Year: 1940

3/7/40

Brooks Field, Tx.

Hi Toots:

Yeh, I’m a bad boy to say it, but it was awful lonesome last night without you.  What is it that makes me love you so much?

There’s nothing much new here.  We’ve been flying formation all week, and it is great sport.  Next week we’ll probably start in on some more night flying.  Class work is rapidly coming to an end, for which I am very thankful.

Latest indications are that we only have two weeks of maneuvers.  If such is the case, we may (probably will) wait until just before the deadline.  Then I will have had a chance to get squared away etc.

In some ways, it is much better that we spend these last few months apart.  I’m afraid neither of us could wait for some things until the ceremony was over.

That’s about all here except to tell you again that you are very precious and very much mine.

Lots of love.  Cy.

P.S.  I wrote mother and told her we were planning on being married this spring.  Yippee!

 

3/11/40

Brooks Field, Tx.

Dear Angel:

Our first year of married life may be a hectic one, but you will be my wife and it won’t take long to get squared away on a real married life.

Precious, here’s the set-up.  It’s gradually crystalizing into something tangible.  After graduation, we will have another 3 months of specialized flight training, possibly here in San Antonio.  There we will learn to be not only pilots, but pilots in pursuit of whatever branch of each of us is placed in.  We are “strongly” advised “not to marry until the end of this period (August 9).  If we wait until then, it will spoil our chances of a permanent commission.  The obvious answer then is to be married between June 15 and June 30.  By that time I should have a little cash.  So, Angel, that’s the date as far as I know.

By June 1, I shall have received a fair paycheck (half cadet/half officer).  Although there is a faint possibility of our not being able to live together until Aug. 9, we can put you up somewhere near and have evenings and week-ends together.  In all probability, there will be no quarters on the post for married 2^nd Lts., so we can possibly draw a quarters allowance and live off of the post.  My paycheck will be $205 per month if I live in government quarters or $245 if I live in private quarters.  Insurance is $8 per month and uniforms will cut possibly $25 per month or a little more.

Time for noon mess.  More later.

It’s 4 o’clock, and I’m in study hall.  Of course, there’s nothing to study, but that has nothing to do with the situation.

About ½ of my class are so damned mad about this new development of 3 months additional training and further stumbling blocks to getting married that they’re about ready to resign.  Honey, I can’t see that there’s any good reason to wait, for if we do, it will be a couple of years.  I’ve always been independent in the past and it has paid good dividends.  If I’m good enough to get a permanent commission, I’m afraid being married won’t be an objection. As I now see it, this last notice is just to scare out those who are just on the line.

I’m awfully pleased that you and Mother can talk things over.  She’s a grand girl, Honey, and anything that I am can be traced back to the training she has given me.  I received a letter from her this morning and she seemed rather happy that we have something definitely established.

Angel, I haven’t forgotten the engagement ring situation, but we may not get it until we’ve been married for a while.

That’s about all for now, darling.  Mickey and Martha remarked yesterday that they certainly wished we lived in S.A. so the four of us could be together.  I think they’re rather sold on the idea of MMW becoming MWS.

Lots of love, Cy.

P.S. “Special” gets here half a day later than regular Air Mail, so save your dimes.

Editor’s note.  3/12/40:  Finland surrenders to the Soviet Union to end “The Winter War” and cedes a significant portion of its territory to the USSR.  The remaining portion of Finland is allied with Germany for the remainder of the war.

3/13/40

Brooks Field, Tx.

Angel:

I just reread your letter.  It sounds a lot more like my little girl than your letters have since 1935-36.

Mother should like the play.  I’ve read the book and enjoyed it a great deal.  Use the enclosure for same.

Got a letter from Crane today.  He and Billy were rather disappointed to have missed me the way they did.  They enjoyed your letter, but have lost your address.  I shall send it to them.

What a day.  Everybody’s in a storm.  More damn funny things have happened.  We were flying instruments both with our instructors and with each other.  Time out while I teach the code class.  About half of the men got lost and were late getting in.  One instructor told his stooge (who was flying blind under the hood*) to go into a power glide.  The dope thought he said power dive.  He pushed the stick all of the way forward and then wound up in a vertical dive at 300 m.p.h.  Stardust was my safety observer in my rear cockpit and the dizzy dope was so wrapped up in keeping from flying into other ships that he didn’t pay any attention to our location.  I had to shift the radio over onto the beam, find out where we were, buzz a R.R. station to check my data (I was on the head) and then fly in.  We had 30 minutes gas when we got back.  I could have shot him for not keeping his eyes open. It’s no fun finding yourself 50 miles from home with only 5 miles visibility.

We flew in formation at 15 feet this morning.  We damned near knocked the horns off of a cow and it didn’t even move.  Boy, the cattle and farmers around here are sure used to the airplanes.

Well, honey, it’s almost time for drill.  Then open post until 10 o’clock.  Yippee.

Fine business on Dotty. I like the idea of your being with her.

Love Cy.

*Flying by instruments only.

3/18/40 #1

Brooks Field, Tx.

Hi Toots:

Gee, what a week-end!

We got up at 4:50 A.M. Saturday and went over to Kelly Field for a lecture.  It was given by Capt. Robey of the Materiel Division at Wright Field.  It lasted from 7 until 10:30, and was excellent.  I feel much encouraged.  He said that up to this point our engineering knowledge had made little difference, but from now on, the ones who cut up woolly-worms in college and majored in jitterbugging were going to have a tough time by comparison.

We had an inspection Saturday afternoon and didn’t get into town until 3.  I stopped at the club and had a couple of ales.  Then I went over to school and rode out to the house with Annie Claire.  We had supper, after going shopping, and then went down to Martha’s.

While shopping, we picked up a coconut and 5 of those fuzzy little dish mops.  Before we left, we painted the coconut to look like Hitler and made chrysanthemums out of the dish mops.  We cracked Hitler’s head and had a swell time eating fresh coconut.  Margaret and George, who live in the other half of the duplex, were also there.  After we left Mickey’s, we drove around until they had time to get to sleep.  Then we went back and “planted” the dish mops where I planted the nasturtiums last week.  Boy, did they rave when they got up Sunday!

Sunday afternoon the kids sang in a massed choir from three of the local churches.  It was quite good.  Afterwards, cousin Annie Laurie about started a riot.  She introduced me to me to Maj. and Mrs. Sweet as her “new son”!   It would have been ok except that their son and Annie Claire go together, although not seriously.  After about five minutes she explained, but poor Mrs. Sweet went through hell during those minutes.  She didn’t know whether to ask questions, act surprised, or just what.

40A just flew over in a 24 ship formation, practicing for next week’s graduation exercises.  Even if it was a little ragged, it was impressive.

No news is good news, and I think everything will work out.  Don’t count too much on being with Tom and Marje*, for the chances are 30 to 1 that they won’t get the same post that we do. The present arrangement is such that you may join me in Detroit or Maxwell Field or Scott Field.  There’s very little chance of our staying in Texas.  As far as I can foresee, assignment to foreign service is the only thing that can stop our plans.

Hey!  What’s a bridal sandwich?  (Lettuce alone).

The head of the ground school just drove up and walked through this “study hall.”  It took 2 minutes for him to drive up, us to get out letters out of sight and books in view, him to inspect hall and leave, and for us to resume our letter writing.

Walt Stroud is trying to organize a quartet for Easter at the request of the CO and he’s getting nowhere darn fast.  This goes on forever.

It’s about time to get out of study hall and I can’t think of anything more so I shall answer your letter.

I shall not mention to Bill that anything is definite.

Boy, you put me on the spot!  What can I write Jack?  I’ll try, but I don’t see what good it will do.  Keep up the good work.  I’d hate to see Spanky get stuck.  I’d rather see her be a little indiscreet and stay legally clear.

Be my own sweet little girl,  Lots of Love,  Cy.

*Tom & Margaret Gerrity.

3/18/40 #2

Brooks Field, Tx.

Dear Marty,

Hey!  Don’t go getting woozy on me, Mrs. Stafford.  The only reason we’re still single is that it would be silly to try to take on a new job, new friends and new wife all at once.  I’ve talked it over with a lot of people and they all agree that although we may miss a little fun now, we’ll save a lot of trouble later on.

Well, at long last, here’s the dope.  I went in to see the bulletin board and nearly passed out.  “The following 2^nd Lts. are transferred to Hawaii” was the first page.  I missed that.  Panama was the next stop.  After not finding myself on that list, I hit page three—March Field, Calif.  By then I was exhausted.  After a short rest, I went back and weeded through two more pages.  Well there it was.  2^nd Lt. C.S. Stafford was there in a long list of other shavetails.* It had the date of departure, army order number and everything!  Gee it was nice to know I hadn’t been forgotten.

Oh, yes.  In case you should be interested, we’re living at Barksdale Field, Shreveport, La.

Tom & Marge are also going to be there.

Honey, I’m leaving Wednesday & will be at Barksdale Friday, so address my mail there.

Burt & Mrs. Fleet & Marion and V.V. and I are on our way to Harlingen, Tex. for the week end.  That explains the penmanship.  We’re doing 54 m.p.h.

Will write more later.  How’s the dough holding out?

Love Cy.

 

*In the mid 1800’s, unbroken army mules had their tails shaved for identification.  Over time the term “shavetail” became army slang for a 2^nd Lieutenant.

3/22/40
Brooks Field, TX.
Hi Darling:
I must be slipping, for I’ve received two letters since I last wrote.
The idea of Mother coming all the way down here for our wedding is preposterous on at least three counts. It would cost $150, which, although it seems little, we just don’t have. I remember the last trip Mother made, about 200 miles, and it didn’t do her a bit of good. She’d have trouble standing up under a 1200 mile trip. Thirdly, we haven’t the slightest idea where I’ll be when we’re married. I shall undoubtedly not be in Texas. I’ll leave here for my first station about the middle of May and heaven only knows where I’ll be sent. Honey, I won’t be able to afford much of a wedding, but we’ll try to make it up later.
I’m glad you like your new home. Having Dotty for a room-mate isn’t a half bad set-up (wouldn’t mind it myself, hi). I yet remember the night I kissed her and about broke Fritz’s ego—or should I mention such things.
I wrote to John and Blenda a couple of weeks ago and gave them a good indication of what was about to happen. I talked to Blen about it at Christmas and she seemed to be all in favor of it. It’s funny how all of the people we want to be there are scattered all over the United States.
Three cheers for Wayne! Now you can start cautioning him like he cautioned you, hi!
Tell Gordon I have a total of 170 hours. Of this, about 40 have been dual instruction. 30 hours has been on the BC-1. This is the ship we fly here. It weighs 5500 lbs, cruises at 140 with a top of 200 at 5,000 ft.(500 H.P. cruising). It’s equipped with two-way radio, beam receiver, radio compass, blind-landing receiver, and a complete compliment of engine and flight instruments. Wingspread is about 42 feet, so it really isn’t a “big” plane. But it is a hell of a lot of airplane compared to a civilian ship. They fly more easily than a Cub, for the controls are balanced.
This week has been spent mostly on radio orientation. They fly you out from Brooks under the hood. When about 15 miles out, you turn on the radio and from that find the beam, determine what the beam is, and fly it into the field. It’s really quite simple to do, but to do it accurately and quickly requires a lot of practice. I’ve had ½ hour in the jeep and 2 in the air.
We’ve also been flying 6 ship formations. They’re a lot of fun, but awfully tricky. On cross-over turns 3 of the ships are about 15 feet higher and directly over the other three. Since the upper and lower bunches can’t see each other, it makes one feel awfully glad that all of the men receive the same thorough training.
We have to ferry some ships over to Kelly this afternoon for tomorrow’s graduation. They’re using 125 ships for it. It sounds big, but doesn’t look like an awful lot, just a bunch of mosquitoes.
That’s about all for now, honey. Be sweet and say hello to everyone.
Love, Cy