January 7, 1947

New Year's Day

Dear Doc,

A very happy New Year to you, Mr. Rounds.  I sincerely hope your every wish shall be granted.

Being New Year's Day, I honestly feel proud of myself, no headaches, no hangover, I find myself among the fortunate few or perhaps among the unfortunate.  Frankly, I would have preferred the later, However, no such luck.  A few of the nurses in our humble "Bark House" as it is so called, (no reference to the occupants) had a "gay" party.  Oh, we had a great time, however, I would hardly consider it a New Year's Eve up to the old Roberts standard.  Anyway, I have no hangover, so what?  Well, again, Happy New Year, may you live to see a thousand. However, continue flying as you have been and you may be seeing New Year's from a "different view".

Good God, man, don't you want to live?  The least you could do would be to wear your red woolies.  After all the hours I've spent lecturing to you on the many advantages of "snuggies", Oh, you should be ashamed.  Enough about that, remember though, whenever in need of a "very fine nurse" do feel free to call on one Anne Roberts, of course, just having experience with mental illnesses you can't expect too much, I've been told I do have "quite a bedside manner," but we'll let that pass.  Also if you can remember, I'm still the "good old nose dropper" I was when in San Antonio.  Yee, gods, am I responsible for this conversation?

Jo just told me to tell you to please be careful with that silly airplane of yours, you are not in San Antonio now, and anyway, she would like to see you again alive.  Et tu Brutus.

Thursday

Can't even remember what happened to my letter writing mind of last night but nevertheless I shall make a favorable attempt to finish this letter this evening.

I'm so glad you had such a fine Christmas.  Ours was quite pleasant after time progressed, having to work Christmas morning spoiled the day for the.  We caught a train from Wausaw Christmas afternoon and got home @ 7:00 p.m., which wasn't too bad, the train ride was fun - Next trip I take I shall reserve a chair in the Club Car - Anyway, we got home to a most wonderful Christmas dinner.  Everything from oyster cocktails (my favorite) to after dinner Brandy.  Being accustomed to the rarity of institutional cooking I found my taste buds gone but they soon began to bloom and all was well.  Thursday being our day off was spent eating, talking, drinking, and doing all the good things one does while at home.  It was good seeing my brother, who is still in the Army.  He and his wife were home for the holiday.

Listen my dear, Mr. Rounds you haven't seen anything until you really do see Insulin Shock Treatment.  The amount of insulin given to Diabetics is so very small compared to the treatment of mental illnesses.  Diabetics getting only 10 to 20 units before each meal.  However, with this type of shock treatments the amount varies from 120 to as high as 300 units.  The treatment usually lasts form 1:00 a.m. until noon, depending on the patients.  It's the damnedest thing I have ever seen (full shock).  The first time I saw it I was so frightened I wanted to go right home and pack my things and bid farewell to this type of work forever.  But now, I'm quite accustomed to the treatment and it  doesn't bother me too much.  What surprised me so greatly was the great number of young men and women who are here.  One starts to think, what the devil is this generation coming to?  A lot of the fellows are ones who have been in the Army, that's understandable - but the women - Speaking of the weaker sex, I'm convinced.  I shall defend them no longer.  Most of them are from the richest families, perhaps that's reason without thinking any further.  Perhaps if some of them went out and earned their "way" for awhile they wouldn't have time to be depressed and all theses idiotic things they've been thinking and doing.  I could rave on all night but I won't.

As far as "throwing invitations around" Why do you suppose one sends invitations?  Of course, to be accepted.  I would like to see you very much (Excuse me, one of the nurses just dashed in and wants us to go to the movie, so we shall - will write more later)

I hope you will be patient and I shall get on with this.  This is Saturday.  Please forgive me if you have a rather difficult time trying to decipher this so called writing.  Guess the movie was too much for me as 2 a.m. in bed as a result.  I managed to pick up a beautiful cold and feel miserable.  (the price one pays for living in the North)  Anyway, I'm supposed to be resting.  Which I shall do after I finish this letter to you.  I have been enjoying the luxuries of the Milwaukee Sanitorium.  Perfectly wonderful meals delivered right to my bedside.  I love it.  Guess I've let this cold linger.  On second thought, I guess I won't miss my work too much.

As I was saying.  It would be perfectly wonderful seeing you again.  May I also say, no explanations are in order - Tell me, what is there to explain?  Oh, all right, if you want to hear the story of my life again I shall gladly submit same.

January 6

I have found one thing try in my life.  Never plan anything. From today on I shall do just that thing.  Today is the day for the Ballet and here I am still in bed.  I had planned on going so ver much.  Gosh, that makes me so mad (angry, pardon me).  Oh, well, there will be more _ Everything happens for the best, no matter how cruel it seems at the time -

Heavens man, keep me in suspense no longer.  Tell me about Bill Ayers' wedding.  Frankly, I can't believe it.  Just can't picture Bill married.  Has he written you?  Did you receive an invitation?  Is the girl from Hamilton? Did they have a large wedding?  Tell all, Doc, I really am interested, as it is what I never expected, but then, one never knows.  I certainly hope for Bill's sake it is the "real thing' (if such exists).  He certainly would be a miserable object unhappily married.  Enough about that - I am anxiously awaiting all details - 

Forgive me if this letter is bad, I know it is.

Take it easy in that little flying machine - please -

As ever, 

Anne

 Do write soon, per unusual

April 9, 1945

April 9, 1945

Dear Mother:

I have been intending to write for two days but just haven't gotten around to it.  Today I got the box with the cake and the hat and cookies so I had to write.  I haven't had time to eat any yet or go through the boxes very well so I can't compliment you on your wonderful cooking but everything at least looks wonderful.  The frosting is not sticking too badly so everything is in good shape.  The hat has about another thousand hour crush so the right thing got crushed.

See the bottom of the linked page for an explanation of the thousand hour crush.

I also got a notice that my clothes are in town at the Railway Express station.  They didn't come to the field as I expected they would because they are coming C.O.D.  Whenever they are shipped that way I have to go in town and get them.  It would be rather hard if I didn't know where I could get a car to haul the box in.  My pilot has a car and he can get everything.  Thank you very much for being so prompt, so much so in fact they are here a little early.  I don't need them for a week or so yet but probably they will need pressing.

Yesterday we flew our high altitude for the second time while here.  We had a swell ship for low altitude but not so good for the cold.  It was a -20 C up there which is really only about -10 F so really not so bad.  We had no heater and I had no warm boots so I nearly froze my feet off.  I finally had to get up and put my feet on the warm inverters which act as generators.  I stood on them for five minutes and melted the ice between my toes.  Even so my ankles were cold and I was chilled to the bone.  We were at 20,000' for 4 hours and finally the heat was all gone from in the ship.  That was when I began to get cold.  I did have gloves and a heavy fur jacket so it wasn't so bad.  Next time I will know better and take my boots too.

Our turbos froze up so we couldn't climb above 20,000' but we sure could come down.  We came down slow and had a lot of airspeed.  I don't know what our ground speed was but we started down and came 100 miles in less than 25 minutes.  We really dropped the bottom out from under that box car.  We got home so quick the navigator is still wondering where we lost all those miles back there some where.

Sigmund Romberg

Now to continue tracing back what has happened I find that last Friday we went to see and hear Sigmund Romberg in town.  He really put on a big show for all of these Okies and they really loved it.  What I can't see is how he could afford to play at such a small town. We had the best seats in the house (nothing but the best for us) and it was only $2.10 so he couldn't have made an awful lot.  I will send a program to you if I can locate it in time for the next letter.  Do tell me where he finds those girls who sing.  Not only were they easy on the eyes but they had a good set of pipes.  He said he prides himself in knowing a good voice when ever he saw one.  Even I couldn't do better and I am younger.  They were really talented and good looking.  What a combination.  Maybe Mary knows some at school that way whom I could meet next time I am home.  I will bring my navigator too because he also approved of them.

An evening with Romberg 1945

Well things run along more or less routine and not much happens.  I haven't spent any money on anything for so long I am just loaded with money.  I am trying to get my $400 check cashed to send home but I can't find time to go over when the feather merchants have the place opened.  The war ends at 4:30 PM for them and my war lasts a little longer.  One of these days when we have to stand by at the flight line I will get a lot done.  Tomorrow we may stand by so be looking for the money.

The only excitement of late was a P63 from this field crash landed in a field.  He came in with wheels up of course and an "Okie" runs up and asks him why he landed here.  He also asked if them thar things don't have wheels on them.  I got a big bang out of these poor dumb creatures you meet down this way.  I guess you can't blame them because most of this country is in bad financial shape and pretty much run down.  The soil looks good and they have rain but they just can't make things grow.

I was kind of wondering how much my total assets were.  I have a few bonds and some in the bank.  Maybe you could get Pop to find out and send me the bad news.  It doesn't have to be in a hurry or anything so don't worry but I kind of would like to know.  If I am much short of $750 in bonds and bank account please write after I send the next money order.  I should have at least that.  Maybe I haven't saved enough even so.  I have tried to save my flying pay and I don't know if I am short or not.

I have been writing this letter from the Club and as usual there is a lot of confusion.  We are setting up on a balcony overlooking the dance floor and stage so are away from a lot of it.  This is a pretty good club as clubs run but not the best I have been in.  The one at Roswell was about the best but this one isn't too bad.  I guess I never write much about our home away from home. You might be interested in something about this club, they loose money on everything except the slot machines and they pay for everything.  They make an average of $100 a day on them so they can afford to payout some money on other things.  Last month they got $3,300 on the slot machines and about $1 of it was mine so this is almost a free hang out.  Of course we pay $4 a month dues so it is really very inexpensive especially when they have free sacks and beer or cokes Saturday.  I don't have a lot to do over here so don't get all the benefits I could.

Well I guess I have chewed the rag enough.  I guess you don't get much information from my letters but spend a lot of time decoding them.

With love

Austin.

December 28, 1944

Roswell Field

Dec 28, 1944

Dear Mother:

I haven't written you in a couple of days so you must feel a little slighted.  Not much happens so I just can't write about nothing at all.

It snowed here last night and it really looked grand.  Things always quiet down so when it snows and everything looks so clean.  It was only about 1 inch of snow but it was 1 inch more than a lot of the fellows had ever seen.  Of course there was a snowball fight first thing this morning and quite a number more until the snow was all gone.  Everyone had a lot of fun out of it and I wish it had stayed for a couple of days.  Maybe the next one will stay longer.

Actually it is not cold enough here for heavy clothes.  However it seems awful cold so I don't know what I shall do if I get home soon.  It must really be cold where you are and I hope to be soon.  I can't remember if I have any heavy clothes to wear.  Probably William has them all and I will freeze.

We are going to meetings at 10:00 and 1500 each day just to see that we are still on the post.  It is the same old deal that we had while at Luke Field.  We have nothing to do so they have a little get together twice a day to see that we don't have too much fun in town.  It gets to be a pain in the neck after awhile.

We go to the movies every other night because we have nothing better to do.  The pictures are usually very good and recent Hollywood releases.  It seems that the Army Posts get to see the films first, maybe to see how well the public likes the pictures and maybe because they figure that seeing what a great sacrifice we are making we should see them first.  Then after we come back from overseas we can go to the neighborhood theaters and catch up where we left off.  Most of your pictures are rather stale when I see them listed in the paper.

A good friend of mine got married on Christmas Eve.  I believe he is a Protestant and his wife a Catholic so we have our fingers crossed.  She is a School Teacher whom he met here in town about 3 months ago.  He claims he loves her and she is rather quiet about the whole thing.  She is about 4 years older and at one time engaged to a fellow lost over Germany in a B17.  The boy's folks are separated and he was one of those fellows who lived half a year with his mother and half a year with his father.  We all wished him all the luck in the world and I imagine he really will need it.

Well enough for the scandals.  I am about to do some washing and then go to bed.  Maybe I will be home soon, sooner than you think.

I hope!!!!!!????

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.

February 25, 1944

Ryan Field

Tucson Ariz.

Feb 25, 1944

Dear Mother:

I am going to try to dash you off a letter in what remains of a half hour.  I am trying to write in bed before lights out so try to decipher it the best you can.

I have got a bad cold and in between barks I will see what I can do.  I don't dare go to the dispensary because once they get you in that door you have a heck of a time to get out.  I can't afford to lose any time now because I have closet to 50 hours and the check rides start agin.  Also if I lose any time right now I am pretty sure of being left here another month.  That can't happen because things are running along pretty smoothly now.

 By the way I am sure of staying for the rest of my training out here in the west.  You see I have a fair chance of getting all the way through now that is unless something comes up we don't anticipate.  Therefore start saving your money so you can see me get my wings if I get them.  I guess that I am looking quite a way ahead but today I feel pretty good about my flying.

No much exciting happens around here.  I guess I wrote about the Corsair that came in for last weekend.  The pilot was a Marine Captain and the brother of one of the cadets here.  That kid sure had a swell time strutting around with his brother.  We all had a good look at the plane and you can bet we were all thrilled to get so close to such a plane.  All the instructors seemed to have the look as if they wished they could be flying Corsairs instead of teaching dumb cadets the fundamentals.  I guess everyone wants to join the Navy and fly Corsairs now.

We have a few mishaps around here such as broken "props" etc. but nothing else happens.  The lower class is not yet soloed out and so things are quiet at that end of the field.  Some of our boys still ground loop.  But not many of them.  Cross wind landings is what kept me from soloing in 6 hours and I think I have now caught on to them that they will never screw me up again.  I have at least accomplished that.

My bunk mate is leaving tomorrow for the A.T.C.  He washed out because of dangerous flying and for other reasons we don't know.  I am sure going to miss him.  We have had a lot of fun together.  He is from Kentucky and isn't much of a hillbilly.  He had a tough break.  I must stop now.

With love

Austin

Have you received your box?