October 8, 1944

Roswell Field

Oct 8, 1944

Dear Mother:

Worry no more about the box; it arrived today.  I was somewhat surprised but pleasantly so.  I did not know I had such beautiful sisters.  In fact my roommate and my buddy next door were very much interested.  I doubt if I will send them home; I shall find some way to get them in a folder and put up so I can see them.  I still doubt if they are my sisters; they look too much like someone else's children.

I got the ring out and then didn't know which hand to put it on.  You know I can put it on the left hand and turn it over and then fool all the girls.  It sure could be a safety measure to make sure I get home single.  Maybe I am just an egoist; nobody but my mother would have me.  Anyway it is a swell ring so thank William, Esther and Mary for me. Maybe I should write each a separate letter.

Now your handy work looks really good.  I have not put them on yet but will just as soon as I get cleaned up enough so that I won't get them soiled.  I am really getting to be a clothes horse.  I only wish I had more so I could wear my good clothes all the time.  I would have an awful cleaning bill but I guess I can afford it.  You may get a couple of more some day with all the instructions.

The powder came through but not quite intact.  It was a good thing that it was well wrapped because some of it spilled out and really would have messed things up if it had a chance.  I guess you have had experience packing such things before.  You see once I packed a can of powder in the middle of a  BKs bag and found out just how thoroughly it could get into things.  Well I guess you can't guess how glad I was to get the box.  I was a little anxious for a while but everything came through all right.

Well I don't know what I can write about what I am now doing except that we are getting an awful lot of ground school thrown at us in preparation for flying this week.  Our first class was at 7:00 this morning and the last one ended at 6:30 this evening.  You can see that we are going pretty steady and strong.  We are getting a lot of engineering and engine courses with radio mixed in all over.  We have to learn to use 5 set instead of the one as before.  It is a awful big plane and we have to get about 72 hours on the ground before we can even go up.  They are throwing things at us so fast I wonder if I shall remember any of it.  I only hope my memory is a little better than I think.

I had time to go to a movie tonight.  The movie came between the beginning and end of this letter.  We saw "San Franscisco, I Love You."  {Actually San Diego, I Love You. Check out a clip with Buster Keaton.}  It is one of the funniest pictures I have seen in a long time.  I don't know what the critics would say about it but I do know I enjoyed it more than any picture in a long time.  I think everyone would enjoy it if you all had a chance to go.

I do get time for a movie now and then and I hope you don't mind my going rather than writing the letters you look forward to.  It's not that letter writing is a burden because I like to let you know what is going on but that I like to relax and forget what I am doing once in a while.  Maybe you should be able to live thing thing 24 hours a day but I just can't live it 7 days a week without a break.  I must say that the life I lead is a very easy one and one I like.

Well the "sack" looks very good to me so I will "sign off" for the evening.  "Station Austin going off the air for the evening"

With love

Austin

October 4, 1944

Roswell Field

Oct. 4, 1944

Dear Mother:

This will be the last letter for several days as we are about to go on an 8 day week here with no breaks.  Classes will run 9 hours a day and after eating and cleaning up the room there will not be time for much else.

I am going to write a few other people tonight so don't be surprised at the shortness of this letter.  I kind of feel that I am going to leave the world for a couple of days.  I guess it isn't that bad.

We are getting very good meals here.  In fact they compare very well with what we had during Cadet days.  They cost a flat rate of $35 a month.  This is not too bad compared with what we paid at Luke.  At least they are not going to make your stay here miserable but let you concentrate on the things at hand.  the schedule is much too tough to have a lot else on your hands.

I live in a small room with one buddy who is a Texas boy.  His name is Rollins and a swell fellow.  There are two to a room and plenty of room for us; two chairs, tables, lamps, lockers, shells, and everything.  Things are going to be very comfortable.

I hope you have disregarded my last letters because I have been so discouraged by what has happened.  I guess when I get to work things will get a little brighter.

I haven't received one Independent since I returned from home.  Maybe my subscription has run out or maybe they have just got lost.  Please look into the situation.

I got two letters from you today so I now understand the box situation.  I was getting a little impatient but I guess it will be along soon.  I hope so because it is cold here and that (pinks and greens) are about to become the uniform of the day and I will have to have them.  I am sorry I didn't know what part William had in the ring.  He seems to hold the bag most of the time putting in the money and getting none of the thanks.  Please thank him for me.  I guess I kind of take him for granted too much and should write more often.

Pinks and greens

You also said that Mary's gift had not arrived.  I guess instead of sending it Airmail as I directed they have sent it regular mail and it is taking longer than I expected.  However I am worried about it and if it doesn't come soon I shall write and see what can be down about it.  Maybe I shall be stuck.

I shall close now and write to the Blaisdells.  Erma did not have what the doctors all thought for a while.  She has dyptheria or something.  At least she doesn't have to worry about the effects of polio. Mrs. Blaisdell was so good to me I hated to leave.  If Fred B ever comes to Stoneham I want him to stay in my bed.  That could not be too much of him.

With love

Austin