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”