Basic Flight Training - It's Not All Fun/Apart For a While



Basic Flight Training

Chapter 4 - Basic Flight Training - It's Not All Fun/Apart For a While As mentioned previously, Doris returned to New York at the conclusion of my training in Arcadia. At the time she left we were financially strapped, down to a handful of coins and her train ticket to New York. We had also decided that job competition at my new assignment, Gunter Field, Montgomery, Alabama would be too great and my flying schedule too intensive for us to get much time together. We were introduced in this phase to the BT 13 (nicknamed the Vultee vibrator because of its flight characteristics). It was of metal monocoupe construction, single low wing with considerable engine power resembling a combat aircraft. The training schedule called for the introduction to formation, flying. instrument flying was particularly time consuming since many hours of practice was required in simulated flight trainer. Because of tight schedules this was always conducted after daylight hours. In addition, night flying consumed many other nights. As a result it seemed most practical, despite the separation, for Doris to restock our finances and then regroup in two months at advanced flying school so that we could both savor the experience of the graduation and the awards ceremony. All of this planning assumed I could survive the rigorous routine. The following series of letters to Doris not only covers the training routine, the difficulty of the separation for both of us but also by inference Doris’s routine in New York; looking for a job, work, visiting my folks, discussing the course of the war, writing and most of all waiting for her return to camp following, term very often used in a derogatory sense by those who hadn’t the intestinal fortitude to risk its trials and tribulations.

October 1943 Basic flying training Gunter Field, Montgomery, Alabama Hello Sweetie, Well, back to the army it seems - and with a bang, Gunter Field is merely a smaller edition of Maxwell Field with the same amount of chicken - and flying squeezed in. From the moment we got up this morning at 5.30 A.M. until night chow we were on the go. Visiting ground school, drawing lockers, drilling, lectures and so on. In addition, a parade and three personal inspections; O.D.s (Khakis) in our outer blouses and lastly our P.T. clothes. This was all to get us ‘ on the ball’. The facilities and quarters are splendid, food great and the tactical officers all pilots who have been thru the mill. All my love Ray

October 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama My dearest Wife, It rained all day today so we didn’t get over first ride in a BT 13 this afternoon, perhaps tomorrow, so much to learn, sheets and sheets of procedures. Right now we’re all spruced up for a standby inspection at 1:00 P.M. The conversation is naturally about women and the bull is certainly flying. Funny one happened before inspection. While waiting about an hour for the inspecting officers, at parade rest one of the boys started fidgeting, had to go badly, afraid to break ranks, finally he made a mad dash, returned just in time for the inspection. Solong sweetheart Ray

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hello Beautiful, Just back from another parade, hot tired and dusty. It was held during our study hour. This afternoon we are issued snazzy flying clothes, gloves and sheepskin flight jackets. Also got our first orientation flight. We were dressed for the part and felt like pilots. Out for our first open post this week, we’re able to let off a little steam and relax. On our return, four of us in a cab, all of us little tipsy, one guy opened to door to hail out. Hauled back, luckily by the seat of his pants. On Sunday morning I took a sight seeing trip through Montgomery. What I saw wasn’t too pleasant. The city proper and the capital buildings were magnificent. The suburbs were reserved for the negro’s. Seeing the ramshackle shocks, rutted streets and outhouses left me depressed. Miss you. Love Ray

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Dear Doris, What impressed me most in your last letter was the description of the gathering at my folks, with your mother and the rest of the family. They were the personification of what the war was being fought for. In the group we’ve all the joys, sorrows, dreams, hardships and hopes of the people - us. So you cried, how close I came to doing the same. The roar of the motors here is terrific. The BT 13 is the loudest ship in the Air Corps and I’m working at the flight line. Did my first spin in a BT 13, not as terrifying as I thought, although the pullout tightens your gut. Love Ray P.S. : No, I don’t think crying is feminine. A guy makes sure nobody sees him but many a night the lump in his throat can be unbearable and he lies on his bunk trying to keep the tears out of his eyes. Have seen big, rough, tough guys in this fix ----- me too.

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Dearest Doris, Empty feeling did you say? I think I mentioned a bit of it in yesterdays letter. How the feeling increased after I finished the letter. Glad you visited my folks, your presence means so much to them. Gosh, if we could start living our lives now - enjoying them to the fullest - so much to live for. This whole mess reminds me of a dark, stagnant pool with no shore in sight - perhaps soon. Enjoyed your description of Mikes wedding I’m sure he feels he was pushed into it by ours. He’s finished his airship flight training and is now a rated enlisted pilot. Many pilots worked hard for it - he should feel cocky. Taps just sounded so I’, finishing this letter on the latrine. All my love Ray

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Sweetheart, Saw a show last night - and missed you tremendously. Expected to sleep late Sunday morning but the chicken - tactical officer had us up at the usual time to fall out and hear the Articles of War read to us - must be done every 6 months. Read some old copies of PM and was shocked at some of the news it contained. We don’t get much new here, a sudden outburst of antisemitism in Boston, I know the ashes never stop smoldering but whose fanning them into flames at this time? Victory on the battle field won’t amount to a damn if our rear isn’t protected. All this shows how vital you and all the informed people at home are. Being trained to kill efficiently is minor compared to the tough job you have at home and the results less obvious. I’m glad your in there pitching for both of us. Wondering how your doing? Job? Thinking of me ? Love Ray

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Dear Doris, Open past tonight but Montgomery hasn’t anything to offer. I’m perfectly content getting some needed relaxation while writing to you. Today was just another routine day. Went up for an hour of solo. You realize how little you know and the infinite amount there is to learn about flying when your up there alone. so little time, have to work that much harder. Going up for another high altitude chamber test tonight. Checks are made every few months. Had a heart to heart talk with Zaleski, the room mate I told you about. Has a good understanding of politics. To much noise to continue. Love Ray

November 1943, Gunter Field, Alabama My dearest wife (rather dignified, huh) Got my first instrument flight today. The instructor sits in the front cockpit, the student in the rear. A black hood is placed over the top of the canopy so all you can see is the flight instruments; gyro compass and horizon, bank and turn indicator, airspeed and rate of climb dials. By use of these instruments you take off, fly your course and maneuvers never seeing anything more than your instrument panel. You experience the queerest sensations. Many times when making a right turn you feel as if your going to the left. You have to disregard all bodily sensations and fly your instruments even if you feel as if your standing on your head. Imagine doing a spin recovery on instruments! That lipstick smudge you sent played havoc with my morale - so near yet so far. The Patton incident certainly has aroused quite a furor. Signing off - am due at the Link Trainer. Love Ray

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hi Wifey Dear, My instructor flew the front cockpit today and put on a demonstration of flying. I’ll never forget. Buzzed so low that I could practically reach out and pull leaves off the tree tops. Got a bit of bad news yesterday. Remember my CTD buddy. Well, he was washed out at Basic at Courtland, Alabama. He was all broken up about it. Tough break. Feel a little envious of those Berlin air raids. Looks as if there wont be much left for me. Waiting anxiously for your next letter. Christmas is not far away - know what I want? - yep thats right. Good night darling Ray

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hello Sweetheart, Today after going thru my maneuvers my instructor asked me ‘Which way to the field’? Remembering his words about being decisive, I pointed and headed in that direction. After flying that way for several minutes my instructor said gently ‘If you continue flying that way you’ll end up over the Gulf of Mexico. He got a kick out of the sheepish look on my face. So I’m not a pigeon. Had a conversation with a fellow named Petska. Has 18 months overseas duty as a gunner in England and is credited with two German fighters (ME109 s). Big, blustering and crude, feeling quite low since he has gotten married to a pretty English girl (Showed me her picture) and was wondering when he was going to see her. I could sympathize with him. Love Ray

November 1943 Dear Doris, Another day and more bad weather, only 9 hours of flight time in three weeks and 80 required for completion of this phase. Looks like lots of weekend flying. Am now planning our six cross countries each about 300 to 400 miles long. Wish I could string them together and head north. More Link trainer tonight. Waiting to fly gets on your nerves and time drags. Whats your routine like - sleeping nights or tripping the light fantastic? Wish I could dream. Trouble is from the moment I hit the sack I’m dead to the world until reveille. Starting aircraft identification exercises, flashing pictures on the screen so fast that if your eyelids flicker you don’t see a thing. Good Night Ray

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hello sweetheart, Post theater tonight. Saw ‘ Guadalcanal Diary’. Lots of noise, bullets and a few laughs. Felt good relaxing with a bag of popcorn. Weathers still bad. Rumor has it that we will be held back a class. Who knows . Lots of noise in the room tonight- discussions - women, politics and home in that order. Minds in a whirl. Only one more month to advanced hopefully. All my love Ray

November 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hello, Down at the flight line. Weather still crummy. Get a good laugh watching some of the guys covering the black board with writing. Stupid airborne mistakes are punished by repeating phrases such as ‘I will keep rubbernecking at all times’ 50 to 100 times. Silly but effective. You never make the same mistake again. Am now setting in a parked aircraft, putting in some cockpit time. Raining cats and dogs but cozy inside. Memorizing positions of light switches on the panel. When flying at night you can’t pause and look for them; cockpit lights, compass lights, wing lights, passing lights instrument lights and so on. I’m in the first group scheduled to fly tonight. For night flying you must have 6 hours of instrument flying, passed your 20 hour check and have a certain number of day light landings. Getting chilly, heading back to the ready room. We were released from the flight line because of the weather, so back at our quarters. One of our room mates is backed into a corner protecting a package from home (good cookies) All my love Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Darling Doris, Sunday night- just back from Montgomery - feeling blue - missing you, spent Saturday night drinking beer at a little honkytonk just outside of town . Watched the guys trying to drink themselves to forgetfulness in an atmosphere of smoke, stink and drunken laughter. Only made my desire to be with you more acute. Visited Maxwell Field to see a friend at Preflight that I hadn’t seen since leaving New York. Fed him and his roommates a mess of hot pilot talk. They listened popeyed. I enjoyed the soap box and they wanted to hear it. Nothing much else except missing you more than ever. Good night, Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hello sweets, Our change of quarters today (answers phone - a communicator) released from all other duties, am free to catch up on my writing. Got a kick out of the articles you sent me; Wilkies refusal to acknowledge that Roosevelt had fought for the Moscow conferences policy back here and the real estate interests fanning into flames the anti-negro get rich quick policy. I often wonder what a furor a few hundred copies of a liberal northern paper would cause in Montgomery. Well, phones ringing, solong Love Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hi, Just got back from another cross country to Thomoston, Georgia. Strangely enough I didn’t get lost this time and have to buzz a railroad station to see where I was. No crosswinds to blow me off course, everything went off like clockwork. Back on a half day flying schedule. However, no rest for the weary, time is filled with lectures about the duties of an officer and gentleman, responsibility and so on. Trying to make silk purses out of sows ears. Our squadron basketball team won the championship of the cadet detachment. It helps to have two rangy (6 ft 2in) Texans on the team. My set shots helped a bit. We are now scheduled to play the officers, reputed to be the best team on the field. It will be our chance to get some rough and tumble in, legitimately against the officers that continuously ride us. Finally come thru with a dream -of you. My agony became acute when I received your letter; snuggling safely in my arms did you say? Just received a letter from Buggsy (Stanley) the guy I wanted you to meet and spoke so much of when I was home on leave. He’s mad as a hornet because he missed shipment overseas(now a 2nd looie navigator) It seems that because he’s so good at his job that he and his crew - (B-24 heavy bomber) were selected for special duty. Can’t say much but he hints at being able to bomb Berlin thru the clouds. Was restricted for a week because he suggested his major was a slacker. We worked together at the Navy Yard and attended night school together. He’s all of 5 ft 4 in. To a glorious future, Love Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hi, How goes it, Healthy as usual? Boy I feel tired. Flew 3 1/2 hours, half on instruments; nothing more tiring than flying on instruments. Been married two months now. Seems like forever. Passed my Morse code checks so am able to have an occasional free night - and pile up some sack sleep time. We can all use it. If the weather holds we should finish up on time for the advanced flying phase - and incidentally our rendevous. Nothing much more to say except that the days are merging together, those ahead very much like those behind. Good night Love ! Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Dear Doris, No flying today. The fog was so thick you couldn’t see the wind sock in the middle of the field. However, according to the weatherman we should have some good flying weather soon. The weather down here is comparable to early spring up north. Rarely do we have to wear more than an OD shirt. When upstairs we use our sheepskin flying jacket. My brother Steve says he will probably be shipping out again very soon to organize a new bomber group. Mike writes he's back to the old grind flying sub patrol. Doesn’t feel much different being married ? To bad for him. Once again I LOVE YOU Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama My Dearest Doris, I’m feeling tip top except for the 1200 miles between us. Got a new instructor today. A young fellow just out of instructors school. We went up for a period of dual acrobatics, snap rolls, slow rolls, chandelles. Guess what, he promptly got lost, not being familiar with the territory. I knew where we were but he was the instructor so I kept my mouth shut. He floundered around for half an hour before he ran across a river he recognized and followed it to the field. He sounded a bit embarrassed when we got down but I didn’t say a word. He’s not a bad skate. Heard from my CTD buddy that washed out, he’s been reverted to GI status and is now at mechanics school in Biloxi, Mississippi. Ten months of effort then back to buck private, quite a blow. How are things progressing in the city; work recreations, the kitten you mentioned your mother, sister? Having the usual friendly squabbles with your sister? Funny how swell I felt after coming back from PT. Took a delightful cold shower and sat back for a few moments - at peace with the world- almost. Everything seemed fine, my flying progressing, yet something was missing. No sooner did my thoughts drift they were on you - so whats new. Love Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hi Darling Back at the flight line again. More night flying tonight. Visibility has to be 2 miles so we’re still waiting, hoping they cancel it. It looks cold up there. Last time out we had our first fatality. He spiraled in. At night the stars and ground lights run together so if you don’t pay particular attention to your instruments you can drop a wing and fly right into the ground. Funny the grind affects you more mentally than it does physically. When you get a few spare moments you find it hard to think, you just want to lie back and let your mind wonder and drift without exerting any mental effort. At those times I even find it hard to read more then the headlines of the newspaper. Otherwise am in tip top shape. I guess being on the alert all the time can be mentally fatiguing. Flying was called off. Went back to bed and got some sleep. Looking ahead to advanced, just have to pass my instrument and final checks. Wish me luck, sweetheart. So Long partner Love Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Dear Doris, Another night of night flying. You would think I were going on a trip with these bags under my eyes. Now back to the flight line for more flying after about 3 hours of sleep. Incidentally, another one of the boys wrapped himself up at the night session. Had to wear our gas masks all day today for protection against simulated gas attacks which they were pulling all day. Military policeman were driving around throwing tear gas bombs in the most unexpected places. Its TS without a mask. January 7 is our scheduled day of departive to advanced. Only 16 days to go then Valhalla. Love Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Dear Doris, More night flying, tonight; blackout landings- no landing lights, all you have is the runway outlined with small smudge pots. You point your nose, establish a glide, level off and - pray. Been thinking about seeing you soon. Am wondering what it will be like. Probably will be struck speech less- but I’m a man a action as you will see. To laugh again growl again relax again - with you there! Christmas day will be a day off. Half of us will sleep all day, the other half will head for town and raise merry hell. Haven’t decided yet which category I’ll be in. My hearts pounding - I let my imagination even away for an instant. Love Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Hi, No letters from you. It must be the Christmas rush - why don’t they get on the ball? We’ve been feed sulfa pills - to help combat colds in this screwy southern weather. Off to mail call. Love Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Greetings: Bingo, your pictures came, What a pleasant surprise - followed by an elated feeling. ‘Thats my wife.’ You looked a little tired (too much night life?) but beautiful as ever, just the way I love to see you most; your hair combed up and slightly tousled, that sweet smile on your face and that soft look in your eyes ----- meant for me I hope. Comments from my room mates after looking and scratching their heads ‘What kind of love potion do you feed her.’ My answer ‘Damned if I know.’ Enclosed are three small snapshots; just me on the flight line with a great big airplane thrown in. As I sit here writing I can’t help but look at your pictures. Having you as part of my life makes it possible to plug along and live with every discomfort and hardship, Thanks! Glad to hear of your activity with your political club as to this comp following question that came up. I ask only one question of those people. Have they ever been in love? Let them ask themselves this question and then make their decision. I spent Saturday night in town. No - not getting drunk. No - not chasing the ladies but quietly and almost contentedly chewing nuts, fruits and candy in small hotel room. January 7 is not far off. Take care of yourself, plenty of fresh air, good food, exercise and sleep. It will all come in handy when we go adventuring together at advanced. Thanking of you always Ray

December 1943 Gunter Field, Alabama Dear Doris, Since things are winding down here a group of instructors got together and showed us some real close formation flying and not racing (following each other in trail). They took over and really went to town. Guess they were blowing off some steam since our class is almost finished and shipping soon. Boy they certainly can fly; of course this is all prohibited but occasionally they cut loose and the field commander looks the other way. Had a wonderful Christmas dinner, then took an old fashioned walk outside of Montgomery - alone - thinking of us. Should be able to confirm that shipping date soon. All my love Ray

December 1944 Gunter Field, Alabama Hello sweetheart, The shipping orders were posted today and as I thought, I’m going to multi-engine training at Turner Field, Albany, Georgia, 7 January. Single engine training is for the shoot'em up types. My evaluation says, 'steady, methodical, good formation, reaction time average.' In addition I asked for multi engine B-25’s as a combat aircraft. Now to business, I want to make it clear with what you may have to put up with in this home stretch. The flying will be intensive as well as ground school coupled with the military routine. Flying weekends will also be involved. I haven’t the slightest idea of how often we will get to town. While I want you here so badly, that conscience of mine says to make sure you fully realize what the situation will be like. I know what it means to pull up stakes and make a thousand mile trip alone. Think it over before you buy your ticket - its a lot to ask. I’ll probably be quarantined for two weeks at Turner and if you get here I wont be of much use in finding a place to stay and helping you get settled. Perhaps you should wait until I’m out of quarantine. Albany is a good sized place and Turner field is the only military base so there shouldn’t be too much trouble getting a place to stay. Let me know `whats what as soon as you can. In reply to your question about needing anything, I’m holding up buying clothes as I hope to be ordering my officers uniforms shortly after getting to Turner. Apparently, there are few washouts at advanced flying - the winnowing has already been done at primary and basic training. Hopefully, I’ll be seeing you soon. Love, Ray P.S. Thanks for the birthday card - I don’t feel a day older than 22.