Month: September 1942

Dear Dad,

Received your swell letter today. I’m so happy you liked the pictures. I hope you would.

You asked me how much they pay us-well, lately, we haven’t been paid since we left Santa Ana. The upperclassman told us not to expect any for a long while. I have plans to send some to you each pay day from now on.

We are on the go most of the time now-even schools classes at night. The California sunshine is beginning to fade out-we are due for some rain soon. All planes were grounded today for that reason.The ceiling was so low it was impossible to fly above 500 feet. I have nearly 5 hours now but, still know very little about flying-I tried a landing yesterday and scared my poor instructor to death. I’ll bet we bounced about 50 feet.

I’m happy to hear that mother is resting up north. I hope she feels better up there. Those darn shots are no good. Say, you also asked about Eric and Pete. Well Eric was sent with his squadron to Arizona. His address is-

A/C Elven C. Erickson

Class 43C

Thunderbird field #2

Phoenix, Arizona

Pete is here at Rankin but, in a different company. Due to alphabetical order. I don’t have many chances to see Pete due to our schedule.

Nearly bedtime, dad, so I’ll cut my letter short. I’m trying hard to make the grade for all of you.

Love, Jim

Darlings:

I hope you get this letter-I hear you were up north-I hope it kills that hayfever.

I don’t know why you waste money on those shots, mother.

Your son is nearly a veteran-he has totaled nearly 4 hours in the air. My instructor howls at me from the minute the wheels leave the ground until they settle.

I guess the poor guys take quite a beating if they have many students like myself. Gosh! I hope I can fly-it’s wonderful to fly-

Do you know what it cost to send us up in the air for an hour. It costs Uncle Sam $16 an hour. At least, that’s what it would cost us if we wanted to buy our hours. I think we had a wonderful chance in the Air Corps. I’m trying my darndest to make a good pilot. We take quite a beating from the instructors but, I can take that-and more.

Thelma sent me the most beautiful pair of sunglasses. Gosh! She’s really swell. I really miss that gal and my family-I hope to see you all some day with my wings. I bet Dad would be proud of me. The fellows were comparing family pictures yesterday. They all thought my parents and little sister were so good looking-I’m so lucky-I realize it more each day. I haven’t been out on a pass for three weeks-I can save money that way. I don’t bother with the girls-they seem pretty cheap beside Thelma.

Well, write soon,

Your loving son,

Jim

Dear Mother, Dad, and Jocie;

How are you feeling, Mother? I haven’t had any letters from anybody for nearly a week. I don’t know if you’re up north or not. I certainly hope you’re receiving my letters-I have been trying to write as often as I find time. I am becoming accustomed to this place after a week of running around blindly. I am anxious to know how you liked the pictures I sent home. Thelma told me in her letter that you weren’t feeling so good and you were planning on a trip up north, so I sent a roll of negatives to Thelma and told her to have two prints made of each one-then she could send them up north to you. I haven’t had any letters since so I don’t know if you or Thelma have received them or not.

Flying is progressing day by day-my instructor seems to have a little confidence in me. I am practicing medium and shallow turns until I’m blue in the face. I have so many things to watch at one time I get pretty flustered. I guess he expects that though.

One kid turned over yesterday-he didn’t judge his approach and landing correctly-he wasn’t hurt but he will probably get washed out for it.

This primary school is very strict, much more so than the other primaries. That is why so many wash out here, but, if you make it through here you’re pretty sure of making it all the way through. I hope I can make it here-don’t you?

Well Mother, knock that hayfever for a roll-will you?

Your loving son,

Jim

Dear Mother, Dad, and Jocie;

I am on my way now-I will have nearly an hour and a half to my credit in the air. Gosh! It’s fun way up there.

The first day I went up the instructor handed the controls over to me and told me to do anything I wanted. I couldn’t move-finally the tension wore off and I began enjoying myself. Some of my friends became deathly sick up there. I really feel sorry for them. If you get sick during the ride and you hit the ship-when you land you have to get the “dodo” (our name) bucket and clean the ship. Remember, mother, when you told me about Jack Chown and how much trouble he had with the new boys. You weren’t kidding a bit. I was just lucky I didn’t get sick.

I amused myself when I made the plane bank, dive, and climb.

I feel sorry for my instructor if he plans to teach me to fly. Gosh! There’s so darn much to learn. Your head must be moving all the time watching for other planes-you also must watch your instruments and fly the controls-all at once. I’m praying every night-hoping I’ll make good. We are studying about the mechanics of an airplane now-some of the fellows know all about a plane but I don’t seem to know a thing-oh well, I’m doing my best to make good and I hope I do so you and dad will be proud of me.

Love,

Jim.

PS the only time I have to write is on the flight line waiting to go up so, I’ll try and write as often as possible.