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November 1943

Nov. 7th, 1943 Dear Mother and Sister, Have been kinda busy this past week so didn't get to write very often. I have 30 hours of flying in now! We get 65 before we leave here. I also got "2 hours" of instrument blind flying in a Link Trainer. Was glad to get the letter from John last week. Have been writing to some of my old roommates that are at different Detachments this morning. Am doing just dandy flying and am learning something new every day. They are real careful with the ships and they are inspected every day and O.K.ed after each flight too. Have a little cold this morning it seems. I'm due an Army check ride about Monday. The new boys are here and they are really eager to fly. LATER: It's 2 P.M. Now I had a nice lunch, boiled ham, ice cream cake etc. We still have swell meals. Fish every Friday. Liver & onions about once a week. Some green food every meal. I just packed up a few little things to send you. The 44C Class book and some other little magazines etc. Something to read. Also a little key chain for John or M.F. Tell sister I don't think she has a secret any more. I got about 3 letters one day telling me about her secrets (ha ha) Paul Sale and a couple more. Hope they have got the fence deal settled and get the fence up. That sure will be nice. I got a letter from Harvie King the other day & really enjoyed it. It was just like he always talked. If I can find it I'll send it along (ha ha) I must be stopping now, I am still sewing insignias on my clothing (ha ha) Am going to get one a nice blouse next week if I get off in time to get to Fresno before the stores close. Most of the boys were issued officers blouses but I got there just as they ran out. Love to all, Austin

Monday nite 8th Dear Folks, I got your letter tonight & you seemed to be kinda worried about not hearing from me. I told you I would probably be too busy last week to write much. I got letters from Frank Bonds & Curtis too tonight! I didn't get that package mailed yet. We don't have a post office if just have to meet the mail man on Mon., Wed or Friday nite when we need any stamps, etc. He has already gone for tonight. I had my check with a lieutenant this morning passed it O.K. I think he liked my Southern accent (ha ha) He asked where I was from. I don't expect I can send a bond home this month. I have to pay $65 per month for my room & board here in this civilian school also pay for laundry but make 122.00 so still get a little over 50. Clear. Am supposed to make $75 clear but there is some catch in this system someway. I also intend to get a blouse which will cost about $35. The news sounds pretty good doesn't it. I just mailed you a letter this morning so may wait & write a little more tomorrow before I send this. Everything is just fine here and I'm not having any more trouble with teeth or anything else (haha) How's the fencing coming? Let me know what Mr. Green says about the line will ya! We have 3 'air inspectors' here this week. A Colonel & 2 captains. I'll probably give one of them a ride before the week is gone (no kiddin') Am passing all my ground school subjects so far with ease. We will have a book similar to the 44-C class book with all our pictures in it. My picture is in that one too by my plane. That was when we first started flying & hadn't been issued all my equipment then. Goodnite for now Love & heaps of it Austin

Saturday Nite Mar 13th 1943 Dear One & All Have finally gotten enough time to at least start a letter to you. We have been busy all day & to top it all we had a cross country run for our physical training. Ran about 2 miles out across this desert & then walked a ways & ran back. Then they gave us open post at 5:30. I didn't go any where so will get my sleep tonight. I really got a nice blouse from another cadet and saved me making the trip to Fresno too. They took out pictures for the class book the other nite. I really do look fat in that big coat and helmet. I mailed the package, I spoke of before, last nite. I took a "captain" up for a check ride the other day & he gave me a "straight satisfactory" grade. That is the best grade they give. It goes like this 1. straight satisfactory, 2. satisfactory, 3. minimal satisfactory & 4. unsatisfactory. He was one of the Air Inspectors visiting the field & just spot checking a few cadets at random. So I was one they picked. I had already passed 2 other checks before that so was kinda getting used to check rides. Will have another one at 45 hours & another army check at 55 hours. I will try to explain a little about this program. We will graduate from Primary in Dec. go to Basic training where we fly bigger ships & fly by radio & instruments instead of looking at the ground, after about 9 weeks there we will go to Advance training where we will get regular fighting ships & fly formations & Practice gunning or bombing whichever type I plane we are flying. After finishing that we will get our wings & a commission as 2nd Lieutenant & go across in a few weeks. Will remain a cadet until I am ready to start fighting in other words. There are chances that you will be made a "Flight Officer" which draws the same pay as a 2nd lieutenant but is not concidered quite as high a rank as lieutenant.They change some regulations everymonth so it's hard to tell just what we will be when we finish here. (haha) That's the best I can explain it though. It's about 10 o'clock so I'll go to bed now and write more tomorrow. Have to sleep under 3 wool blankets now but still gets pretty warm around noon. I heard the Grand Ole Opera tonight on the radio. Heres a P-38 Lightning fighter plane. Those two round things hanging under it are extra gas tanks which they can drop after they use the gas out Come back on their regular supply of gas. The extra tanks are used for long distance raids. It can carry bombs too but is used mostly to protect the regular big bombers from enemy fighter planes. i just got a magazine from the PX which explains a lot of things about the Air Forces. I'll send it to you soon. It has lots of good stories and maybe you can get some idea how & what we are doing- I know I had no idea of what an aeroplane was like before I got into one (ha ha) Its a pretty morning here, I think Wagaman & I are going into town to a show this afternoon. I got up at 8 this morning. Had French Fried toast & syrup, Grape Fruit, cereal, bacon for breakfast. Feel swell. Hope this letter will come Air Mail it may be too heavy with all these cards in it. We won't get our class books until we graduate from here. I'm in Class 44-D They number each class that way the one ahead of us was 44-C. That means they will finish their training the 3rd month in 1944. Us the 4th month in 1944 etc. But they have rushed up the schedule now & we will get through ahead I that time I expect (Not sure though). My new blouse cost $42.50, our shirts cost $8 & pants $10 to $12. Won't be buying any more clothing though soon. undeageafternooto at latest start in May We have been away all day of to & to top it all well heard of Greece! Country rum for Pan Am - there Jane Johnson almost 2 weeks I think waited & where poor old me it to not advanced rank They charge me $134. I don't know where so will get my sleep some regulations here tonight & feel just what we'll see when we finish here. We'll have letters from another caller and heard the mail bring that the next I can explain it though. Hope you have good weather & get the crops out OK. I got a letter from Bro. Arant this week. He seemed sorry to leave. Passed a lot of compliments of you & sister too. Enjoy the radio & record player we have here lots. I'll have to close now. I need to shave & get reaky for lunch. Thanks a lot for the gum, sister. I expect I can get gum easier here now than you can. Tell all the folks hello, hope you have a nice Thanksgiving day.I am sure we will get a good dinner. We are going to fly that day but there are about 25 invitations for boys to visit in homes around here & the Captain will let those boys off for the day. Solong & Love to all Austin

Just come back from school when we had an Engine Examination - Also Had our pictures taken for our class book. Only At time to write but a little. Everything OK here, hope you are all OK-Word has gotten around now back at home that every time I go up the fillings come out of my teeth. Try to stop that rumor will ya! (ha ha) No more toothaches lately - Solangy and tonight Words of love & kisses to you both Austin Some fancy writing, not much better than when I lived in Memphis.(ha ha)

2:00 PM Tuesday Nov. 16, 43 Dear Mother, I'm on the flight-line now and it's so cloudy & misty looking the airport is closed. We are waiting around now hoping it will clear up soon. I know we will have to fly next Sunday now & maby the next one too. This is the first day we have missed flying yet. Did Miss Josie Bell get to see the "Guadalcanal Diary" picture? I bet Jack does kinda stretch the dangerous parts of his training (ha ha) I haven't heard from him in a long time. I meant to mark the things I wanted you to read in that magazine but sent it before I thought. There's a story about a big jump from primary to Basic Training for Cadets. That's where I go next. To a Basic school. It will probably be here in California too. Sister asked what I wanted for Christmas! Well I really don't know myself. Would like to come home. (ha ha) Don't buy anything expensive for me. I already have most everything I can keep up with in the Army (ha). All be changing fields just before Christmas. We may get 3 days off but that won't help me much. Sure wish I was a lot closer to home. You see where I got transferred to the West Coast Training Command was in the extra month I stayed in Florida. Otherwise I would be in Arkansaw or Mississippi now. I got a letter from Edna yeaterday A plane just took off to go up and observe the weather. I wish they would either let us fly or go back to the barracks. This is some good sack (sleep) time going to waste. (haha) Well theyfinally decided to let them fly dual (2to a plane). I was not scheduled dual so don't guess I'll get to fly today.Will still have to stick around the flight line though all afternoon. We go out to drill these mornings way before daylight. They can't even see us out there to tell wnether we are drilling or not. The days are really short here. That is the daylight is. We still have the same schedules & work on until after dark too. We can hardly see the flag being lowered at Retreat. I'll close now with worlds of love. Bye now Austin

Nov. 17, 1943 8:30 PM

Sunday RELIGIOUS SERVICE BASIC TRAINING CENTER #9 THIS SPACE FOR MESSAGE TO THE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE MEN OF BASIC TRAINING CENTER NO. 9. This program has been de- signed for mailing to you so that you may know that your son, or your relative or friend is at- tending the religious services of this Post. Wm. I. Howell, 1st Lt. Chaplain BTC #9 PINETREE BAND STAND [PIE TREE DRIVE & 41ST STREET] Sunday February 14 1015 CHAPLAIN W.E. HOWELL 1ST LT. OFFICE: ROOM 709 CADILLAC HOTEL (To mail insert in envelope and write "Free" in top right corner)

ORDER OF SERVICE Organ Prelude: Andante Cantabile-Tschaikowsky Pfc. Curtis G. Amps Call to Worship: #1 Doxology - Bourgeois Hymn #112 - Come, Thou Almighty King - Giardini Responsive Reading #49 - "The Way of Life" Tenor Solo: "My Dream City" - Gabriel Pvt. Montie D. Ball Scripture Lesson Morning Prayer - Dr. Charles Schall Announcements Hymn #132 - Wonderful Words of Life - B Bliss Message: "This is the Victory" Rev. Wm. S. Meyer, D.D. Hymn #104 - Sun of My Soul - Cesangbuch Benediction - Lt. W.E. Howell, Chaplain BTC#9 Postlude: Traumerei - Schumann Pfc. Amps

Hello Mother & Folks, Just back from school and have a few minutes before I have to get ready for bed. Had a big time in the air today. We went up to 7500 ft and came down in 4 loops, a half roll half loop & an Immelmann turn. Here's the way it looks (haha). (Hand drawn image) We had an officer back from the War (a pilot) who had been on 50 missions over Germany & is now here on leave. He talked to us about his experiences & everything - He flew a B-17 Flying Fortress. I also flew the Link Trainer today. We made rectangular courses by the watch. A recorder makes a track on paper of the course you fly. You use a gyro compass & a watch. Here's the way my course looked. You are under a hood & can't see a thing except your instruments. (Hand drawn image) 1. Start-Fly north for 2 minutes 2. 270° left turn Fly east 2 minutes 3. 450° right turn 2 minutes south 4. 270° left turn 2 minutes west 5. 450° right turn and end. If you time it right & make all the turns with the same bank & rate, you will end up exactly on the same line you started from. You really have lots of instruments to watch. Keep same altitude, air speed, etc.

Sunday Nov. 21st Dear Mother, How is everyone around home? I'm fine & dandy. We flew all afternoon today. I had 3 planes to fly. I also got my 45 hour check-ride. Made satisfactory on it. Yesterday we had another rain cloud that came up while I was up. I went back to my ole standby & landed our number 9 auxiliary along with 23 other planes. This time though it kept on raining until nite so we stayed over there in a little house without any fire or lights till about 8:30 when they sent a truck out after us. We really ate a big supper when we did get in. It was good experience for us & will make us watch the weather more closely. We got up at the regular time this morning and met the reveille formation then came back to bed till about 8 o'clock. We only (that in my flight) another flight flies in the mornings—fly 1/2 day at a time. We didn't have any ground school, P.T., or drill this morning as usual. I have 49 hours and 132 landings now. We need 65 hrs & 175 landings to leave here around Dec. 5th. We'll have them if we have to fly every Sunday too (haha) Haven't had any trouble with my teeth or sinus troubles. Take such good care of myself I don't get a chance to catch a cold. A'm listening to the electric phonograph. We really have lots of good records. Keeps me busy changing records though. I'll have to make this kinda short tonight. Tell sister & John hello. We start another week tomorrow. It's going to seem funny without any weekend between. Lots of love to all. Hope the crops are about out. Goodnight to the Sweetest in the World, Bye—Austin

Nov. 24th Dear Mother & Sis, Hope you haven't worried about not getting any mail. I have really been busy & had to go to school at nite this week too. This morning the fog is so thick we haven't got the signal to take off yet. Am on the flight line now waiting for it to clear. We already have our planes warmed up. It won't be long now until we will be finished up here. We may have to fly next Sunday too if we don't get good weather the rest of the week. We are buying our instructor a wrist watch as a gift. He has really been nice & taught us a lot about flying. There are six of us in his group. We are going to fly a cross-country trip next Monday or Tuesday. We go to fresno, circle the airport then fly to Madera & land for a rest period then fly back home. It will be something different and give us a chance at reading our new maps. Here it is 8:30 and still we can't get off. If we had good weather & got all our hours in by Dec. 2nd we would have gotten a 3 day pass until Dec. 5th. I might have gone to San Francisco to see Waits. I will have to close now. Lots of love and hope everythings O.K. Bye, Austin 8:30 PM Hi ya now. I got a letter from you tonite. What was the picture of the A/C for. I don't know him do I?

Nov. 27th Dear Folks, Just a line or two early this morning. Didn't write yesterday. We are having our dance tonight in the hangar & Graduation exercises Sunday at 2 p.m. I will graduate with 60 hours. Some with 62 some with 65. My instructor says that shouldn't make me feel bad because they picked the ones that needed the most hours to give 65 hours etc. I have passed all my flying check rides & have only 6 more hours to fly here. The weather has been so bad was the reason they had to cut some of our hours off. We haven't heard for sure but expect to leave Dec. 5th. Yes, I shave with my electric razor about half the time. Glad you liked the magazines etc. There's a piece about Cadets in Colliers this week "Wing Talk." The other books that I sent home had been in my locker a few days while I was spraying it for ants. "I got them mad about him. Sad about him. How can I be glad without him blues" is on the radio now. Made me wonder if Gene Steele is still playing over the Memphis station. Bet you are having some good eating now that you have killed hogs. I weigh 184 still. Yesterday I ran 5 miles—that is it would run 3/4 then walk 1/4 and so on for 10 rounds around a 1/2 mile track. Didn't get tired at all, am a little sore in my leg muscles though this morning. Yes & sleep well I sound every nite. Don't wake up till the bugle blows or either I get chilly if have to put more cover on. Yes if John can make out one partnership tax form then each of us can make out another individual report. Have him send me a copy of the partnership when its all finished if possible. Will have my class book to send pretty soon. (about a week) Love & kisses Austin

Sunday Nov. 28 Dear Mother, It's 4:30 PM and everyone is leaving the post for a few hours open post. They can stay off until 9:00 PM tonight. We had our Cadet Dance last nite & the graduation exercises today which just ended. We had several nice talks by some high ranking officers & by one Veteran of the Spanish American & World Wars. I went to protestant services this morning. It was real nice & we really did have some good singing. Sung songs that we used to sing at Mack Church too. We are leaving Dec 5th all right. Most of us are going to Lancaster, Cali., about 70 miles North of Los Angeles. I here its a pretty good place to train too. Some few are going to Arizona & 9 to other schools in Northern Cali. We are flying every other day mornings then the next day afternoon this week. If we are through flying by Wednesday nite we will get a pass Thursday & Friday. The news is just coming on the radio now. There seems to be some big announcement everyone is expecting to hear. A bad earthquake in Turkey we heard. They are really bombing Berlin it seems. Gabriel Heatter is the newscaster. I decided not to leave just for this few minutes We would have off. There is no ways to get to town except hitch hike & it about 11 miles & when you get there the show will be filled up with no seats left. LATER: Its time for bed now - Have got to make my bed up. The guest from Fresno slept in our apartments last nite. We had to bunk with some of the lower class cadets in another quadrant. Didn't get any mail Sat. or today. Hope you are getting my mail kinda regularly. I know I have missed several days writing. Lot of love to all. Austin