Author: Margo Palmer

Darlings,

Didn’t have time to answer your lovely letter yesterday. They really have us on the go here. I should be in bed now but, I must write to my swell family. I didn’t have such a hot day yesterday. I knew the smooth sailing was too good to be true. That’s the way it goes though-we are never sure of anything until we get those silver wings. I can remember back in Santa Ana-Oh-how far those wings seemed. I never thought I’d get them. Well, if I carry on for six more weeks I will have them. Gosh! Darlings I have never been so excited over anything before. All the work and worry will be worth it. I always have wanted my parents to be so proud of their son. I look back on those four guys who have passed by the wayside. I often get letters from many of them-some Bombardiers-some buck privates. I hope I get through this war but, if I didn’t-if I earned those wings you could always be proud of my record. Gosh! I sure am slinging the bull aren’t I. I can’t help it darlings-I want you to realize how much you mean to me. Thelma and my family are the ones I really care about.

A cadet from the Stockton bunch down here was found by his ship yesterday. He was lost on the desert. The desert is pretty tricky. Don’t worry  though- I can take care of myself.

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

Gosh! That certainly is a shock to hear that poor Mr. Erickson passed away. I talked to a fellow cadet’s Dad is a doctor. He said that spinal meningitis is a disease something like infantile paralysis. Maybe that’s the cause for some of his off days.

Don’t worry about it affecting me-death is expected in this outfit-in fact we’re learning how to sight the Machine guns on our planes so we can kill with the first shot. Our gunnery instructor is a very brilliant man. We are learning the lead method. He claims common mistake made by all pilots is that they don’t close in close enough before they cut loose. We had some pictures shown of the Royal Air Force pilots. They were very interesting. Gunnery is the best subject we have taken thus far. I hope I can make out alright.

I just got in an argument with a dumb Swede. He’s always kidding me about England. Someday I’ll knock that guy for a loop. He is so repugnant, he burns me no end. Oh, well, what can you expect.

We went on a 600 mile cross-country today. This country is very mountainous. That’s what I like about the airplane. We just fly over them. Gosh! It scares you when the motor sputters a little bit when you’re looking down on those jagged rocks.

Well, darlings, thank you so much for being kind to the Ericksons. They were so kind to me.

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

I am beginning to accustom myself to this desert life now. The climate is so dry my lips crack and peel but, I use lip ice so that isn’t so bad. All the boys have cut their hair short. You just can’t have long hair and keep it clean in this sand.

Our commandant told us that a man from Phoenix was coming to fit us with our officers uniforms. Gosh! They certainly seem pretty sure about this thing don’t they. I hope he has some good looking uniforms because if Jim Jago is buying his officers uniform-it’s going to be the best they have. I have been saving my money for two months now. The government gives us a clothing allowance of $150 but the complete uniform will cost more than that. I would give anything if I could walk into 5044 with my big silver wings displayed upon a beautiful uniform. The main reason for my working so darn hard at flying is that I want to prove to my Mom, Dad, and girl-I can make the grade, even though I’m just a kid.

Some of the airplane mechanics that say “Sir” to me every day have a degree in college. It seems funny but, if they don’t give a darn if they grease the plane-nobody’s going to give you something for nothing-I have learned that so well-I can remember Dad telling me that before I left-how true it is.

Well darlings-stay well now.

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

Your most interesting letters arrived today. I must try to find time to write Uncle Tom. He’s certainly a grand fellow.

Say, Dad, those pictures you speak of were taken on the post. I will try to send them if I can ever find mailing envelopes. The only ones I had taken off the post were those two-one for Mother and Thelma.

They keep us so darn busy here-We thought we had it tough in basic and primary-that’s the way goes-it never gets easier-always harder. I don’t think I would’ve worked and worried so much for a mining engineer’s degree. The harder you work for something the more you appreciate it when you get it but, I still haven’t got it.

Pete isn’t my roommate but, we still see each other all the time-discuss our flying and argue over the ability of our flying instructors. This flying business is very interesting-you never know everything that’s why it will always stay interesting.

I hope I don’t get Instructor out of this course. My instructor told me I have a chance because my record is pretty good, I guess. I want to see combat-maybe I’m foolish but, I want my kids to be proud of their Dad like I am about mine. Not many can say their Dad has seen combat duty.

Well, darling, I always appreciate your very interesting letters-I wish I could write more often but I try to-honestly.

Keep pulling for me

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

I received your letters and the much-needed stamps. I have managed to borrow some airmail envelopes from a kid here. I gave the office the dates on your naturalization. I found out what they were for. They can’t give us a reserve commission unless our parents are American citizens. Gosh! Darlings-just think-if everything goes well your little son will have a reserve commission with the silver wings in six weeks. The enlisted men respect the man with the commission if they have the wings because they know they have to be darn good to get both. These 90 day wonders (the boys who go through officers candidate school aren’t liked at all). What makes me so mad is they think they had it so tough-boy! If I ever get those wings-you will know I earned them.

I’m terribly sorry to hear Mrs. Haynes passed away. Gosh! That really is tough-I hope Dr. and Ned won’t move-it will change the whole neighborhood. I just can’t realize it-she was so nice.

I had a ride with the squadron commander today-He said I gave him a very good ride and yesterday we shot stages (landings) and, he also complemented me on them. Boy! Was I happy.

So Jocie earned her first money-good for you Jocie. My little sis is growing away from me. Gosh! I certainly miss my family. Nothing would make me happier than walking into 5044 with my wings and bars. I’m praying that I stay on the ball and make the grade. At primary the ship was worth more than we were taken at basic we were about even-now we are worth more than the ship.  U.S.  has spent about $25,000 on this kid. A wonderful education-what?

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

I soloed the A.T. 6 today-the first one in our group too.

Boy! Am I happy. My new instructor is a prince. I have been so lucky, as far as instructors go. My new instructor’s name is William A. Messenger, Second Lieut. A.C. He is just like Antonucci, a regular fellow. He played football for the University of Arizona. Gosh! He’s a good egg!

Well, some more about the advanced trainer. This ship is rated as the best advanced trainer in the world. England uses them very effectively. That ship I soloed in had two machine guns mounted on it. Later on we are going to get hours of machine gun practice. We have the best gunnery instructors in the US stationed at this field. One of them is a veteran R.A.F. pilot, Wing Commander Donaldson, by name. He has 28 confirmed victories to his credit. He put on a show for us the other day with a P 40-boy! Can that guy fly. He did everything in the books. The main thing they stress here is coordination.

Without coordination your ability to fire a machine gun will do you no good. I just love flying this ship. Some of the boys have rough instructors-you can’t imagine how a poor instructor can affect your flying.

Well, darlings, we are rushed here more than ever. I will try to write as often as possible-

Your loving son,

Jim

Mother-

Will you send me the address of everyone I used to know. I lost my address book. You know-Gram Byrd, Hoagbergs, Haynes, Austin, Bobbie Blacktin, everybody-I would really appreciate it. I may send announcements someday.

Do you remember those fleece lined shoes I once had-I could really use those babies now-can you send them please?

Darlings,

Well, I flew again today-boy! This advanced ship is really a honey. I am slowly learning the cockpit procedure. This ship has retractable landing gear and hydraulic flaps. All the other ships I flew had the stationary landing gear. It really feels nice to push that lever then feel those wheels tuck into the wing. It makes us think that we are finally approaching our goal. This ship is really a beauty. I wish you could see it-you can’t imagine what a beauty she is until you see her. I would like nothing better than to fly a beautiful ship into Wold Chamberlain. I suppose I am bragging but, I’m pretty proud of myself. This ship is really a complicated job. We just can’t take pictures of this post. They will take our cameras if we try.

I’ll bet the old neighborhood is pretty dead now. I’m so sorry Mrs. Haynes is feeling so poorly. That neighborhood will be worth a darn pretty soon. Why don’t you move into a new neighborhood. Gosh! You can buy a little house out in Spring Park or St. Louis Park. I want my darlings to live in a nice little house. I’d certainly like to make loads of money so I could give  my Dad a big Chris Craft and mom a little white house by Minnetonka. Than my little sis would meet the best kids in town.

I know it seems fantastic but, people with less money than the Jagos are living in such nice neighborhoods.

Well, darlings, we finally got warm water now. At least we can take a comfortable shower-that’s something. We-being the first class at Yuma are really roughing it. I thought of all my friends back home over the New Year’s. I hope I will be able to send an invitation like Jim Olsen did someday. Boy! I have never wanted anything so much before in my life-Silver wings-

Your loving son,

Jim

Have you read The Fighters at Humpty Doo?  The December Reader’s Digest. Maybe your son will break the headlines someday.

Darlings,

Boy! This school is really tough. We haven’t a comfort of home-no hot water-no medical supplies-no nothing. They claim this is a training area for men ready to go to Africa-and they couldn’t have picked a better spot. I don’t think the African desert could be worse. One of the boys killed a tarantula spider today, they are common in these parts you know. They told us not to worry too much about the rattlers because it isn’t the rattler season now. Isn’t that nice. What a country.

I passed my physical okay though-20/15 eyes again-there were only two kids and myself had 20/15. One thing that really worries me is my knee. He didn’t say anything about it until I started to bandage the darn thing. He told me to report for a x-ray as soon as the equipment arrived. He didn’t take my name though so they won’t see me over at the hospital even if I put it out of joint. I heard him say something about elimination when I started to walk away.

Boy! I’m scared to death. I’m afraid I’d go over the hill if they try to eliminate me now. After I’ve taken all this stuff for so long. I don’t think he’ll remember me though-so don’t worry.

Gosh, Mom, I hope you feel better. This time of year was always pretty bad anyway. Take care of yourselves darlings-I hope to come home someday you know.

Dad, your watchband, is just perfect-so easy to put on when we get up in the morning-every second counts, you know. Mom-I’m saving your money for my uniform that is, if I make it. Jocie, your cigarettes are still going strong.

Your loving son,

Jim

Darlings,

Well, we arrived at Yuma-I have never been so disheartened in all my life. We are the first class to get here-we haven’t even got a upperclass. Our barracks are very shabby-no hot water-no post exchange-no telephone system-no mail system-no nothing. We had a talk by our Commandant today. He told us we were going to be given the most thorough fighter training in the world. This school is going to start with our class and teach us combat tricks that the first American pilots knew nothing of.

I think that this field will be the best in the world when completed but, right now, it looks pretty tough. We are situated about 10 miles from the Mexican border. The town of Yuma is terrible. We were told that we won’t get a pass as long as we are here. I wouldn’t want to go to that town anyway. This place is just plain uncomfortable. This desert sand gets in everything it seems.

I can take this though if they give me my wings and bars. They have also talked of just giving a few commissions. It would kill me I’m afraid. Because of my age I won’t stand too much of a chance. Oh well, we are just hoping that we all will get them.

Say Dad and Mom-I had to fill out some forms today. They asked where my parents were born and if naturalized. Well, I know you are both naturalized but I don’t know the dates and what court you were naturalized in. Will you please tell me in your letter the date and what court each of you were naturalized in?

Well, darlings, your little son is really going to miss home now. Boy! They wouldn’t have to condition us for Africa now. We’ll be ready for it right away. Maybe that’s the idea. I don’t know.

Well, I hope this letter gets through. We can’t buy airmail stamps. Will you send me a dollars worth please? I will try to send the dollar later, if we get paid.

Your loving son,

Jim

A busy scene in the ultra-smart section of world-famous Wilshire Boulevard, known as the ”Miracle mile” of Los Angeles California.

Darlings,

Sorry I haven’t had time to write lately. We have been riding the train for three solid days. Our next stop will be Advanced, in Yuma, Arizona.

Love,

Jim