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.