Tom discusses more of his flight training adventures. All of the squadron’s clothing, which had been accidentally shipped to La Junta, Colorado, has returned, 9 days late.
By golly I am really ashamed of myself for not having written sooner. I have been trying to write for the last few nights, but last night we had to go to a basket ball game and the night before that we all had to go to another Malaria lecture. The only time that we have to write is between 7-9 pm., because at least, for the 1st 4 or five weeks our schedule is plenty full.
I guess I will start from the beginning and tell you just what have been doing here, but I first want to thank you for the box you sent I received it to day and was it swell, none of the cookies were broken and just about all of my favorites were there. I dont see where you found any time to do any baking but I am glad you did, thanks alot.
The day after we arrived here we were in the saddle. We get up at 5 am go to the flight line at 7 am and stay until 12,30 eat at 1 In ground school from 2 until 5pm PT 5 until 6-30 and finally get to eat supper, taps at 9.
I got to solo out in these A T 6s three days ago, I have 13 hrs in it now. They are really a swell plane and you can do anything with them, they mount 3 -30 cal guns machine-guns and can also carry about 10-30 lbs of fragmentation bonds, they handle nice in the air but are tricky on landings. the reason is that the wheeles are set so clos together, that when you land the plane wants to swing around. this is known as a ground loop and really means a mashed wing and a bent propellor as well as catching heck from the Major. so far I have been lucky, but alot of the fellows have not but I guess when you figure a prop. costs a couple thousand dollars being wrecked you cant just pass it over. about all we are doing now is just flying and getting the feel of the plane. Monday we start formation flying we get 14 hours of this, then night flying; flying cross crounties and acrobatics which means we will have 80 hrs here in the plane when we finish. My instructor is a plenty good Joe, he only received his wings about 2 mos ago so he has not had time to get rough. All of us here ordered our uniforms and if every thing goes O K we will be officers on Apr the 13. We still have alot to go through but if my luck holds out I should be O K.
Oh yes you remember reading “GOD IS MY CO PILATE” by COL SCOTT I got to see him and look all through his plane yesterday, He landed here at the field. His plane is a P 40 with a sharks head pained upon it with 13 Jap flags on the side with his name below them. I did not see him until i was taxing out to take off when he taxied by me. I guess he is about one of the best fighter pilotes we have. When we came here our barracks bags got lost and just arrived Wed, we have been wearing the same clothes for a week and two days included in the 9 days were 2 days on the train. We really had a time washing our socks and underwear at night and hoping they would dry by morning however everything is back to normal now with every one looking 100% better. here I have written a whole letter and have not even thanked you for your valentine, thanks a million it certainly seems that I have an awful lot to thank you for, not only seems so but I have___________Good night,
Tom.