October 30, 1944

Roswell Field

Oct. 30, 1944

Dear Mother:

I am glad you like your "chews" but as for cementing foreign relations with gum I only hope it works.  You know that was a rather poor pun.  Don't get discouraged I am sure you can do better.

You know those little lion cubs are rather cute.  The first thing I thought of when I saw them was that they would make swell mascots for some unit overseas.  However I guess they would eat too much and might scare too many people.  on second thought they are much better off in Paul Greggs hands feeding off the taxpayer's money.

Tomorrow I am going to Bob Hope's radio show here on the post.  I was lucky to get a ticket as only 69 out of 300 got a chance to go.  My number happened to come up so I am jumping at the chance.  Here I have a chance to see a real live movie star.  This would never happen if I were any other place.  Maybe Roswell has it's advantages.

Bob Hope

Say, do you think you could send me a little jar of that dandruff killer.  My head is getting into rather bad shape even though I wash it every 3 or 4 days.  If I had some of that ointment I might be able to do something for it.  I don't want to take any $3 treatments like some of the fellows are doing.  It seems like such a waste of money.

I still have that check for $300 and I guess I will send it along soon.  You know a lot of money like that gives a kind of feeling of security.  I guess it would be a lot more secure in War Bonds and in the bank.  I will tell you how I want it put away.

I write to Mrs. Blaisdell right along.  You know for a person who can't get around too well she seems to enjoy life an awful lot.  She writes quite a number of letters to Freddie's buddies and some of her friends in Stoneham and seems to get a lot out of life from them. She asked me what I wanted for Christmas and even though I feel I shouldn't ask for anything it might make her feel bad.  I think she gets a big kick out of making cookies and things for her boys.  She really is such a swell person.

Time seems to pass so fast here.  I guess it is the schedule.  We keep going from sunup to sun down.  If you fly in the morning you see the sun rise through the clouds and if you fly at noon and after you see the sun go down through the clouds.  If you fly at night you just see the moon and if there is no moon you don't see a thing.  In fact this is the darkest country I know.

We had to fly Sunday afternoon.  There had been a little ground fog all morning and we had hoped that it would soak in so that we would stay down but no such luck.  We flew 5-10 which made last Sunday seem like any other day.  I guess that is the reason time flies so fast.

We still get ground school 7 hours a day on the days we don't fly but it is not so bad as it was the first week.  We are getting all kinds of subjects thrown at us so that we can run the whole ship by ourselves.  In fact I don't see the need of a crew if they had pilots who could get around fast enough.  All a B17 needs is an automatic pilot in good working condition and a good first pilot.  They have good automatic pilots but not so many good first pilots.

Maybe I have written that they have a B29 in the field.  The instructors are being checked out in it so that soon they can begin to instruct.  Roswell will soon become a B29 school so maybe I can get in on a new deal.  Maybe I don't want it after I hear what has happened to some of the so called super flying fortresses.

You know soon I will have a chance to go to most any city in a radius of 1000 mi. from here.  What one would you select if you had a chance.  I think New Orleans or San Francisco would be my choices.  What do you say?

I am glad Mary is enjoying her school so much.  I am sure if I could have liked my Accounting a little more I could have liked school a lot more.  Right now I can't see myself settling down to it again even though I may have to.

With love

Austin

October 19, 1944

Roswell Field

Oct. 19, 1944

Dear Mother:

I should be studying my procedures for tonights flying but I all do it a little later and instead write to you.  I have written to William so I guess it is your turn again.

I have two sticks of gum in my pocket and they were what prompted me to write.  Maybe it is a good idea to carry gum so you can get more letters.  I hope you like "Beeman's".

Tonight we fly again.  We are going up for instrument work.  The instrument course here is about 60 hours long.  That amounts to 12 or 13 rides and about 3 to 4 weeks of work.  We will then be qualified to pass the stiffest instrument test the Army can give.  That is of course if we are successful.

You know I am not worried a heck of a lot about passing this phase of training.  If I pass I will be a first pilot and if flunk out I will be a co-pilot.  Either way you fly the Lumber Wagon B17 if you like it or not.  They only way you can get out is to get 50 missions in combat and come back and apply for single engine training.  Some future.  After 50 missions in this ship they should send you home to rest for the duration.  Maybe I am just bitter but I still don't enjoy flying this ship.

Well I have been spending money rather freely lately but still have last months $307 check and one for $32.90 and if I can hold out another 2 weeks on $30 I guess I can send it all home.  What am I going to do with all my spare money.  I guess the bank and War Bonds are the two best ways.

You may wonder what I have spent my money for.  Well I have bought a new pair of swell looking shoes, a jacket, some socks, under clothes, a new O.D. hat and a few incidentals.  It is rather nice to go into a store and know you can buy what meets your fancy.  I don't know what I will do when money is not so free and I have to work for a living again.  I believe school life would be rather dull for a time if I had to come home right away.  I doubt if I could sit still long enough to work out an 8 hour accounting problem.  I have been gone so long.

Well it must be getting cold now.  I haven't seen the real old N.E. fall now for 2 years.  I wonder how many more I will have to miss.

With love

Austin

October 15, 1944

Roswell Field

Oct 15, 1944

Dear Mother:

I am not specially short of time but have several more letters to write so I guess I shall have to make this just a gesture.

Friday night I met Richard Hunt Lt Sg of the Navy.  He was in a small hotel and I happened to notice him and thought he looked familiar.  He was rather surprised to see me and I guess a little glad.  we had a short talk and he told me that he was on his way to the West Coast.  I just can't imagine what he was doing in Roswell unless he was going through by car.  Anyway I had a pretty nice chat with him.

I guess the same day you wrote me last you also addressed a letter to me from a Mrs. Thompson of Tenn.  Now I was as much surprised to get that letter and just as curious as you must have been.  Who in the world did I know down there.  Well it was the former Barbara Colburn.  She is married to a recent graduate in the Air Corp and wanted to compare notes with me.  So I gave her a big line and cock and bull story which she will probably swallow hook line and sinker unless her husband gets hold of the letter.  He is at present going through a B24 school down there.  How I pity him.  Know You Know!!!???

Well I have been thinking of your plight, a poor woman with nothing to keep her mouth working (except a poor excuse for a dog) so I am sending along some of the only gum I could buy.  If you don't like it you can give it to some one else.  However if you are as bad off as you state you will keep this gift a secret or chew it all at once so you can have it all.

I am glad Mary is enjoying school.  I hope the newness of it will not wear off and leave her disappointed.  If she needs any money or anything like that please tell her to ask for it.  The next money order I send home will probably be for about $200 or more.  I have little need for all the money I am making.

Well keep me informed of the latest developments.  You know you should notify people of all my changes of address.

Hurriedly With love

Austin