Year: 1940

Editor’s note: On April 9, 1940,  Germany invaded Norway and Denmark.

4/10/40

Brooks Field, Tx

Darling:

I’m a bad boy for not writing, but they’ve been keeping us busy.

Okey doke on our Birthday present.  You’re a very sweet little girl.  No envelopes were ok, but the erasers were small.  I have a stock of them someplace, but I don’t know where.  Sure—keep the change—buy a soda or something!

We’ve been making cross-countries all over the place.  I flew 3 hours of instruments yesterday afternoon and made a night cross-country last night.  The first 50 miles to San Marcos were along a lighted airway, with beacons every 10 miles.  From San Marcos to Pawnee, it was across mesquite with only 1 town large enough to use for a check point.  This leg was 80 miles.  I ran into some clouds halfway down.  Although the flight was called off as soon as they formed, I didn’t hear it and completed the flight.  I knew San Antonio was clear (wx* announcement every 15 minutes) so it was safe enough.  From Pawnee up to Brooks was on a light line and I could see the split beacon (army) at Brooks all the way.  It took 1:05 for the 180 miles.  Boy the air was thick with planes.  Half of the group flew one way around the triangle and the other half flew the other way.  I passed 15 planes during the trip.  The poor residents of Texas wouldn’t even get out of bed for an air raid.

Tomorrow I fly to Navasota and Houston in the afternoon and back by way of Corpus Christi at night.  It’s 545 miles.  The first leg to Navasota is across mesquite and there isn’t a check point in the whole damned leg.  If you figure your wind correctly you can sit back and sleep.  If you get a good ship, you can set the trim tabs and it will fly straight and level all by itself.

When I bumped into the clouds last night, I was sure glad I had a cockpit full of instruments.

That’s all for now.  It’s almost time for lunch.    Love, Cy.

*Air force abbreviation for “weather”

4/12/40

Brooks Field, TX
Honey Bunch:
Brrr! It’s cold as the devil! A norther blew in last night and the temperature dropped almost to freezing.
Well, here goes. At present I have about $50 clear. This should be $75 by the end of next month. I don’t know any more about the score now than I did six months ago. But unless something drastic comes up, I should be a fool not to marry you as planned. The only stumbling blocks I can see now are (1) foreign duty or (2) cadet status and pay for three months after “graduation.” The first is possible and the second is conceivable, although neither is probable. So I see no reason why you can’t let ‘em know about it. Honey, if I can’t marry you right away, I can take care of you—at least until you get settled. Frankly, I expect to be sleeping with my baby in the next two months or so. I know you’ll feel funny about engagement rings and stuff, and I wish I could do something about it, but I don’t feel that strapping ourselves with $250 in addition to the $200 for uniform, $200 for furniture and linen and $500 for a car (if it’s necessary) is advisable. That will come later.
So you still want Wayne to announce our engagement? If so, the best bet is to wait until I have graduated, although if you want to go ahead it really doesn’t make much difference. Officially, yours truly is “a flying Cadet in the Air Corps Advanced Flying School, Brooks Field, Texas” and is a former RCA radio engineer. For publication, due to my set-up, no date had best be mentioned. It’s up to you whether you want it published. It will probably be too hard to take without the ring, though.
Damn it, I wish we could be stationed here! Mickey and Martha are swell, and Annie Claire and Cousin Annie Laurie and Arthur are just as fine. You can thank them for making up my mind to go ahead this spring, for they’ve put up a swell campaign. That old bugaboo of foreign service is the only catch, for I wouldn’t have enough nerve to marry you before July 1, and then go off on a year of foreign duty before I could be with you.
We have a cross country to Navasota to Houston in the afternoon and from there to Palacios to Corpus Christi to Brooks the same night. That trip is 540 miles, most of which is across that damned mesquite. You can’t miss, though, barring mechanical trouble.
Everything down here is covered with leaves and it is pretty. Occasionally, one flies over a field of blue-bonnets.
Tell Gordon I flew a 140 mile course, involving 5 turns of 90 degrees or more and hit my terminal within 4 seconds of my estimated time. We have to hit the rendezvous almost that close or the other ships will be out of sight.
Lots of love, Cy.

4/15/40
Brooks Field, Tx.
Hi Angel:
Hmmmmmmmmm! So you are going to be in Wheaton the week-end Johny is going to be in Glen Ellyn so you’ll both probably be in Chicago! Hmmmmmmm! Well, I told him to kiss you for me (too)!
Sorry to hear about Mother. The family haven’t said anything about it yet. Keep your eyes open and let’s hold down that expense as much as possible. Something serious there just now would just about put the skids under our plans.
There’s really not much I can write. Same old stuff of cross-countries and instrument rides. Most of the gang are plotting their courses, but my instructor never gives us our routes until the last minute. In a way, this is best, for it is the way we’ll work in the service.
Honey, don’t let the war scare you. Think how much worse off the rest of the girls your age are! At least, even if I should get into combat work, I wouldn’t be in a stinking trench. And the probable answer for all of my class would be posts as instructors. We have many more hours than most of the squadron commanders in the present squabble.
We’ve had what I hope is the last cold spell. It broke all records and nearly froze us to death. If the fellow next to me hadn’t slept so soundly, so I could swipe two of his blankets for a total of six, I don’t know what I would have done.
Heard an old one last night which isn’t bad (or is it?) Bridegroom comes downstairs the first morning to find his wife burning breakfast and making a hell of a mess of things. “What’s the matter?” sez he, “can’t you cook either?”
Well, ‘snuff for now. Lots of love Angel, Cy.

Click here to listen to Judy Garland sing “I’m Nobody’s Baby”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7wPwmYdxe8

4/18/40
Brooks Field, Tx.
Angel:
Shucks, that isn’t such a bad situation! Whatcha worryin’ about? If you can find another job, just take it and don’t say anything about it being “temporary” from your viewpoint. If I get sent to Scandihoovia or someplace, it may not be temporary, hi. In any case, just keep me posted and I’ll take care of you if you need it.
I’ve tried to find a shell necklace for you, but there just ain’t no such animal. I’m glad the folks located one. I haven’t heard from them, so I guess everything is ok.
So the old battle-axe isn’t going to bother with us. Well, frankly, good!
Okey doke on no engagement announcement in favor of a wedding announcement. I think is a good plan.
As soon as we can get squared away emotionally and financially, we’ll have Chuck for a visit. If everything works out ok, it may be an extended one. (Don’t mention it until we can talk it over).
The picture isn’t a good one, but it should be moderately interesting. Sketched map shows set-up in detail. Notice palm trees.

Yippee! Cross country up to Abilene today. Tell Gordon that we flew back from Houston at night with 300 feet ceiling!
Please return the enclosure. It looks like we’re all clear.
Boy, it’s cold as hell. Dropped to about 50 degrees and I used four blankets. Maybe I need someone to keep me warm. Honey, it’s going to be a hell of a life for you, but I do love you dearly and shall try to make things as easy as I can.
Time for mess. Your husband, Cy.

4/22/40
Brooks Field, Tx.
Honey Bunch:
I’ve been trying to write for weeks, but it has been busy as hell around here.
C98WV is a bastard from away back, but it’s ok. Frankly, I’ve never thought a hell of a lot of the staff at Moody’s, with the exception of Bill. I hope your temporary job works out ok. If it doesn’t, let me know and I can tide you over until something breaks.
Here is one possible plan for your consideration, as with all of the plans we make, we’ll have to consider them as tentative. Also, don’t mention them to anyone.
I believe I shall borrow about $300 from the bank at Fort Sam*. Then, after I get placed approximately (about the 20th of June), have you buy a car in Chicago and drive to wherever I am with Chucky. (You’d have to drive slow for a while—Can Chuck drive well yet?) He could probably be farmed out for a week or two (while we went to town) and then spend the next couple of weeks (until my 3 months training is up) with you. That should be enough to keep both of you out of mischief. Well, it’s just a thought. New Plymouth 2 door sedan is the best buy on the market this year. I believe travel would be cheap for you that way, and you might enjoy the trip more than if alone. I’m sure Chuck wouldn’t kick, hi! Let me know what you think. The car might be cheaper up there, but Mickey seems to have some nice strings down here.
Marje wants you to come down and stay with her, but since that would mean moving up a month on everything, I don’t think it wise. I believe I almost agreed at the beer bust at Kelly on Saturday, but I was lonesome and blue and had about 16 beers.
Saturday morning 4 of us went swimming in a nearby river. It was a lot of fun, but I was in poor shape. It was quiet a let-down from the 2 miles per day I used to swim in Camden.
If luck holds out, I’ll fly a night cross-country tonight and the full moon will make it a swell, although lonesome trip.
That’s about all for now. If I’ve already sent you a copy of the picture of Brooks barracks, please give Mother a look at it for she might enjoy it.
Lots of love to my angel, Cy.

*Fort Sam Houston Army base in San Antonio, Tx.