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June 1943

June 1-1943 Monday Hello Mother, Got the other pictures this morning and was really surprised at them. If you will tell me what size film my camera uses I'll see if I can find some of them for you. It's raining again today and boy did we get wet yesterday in the parade. We marched way out to the cemetery & was just ready for the address by the speakers & it started raining. It really was a pretty place. Right on the bank of the Fox river and the pretty green grass and green trees. In the parade were the Wisconsin State Guard, Civilian Air Pilots, American Legion, Police Force & several others besides the 96th Air Corps Detachment. After getting wet we came back in and took a shower & put on our dry clothes and went downtown to a good show. How's my stationery? Hope it's not raining there as much as it is here. Well we finish our years geometry course next Friday (2 weeks). Say I got nine letters today. I'm getting back on the beam again. Don't have the time to answer them very often though. Guess they all decided to write at once. Saw a picture of the soldiers at Miami Beach in the show last nite. It was taken in March while I was there and everything sure looked natural. General Arnold was there too while I was there he was in the picture too. Clark Gable talked all through the picture. The pictures were pretty nice, don't you think! Must be going Love to All, Austin Tell John to tell you what the clothes are worth. You can use the money as you like - maybe pay some on the Preacher's salary etc

1943 Wednesday June 2nd Dearest Mother, Just back from English class. Got my grades for last month and passed on everything. We started last nite having supervised study from 8 to 9 at nite. We march over to another building & study in the library. We have 2 or 3 teachers there to help us with any problems we need help on. On the math & made 94 the highest grade given was 95. Made 91 on Physics Laboratory but only 72 on Physics lecture. We are carrying our barracks bags over to the supply office to get our names stenciled on them. It seems to rain here every day. I see the boys taking P.T., outside this morning, I take mine next period at 9:00 A.M. They just hollered "Mail Call"— Well I got a letter from you and one from sister too. It's almost 6 o'clock now and time for supper. It's really been a tough day I'm all tired out. The E Squadron gets open post now on Wednesday nites & they fly on Saturday & Sunday too. Have some more pictures for you to put up. Bet you have lot of them now don't you. Don't forget to send the size film my camera uses and see if I can find them. Pretty short but I gotta go. Tell all hello. What is the latest word from Jack Sides & John Bishop? Love to All, Austin Pictures were time exposures & they don't look so good.

1943 Friday-4:15P.M. June 4 Dear Mother, How's everything. I started to write you at 4:15 And only got your name written. Its 7:40 now & I've had supper. Am listening to the radio now. Kate Smith was just on. Now I'm listening to a detective story, Nick & Nora Charles. The boys are out playing ball but I thought I'd stay in & write a few letters. Only got to write to you, sister, and Edna. Tomorrow is Saturday again. Our band is playing over the radio from the stage of the Strand theatre tomorrow nite. They are pretty good now. Will finish later it's time to go to the library to study now.- 9:45 — Back again. Got new sheets & pillow cases this afternoon. Just made my bed up so we can turn in our wool blankets now I hope. Everyone else is shining shoes for inspection tomorrow. I have mine already shined too. Will get more pictures made over the week end I think. May go swimming again Sunday too. Its only a few minutes till lights go out so have got to have everything in place. They come around and inspect the rooms at nite too. Love to all Austin

Wednesday - June 9th 43 Dearest Mother and All, Well we have had another busy day. Had our Physical training test this morning in which we do sit-ups, chin-ups, and run a 300 yd dash. I improved myself in all three tests above the grades I made May 1st. Can't do so many chin-ups. I think it's because of my shoulder. It has some kind of rheumatism in it but doesn't bother me too much. In May I did 7 chin-ups, 9 today.In May I did "50 sit-ups" 64 today. In May I ran 300 tds. in 53 sec., today in 49 sec. So you can see I am getting in better physical shape. We get all the milk we can drink and all we can eat too. We finished our course in plane geometry & I passed O.K. - didn't make as much as I did in algebra but I beat lots that had already had plane geometry in high school or college before. You know I told you we started solid geometry Monday to finish in 2 weeks. Well we had already finished it & started on spherical geometry. You have to stay awake in class all the time or you may miss a whole month's math course in a few minutes (ha, ha). Had a test in History today too. I don't like to study that subject at all. Also in English. We had to write a paragraph on "Army Discipline" & one on "My Favorite Hobby." I wrote on taking pictures. Tomorrow we have a spelling test in English. It's time to go to the Library to study. Didn't get anything said but about what I have been doing. Are you going to send the negatives of the Florida pictures? Love to all Austin (Editor's note: Hand drawn illustration here) Chin ups you know how anyone chins himself with out an illustration (ha) Situps Hands back of head. Up & back down is 1 time. You have someone to hold your feet down. On the 300 yd dash we have to make 5 straight runs through the track. It's made they way some will have to turn sharp corners at each end instead running it all in one straight race. We have got to be able to stand up fast the quick turns. 300 yd. Dash Finish

June 16-'43 Wednesday Dear Mother and all, It's a pretty sultry morning. Seems like it's gonna rain again today. Everyone is sleepy this morning. Last nite we had a Military Ball the girls wore formals. Had a big time, Coca Colas & Sandwiches served free any time. The days seem to pass fast. We keep busy all the time & don't have time think about the time. It's 7:30 A.M. and the news is coming on. We have been having English class from 7 to 8 but the teacher was not here this morning so we have an extra period today. Need it too as we have test on Spherical Geometry today. Now we start studying Logrithms. The aeroplanes are still busy over Europe. Has anyone heard from W.C. Crook lately? Haven't got any film for you yet. The stores here are run different from the Way they are there. They all close at 6PM on Saturday. And stay open later during the week. How is the ration program working there now? Since I'm in the Army I don't hear a thing about rationing except gas. Well no news to write about except everythings OK, and am feeling fine. Got to go get a hair cut now. Lot of Love, Austin

Friday June 18th Hello folks, Still busy as usual but tomorrow is Saturday again. The new boys came in this morning. They are from all over the United States and some have been overseas. We are sending Squadron East also so we advanced to the Top Flight next week. Took our test in Electricity today also think we are through with math. This morning we took 3 series of exercises without stopping then went outside and ran 1 mile then one more series of exercises then we got down and ran in a squatting position. The water poured out of us before we were through with all that. Looks like I would no gain weight doing that. No I did not get the negatives of the Florida Pictures. Well my feet are OK again. I got permission from the Medical Lieutenant to exchange my low shoes for a larger size. I had to send them off for exchange and have only the ones you sent from home to wear every day & Sunday too till they get back. They started letting us wear our fatigue suits to classes now and it sure saves us a lot of cleaning bills. They changed the gig system again - worse again, now we are allowed 7 gigs per week and have to walk 1 hour for each gig over 7. I still haven't had to walk any giggs off yet. Time for bed now. Solong till next time. Love to All, Austin

Monday June 21st Hello Mother & All, Glad to hear you were better this morning. Hope you are still improving. Went out to the airport today for the first time and the instructor went all around the plane & explained how it worked etc. Didn't get up today though as they were using all the parachutes. Am going up tomorrow though. Think I'll like it fine. Went on a picnic Sunday & rowing in a boat also swimming. Am through with Math, Physics. Now I have English, History, Civil Air Regulations, Geography, Meteorology & Flying & Physical training. Will have more time now maybe. Must be going. Will write about the trip as soon as I'm back. Don't worry I think the planes are safer than the bus we ride out to the airport in. Love Austin

Tuesday June 22nd Hello Folks, I'm back in the ground again and can't wait till tomorrow comes. Today in the hour I was up & flew the ship alone & landed & took off 3 times alone. The instructor was with me but I handled the plane. Really is a thrill & everything looks so differently from up above. There are lots of things to think about while in the air. It felt just as safe running the aeroplane as I would driving our tractor. It runs about the same as a John Deere tell John except that you have a stick to make it lean on its side by pushing sideways & makes it go either up or down by pushing it forward & back. You work the rudder with your feet the same as brakes on our tractor. The other boys in my room have all been up but none have landed or took off. Some went up yesterday & today both. They are very careful about inspecting the planes. There have been no accidents at all since this program has been going on here. Will stop now till tomorrow. Love Austin Hope you are up and feeling better now. I think I will learn to fly pretty easy. I believe I could take it now alone & take off & land.

Thursday June 24th Dear Mother, Wrote a letter this morning but have been up again this afternoon. Had a nice ride and did several new tricks. Did figure 8s and rectangles. Sure wish I could fly home sometime soon. I'd carry you up I bet. Don't expect to get to come home for a great while yet though. The cows sure look in good shape. Ran out of stationery & had to get these cards from a roommate to last the rest of this week. Expect to swim some over the weekend. Am having a good time & enjoying myself about as much as if I were home. Miss all the familiar faces though & Jack & Waits. Love Austin

Tuesday June 29th 1943 Dear Mother, The weather is quiet windy today but think we will get to fly anyway. Am listening to Everett Mitchell on The National Farm & Home Hour. I got one pair of my shoes back yesterday. Will have to buy myself a pair of low cut shoes. You don't have any stamp that I could use do you? I can get them without a stamp but have so much red tape to go through. I have to get my Commanding Officer to sign a statement that I need a pair etc. Started writing a card to some of the hands on the place and decided that if I didn't write to all they might get jealous. Will try & write to all of them sometime soon. Heard from Jack and he is helping make a motion picture "Guadalcanal Diary" The letter was censored. Tell Grandpa, Auntie, Sister & John Hello. All the time I have for today. Lots of Love, Austin P.S. The weather is real cool here today! Will need a coat am flying. Later After chores Tuesday nite Here are some of the criticisms on my speech I made. Each one was supposed to write a little criticism about the other fellow's speech. Started out too low Runs his words together Not very distinct Voice not very clear. Knew his subject rather well Too quiet-should talk louder. Otherwise interesting & well put Interesting Interesting discussion on agriculture Didn't talk loud enough Good organization Shows preparation Rather nervous - pronunciation good - inflection fair Had a check flight by a different instructor today. Did pretty good I think. Don't know what he thought though. All the others said he fussed at them but he just told me to use more rudder in making my turns. Got a letter from you this afternoon Tell Mr. & Mrs Grant hello