Thurs. evening.

12-14-44

Dear Folks,

I just finished washing Zoe’s hair, she also washed mine but you know how women are when it comes to drying hair. Elaine I think you taught me pretty well how to wash women’s hair because I think I did a pretty good job.

Today was the day: I soloed out in the P61 and it is really just about everything I had hoped it would be. After only 30 min. flying Bob Clyde and I were up having a rat race doing all kinds of acrobatics that we hadn’t done since we left Luke Field.

No kidding for a plane that is as big and weighs as much as a B25^[1]B-25 twin engined medium bomber it certainly is remarkable. It handles awfully easy, however, it does have a few things that could be improved upon and from all reports the ones coming out now have everything under control. We have to get in 10 hrs. before we can take up our RO’s^[2]Radio Operator. Andy will really have it nice because he really has an office all his own in the back. The gunners position is right behind the pilot in the same enclosure but there isn’t any way for the RO to get up in front.^[3]The P-61 was designed for a 3-man crew: Pilot in the front, gunner right behind him, and Radar Operator in a separate compartment in the back. In practice,  the P-61 flew with just a pilot and RO. … Continue reading

It isn’t a very easy plane to bail out of, especially for the pilot but I haven’t seen one that was what you would call easy as yet.

Zoe, Jean (Bob’s wife), and Mary (Andy’s wife), are going out to the base tomorrow. We will be through about the middle of the afternoon so we’ll have dinner out there and go to the base movie.

We sent all the Christmas to Dad in two boxes by XX express. Hope you receive them in time and that everything is satisfactory. I really think we owe Stan an apology on his package, you will understand what I mean when you open it Stan. We’ll explain the why’s and wherefores after Xmas. Also, did you receive a box of raisins? We sent out several boxes through a store out here and wanted to know if we should start checking up on them. Let us know. In case you are wondering why I haven’t written sooner it is because we just got our packages off today and every evening for the last week we have really been busy.

Tell the folks hello and we’ll write again soon. Wish we were there for Xmas, it would seem alot more like Xmas with the kids.

Zoe wants to add a note.

With love, Tom

Hello –

I’ve been trying to do about ten things at once tonight – as a result nothing much has been accomplished. I’ve part of my hair done up and papers all over the floor trying to finish up our Xmas wrapping. It’s really a job when you have to mail most everything.

Wish you could see the family of cats we’ve taken over – they really belong to the neighbors but Jean + I have fed them so much that they spend most of their time here. They are black and white with large fuzzy tails. Karen would certainly have fun with them – the mother cat even wears a bell around her neck. We’re going to take some pictures – cats included -will send you some if they’re good.

Love, Zoe