Give Karen a pat to keep growing on and wish her a “Happy Birthday” from her Uncle Tom.

Sun. night.

Dear Folks,

I guess you are wondering just what has happened to my letters in the past week. I think I better blame it on the heat which has really been bad lately. It is too hot to sleep at night so any spare minute we get during the day is usually spent in sleeping.

You might as well not send any more letters to me until I let you know something more definite. We are supposedly leaving this weekend and we haven’t heard where we are going. Everyone thought it was Santa Anna^[1]Santa Ana Army Air Base in Costa Mesa, California but we have heard some conflicting reports the last few days. We call these rumors “latrinograms” because that is usually where they start.

I finished flying last Thurs. on which day I had my last check ride. It went pretty well – it wasn’t much different from a solo flight because the instructor didn’t touch the controls or say a word till we landed. It was plenty rough when we came down and my landing was a little sloppy because everytime I would get it down about 10′ above the ground a gust of wind would lift us up again. However, he gave me a good recommendation for primary.^[2]Primary Flight Training

Note:  According to The Army Air Forces in WWII… “Perhaps the most controversial phase of the curriculum was the ten hours of flight indoctrination.

The AAF did not desire this instruction in the college program; it was prescribed by the War Department and conducted in cooperation with the Civil Aeronautics Administration. Flying schools located near the colleges provided the training under contract. Since the purpose of this flying was only familiarization, operations were restricted to simple maneuvers in light aircraft, under dual control by instructor and student.

AAF observers criticized the training as of little value, charging that the students were “merely riding around for 10 hours.” A study conducted in 1944 showed that the indoctrination course helped students materially in the regular primary stage of flying training but gave them no appreciable advantage in later stages. Whatever its long-range value, the course was a morale booster for men who had waited months to learn to fly.”

I hope you got the package I sent. You probably didn’t have any trouble figuring out who’s present was who’s. I certainly hope the dresses fit Karen but I thought they were plenty big so she might have to grow into them. It doesn’t hardly seem possible for her to be a year old.

That is a year and one day. Did you fix a birthday cake for her? I guess if the weather permitted you went to the park for a picnic. I would like to be there to go on one with you this summer. The way I feel now that ice cold lake would be nothing short of heaven. Maybe next June 26th I can personally put Karen under the bed. ((Karen’s birthday was June 26, 1942.)

I don’t know what we are going to do this week. I heard that we will take several hikes and do alot of swimming which sounds good. However, my own opinion is that we will G.I. the barracks((clean the barracks) and have about 2 hours of drill and calesthenics.

Had a good time this weekend. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins weren’t going to be there but they wanted us to use the house so we cooked our own breakfast and really had a swell time. Mrs. Perkins had gotten ham and everything for us. Here’s what we had for breakfast: orange juice, canteloupe, corn flakes, milk, coffee, fried ham and eggs. I won’t have to eat for a week.

This afternoon was the last parade we will be in here and thank God for that, however, maybe the fellows won’t admit it but most of them have like it pretty well. Especially these last few weeks of flying. I certainly hope I get to continue on with it. In the last bunch from here that went to Santa Anna 27% washed out on the physical. Those are back at Fresno now. We get the 6-4 physical there which is the toughest of the bunch you might have heard of it, it takes several days to complete.

I will write you, if possible, as soon as I hear something definite. There were so many questions in your last letter I will have to answer them later.

Love, Tom

Wed. morning.

Dear Folks,

Just received your letter written on the 11th. Today I don’t have hardly a thing to do except think about what I am suppose to do on my check ride ^[1]Check ride = evaluation of basic flying skillstomorrow morning .I have had six lessons so far which amounts to about 5 hrs. in the air. Things are going pretty good and my instructor seems to think I am doing ok. However, I don’t know what the fellow who I have my check ride tomorrow will think. I am not worried about it because I think I can do everything we have had so far.

We are not suppose to solo here but my instructor told me yesterday that he would feel safe enough to let me solo after one more lesson. My worse trouble is in taking off I have a hard time in keeping the tail from swinging – till we get off the ground. There are alot of rules and regulations which they are very strict about at the airport. Airliners and alot of army planes are coming in all the time and it is really pretty crowded and I would hate to run into anything – with our little Interstates. ^[2]his small training aircraft) I think Dad enjoyed his visit even if it was pretty short. It was funny; Mrs. Perkins asked why Cleda didn’t come and Dad said that there wasn’t much time for … Continue reading It didn’t seem so difficult, but the “flying turns” are mild compared to it.

It is almost time to go to lunch so will sign off. Stan, you better start worrying about Karen getting any more teeth or she will be eating all your cookies.

Love, Tom

Happy Fathers’ Day

References[+]

References

↑1

Check ride = evaluation of basic flying skills

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his small training aircraft) I think Dad enjoyed his visit even if it was pretty short. It was funny; Mrs. Perkins asked why Cleda didn’t come and Dad said that there wasn’t much time for a visit and that he wanted all of my free time. I think he told Cleda that traveling conditions were too bad. I don’t think she liked the whole thing very well. We really had a swell time. We used Mr. Perkins’ car so we didn’t have any trouble getting around. https://brooksidepress.org/cartmell/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Tom-Dr-Cartmell-in-Phoenix-637x1024.jpg 637w, https://brooksidepress.org/cartmell/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Tom-Dr-Cartmell-in-Phoenix.jpg 648w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px" /> Karen must really be getting her choppers. You should have heard Dad brag about her to the Perkins. He said you folks were going to Wisconsin for a week and then to Greenville a week. The rest of the fellows in the flight have been living here ever since they came which was about Feb. 28th. We have alot more free time now but I don’t know where it goes. We have to be in bed by 9:00 P.M. when flying and depending which group we are in sometimes get up at 4:10 A.M. and fly about 6:30. We have had all our low pattern work in flying. Such things as rectangular course, S turns, elementary 8’s, two bank 8’s, and then practice about everyday on force landings. It seems that they want us to know that pretty good. Sometimes when he shuts the motor off and you start looking for a place to land all the places look so small that a sparrow would have trouble landing. However, when you get lower things appear larger. We have also been working on power on, and power off stalls up at 2500! Yesterday he showed me some “lazy eights,” and a chandel(sp?)((A Chandelle is a 180 degree climbing turn.

Mon. morning.

Dear Folks,

Since I last wrote to you alot has happened. As you can see I am no longer in Flight M but flight J. Fir. night they told me that I and one other fellow from M were being transfered to J. I got out of 4 exams and start flying in about 45 min. No more classes except C.A.R. (civil air regulations and fly 4 times one week and 5 the next, keep alternating that way supposedly for a month and then go to Santa Anna. ^[1]Santa Ana Army Air Base in CaliforniaWe are only suppose to get 10 hrs. while here for much longer than 3 weeks. Flights G, H and I shipped out last night and they were only flying a little over a week. We are next on the list. You should see these living quarters here. I move in to the new dorm. There are two men to a room with a sleeping room off to the side:

All the drawers and cabinets are built in, flourescent (sp?) lights, venetian blinds, big new easy chairs and furniture, and interspersed beds. The building is built on the order of those modern housing projects.

I hated leaving Sam and all the fellows that I had been with since I left Chicago, Feb. 23rd, however, the fellows here are ok and it is a break. Most of the fellows are married and a little older. I think all of them are boxers, the flight leader holds the middle weight championship.

The bus picks us up in a little while so will finish this letter later. We might not fly today but no doubt I will have alot more to tell you tonight.

Mon. night.

I really had a surprise today. I got a box full of things that aren’t seen very much down here anymore. The box contained everything from raisins to cracker jacks. Thanks alot but I am afraid you folks had to use some of your points. ^[2]Points were part of the rationing system during the war. Save those for yourself. All of it certainly was appreciated and is being put to the best of use.

Now for the days’ happening: We didn’t get to fly today, but were on  the flight line all morning learning how to make a line check on the plane and other safety precautions that they insist upon. The planes are pretty nice, little “Interstate Cadets“. They are real little but good to learn on. We start to fly tomorrow and I don’t know if alot of these fellows will be able to take another night of waiting or not. Of course I am not the least bit anxious. I don’t think any of us had more than a cup of coffee for breakfast this morning. All the planes are equipped with paper sacks for emergencies. My roommate is almost certain he will have to use his. The instructor I had this morning was really a swell fellow. I certainly hope I get him because from what I hear some of them are really hard to get along with.

I received a telegram from Dad saying he would be here either Fri. or Sat. morning at 1 AM. I won’t be able to see him till 2:00 Sat. afternoon. I think he plans on going back about Mon.

Last weekend Mrs. Perkins had got dates for Sam and I and had made reservations at the Corinthian Room (the same thing to Phoenix as the Empire Room is to Chicago). I had a swell date the girls name was Virginia Roche, she was with Bebe at Stevens. ^[3]Stephens College, Columbia, MissouriA small world isn’t it? We really had a swell time, it was the first time I had danced since I had been in the army. It is surprising how much a change relaxes a person.

We just had a meeting and I fly at 8:30, my instructors name is Henry. We have to be in bed by nine now so will close.

Love, Tom

Wed. night.

Dear Folks,

I can’t seem to remember just when I wrote you last but I hope it wasn’t too long ago. I received the Advocates ^[1]The Greenville Advocate was his home town newspaper.and thanks alot. It is interesting to find just what is going on at home.

From what I gather from your last letter (27th May) Karen is really beginning to express herself, saying “Bye Bye” etc.

I am glad you liked the picture, however, I had noticed the wrinkle in the shirt. That can be blamed on the G.I. laundry. They certainly do ruin clothes but they do get them clean which is important. We can send all we want to for $1.50 a month which comes out of our pay if we send any laundry or not. That is plenty cheap when I look back and think of the times I would pay $2.00 a week for it in Evanston. ^[2]Evanston, Illinois, is where Northwestern University is located. Tom attended Northwestern for two years before joining the Army.

The war news sounds pretty good, but the coal strikes don’t seem to help matters any. I think those fellows would change their ideas alot if they were in the army a short time. Here if we don’t like something we can complain but there isn’t nothing to do but go ahead and do as told.

In calesthenics we are devoting about 45 min. of the period to the art of “judo” which to me isn’t anything other than dirty fighting. Wrestling is tame compared to it.

We have an expert from the west coast teaching it. I haven’t figured out how we are to practice yet because when you start fighting the main object is to kill the person as quick as possible. We have been practicing so far on just how to jump on a person and dig in your heels and also where to kick in order to break the back. It certainly seems funny being taught this after having been taught sportsmanship all the early part of your life. Yes, alot of ideas are being changed or destroyed. However, we all act like a bunch of kids yet.

You can probably tell from the letter that I am tired and not in a very good mood. Mon. night we had a G.I. party ^[3]general cleaning of the common spaceswhich lasted till 10:30 and meant we got 6 hrs. sleep. Last night we had a compulsory military film which lasted till 11:00 and that meant about 5 1/2 hrs sleep. Near the end of the week everyone gets feeling lazy so it isn’t just me.

I am glad you told Bob not to get the slide rule, $14 is to much. The movie camera I told you about isn’t what I wanted. I have been looking around for a Bell and Howel but they aren’t being made any more. I would like to have a record of the things I have been going through but for the present I guess I will have to keep them in my mind.

Stan you will have to take in a couple of those night football games next year out at Dyche. ^[4]Dyche Stadium is the Northwestern University football field. I imagine that was quite a lighting project.^[5]Dyche stadium hosted the Chicago College All-Star Game in 1943 and 1944, at night, with the use of temporary lights. If I remember right there weren’t any lights before.

Have you played any golf yet? I might play a little this Sat. but my trouble is that by the time Sat. comes I don’t feel like doing much walking. They have a nice 18 hold course near the Perkins home. We have stayed there every weekend so far.

I believe Dad is planning on coming out here next weekend. I haven’t heard yet for certain but I imagine he will if he can get tickets.

I haven’t heard from Steve for a couple of weeks but I believe he is still at Norfolk. From the sound of his letter he didn’t care for it very much. I guess there are so many of them there that they get pushed around even if they are officers. Bob Lake is in Hawaii and has seen Bill Fichthorne. He seems to like it O.K. ^[6]I can’t identify Bob Lake, or Bill Fichthorne.

Wed. night.

Dear Folks,

I hope you will bear with me and the typewritter,(sic) but between the two of us things don’t seem to be going any too well. I received your letter today as well as one from Dad. You had alot of questions in yours so I guess I can answer them. I had heard that Mary was present when Bill got Zoe’s flowers,^[1]I don’t know who Mary and Bill are, or the circumstances of the flowers. however, I haven’t heard from her for some time maybe it is because I have only written her once. Zoe is having exams now, I don’t know when she starts summer school.

About Mr. Alert, the fellow that was going to jump off the cliff. As far as I know he is still in the hospital, at least he hasn’t been back here.

I am glad you like the stationery, but it wasn’t so very expensive. One hundred sheets and envelopes for 2 dollars.

To explain the merit system: a gig and a demerit are the same thing and if you get more than five gigs you get your pass taken away and have to walk and hour tour for each over. For doing something extra special or doing something better than usual you get merits which will cancel gigs and therefore lets you go in to town when you wouldn’t ordinally get to.

I told you about that bunch being shipped out to Santa Anna ^[2]Santa Ana Army Air Baseawhile back, anyway we heard today that 40% got washed out because of eyes. Thats a lot bigger than the usual percentage, maybe now we will get some decent lights to study by.

Having something like that happen to the first bunch out of here doesn’t help the C.O. any especially when he is bucking for a majors commission.

I am about decided to invest some of my government earned money in an 8mm movie camera. Do you think it would be foolish? There are alot of things happening that I might someday want to recall. Several of the fellows have them and I can get one for around $35. with a 3.5 lens.

Dad had very favorable reports on Karen but said that you (Elaine) looked a little thin. I have heard that many ties before and probably it was because you had just got over a cold. I hope you are all well by this time. I have been trying to get rid of a cough for the past three weeks but it is really hard to do down here. You get so hot and sweating and then go in to the dinning hall and have to sit right in front of a water air conditioner. Dad also said that Cleda behaved fine on the trip but wasn’t much better than usual when she was home. Dad is planning to come out here in the near future, maybe he mentioned it to you. He gave me three dates to pick from so I guess he is all set. It seems like an awful long way to come just to see a person for 25 hours but it will be good to see him. I also got a letter from Bob Lake and he is in Hawaii and has seen Bill Fichthorne who is now a Sgt. (poor guy) ^[3]I don’t know anything about either of these two men.

It really sounds like Karen has mastered everything there is. I should be able to expet a letter from her anytime now, don’t you think? From the poem “Traffic Jam” that you sent I can picture the apartment pretty well. I guess it won’t be long till you will have to start putting everything that is loose about three feet off the floor. I wish I were there to go on a picnic with you and I would still insist on pushing the buggy.

This is getting to be too much of a letter for me to write, and beside that I have some Navigation to do yet tonight.

Say Stan I thought you would be about through studying by this time. What’s the trouble, are you taking the course over again? We aren’t so tough here in fact after running three miles we hardly have enough energy to go on our pass. (I have my fingers crossed.) For all we know they might be going to make paratroopers out of us.

Goodnight—–

Love, Tom

Sun. afternoon

Dear Folks,

I have finally got some stationary. I had ordered it about 2 weeks ago but it just arrived today. The C.O. said it was ok to have aviation cadet on them that way we can use it throughout our training.

Mr. and Mrs. Perkins drove us back. We have about an hour before our parade. Our flight won the squadron competition last week so we are putting on an extra drill today. I hope everything goes ok. because if we win that means a couple of extra merits. The way they are starting to gig now all of us can use all the merits we can get.

Your letter was waiting for me when we got back. It was really swell to get the pictures. Karen certainly has grown alot, no kidding, in the picture where she is standing on the porch she looks like a young lady.

Did Ira Lee ^[1]I don’t know who this is.find his way out there ok? How did he make out with the navy? I hope he thought thinks over before he made up his mind.

The Perkins told me to take their car and go out to eat last night. Sam and I were driving around and saw one of our roommates and a couple other fellows from school so we picked them up. We went out to the edge of town to the Steak House where we really had a meal. As a result all of us are about broke, however, we all enjoyed it. When we left who should be coming in but Lt. Jarnier, our squadron C.O. He seemed quite amused that we would be there and gave us a nice smile, salute, and a “hello men.”

If the folks on there now tell them hello, I thought it was this weekend they were to be there instead of this Tues.

I am going to have to get ready for the parade. I have an exam in navigation tomorrow and I don’t think I will have any time to put more on this letter so will mail it now.

I don’t know if I told you or not but the Physics prof told me I had the highest average in the class. It isn’t very tough. Stan I guess you will be glad to be able to forget about school for awhile and settle down to something really tough like a couple rounds of golf every Sat. Yesterday morning we ran 3.25 miles I made it in 27 min. That was my best time so far. I got a good second wind and didn’t have a bit of trouble over the last 2 miles.

Love, Tom.

Wed. morning.

Dear Folks,

I can’t remember just when I wrote you last. Time is passing pretty fast but not fast enough to suit everyone. There were 150 that left for Santa Anna^[1]Santa Ana Army Air Base, in southern California, was the west coast major pre-flight training center for Army Air Force replacement pilots. last Sat. and a new squadron is to come in today.

We had a little excitement around here yesterday. One of the fellows in our squadron that I knew at Fresno left a note saying if he didn’t get transfered out of the air corps he would jump off the “butte”. A large hill just a couple of blocks away. It looks like this (drawing of a steep sided hill). I knew he had applied for a transfer but I didn’t know he was a set to crack. I knew that fellows have been known to but I think something must be a little wrong with them.

The mail just came and I will take time out to read your letter.

To answer your question: The Perkins’ address is Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Perkins, 1631 N. 13th Ave, Phoenix, Ariz.

It is just the two of them, they haven’t any family. Sam and I took them a present last weekend, he a shirt and her a pin. We were there all weekend and really had another swell time. The cookies you sent disappeared pretty fast so you can tell that they were plenty good.

Stan I appreciated Karen’s letter and tell her, or better yet just let her read this, that I am expecting to hear from her again, very soon.

I wish I could send you some of this warm weather in fact just about 75% of it is in the afternoon.

It does look like things are about cleared up in Tunis.^[2]The battle of Tunisia was over by May 12, 1943, with the surrender of all German and Italian troops to the Allies. However I am afraid there is still a lot to be done in Europe and Japan. What ever your plans are I hope they work out ok.

I guess Dad and Cleda will be up to see you this weekend. I got a letter from Dad also today.

Maybe you are wondering how I can be writing this morning: We have a swimming period from 10-12 and not very many went this morning. It is about the only thing that isn’t compulsory.

I got giged ^[3]gigged means a penalty point for not getting the bunch up on time but only one so was pretty lucky.

They didn’t pull any wisdom teeth yet. They think the lowers will be ok, but they want the upper to grow out a little farther and then pull it.

If I can pick up a hand grenade around here some where I will send it to you. That should straighten out the people up stairs.

Tell Helen and Norm hello. ^[4]Helen and Norm Higgs…good friends of Elaine and Stanley

Love, Tom

Dear Folks,

I have been sitting here in the office since 12 yesterday noon and I have 5 hours yet to go. The one good thing about this job is that you don’t have to go to classes. The official title is C.Q. (charge of quarters) you have to answer all the phone calls, get the officers’ mail, see that everyone signs in and out, make a bed check after taps, and get everyone up at 5:15. However, this morning the switch-board operator didn’t wake me up and a result the whole squadron slept till 15 till 6:00. I haven’t heard what’s going to happen yet.

We really had a swell weekend. Mrs. Perkins met us downtown Sat. afternoon and took us out to her home. We weren’t able to get a hotel room and when they heard this rather than letting us go back out to school they had us stay there.

The Perkins home, in 2016, imaged through Google Street View.

This home is really beautiful in fact it would run a close race with anything Hollywood could offer. Anyway they told us they wanted us to stay there every weekend and that that room was ours as long as we were here. In case you wonder who who we are, Sam went with me and they really took a liking for him. Sat. for dinner they took us out to the country club and we had a turkey dinner on the lawn. After this they took us to the movie which they already had tickets for. We came back to the house and sat around and talked till about 1:30. Didn’t get up till 10:30 and she even had a great big breakfast ready for us. Mr. Perkins gave us one of his electric razor to use, after shaving lotion, and by this time they were calling things our room so he said he would put the things in our drawer in our room for us to use every weekend. To top things off, after breakfast he told us he wanted us to use his car on the weekends so he gives us the extra car keys and says he will leave them in the drawer. They have an Oldsmobile and a Buick, both new. Even yet all this seems like a dream. Each room has its own bath and our room has one of those glass comfortment showers made out of frosted glass.

I thought you never saw things like that except in the movies. They even wanted to drive out here and get us every Sat. afternoon but there isn’t any need for that. I think they were afraid we wouldn’t come back. Mrs. Perkins told us she had ordered extra milk for us on the weekends so we had to be sure and stay there. Talk about hospitality.

When we came back Sun. afternoon our squadron won first place in the parade which gives us two merits apiece. Out on the parade ground it was 110 degrees but I guess these salt tablets are doing the stuff because no one passed out.

I received your letter yesterday and it appears that you have really been rushing around.

I hope by this time everything is back to normal. It doesn’t hardly seem possible that Karen pulled herself up to a standing position but it won’t be many more days till she will be having her birthday cake.

Phoenix looks a lot different than the time were were there before in  fact I couldn’t remember much of anything. You asked about the fellows in my room. All are from Ill. Brink is from Amboy and he went to U. of I. Bolles from Chicago went to N.U.

I wasn’t in the hospital just confined to quarters for 2 days. C.T.D. means college training detachment. The corp. was just in and I have to sort mail so will close.

With love, Tom

Fri. morn.

Dear Folks,

We got off of drill this morning to get paid and I have a few minutes extra.

All the fellows are planning a big weekend. I think most of them including myself are going to sleep the larger part of the 25 hrs. I called Mrs. Perkins last night and she wrote to meet us tomorrow afternoon. Sam and I are going together so I told her he would be with me. She didn’t seem to mind. We are suppose to get our grades one of these days. It is recall the first time in my life I am not much worried about them and I haven’t done much studying. Has Karen learned how to chin herself yet?

Tom.