W. D. Hewitt
Mr. Mattson, Instructor
H. E. Daniels
A. R. Scott
G. J. Heller
H. H. Rice
Tom’s “X” identifies his classmate, Captain Gerhard John Heller, who was killed in a training accident December 19, 1943.
Tom’s letter of December 23, 1943 reads:
I witnessed my first fatal airplane accident on the afternoon of my birthday. A boy that came with us from Thunderbird and who lives in L.A., he stalled the plane at about 150′ in the air when he was taking off, and spun in. They don’t know what happened because they couldn’t find anything wrong with the plane, he probably pulled it off a little to (sic) fast and when it stalled he didn’t get the stick forward. One thing about such things even though they are awful tough on one person is that it makes about 200 safer pilots here at L.A.A.F. His picture is in the book I am sending you, under squadron III photos, I have his name checked it is G.J Heller. From what one of his buddies told me, he was to be married in L.A. Christmas Day and had a special leave for it.
C. B. Traasdahl
Mr. Baldwin, Instructor
O. D. Barker
D. L. Stricker
W. L. Jacke
R. F. Steinkamp
L. O. Hudspeth
Mr. Reed Instructor
E. W. Steinke
E. E. Taylor
R. N. Kimble
D. L. Stolp