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.