Author: Margo Palmer

Say, Mom, will you please send my cable set-we don’t get enough exercise as an officer-we need to-it helps our flying when we are in good shape.

3-31-43

Darlings,

Your letter was swell Mom-now you are talking darling-get out once in a while. I never did see why you stayed home. I just wish I were home so I could help. You have always given and never taken. I’m so glad you are finally wising up that you are still a young lady. Mrs. Peterson is much plainer and older than you but, still she spends the Papa’s dough. Go ahead Mom-now that you haven’t your main worry (me) back home you should take advantage of it. Now we come to that home question. Why! For gosh sakes do you want to throw more money into that house. Why not get a new one. You know our neighborhood is going to pot. It would be nice for Jocie to move to another neighborhood because you know for yourself but some of her friends (Gail) aren’t the kind I want my sister to double date with later on. The Blackten’s haven’t a pot to _____ in but, they live in a nice house in a good neighborhood. Gosh! I certainly am lecturing aren’t I-please forgive me Mom but, you really are too darn conservative.

Well, darlings, your fighter pilot son thinks of his lovely family often-

Love,

Jim

PS

The P-39 is wonderful!!

Darlings,

I stayed in bed today-I think I have this darn cold licked now-I hope. My little roommate Bobby John has taken good care of me. He brings me my meals and the poor guy even went into town to get me some fruit because he knew fruit juices were good for a cold. Yes he certainly is a swell Joe. I have met some wonderful friends in this army.

I am a little behind in my flying now but, I can catch that up right away. Flying is really fun. We have no restricted areas-we can fly anywhere we please. It’s a lot of fun flying over the ocean-meeting Navy planes and flying the pants off of them. This Army P39 is much faster than anything the Navy has.

I wish you could see this ship-when it flies over it whistles it’s going so fast. I would like little Jocie to see it, then she could tell her little school friends. I hate to live apart from my family. I hope when this war ends we won’t be strangers.

It certainly was swell at home. My room is just the same even for my ski poles. I certainly wish this bed I have now is just half as nice as mine back home. Those clean sheets spoiled me I’m afraid. Oh well, flying’s fun anyway-

Your loving son,

Jim

P.S.

Much love to my Mom, Dad, and little sis

Darlings,

Please excuse the absence of letters but, I have been moving from place to place-checking in and out beds-signing this and that for four days. A lieutenant has more responsibility than I thought.

I am still part of the 328th fighter group and I am assigned to the 329th fighter squadron. Our duties are very important. We are here to protect Frisco. There is always a flight of planes ready to go any minute. We take turns on the night alert shift.

I thought we had P38’s but, I was mistaken. We fly the P39-Bell Airacobra, look it up in a magazine-it sure is a honey. I haven’t flown yet but, hope to in a few days. I’ve never seen so many instruments before. Boy, when the ship zooms over it whistles like a bee.

We officers live in the old hotel on the field. The elaborate equipment is gone but, it’s very nice. Some of the older men are going over in a few days so we will be the top kicks around here.

Well, darlings, your son feels that he is doing a little more to protect that lovely home and family of his. I can’t express how much I miss you-

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

We had our Graduation day run today-that is we had a practice ceremony. What a day that will be. After nine long months of work, at last the day has come.

The rumors are floating around already. They say that 20 will be instructors-20 will go to the Fury Command-70 will go to the fighters and 40 will go to twin engine fighters. I hope I get single or twin engine fighter. Then if they grant me a leave that will be very nice.

We had our names stenciled on our bags today Lt. J.A.H. Jago. Not bad eh?

I still pinch myself now and then wondering if this is all a dream. I certainly have had a wonderful education. I feel sorry for the poor enlisted men. Some of the enlisted men are eliminated cadets. I feel sorry for the poor guys. They walk around with their heads hung low.

Well, darlings, it is close to my bedtime-I’m riding on air lately-not a care in the world.

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

We finish our flying today-we had our squadron party last night-what a time. I think we have the grandest bunch of instructors imaginable. They had barrels of beer and every mixed drink imaginable. Your son took good care of himself darlings, don’t worry.

We received our officer’s flight clothes yesterday. I never realized what a pile of things we need to get. We get our own parachute-winter and summer flying jacket-winter and summer flying helmets and suits-sky gear equipment-flying boots-clothes bags-etc.

Yes, darlings, in just three days your son will be a flying officer. I am hoping for a furlough but, I suppose I will be disappointed.

Just a few minutes ago I filled out my income tax blank. I owe Uncle Sam $1.00. That’s not too bad is it?

I have just about everything as far as the officers uniform goes. I never realized how much an officer wears. I hope I can come home-then you will see a real uniform.

Darlings, I have sent my graduation announcements to everybody-England and South Africa included-

Well, darlings, must close now-

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

I have wonderful news for you-your son has qualified as an expert aerial gunner. Which entitles me to an expert aerial gunner’s medal to be worn on my officers tunic. I have only fired 200 rounds on my record run but have qualified expert already. We have two types of aerial gunnery-ground targets and aerial targets. I hit the ground targets 73 times out of 100 the first time and 82 times out of 100 the second.

My squadron commander congratulated me until I felt like his brother. The RAF pilot said, “Superb shooting cadet Jago!” Gosh! I’m so darn happy. According to my instructor that is one of the highest scores ever made at a training school.

Our flight training all the way through Primary, Basic, and Advanced has been mainly to sharpen us up for gunnery. Some of my friends haven’t even hit the target yet. They come over to my room and ask Jago what they are doing wrong.

Please don’t think this gunnery has made me conceited because you know how I am. I haven’t said a word yet – my instructor asked me why I wasn’t happy about it and I said “Well, sir, I think I could have done better with another ship – the sight was poor on the 411!” He just about fell over backwards.

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

Thanks for the lovely letter, Mom, it’s so nice to hear from home.

We had another day of gunnery today. I didn’t do so hot either. Boy! That aerial target is so darn small. Some of the boys haven’t even hit it yet so maybe I’m not so bad after all. The instructors have bets on our scores amongst themselves. We are trying for our instructor but, I’m afraid he will be disappointed-the poor guy. Please excuse the handwriting-we have no desks in our rooms as yet. It is pretty hard to write on the edge of your bed but not impossible.

Pete certainly was pleased with his box of candy. That was so nice Mom-thanks. Pete really is a peach of a kid. I think he is one of the best pilots on the base.

Have you heard me speak of Bob Thomas? He is a friend of mine-the poor guy hasn’t hit the target yet. He feels pretty badly about it. He just left my room about 15 minutes ago. Oh, well, that’s just one of the worries of a pilot.

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

Eleven more days!!! Boy! I can’t believe it. It seems that just the other day we were sitting in Santa Ana-gosh! You don’t know the silly things we worried about then. Will we get airsick? I wonder if we will wash out at primary. The washouts that returned to Santa Ana told us the weirdest stories. According to them nobody stood a chance. We thought they were experienced men-they had flown a plane-gosh!! Now when I look back-I can see why they didn’t make the grade. Most of them were braggarts-that’s something the army can’t stand-even if you are good. Many a good flyer has flunked due to his attitude.

We had another day of gunnery. One of our boys rolled up a marvelous score on Aerial gunnery. 25 hits in 100 shots is considered superb shooting. It seems that I am very lucky to hit the darn thing at all. It seems that all the way through I work darn hard before I get anywhere. Maybe that’s the best way-I don’t know.

Well, darlings, the hours are ticking by-your little son needs his sleep so until tomorrow-

Love,

Jim