Maybe if you send it they will decide to send me somewhere else.  It will be time to wear winter clothes in Arizona in 2 mos but next month they put them on in Calif so I guess the sooner I have them the better it will be.  I hope the shirts fit all right.  I don't think I have changed much since I left.

I have sent Mary a birthday gift and it should arrive long before this letter but if it has not please write me.  It was sent Air Mail form the store.  You know I had no idea what she could want.  She seems so self sufficient that I imagined she had most all she wanted.  Anyway I kind of thought that what I sent would go good with her nightlife at school.  Now please don't have to write and say it's not there because what I have just written may create a wrong impression.

I will have to close and go to supper.  Erma Blaisdell is a lot better and expected to have none of the ill effects of her malady.

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

August 23, 1944

Aug 23, 1944

Dear Mother:

As you notice this one is in pencil rather than ink because I have not my pen yet and my buddy is using his pen.  Please excuse!?

We had a swell train ride, in fact it turned out a lot better than I really expected.  It was a little expensive but what is the money to me when you have so little time to make such trips around the country.

We had no more than gotten on the train when we struck up an acquaintance with a young lady going to San Francisco to meet her Lt. Comm husband.  She was one of those North Shore girls so I guess that is enough explanation.  However she was very good company and had a lot of books to read.  So we swapped stories and read books most of the way with never a dull moment.

We got into Chicago about 5:30 p.m. and got two Pullman tickets and then went to the Officer's Club at the Knickerbocker Hotel for supper.  They have the swellest layout I have ever seen in an Officer's Club.  They have a reception room with young ladies to greet you and show you around.  There is a big lounge where you can sit down and read or smoke or just plain relax; they have a huge dining room where we got the best meal I ever saw for a dollar in any city; then there is a large dance floor with an orchestra stand at one end with chairs and tables all around.  It reminded me of what you see in the movies.  There were all kinds of officers around.  I guess they have the nicest place to go in the whole U.S.  You know Chicago is noted for what it does for servicemen and what they have for officers is not an idle boast.  We went riding around in a taxi of course to see what the city was like and I might say that I was favorably impressed.

Chicago's Hotel Knickerbocker

I tried to call you by phone from Chicago but couldn't make the connection in time.  I guess maybe you were all out because I could hear the connection being made all the way through to Boston.  I was very anxious about my orders even though as yet we have used but one little paper out of the sealed envelope which had our histories more or less on it.  I had all kinds of visions of the big squabble you could all get into trying to make sure they got away on time for me to get them.  I had also thought that I sent the telegram too late for you to get them off.  However I had not reckoned with the hour time difference which gave them a kind of head start on me.  I guess that all these differences of opinion can really get somewhere when the crucial moment arises.  I guess the coordinator of internal affairs should have a hand.

Well to get on with my trip.  We got on a Southern Pacific Pullman at 8:30 p.m. and found that we had a much cooler and cleaner car than when we came from Phoenix.  In fact I doubt if we got the least bit dirty on this train.  Of course we picked up a lot more fellows coming back to Luke and had a lot of fun with them but we had the most fun with a girl named Betty Clark from Coolidge, Ariz.  She was going home after her first trip away without her mother. ( I might say she was 17 years old).  She had been to a farm in Idaho and had met the sweetest 4F farmer in the state on a blind date.  In fact she had let him kiss her on the 6th and last date with him.  She had come on the train prepared for a long hungry trip.  She had all kinds of food; in fact she had enough to feed her and the rest of her friends for a week.  There was fruit, sandwiches, pickles and everything.  She was rather cute too, being a second Patty Morrel without the nose.  She just believed everything you said and was very serious about everything.  She had about all the magazines on the newsstand except a "Life" and a "Time".

Of course we met a lot of other girls and spent a lot of time talking to them too so you see your little boy doesn't allow a dull moment to enter his leisure time.  The only trouble is that everyone we met was engaged or married and we had no intentions of breaking up any happy homes so don't worry about my fighting the war single - handed.

We got into Phoenix 2 hours 25 min. late which made us 1 hour late signing in.  I don't think anything will be done as we still had 24 hours grace.

Tuesday we didn't do much except get a few lectures and some of the fellows were assigned to new posts.  I did not get assigned and was very glad because nothing came up that I liked.  Some were assigned instructor school and twin engine transport school.

Today we got a few more lectures and more assignments and everyone has an assignment now.  For once the 2nd Lts. got a break and the F.Os did not.  All the F.O's go to the A.T.C. for transport flying while the single engine fighter boys that made 2nd Lt. got their wish.  On or around Sept. 10, 1/2 of the LTs. will go to gunnery while the other half goes to P39 school and 14 days later get assigned to the O.T.U. (Overseas Training Unit).  We got the best break yet and I was very glad to hear it.  It means that we will never get stuck flying slow ships but get something that can be maneuvered and played with.  We will have fun and enjoy our training and see a lot more of the country.  It is swell to feel that out of a class of 340, 1/4th of them are to be fighters and to know that you are in the cream of the crop.  It is something to be proud of I think.  All the rest of the boys except the instructors will always be only average pilots.

I still have not made arrangements to get my foot locker out of town.  No one seems to know how it is to be done.  I am very much concerned about all the soiled uniforms without which I cannot look to o well on weekends.  I am beginning to think I shall go in and get the last things and send them to the cleaners and put the rest in storage.  Maybe I should not have had them shipped with me seeing I am about to move again so soon.  Seeing California is the next stop I doubt if I will need much but summer wear for some time yet. Even so I guess I can wear my winter clothes in California even so in a couple of months.

Life in this post will not be bad for the next few months except that they are trying to keep us busy by breaking up our day, read full-time guards and taking PT and Retreat.  We have to report twice a day to the director of training but that is just to keep us on the post.  We will get a few minor details but they don't have enough for 150 of us to do so I doubt if we will do anything but get fat on the food in the Officer's Mess and get tanned in the swimming pool.

With love

Austin

August 22, 1944

Aug 22

Dear Mother;

Here I am with a little time on my hands so I will write a short note to you.  As usual everything turned out all right and I am on the Post with no serious complications.  We were 45 minutes late but we straightened that out by the train being 2 hours and 1/2 late.

We were half way between Boston and Newton when I remembered I had a set of orders at home.  It hit me like a ton of bricks and my first thought was to hop off at the next stop and get them.  Of course that was foolish considering I had no other means of getting back.  So I sent a telegram and hoped that you all would not get a bunch of ideas how to get it to me earlier.  In fact I had visions of it not getting out at all.  Well I worried all the trip about it until I went into the Adam's and found them waiting.  I was sure happy.

I got a load of letters today and I read that one you told me not to just to see how sentimental you are.  I got a kick out of it because it is all so far behind now.  I guess I was more than welcome at home after all.

We had a swell trip, in fact it was the best one yet.  There were so many people to talk to that the time just flew.  It was a short trip and a lot of it was at night.

I guess I just wanted to tell you that I was OK and enjoying life.  Lt. Smith wishes to go to the show so I will have to close on the shortest letter I have ever written I guess. Everything here is going to be fine.  I will send some money home soon to cover my latest expenses.  We will not get flying pay this month so I will not have too much money this month.  I am still thinking about you coming out and see this part of the country.  Maybe I will not be able to pay your way so you will have to talk to A.P.

I am in the Officer's Club and enjoying my relaxation.  This is really a swell place.  I will write again tomorrow and tell you about the trip.

With love

Austin

August 2, 1944

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

June 19, 1944

Luke Field

June 19, 1944

Dear A.P.

I hope I can write a letter on these two sheets of paper because it is all I have now and can get no more till tomorrow.

First let me say "Happy Birthday".  I hope this letter comes somewhere on time.  I don't think I know for sure how old you are but I guess it is close to 60 years.  That seems to me to be a long way.  I guess you said in your last letter that you were close to 60 so I guess I am right.  I can hardly imagine you as that old because I used to get the idea that after 60 you retired and looked old and brittle but I guess you kind of pushed through.  I guess you are going to keep right on just as your father has.  Well Congratulations and best wishes for next year.

I'm sorry I can't get a card to send but this will have to take the place.  I don't leave the past weekends because I have nothing special to take me away.  I go to the swimming pool and get a good tan and drink Root Beer all afternoon.  I also see 2 movies so my weekends are very enjoyable.  I am also saving a lot more money which I may use later.

Mother wrote and sent along some pictures.  I guess you know what I am talking about.  I got quite a kick out of them.  Everyone looks just as they did a year ago.  If you have any more taken please send them along.

I am glad you are getting so much fun out of Real Estate.  I doubt that you could interest me right now but maybe after I get home again.  You have got to work hard so we can have a plane when I get home.  By the way what kind of a radio license did you get and just what can you use it for? Please write something about it in your next letter.

Of course you know we use radio every day and it doesn't mean much to me.  I guess your radio deal is a lot different from mine.  I probably couldn't get a license to talk over it.

I have finished my instruments and got a instrument certificate saying I can fly in instrument weather and make take offs in weather with 500' ceiling and 1 mi visibility.  It means I can fly an kind of a plane in the "soup".   I call it quite a victory.  Right now I am back trying to learn to land the AT6 right and do other basic maneuvers.  I like my instructor very much and get along pretty well with him.

Yes, I got my watch all right.  Thank you very much.  I hate to say anything that might worry people but I had the watch only 2 days and lost the crystal out of it.  It had to go to the PX to get a new one.  It also lost 10 min that day so I don't know if it was due to the lost crystal or the watch.  I will see pretty soon.  I guess it is all right.  I almost feel like getting a cheap shock water proof watch for flying.  However I will see how this one stands the strain.

Mother wrote the other day and sent a clipping advertising T.W.A. 

(This is borrowed paper)

Well she has a very good idea and the expense doesn't bother me but I would hate to get grounded in Kansas City on the way back and have 12 hours to get to my next post.  It would be swell to come home but I would be foolish to try to come home in 10 days.  I might show up.

Flying is coming along all right I guess.  I am no hot pilot yet but I guess I still have an even chance of getting those silver wings.  Just think I have spent a year of hard work to get something everyone strives or wishes they could strive.  More fellows my age would like to be in my shoes.  I can see wha they want but I doubt if they can imagine the work it was and still is.  I have about 8 weeks to go and still have hopes.  A lot of fellows have given up and are now dropping out.  They all seem so tired that after the first E ride they give up.  After they are definitely out they seem to again come to live.  It seems that way with everyone.  Everyone is almost worn out.  Everyone is tired, all need a vacation but has 8 more weeks to go.  They have washed out 3 of our flight.  I hope they get no more.  They are bout to get another because he washed out a plane today.  Well it seems to be the breaks I guess.

I must close now.  Let me say Happy Birthday again and many happy returns.

With love

Austin

My address is just as you find it on the envelope.

June 11, 1944

June 11, 1944

Luke Field

Dear Mother:

Here it is Sunday again and my weekly letter home.  I hardly have time for any more.

Sunday is our day of rest.  It is really the only break in routine we get. I have just returned from a movie at one of the post theaters.  I saw "Going My Way" with "Bing" Crosby.  I enjoyed the picture very much even though I thought I would not like it.  Maybe you have not heard of it much less seen it.  Seeing you have all kinds of spare time I think you should see it.  I will recommend it to you.  Maybe William could take "Dot".

"Swinging on a Star", the most well known song from "Going My Way".

Well not much is going on now.  I have soloed out and am in the instrument department again.  They are trying to teach me beam flying and not making a lot of headway at least I don't think so.  I have to get in 12 hours and have about 7 to go.  I will be done next week I hope.  Since I have been on the beam I have heard a continuous ringing in my ears.  They say that that is the case with all inexperienced beam flyers.  You are coming in on the beam for the next 3 days.  It is because the volume is too high.

Flying the beam

Well as always I am just worrying through the course from one phase to the next.  The next thing is check rides.  Why could I not have found something which be easier on the nerves.  I sure will need a vacation when this is over with.  I guess the next two months will be the longest.

So you had a spell of hot weather and now it is dry.  Well not to boast or anything but I haven't  seen any rain for a couple of months and have seen the thermometer at 129 degrees F here in the shade of a wing.  I went up one day when the free air temp gage in the plane indicated 40 degrees C which in F. scale indicates I don't know what; you figure it out.

I haven't been to Phoenix since that first day we were here.  It is too much bother to go.  We have everything right here on the post I need.  I can get some rest if I stay home and not bang around half the night.  It saves wear and tear on the nerves and the good humor.

Last week I was C.Q. one night.  I went on duty at 2115 and got off the next day at 0615 which gave me no sleep for 24 hours.  I then got about 6 hours of sleep and then went to the flight line.  Strangely enough tI was much more rested than if I had had a good nights sleep.  The PFC who put me on comes from Medford so we had quite a chat.  He had been home last month.  He knew William but William probably doesn't know him.  They went to Boy Scout Camp together.  His name is Berg.  I don't know what his first name is.  He says that he will ge me a pass some night and show me around.  He has been out here 21 months and knows his way around.

So Dada got a radio license.  Well I don't quite see what it can be used for but I guess if he and William keep up their efforts they may be able to renew it after the war.  I think he will have to have more experience if he expects to renew it on prewar standards.  I doubt if I could get one myself.  My code is dropping off so that 8 words is getting very difficult.  I doubt if a plane radio license is as hard to get.

So you have a puppy.  Well I guess it is about time something like that happened.  As for you not getting attached to it I can just imagine that.  Not the way you write.  By the way how does the other animal get along with a stranger.  He must feel kind of left out.  What's the dog going to think of me?

Even though you think you must give the paper a story don't give me too much of a build up.  I am just thinking of what would happen if I didn't make it.  I wish I had a better picture taken but I guess if I get those wings I can have a good one taken.  I kind of wish those pictures were better.  Maybe you should give a picture to Fred Lawson I mean that small print made.  I'll not need any money too soon so put all my money into bonds and save enough to pay my expenses.  I received my watch the other day.  It sure was a quick job.  If you see my Bellows thank him for me.  I have been thinking of buying another watch to fly with because of the banging around it gets.

Well I am going to supper now.

With love

Austin.

June 4, 1944

Luke Field

Arizona

June 4, 1944

Dear Mother:

I really have the best intentions in writing but as in every other place time is short here.  We start about 7:30 in the morning and finish about 8:10 in the evening.  In between that time we fly and have school and all our meals.  After that time we have time to our selves.  As it is now we are preparing questionnaires so I can solo tomorrow.

Last week has been rather uneventful.  I haven't yet received any letters directly from town but I guess I should get one or two tomorrow.  (I can't find a good position to write in)

Saturday I went to the dentist and got my teeth fixed good and proper.  He filled 8 little holes in my head.  He had quite a time but said when he was finished I was done.  I sat in the chair for more than 2 hours and you can bet I felt done before he was.  The dentist ruined my Saturday schedule and made it impossible for me to solo.  Well tomorrow I will get off the ground in a hurry and solo and then go up and see what I can make this AT 6 do.

AT-6 Trainer

The AT6 is one of the best training planes in the Army.  It handles like a dream.  You don't have to move the controls you just think about 'em and they move by themselves.  You can fly by using pressures and don't have to make any noticeable movements.  It has retractable wheels and hydraulic flaps.  It has all kinds of safety devices to keep you from fouling up the works.  However it is a fighter pilots ship and much too hot for a bomber pilot.  It must be the easiest ship to ground loop in the Army so if I keep away from ground loops I will get through all right.  I have just go to get through.

I can just see that this phase of training is going to be the one to "sweat out" but be the most interesting one yet.  It is all in the plane.  It really is a wonder.  You can train it to fly straight and level and level and then you can fly it at any speed you want and not break an arm trying to control it like you did in that old B.T.  May the Lord help me if I have to become an instructor on BTs.  You can do everything with this ship you can do with a tactical ship. Spins near the ground are dangerous but with plenty of altitude you can do anything.  You can even do slow rolls going straight up.  When I get a little more familiar with it I am going to have some real fun.  "Rat racing" is in order here so we are really going to have fun.

This post is a regular GI post but has quite a number of "feather merchants" working in the hangers on maintenance.  Also they have WAC's but we hardly see any of them.  They have quite a lot of military discipline but it hadn't bothered too much yet.  The food is about the best you can get anywhere.  We really live off the fat of the land.  The only trouble is that the fellows waste more now.  I must admit I waste more myself than if I were starving.  We get pie and ice cream or cake for dinner or supper every day.

Would I like to get home!  I still don't see much chance for  quite some time.  We have heard that 1/3 of the class will get a 10 day leave when we graduate but 10 days will do me no good unless I could fly both ways and plane reservations are hard to get.  Well maybe the rumors don't mean anything.  They also say we will fly P47's or P39's before we get through.  

Well I have got to write to my old primary instructor so....

With love

Austin

May 26, 1944

Luke Field

Arizona

May 26, 1944

Dear Mother:

Here I am in Arizona again.  I have been here 2 days and I have neglected to write because although I am not doing much I am getting acquainted with the post I am to spend the next 2 months or more on.  Actually we will be here about 10 weeks and then maybe I will get 15 days to come home and see everyone again.  I will have been gone more than a year when I do get home.

We had a rather uneventful trip down here.  We left Bakersfield Calif. about 1800 Tuesday and arrived down here at about 1100 Wednesday one full day ahead of time.  We got a 20 hour pass so I got to see some of the city of Phoenix and found it a rather pleasant place to spend a pass.

Air Field at Luke Field, Arizona

The first thing that I saw that really opened my eyes was the number of P-40's buzzing around here.  I have hopes of getting into one before my training is over but I think chances are very slim.  The graduating class got a number of hours in them but they are being taken from the field and may be replaced with P39's which I do not like.  That 40 is what I like the looks of.

Today I sat in the cockpit of a grounded mock up of one.  The engine had been removed because of a damaged right wing.  I kind of thought I might be too big but found out I am not.  I need all the room available but I still think I could be very comfortable.  Of course there are are a lot more gadgets and dials but I would be glad to be inside when they come to life.

We will not start flying until early next week.  Then we will find out if we are military pilot material all over again.  They have a pretty high wash out rate around here for an advance school.  They may get 20% of us and maybe more.  They have that many out of the present class so I guess I better not get my hopes too high.  Most of them wash because they can't solo out or that they ground loop which is a very easy thing to do in these planes.  Well if I get the normal breaks and keep my head out of the cockpit I guess I can get through all right.

Curtis P-40

This is the base where I will really gain weight.  You get all you can eat of good food an all the milk and cream you can drink.  Ice cream 2 meals a day and I bet we could have if for breakfast if we wanted it bad enough.  Just think of eating a dessert of pie a la mode and chocolate frosted cake at the same time.  I bet I weigh 190 before I leave here.  I only hope it's not all fat.  They must starve civilians to feed us this way.  We get all the green vegetables we can consume.  We get raw carrots and cabbage each meal as well as boiled peas and carrots and sometimes beets.  Of course we have potatoes and meat but I think the green vegetables are better when you can have all you want.

This is swell country here but it gets too hot for my money.  We have the coolers going full blast all the time and it is hot and summer is still just around the corner.  They say it gets to 140 degrees in the shade around here in the summer and the shade is scarce.  I hope they don't want us to be too active when the hot weather gets here.

Just because we are not too busy now does not mean that we will not be in the near future.  In fact they have civilian help here that cleans our barracks and latrines so that we will have more time.  When we get on schedule we get 7 hours on the flight line, 3 hours of classes, 1 hour of PT and 1 hour of drills each day scheduled.  Besides that we have to eat and keep busy on homework and our own personal house cleaning.

I was going to write last night but I met a fellow I went to CTD with who is a class ahead of me.  He told us a little about what was ahead.  One of the things I like the sound of is a 300 mile cross country with a maximum ceiling of 200' ft.  Most of the time you spend looking up at the cactus and chasing each other up and down the washes in the desert.  You also get a lot more formation and "rat racing" term applied to chasing each other all over the sky.  It's a wonder they don't have accidents here but I guess by now most of the fellows can handle a plane pretty well.  I could handle a PT pretty well when I left primary but that BT still has me stumped.  It was more or less like driving a truck I guess and I can never like that.

Well I have been writing from my bed which may explain the illegibility of this letter.  I hope they are not all that way.  We are not very well organized yet.

I am putting in a money order for $100 which you may put in the bank or buy bonds with and remove my recent expenses from.  If you buy a bond make it out to the usual beneficiary.  Please hurry the watch on its way because I am lost without it.

With love

Austin