Dear Mom, Pop, Mary, Jerry and Mat,
Sunday again and more letter writing. During the past week I received letters from Mom, Pop, and Jerry, also the package of clothes and food. It certainly is a life saver to have a little something between meals.
This morning Jack Burns, Bob Condon and myself received permission to miss breakfast so we could receive Communion. The only time we can go to confession is just before Mass. After coming out of the sacristy, we walked down the aisle and sat in the first empty seats we saw. We didn't notice it at first but we we sat square in the middle of the children's section. We did feel like jerks. The three of us towered far over all these little brats. I don't know whether it's a law or not but these Mexican kids never grown over four feet. I am not kidding. I have never seen so many small children in all my life. Coming out of church I nearly tripped over a number of them.
By the way, thanks for the medal Mom. I put it in my jacket.
I beg to inform you that I received a few demerits yesterday as I was captain of the head (bathroom). Gene was room captain and was restricted over the weekend for un-military like room. What a laugh. You can dust these rooms and an hour later the dirt is just as thick as before.
Jack Burns, Bob Condon and myself ate breakfast out. On the way back to the school we ran into a gift shop. I mad a few purchases and had them sent out. The lady said they would probably reach New York Friday or Saturday. There isn't much but I will keep looking. Most of the junk was made by Indians, so they say. I can understand that after seeing the number of them that float in and out of Las Vegas. Do you know they dress the same as the cowboy pictures show them? I thought that was Hollywood style but I guess it is the real McCoy.
I guess you would like to know how I am making out with flying. Swell- I was up for three hours of solo this week. What a time I had. Kick the controls around, the plane goes all over and phew- you slowly bring the ship at straight and level. I always wanted to try a dive so I brought the pane up to 3,000 ft and let loose. Did I go down fast. What a force on you body when you pull out though. It's hard to move. Flying is a lot of fun but it's much more work than I ever realized. Yesterday when I was up, a few miles to the west I could see a fog rolling in and out of the mountains. What a sight. It looked almost like a wave of water but didn't move quite as fast.
Most of the boys have recovered from their cases of dysentery. They really had sick bay flooded for a few days there.
What a time I had on my Shore Patrol last night. The first time it rained and it had to be while I was out. Our duties were to check all the cadets and keep them out of trouble. We travel in pairs and had to go in every gin mill in town, look around and walk out. Luckily we didn't have any trouble but some tough looking characters. I will never talk about New York's east side again.
I guess there isn't much more to say. I have quite a few letters to write. Last Sunday I hit a new high for writing letters. I wrote no less than nine. I was punchy by the time I sealed the last one.
Your Navy boy,
Jim
Saturday, October 2, 2010
September 22, 1943
Dear Mom and Pop,
Haven't had much time to write but I just wanted to drop a few lines.
Enclosed is a money order for $60 sixty dollars. As soon as Pop cashes it, you can take out for all my bills. Since I didn't buy anything for the family yet, why not go out to supper some night and take the money out of this order. The remainder of the money Mom can out in the bank. Can't do anything with money out here so I might as well save it.
What epidemic of dysentery is running through our platoon. We have six men out of 24 in sick bay with it. Nearly everyone is afraid to buy anything in town even when it is sealed. It is really comical. After each class, there is a mad rush for the "head". If you can spare a few crackers to feed some hunger stricken boy we would appreciate it. Between breakfast and lunch , we have a wait of seven hours and we get mighty hungry in the meantime.
Received letters from Bub and Bobby in the past three days.
Chow call. Will sign off.
Love, Jim
P.S. Have 14 hours of flight now. Plenty of fun when I go up alone.
Haven't had much time to write but I just wanted to drop a few lines.
Enclosed is a money order for $60 sixty dollars. As soon as Pop cashes it, you can take out for all my bills. Since I didn't buy anything for the family yet, why not go out to supper some night and take the money out of this order. The remainder of the money Mom can out in the bank. Can't do anything with money out here so I might as well save it.
What epidemic of dysentery is running through our platoon. We have six men out of 24 in sick bay with it. Nearly everyone is afraid to buy anything in town even when it is sealed. It is really comical. After each class, there is a mad rush for the "head". If you can spare a few crackers to feed some hunger stricken boy we would appreciate it. Between breakfast and lunch , we have a wait of seven hours and we get mighty hungry in the meantime.
Received letters from Bub and Bobby in the past three days.
Chow call. Will sign off.
Love, Jim
P.S. Have 14 hours of flight now. Plenty of fun when I go up alone.
September 21, 1943- Postcard
Dear Folks,
Last two days have been practicing landing and takeoffs. Really a lot of fun.
Received letters from Bob and Bub today. Bub says that he might be called again for a examine.
Believe it of not they paid us. It was five weeks ago that we had last been paid. Sunday we were trying to dig up nickels and even pennies among 25 men now, everyone is throwing around ten dollar bills. That's the life.
Did I tell you that I am to be an S.P. this weekend. Well, I always wanted to be a cop. I am getting a little experience beforehand.
Not much more happening, so I will close now.
Jim
Last two days have been practicing landing and takeoffs. Really a lot of fun.
Received letters from Bob and Bub today. Bub says that he might be called again for a examine.
Believe it of not they paid us. It was five weeks ago that we had last been paid. Sunday we were trying to dig up nickels and even pennies among 25 men now, everyone is throwing around ten dollar bills. That's the life.
Did I tell you that I am to be an S.P. this weekend. Well, I always wanted to be a cop. I am getting a little experience beforehand.
Not much more happening, so I will close now.
Jim
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
September 19, 1943- First Solo Flight!
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry Mary, and Mat,
Guess what?! No I didn't have the chicken for dinner.... I didn't win a hundred bucks but ah........ at last, at last I soloed. What a thrill! What a sensation! What a ......... I don't know what to say. It was just swell.
This morning it all happened. Did I feel great when my instructor asked me, " Do you think you can take it up yourself?" There was only one answer and I certainly gave it to him.
He gave me a few last minute instructions then jumped out of the airplane. I cleared myself for the traffic, taxied into the runway, gave her the throttle, picked up the tail and raced down the runway. What a sensation as the plane picked up speed. I hung on the aileron controls for dear life and had my feet firmly on the rudder pedals. As soon as the air speed indicator showed 60 mph I slowly pulled back the wheel and the plane floated so gracefully into the air.
No kidding, you will never realize what a thrill it is to fly until you have actually done it yourself. I did a few maneuvers and then prepared for a landing.
I came into the traffic pattern, assumed the proper distance from the runway, cut the motor, started my glide and slowly circled in for a landing. I was going swell until some jerk cut in front of me. I could have killed the son of a gun. I slowed my glide, let him slip in front of me and then followed his plane in for a landing. Everything was working out perfectly until my plane became caught in his prop wash. I was about 25 feet off of the ground at the time. My left wing dipped about 45 degrees, the plane rocked back and forth, and I was down to ten feet before I gave her the throttle. That straightened her out. Oh my heart was in my mouth for that one second. The darn plane was heading for the ground at 70 mph so you can well imagine the thrill it was. ( As Bobby would say, " I came through in true Chellis spirit".) After correcting for wind drift, resuming my glide I set her down like laying a baby in a mother's arms. Boy, did I feel good. You could have hit me with the Rock of Gibralter and I would have kissed you.
I taxied over to the side of the runway and met my instructor. Poor guy was shaking. He was mighty pleased as to the way I handled the plane so he told me to take it up again, if I wanted to. That was a silly question to ask me.
I taxied her out to the runway, gave her throttle and again I was in the air. Didn't have a bit of trouble this time. Matter of fact, I made a perfect three point landing.
Up here they have a little ceremony for each cadet the solo's. I was to be no exception as my friends very plainly put it. Half way back to school the bus stopped and this began the simple but thorough ceremony.
There is a little creek that runs under a bridge, about five feet high above the water. It is as dirty as can be, since the mud at the bottom is like paste. The boys very obligingly removed my shoes, emptied out my pockets and four of them grabbed my arms and legs. In another second, was flying thru the air minus a plane this time. My "friend??" Gene Cole made sure that they gave me a little twist before they let go and boom I hit the water flat as a pancake. Oh was I wet. My clothes stuck to me like glue as I waded in the mud , out of the water. Everyone enjoyed themselves, but I was freezing. Oh it was great. Now I can laugh when their turn comes. The worse part of it all was standing in the bus on the way back. As soon as I got back to the school, I changed to dry clothes a felt like a million bucks. This is a day long to be remembered.
Dad I don't know if you have received my card I sent two days ago. If you haven't will you order two of those pictures of myself in the whites and send them to me.
I am glad to hear that McWilliams came in. Too bad, he didn't come in sooner then may be I could have seen him.
I had better stop now. I have so many letters to write it isn't even funny.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
Guess what?! No I didn't have the chicken for dinner.... I didn't win a hundred bucks but ah........ at last, at last I soloed. What a thrill! What a sensation! What a ......... I don't know what to say. It was just swell.
This morning it all happened. Did I feel great when my instructor asked me, " Do you think you can take it up yourself?" There was only one answer and I certainly gave it to him.
He gave me a few last minute instructions then jumped out of the airplane. I cleared myself for the traffic, taxied into the runway, gave her the throttle, picked up the tail and raced down the runway. What a sensation as the plane picked up speed. I hung on the aileron controls for dear life and had my feet firmly on the rudder pedals. As soon as the air speed indicator showed 60 mph I slowly pulled back the wheel and the plane floated so gracefully into the air.
No kidding, you will never realize what a thrill it is to fly until you have actually done it yourself. I did a few maneuvers and then prepared for a landing.
I came into the traffic pattern, assumed the proper distance from the runway, cut the motor, started my glide and slowly circled in for a landing. I was going swell until some jerk cut in front of me. I could have killed the son of a gun. I slowed my glide, let him slip in front of me and then followed his plane in for a landing. Everything was working out perfectly until my plane became caught in his prop wash. I was about 25 feet off of the ground at the time. My left wing dipped about 45 degrees, the plane rocked back and forth, and I was down to ten feet before I gave her the throttle. That straightened her out. Oh my heart was in my mouth for that one second. The darn plane was heading for the ground at 70 mph so you can well imagine the thrill it was. ( As Bobby would say, " I came through in true Chellis spirit".) After correcting for wind drift, resuming my glide I set her down like laying a baby in a mother's arms. Boy, did I feel good. You could have hit me with the Rock of Gibralter and I would have kissed you.
I taxied over to the side of the runway and met my instructor. Poor guy was shaking. He was mighty pleased as to the way I handled the plane so he told me to take it up again, if I wanted to. That was a silly question to ask me.
I taxied her out to the runway, gave her throttle and again I was in the air. Didn't have a bit of trouble this time. Matter of fact, I made a perfect three point landing.
Up here they have a little ceremony for each cadet the solo's. I was to be no exception as my friends very plainly put it. Half way back to school the bus stopped and this began the simple but thorough ceremony.
There is a little creek that runs under a bridge, about five feet high above the water. It is as dirty as can be, since the mud at the bottom is like paste. The boys very obligingly removed my shoes, emptied out my pockets and four of them grabbed my arms and legs. In another second, was flying thru the air minus a plane this time. My "friend??" Gene Cole made sure that they gave me a little twist before they let go and boom I hit the water flat as a pancake. Oh was I wet. My clothes stuck to me like glue as I waded in the mud , out of the water. Everyone enjoyed themselves, but I was freezing. Oh it was great. Now I can laugh when their turn comes. The worse part of it all was standing in the bus on the way back. As soon as I got back to the school, I changed to dry clothes a felt like a million bucks. This is a day long to be remembered.
Dad I don't know if you have received my card I sent two days ago. If you haven't will you order two of those pictures of myself in the whites and send them to me.
I am glad to hear that McWilliams came in. Too bad, he didn't come in sooner then may be I could have seen him.
I had better stop now. I have so many letters to write it isn't even funny.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
Sunday, September 26, 2010
September 14, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
I am starting to get the hang of the schedule now so I can squeeze a few lines in here and there. Fifteen minutes before chow so I will write as much as I can.
Received Mom's letter yesterday and was glas to hear what's happening way back in Old New York.
I had better give you the list of clothes I will need to have out here.
2 T shirts 1 pr kaki trousers
4 underpants 3 kaki shirts
2 undershirts 1 kaki hat
Pr black shoes 1 kaki shorts
4 pr black socks 1 blue & gold sweater
If you can spare a few crackers it would help fight off starvation for 3 young men.
Didn't go up today. The two fellows before had a little longer lesson so I will go up first tomorrow.
I have never seen so large a group of men that are so flat broke. I doubt if between the twenty five men in my platoon we can raise ten dollars. There has been a delay in our checks from New York, but the 20th we all should get 75 smackeronies. Gene and I are so broke we can't even get our laundry out Friday.
Next chance I get I will drop Geof a letter. I hope you haven't forgot to send me Bub's address. I promised him I would write.
They certainly do have beautiful weather out here. We have been here almost two weeks and I doubt if the sky has been cloudy for more than three hours straight.
Bob Condon's birthday was yesterday, and he just received a package from home. They sent him a cake, candles, birthday party paper caps and candy so Saturday night we are going to have a party. We'll never grow up, weill we. There's nothing else to do that night. Last Saturday night Gene and I went to bed at 8:30 beleive it or not.
Just came back from chow. Mashed potatoes, string beans, butterscotch pudding and something resembling meat. Oh is the meat tough out here. There's something peculiar about it though. If you yell giddy up the meat will jump off of the plate. I wonder why?
It certainly is a good thing I brought my jacket with me. We hit the deck at 0500 and start flying at 0615 and believe me it is plenty cold at that time of the day.
By the way, you wanted to know if I was living at an airport or a college. Well I live at the college and go to the airport by the school bus. The airport is about eight miles outside of town. They have no pictures of the school and we are not allowed cameras so there isn't much chance of me getting you any picture at all.
I guess there's not much more to say and I will have to go to Aerology class in a few minutes.
This is the Navy signing off
Jim
I am starting to get the hang of the schedule now so I can squeeze a few lines in here and there. Fifteen minutes before chow so I will write as much as I can.
Received Mom's letter yesterday and was glas to hear what's happening way back in Old New York.
I had better give you the list of clothes I will need to have out here.
2 T shirts 1 pr kaki trousers
4 underpants 3 kaki shirts
2 undershirts 1 kaki hat
Pr black shoes 1 kaki shorts
4 pr black socks 1 blue & gold sweater
If you can spare a few crackers it would help fight off starvation for 3 young men.
Didn't go up today. The two fellows before had a little longer lesson so I will go up first tomorrow.
I have never seen so large a group of men that are so flat broke. I doubt if between the twenty five men in my platoon we can raise ten dollars. There has been a delay in our checks from New York, but the 20th we all should get 75 smackeronies. Gene and I are so broke we can't even get our laundry out Friday.
Next chance I get I will drop Geof a letter. I hope you haven't forgot to send me Bub's address. I promised him I would write.
They certainly do have beautiful weather out here. We have been here almost two weeks and I doubt if the sky has been cloudy for more than three hours straight.
Bob Condon's birthday was yesterday, and he just received a package from home. They sent him a cake, candles, birthday party paper caps and candy so Saturday night we are going to have a party. We'll never grow up, weill we. There's nothing else to do that night. Last Saturday night Gene and I went to bed at 8:30 beleive it or not.
Just came back from chow. Mashed potatoes, string beans, butterscotch pudding and something resembling meat. Oh is the meat tough out here. There's something peculiar about it though. If you yell giddy up the meat will jump off of the plate. I wonder why?
It certainly is a good thing I brought my jacket with me. We hit the deck at 0500 and start flying at 0615 and believe me it is plenty cold at that time of the day.
By the way, you wanted to know if I was living at an airport or a college. Well I live at the college and go to the airport by the school bus. The airport is about eight miles outside of town. They have no pictures of the school and we are not allowed cameras so there isn't much chance of me getting you any picture at all.
I guess there's not much more to say and I will have to go to Aerology class in a few minutes.
This is the Navy signing off
Jim
September 8, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary Jerry, and Mat,
During the week I haven't had a chance to write a letter. I have two hours and fifteen minutes of flight so far. Today I felt as if I was getting the feel of flying. I should be able to get the hang of it to solo in a few hours. Received letter from Bobby the other day. He said he might go to Amarillo, Texas. He would have to come here because I am not allowed over a 5 mile radius and I must eat every meal at the school even when on liberty.
How is everything at home? As I said, there is very little chance of writing during the week so I will do all over the weekend. Has McWilliams written you? I sent him a letter to the return address on the letter he sent me and it was returned because it did not have the ship's name.
Love to all,
Jim
During the week I haven't had a chance to write a letter. I have two hours and fifteen minutes of flight so far. Today I felt as if I was getting the feel of flying. I should be able to get the hang of it to solo in a few hours. Received letter from Bobby the other day. He said he might go to Amarillo, Texas. He would have to come here because I am not allowed over a 5 mile radius and I must eat every meal at the school even when on liberty.
How is everything at home? As I said, there is very little chance of writing during the week so I will do all over the weekend. Has McWilliams written you? I sent him a letter to the return address on the letter he sent me and it was returned because it did not have the ship's name.
Love to all,
Jim
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