Year: 1939

Editor’s Note:  On November 16, 1939, Al Capone is freed from Alcatraz prison.

11/17/39 Original Letter

11/17/39
Randolph Field
Universal City, Tx.

Darling:
A lull in the storm so I shall attempt to squeeze in a letter.
No, it doesn’t seem possible that we are 1300 miles apart, but the distance is beginning to hurt and the time to drag.
The trip down here was not particularly interesting, but it was fun. Don and Dick Snow are my room-mates. Burt* is in the next room. All of the members of my squad are from Chicago. Damn.

Xmas list is enclosed and looks ok. I believe I shall send out cards if I’m still here for they have some nice ones over at the PX. I am sending the enclosure to cover the cost of dishes and bath mats. The time that we can use them seems awfully far away just now.
The set-up here is horrible just now. The existing upper class, as in Chicago, was not preceded by a higher class. As a result, their ability as leaders is nil and we are left in the lack on many vital points. We are thus hazed when we should be instructed. Fortunately, flying starts Monday and we shall have much less trouble. Right now I’m nervous as hell, if you can imagine that. It is not from anything that happens, but because we have no idea what to do when. Well, Honey, I’ve taken lots worse than this, so it isn’t too bad. If I can get through the flying, I shan’t be worried, as the ground school isn’t as bad here as at Curtiss**.
Tell Willy to be sure my Randolph Field Address doesn’t appear in the January Issue, and if possible, just give call letters or nothing at all. There is a cadet regulation which might be embarrassing. Of course, I submitted the story before I fell under the regulation, so I am clear. But we might as well not have any questions asked.
Speaking of magazines, B Goodman wrote to me that QST is publishing my article on Q measurements in the December issue. I felt very flattered as there were no corrections on the original script. This is exceptional as QST generally rewrites at least part of the articles. Ask Willy to see his copy in December. The Article will probably be on about page 90 or something.
Well, Precious, sitting here has almost been like talking to you and I feel much calmer. We have been issued a hell of a lot of equipment, part of which we will pay for. The result will be a flat paycheck again. Damn it all. The more I look at it, the less I like Cadet pay.
I am going to see “The Women” presented by the officer’s wives tonight. I hope I like it. It is the only way to get out of the barracks tonight.

Most of the upper class are fair, but there are a few heels. They won’t last long in the regular army.
It sort of sounds like hell is going to pop loose again, so I will close.
Darling I miss you more than I can dare to think of. Be a good little girl for me and someday we’ll have each other.  Hell is popping loose.
Love, angel Cy

False alarm: Tell Willy I’ve been oscillating for 13 years and haven’t found anything nearly as interesting as M.M.W. Suggest that maybe the kid sister has something he hasn’t! About one letter a week will be all I can manage for a while. Jack (S.)*** sent me a couple of nice letters that arrived with yours. The barracks and grounds are beautiful, but the rooms have windows on both ends, and we have all the privacy of a rare fish in the Shedd Aquarium. If I send you anything, just store it, as I don’t like some of my mail read. C.B.S.

*Burt Fleet

**Curtiss-Reynolds Field in Glenview, IL, where Cy did his first 3 months of training.

***”Jack” Emma Stafford

11/22/39

Randolph Field, Tx.

CBS Flying Cadet, A.C.

Company C, Room 43

A.C.T.C.

Darling:

You’re lucky this time. I borrowed Junior’s typewriter and everybody else will be out this evening so that the noise won’t bother anyone.  The ribbon is in shreds.

I was beginning to wonder if I had a gal any more, as it has been ages since last

week.  Gee, weren’t the pictures awful!  The one of Chuck and I on the back porch was the worst, and of you and Chuck inside ran a close second.  We both look like we were millions of years old.  The one of you and I together was a little better, but I still looked like about 40 yrs or more.  The rest of them were fair.

 

 

I’m glad that Jack has decided to go to college.  I believe he will never regret it although there will be times when he thinks that it was a lot of hooey.  Tell him that when I worked for J.E. Fast I designed quite a few condensers for DeVry, and he may run into them.  If he runs into anyone from Fast’s, letting them know that he knows me (nickname of Kayo or Skeeziks or Cy) won’t hurt anything.

I’ve about given up the idea of a portable machine after operating this thing.  It is too tiring.  We’ll manage to struggle along with the old one for a while.  Just don’t say anything to the folks about it.  Chuck isn’t sufficiently mechanically-minded to turn him loose on one yet.

Life here is funny as hell.  They use the same disciplinary action on a class of average age of 23 as they would use on high or prep school kids.  It has no effect.  Everyone is just taking it and forgetting it.  As usual Stafford leads the class—on demerits this time.  I hooked 9 gigs over last week-end, which means two hours confinement to quarters or an hour walking the ramp for each gig.  Tsk, tsk!  I’m doing four hours confinement tonight and two hours on the ramp in the morning.  Then I shall have open post until tomorrow night.  Burt and Tom and I may go into SA for the afternoon.  This will be our first open post.  We had freedom of the post over last week-end.

Class work to date has been confined to lectures on etiquette and Army organization.  The instructors and officers in general seem to be better than average.  The upper class has a few good men, but most of them are heels of the first order.

We flew yesterday and today.  These BT-9’s certainly fly a hell of lot differently from the PT-13A’s we used at Curtiss.  Honestly, it is an awful sensation to get in a ship with the same controls but with entirely different reactions to the controls.  The ailerons are hardly ever used and both the direction of flight and the banking of the wings are controlled by the rudder.  In addition to this, we have controllable pitch prop (equivalent to a gear shift on a car), flaps (air brakes), about 10 more instruments (including radio),  and a landing speed of about 10 miles per hour faster.  Today was the second day and it certainly was a lot better than the first crack, but all of us are still a little baffled by the things.  Tom* and I are sitting here chewing the fat about the darned ships.  The way it stacks up, if we pass our forty-hour check in these ships, we are almost sure to get through.  These ships are about twice as heavy, half as big, and have twice the motor as the PT-13A’s had.

My instructor, Lt. Harman, is an almost English type and is an awfully nice chap. I hope I can say as much for him when I am through, hi. The flight line is very informal and there is none of this super-saturated discipline or subservience.  One acts as a gentleman and that is sufficient.

The corps is going to a tea next Saturday, and I don’t see any way out.  Maybe it won’t be compulsory.  It is given by the mothers of San Antonio’s debs for the season.  I can just imagine me dancing with some buck-toothed female that can’t get a date without dragging in the Army for help.  Oh, well, maybe it won’t be compulsory.

Burt just dropped in and is chuckling over the pictures.

Part of the upper class are putting in a little night work tonight and the flares they are dropping are gorgeous.  They last about 5 minutes and are suspended from a 12 foot diameter parachute.

Honey, did you get the enclosure in my letter of last week-end?  I didn’t like to send cash, but there wasn’t any other way.

Gee, Darling girl, there is so much to say and I just can’t seem to write it all.  Yes I am well and happy, and being well, too well, taken care of.  But I am far from complete.

Show Willy or Gord or both the circular on Randolph if you think it would be interesting.  Write to me honey, for it isn’t an easy life by any means, and a little help from you goes such a long way.

Lots of love, Cy.

*Tom Gerrity

11/25/39

Randolph Field, Tx.

Hey Little Girl:

Don’t get excited about the policy.  I’m sure I can get a duplicate.

First, wait about a week until you find out what the score is and then give me the full details.

1. Date stolen.
2. Approximate time.

Above all, don’t worry about it.  It must have been an inside job, for no one else

could have gotten into the apartment.

Secondly, find out what a strong box at a convenient bank would cost. Are you sure there wasn’t any money in it and you weren’t left stranded?  Pay day is Thursday and I can wire you some if you need it.

Was the M.G. correspondence* in the box, or any other?  If not, and you have it, better do a little incendiary work on it.  That’s a ghost which probably won’t walk for a while.  I can’t imagine anyone being sufficiently interested in such things to have stolen the box for that reason.

Thanksgiving was the nuts.  We had a turkey dinner with all of the trimmings and I do mean “all”.  In addition, they gave each man a 2 lb. box of candy, pkg of cigarettes, and a cigar.  After dinner, we went into San Antonio for a while.  We saw “Espionage Agent”, which is a show you’d enjoy.  It is somewhat like our own situation, and well acted.

The pressure seems to be letting up a little.  We were issued our books this morning, had a review, and an inspection.

Just in case, I shall send this and all correspondence to the office.

What the hell does Willy mean—he helped me write the Q measurements article!  That’s one he didn’t hear about until it was completed.  Tell him thanks for fixing up the name business on the last gadget.

Lots of love, precious.  For goodness sake don’t worry about the policy, as it is replaceable.

Your own little boy, Cy.

*This would refer to letters to/from Margaret Graves, Cy’s girlfriend when he was in school at Purdue.

One of the hit songs of 1939 was “Moonlight Serenade” by Glenn Miller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8zDQAOLVtM

11/26/39
Randolph Field
Hi Toots:
Gee, did I have fun last night and then got four letters this morning to make a lovely situation.
Ok on the simple-simon escorting you to the police stn. Nine cases out of ten, the big bold men back down when there is real work to be done, and the quiet chap steps in and does the job.
Frankly, I do wish you could find another place, but I suppose the situation would be the same anyplace. Try to stay near Spanky*, for I think a great deal of her and her family.
OK on the pictures Thursday. Better let me see the proofs, darling, for I’m kind of a funny guy. The towel suggestion for Nena sounds fine. Suppose you let me know what the cost will be and we’ll make some arrangements. Honey, even if the fellows go home for Xmas, I don’t think I had better make the trip. I don’t know the set-up in Arizona, but I do feel that if they** want me, that I should see them. I may not get the chance to spend another Xmas with John. As for Jack’s Xmas present, let’s let that ride for a while, but don’t let me forget it. Maybe I can figure out something and then let you get it. I think I shall be a little more settled now, and may get time to think a little.
We start in on our ground school tomorrow. Flying will continue as usual, but we won’t have as much drill.
Johny writes that “Q Measurements” won’t be in Dec. QST after all. It may appear later. Fortunately, I don’t particularly care.
Well, let’s see. First, don’t be jealous, for I missed you every minute of the time. But I did have a good time, and I think you will enjoy hearing about it.
We started out at the tea-dance, given by the local debs and their pals. It was a rather nice dance, held in the Gunter Hotel.

After that, Fleet and Don Niedhardt (Burt’s room-mate, also from Ohio, and awfully nice) had dates, as did Chuck Patton, an upperclassman from Curtiss. We had supper and then went out to the Kit Kat Klub. Me being odd man made it very convenient, for I could dance with anyone at the table and didn’t have to worry about being particularly attentive to any one person. All of the girls were of good families, half stenos and half college kids, so the entire business was congenial. Boggs was with us for a while, but then went over to another table and got in with a couple of instructors and a senator, who were touring the air defenses of the country! They had an extra girl in the party. At my suggestion, we got a bottle of Scotch and bought set-ups.

 

 

 

 

 

This went on until about two or so, everyone having a swell time, with no suggestion even of funny stuff. After that, Fleet and Patton dumped off Don and I and another fellow we picked up, and took the two remaining gals, sisters, home. We loafed around the Hotel until four when they got back. Then we drove the seventeen miles to Randolph and hit the hay. Got up this a.m. without a trace of hangover.
The floor show was made up of kids about 8 years old. I felt badly about it, for they should have been home in bed, but it was cute. There was a little black boy that really went to town. He acted like a cross between Rochester and Step-n-fetch-it. Music was furnished by a nickelodeon, one of the most popular pieces being Orrin’s “Johnny” with Bonnie Baker.***

[Click here to listen to “Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7MgTUk82NA ]

This afternoon was spent riding with Burt and Don and Tom.  The sun was out bright and clear.  Incidentally we had one of those full Texas moons last night, and what I’ve read about them is no bunk.  Gee, if I’d only had the right girl.  Speaking of which, report has it that your little boy does ok by himself on the dancing.  It sort of shocked me when I heard it, but the dancing I’ve done with you must have brought me back to par.  Also, there were numerous favorable remarks about holding one’s drinks.  Someday I’ll have to do something to remove the shadow of last New Year’s celebration.  That was the only time I ever got stinko in a big way.

Well, baby girl, I may be miles away, but I’m still with you. There was an awful lot of clean Texas glamour floating around last night, but didn’t seem to make much difference. It must be that I like you or something.
The weather here was quite cool, in fact cold. It was 48 degrees! That would feel warm to me up there, but I have a sweater on in the room now, if you can imagine that.
One of the gals last night works at Kelly Field. She said that the Army was putting a lot of men through MIT, but cast one shadow. According to her, from the contact she’s had in the A.C.**** I would be picked up for an instructor as soon as I graduated. It must stick out all over me, for that remark was made five minutes after I met her. If I’m any good as a flight instructor, my chances of getting out of it would be slim, for most men aren’t, and they are needed badly.
Darling I love you very much. Hold tight, and we’ll make the grade some day.
Cy

*From the context of the letter, I suspect “Spanky” may be a nickname for Marty’s room-mate, “Helen”.

**Cousins John and Blenda Fast.

***Orrin Tucker and his Orchestra with Bonnie Baker singing “Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!”

****Air Corps

11/29/39
Randolph Field, Tx.
Hi Darling:
Gee, was I glad to get your letter today.
Okey doke on the towel business. Please keep track of the cost. I haven’t even thought about Christmas for the folks yet. Why don’t you get hold of Nena and ask for some suggestions. The card signing schedule sounds good.
I’ve already given you a report on the tea dance, so I shall not repeat. I shall send your mail to the office or to Spanky’s, unless it is a special on Sunday or something.
Willy may know all about the Field, but he is all wet on the red light district. It happens to be in San Antonio, which is some miles distant. Further, flying Cadet social headquarters are now located in the Gunter Hotel, one of the best, and the social rep of the corps is definite on the upgrade.
Jane Graham certainly is lucky, being able to get through the appendectomy without complications. Honey, don’t you ever pull a stunt like that!
Flying is getting along as well as can be expected. I don’t know when I’ll solo, but I believe that I definitely have the feel of the ship. My instructor seems to be as well pleased as instructors ever become. Darling, I get the biggest kick out of flying these ships. They are a lot faster and have much more power. The number of gadgets to properly adjust isn’t bad after one starts getting used to it, but the flying qualities are much improved as a result. In taking off, if you think starting a car is a bad job, listen to this. First you check fuel tanks and selector switch, which determines what tank you use. Then you lock the brakes, turn on three radio switches, plug in your earphones, fasten safety belt, adjust seat height, and close the canopy over your head. After this, you turn on the ignition, and push the starting pedal with your heel. When the starter is whining at about the right pitch, you press the pedal with your toe. This engages the starter to the motor. Shucks, nothing happens! I forgot to tell you push the mixture control forward and open the throttle a little bit and operate the primer and hand the fuel pump.Well, we do these things, setting the mixture control and the throttle, operating the fuel pump and giving the primer (like a choke on a car) about five shots. Then we operate the starter again and she starts up. We set the engine speed and 800 r.p.m. and push the propeller pitch control forward into low pitch (this is the same as putting the car in low gear). We are now set to taxi out on the field. When at a position for take-off, and no other ships are about to land, you roll down your flaps 10 degrees (to give the wings a little extra lift), increase engine speed to 1200 r.pm., switch from left to right magneto and then back to both to check their operation, open the throttle wide and tear down the field at 75 mph. When you get it up to 100 feet, you roll up the flaps, and climb at 90 mph until you reach 1000 feet. Then you climb at 80 mph until you reach your cruising altitude. As if that wasn’t enough to keep you busy, you have a tachometer, carburetor or temperature indicator, oil temperature and pressure gauges, altimeter, and several other meters that must be watched continuously. Oh, yes. I forgot to mention that there are generally 15 to 20 other ships taking off in front of, behind, and on both sides of you. But really, I love it.

It looks like I shall be able to get credit for the radio code class without taking the course. As it now sands, they are trying to make arrangements for me to take the final exam tomorrow. If I can copy 13 words per minute, the present arrangement will give me a 95 in the course, which is the highest grade anyone may make. This is a 30 hour course, and the second longest in the bunch, so the time will be well appreciated. This afternoon, they let me monkey around with the tape transmitter, and I copied 25 words per minute with little difficulty, so the 13 wpm shouldn’t be much of an effort. Of course, nothing is official or definite yet, but I know that I can get out of at least the first month of the course, and only have to attend class once per week after that. I was rather surprised to be able to copy as well as I did, for 20 is considered good for the average op, and you know how little practice I’ve had in the last five years. I don’t believe I’ve copied code a dozen times during that time.
Today I got my first complete uniform, so I am not in coveralls. With my garrison cap and white gloves, I look like a policeman at the annual ball or a wake. But it is nice looking, and I’m damned proud to be wearing it, for there aren’t many young men who have the opportunity. Maybe we can get some pictures if the weather ever clears. It has been cloudy ever since I arrived, and it rained most of today. Temperatures range from 40 to 70. My visions of outdoor pools etc. have all been shattered. Maybe I can get the Army to put a base in Miami or something.
Well, Darling, I guess that is about all. I have a letter to write to JH, and some notes to type. I’d feel so much happier if I had you with me these days.
Lots of love, Cy.