Year: 1940

1/17/40:  Gone with the Wind is released.

   

1/17/40

Sweetheart Darling:

What goes on!  I’ve written at least three letters since the 9^th, all of which should have gotten there by the fifteenth.  I’ll answer your questions briefly.

1. Hunches—forget them—if anything ever happens down here you’ll hear about it all too soon.  Wilson was killed on Wednesday, funeral Sunday, forgotten Monday.  Anyhow, I don’t expect to get hurt.  Careful, competent, pilots die of old age.

2. Letters—nope, you haven’t said anything that would bother me.  I think your letters are all that could be expected of the sweetest little wife in the world.

3. Busy—Being excused from radio code leaves me a little free time.  I’m not busy, just damn lonesome.

Okey doke on the coat.  Maybe if I get stationed in Alaska, which is probable, I can shoot a caribou or sea lion or something for a new fur!

Honey, we only have two more big fences to clear at Randolph!  40 hour and final checks, and the instrument flying check.  From my instructor’s attitude, I should not have much to worry about.  The end at Randolph is near, for we can’t change anything more after the 20^th, and we’re getting a lecture on “commissions” on Thursday.

Our boy McGovern is running around with a very sober face these days.  He ran out of gas a couple of days back and came down as shown. [See original letter above] First he knocked off the top half of a tree.  Then he removed all of the wires on a hi-tension line.  Then he removed the front and back fences in a farm yard.  After crossing a road, he eliminated a section of the big steel fence around Randolph.  At this point, Mac steps from the plane and fills out the Form I (flight report).  The ship had no wings, a bent prop, no covering on fuselage, half of the tail surface gone, and several minor damages.  McGovern, the lucky Irishman, didn’t have a scratch!  I guess that proves part of the Air Corps song, “nothing can stop the Army Air Corps.”

Yesterday, Ruegg [sp?] ground-looped (loss of control after landing) right in front of me while I was landing, but I had enough speed to gun the motor and clear him.  He spun all the way around at 50 mph and all it did was bend one wing slightly.  Believe me, Toots, these ships are really built.

You’d imagine from the above that all we do here is have accidents.  On the other hand, one minor one per week is exceptional.  Estimating roughly, our class alone makes 750 landings per day, uses 4800 gallons of fuel, and flies 28,800 miles.  If you can drive a car (5)(28,800)=144,000 miles with only a scratched fender (which is equivalent to our safety record) you’re doing darned well.

The enclosed poem might be moderately amusing.  You’d like Dr. Still—his sermon was good.  Show it to Spank with my regards.

Thank Willy for the letter.  Tell him we had a tail cut off in the primary and the fellow made a safe landing!

It’s about time for class.  This letter mailed now (8 A.M.) won’t leave Randolph until 5 A.M. tomorrow morning.  We only send mail into town once per day.

Lots of love, Cy.

 

Note new address on envelope.

1/21/40

Randolph Field, Tx

Hi Toots:

You were almost in the doghouse, but your two sweet letters took you out this morning.  I’ll try to answer them before I take off on the wild doings here.

Glad you liked the pictures.  They are most representative of cadet life.  I thought Gordon would like the inside view of the BT-9. Now for the funny part.  Very few of the ships have the instruments in the same place, so each time you fly, you have to memorize the panel all over.  Jack’s address is:

Miss E. Stafford

C/o American Red Cross

Court House

Baton Rouge, La.

Tell Bill I wish I was there to play with Jimmy.  He’s a grand little guy.

So you still remember the mezzanine of the Palmer House.  If there were ever two homeless, strayed, lost little brats, we sure qualified that day.  I haven’t seen Marge yet, although I did talk to her on the phone for a few minutes.  Okey doke on the permanent, sweet.  Wish I could be there to get my fingers in it.

Here’s the hard part.  They’ve got me guessing.  I want very much to get married in June, but I want to be able to guarantee you a home forever when I do.  Right now I don’t know enough of the situation to make a decision.  As nearly as I can determine, if we do, it will have to be before August.  The uncertainty is rather trying, but there’s nothing we can do.  We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that I yet have a chance of washing out.  Another discouraging point is that Reserve Officers, under a new ruling, can only be given 1 year (instead of 3) of active duty at a time.  Apparently this is only a technicality and the 2^nd and 3^rd years (up to 7) will be dished out each year.  Darling, let’s just hold tight for a while and we’ll do everything we can.  Yours is the only body I could every enjoy and the companionship that really fills out my life.  I’m awfully fond of my angel.  I feel more and more like a cad every day that passes, but I’m not going to put you into a nerve-racking position like we just got you out of.

Oh, goody!  So Andy has scrammed.  It’s mean, but it’s the best news I’ve heard in years.

Take care of yourself.  You’re not a big enough little girl to go through a cold like I just finished.  “Gone with the Wind” will arrive in S.A. in three weeks.  I hope the “wind’s” gone by then!  Toots, it’s been cold here.  Just try drilling in 15 degrees when you’re used to 70 degrees!  Time out for a bull-session.

Hold tight, angel!  Now, listen.  I want you to get this straight.  First don’t count on anything. Secondly, this “ain’t” official, but it’s hot and probably accurate.  Third, keep calm.  I’ll just list what I heard.

1. We are allowed to get married before July 1.
2. Marriage during this interval won’t affect permanent commission.
3. Foreign duty—no gov’t subsidy for wife transportation. If you can afford it yourself and can find quarters, there’s no official objection.

It doesn’t seem possible, darling, but we can hope.  Late in June would probably 21work out best.  Honey, it shocks me!  Imagine me married!  That certainly will upset the dope sheets.  I guess I’ll just have to make the grade now.  If all goes well I shall be ordering my regular Army uniform in six weeks.  That’s going to cost $250 approximately so you can see how many cars we’ll by the first couple of years, hi.

Yesterday I served confinements until 10 P.M.  At 3 P.M., when everyone had left on open post for the week-end, a parade was ordered for 8:30 A.M. today.  I don’t see how they did it, but all but about 1% were present.  There were only 20 men here when it started.

The parade was for the Chief of Staff* of the U.S. Army and General Arnold, Chief of the Air Corps.  They are the #1 soldiers in the U.S. Army and the Air Corps respectively.  I got in at 6:30, slept an hour, cleaned the room for inspection, and then got out and paraded for 45 minutes.  If you would like to stand still in 15 degrees for half an hour and slowly freeze to death, you should become a cadet.  General Marshall, Chief of Staff, is a hell of a good stick and on the ball every minute.  Next to the Secretary of State, he has the most important job in the U.S. right now.

Incidentally, upon graduation, my class will apparently be temporarily assigned to duty in the U.S. for the duration of the spring maneuvers.  The old Aces gave us a damn good talk.

Well, Honey, in spite of the above, it’s almost lunch time and I’m getting awfully hungry.  I only had three bottles of beer since supper last night.

Stay just like you are, precious, and I’ll sure try to send you that railroad ticket when the time comes.

Your li’l boy, Cy.

 

*George C. Marshall

1/23/40

Randolph Field, TX

Honey:

The enclosures of Burt are OK but aren’t so hot of me.  These two might be interesting to our grandchildren.  Helmets and goggles will be unheard of then.  Keep all of these for us.  The extra one of Burt might go well with Maxie if you think she’d want it.  Burt doesn’t know I got but one.

 

The picture of me in the ship looks like I am a she, but ‘taint so.  It’s just an oversize parachute harness.  If I ever use it, it will slap some nice bruises on me, but it is more comfortable this way.  The cushion behind my head is for obvious reasons.  The heavy iron anvil behind that is to support the ship if and when it noses over.  Below that is the “back” of the rear cockpit instrument panel.  You can also see the glass canopy which slides forward to make a glassed-in back-porch during flight.  Gordon might be interested.

The other picture is fair.  Those are shadows and not circles under my eyes.  Also oil spots and not freckles.  The scarf is decoration as it isn’t cold enough here to need them.

There’s a beautiful Texas moon overhead and I haven’t anything better to do than get a haircut.  I had my 40 hr check today and believe I passed it.  If I did, that is the last flight check.  Instrument check is all that remains.

Good night, my angel.  Cy

 

1/28/40

Randolph Field, Tx.

Angel:

This will be short, for I have three more to write and some studying to do before bedtime.

Your budget sounds fine.  Hope you can stick to it.  Uniform will probably run $200.  For another $300 we can probably get all of the furniture and linen we’ll need to live on the post.  Houses for 2^nd Lts. have living room, dining room, kitchen and one or two bedrooms.  Dining room set and a couple of straight chairs are furnished.  Let’s not plan on it, but I’m going to feel terribly hurt if we can’t be married in June.  Seeing Milt and Martha here doesn’t help much.

Saw Marje again Saturday.  She’s probably seen or called you by now.

I’ve asked for a 60 day renewal on that parachute rigger business.  It’s impossible to do anything about it here.

Please return the enclosed letter as I haven’t answered it yet.  It’s from Marje Hanna.

Did a little drinking Saturday, saw the “Housekeeper’s Daughter” and went ice skating.  What an experience.  Talk about blind flying!  Funny thing, I did a swell job of skating, even if I was toting 5 s&s’s.**

I hiked 10 or more miles this morning and had a swell time.  Spent this afternoon with Annie Claire and Milton and Martha.  They’ve all been swell to me.  Neighbors have been whispering and getting some swell results.  You see I’ve worn my uniform in about half of the time.  Martha said she hated to do it, but she finally told them Annie Claire was my cousin!  Poor neighbors!  The scandal.

Burt said he wished you and Maxie were down here Saturday.  Wonders if Maxie is going to answer his letter.  Don’t quote me, for I can’t figure him out.

Boggs, only $1,000 in debt, is buying a car!  It is hard to resist for cadets are getting about $200 knock-off on all makes!  Guess that will have to wait for us.

I really must get to work.  If nothing goes haywire, I may get out of here on the 9^th.  I only have my instrument check left.  Class is over on Thursday, although I still have 14 hrs of flying to get in.

Being with my wife is too wonderful to even imagine now.  I’m well and happy, but half of me isn’t here.

Love to a precious girl,   Cy.

*Second Lieutenants

**Five scotch & sodas