June 7, 1943
Mon. 8:30 P.M.
Dear Folks:
I don’t remember if I told you or not but if I didn’t here goes: I had my 30 hr check ride Sat. This is an army check ride so a Lieut checked me. Well I got a U-3 or 4 on it. So I will have to take a re-check about Wed. He told my instructor that I did a good chandelle and Lazy 8. I hardly knew how to do these. They were the newest maneuver I learned. Then I came in and made a bum landing. These U’s are getting to be a habit with me. I think I can ride this one off too.
Well today I spent part of the time flying upside down. My instructor showed me how to do a loop. He did 2 of them and then I did one. To do this we put it into a little dive to gain enough speed. We then pull the nose up slowly at first and then faster and faster. First thing I knew we were upside down. We then bring the nose on around and we end up like we started. It looks like this (see original letter).
In other words, it’s just like doing a backward flip. Another boy in our room washed out today. Another one got an F on his civilian check and gets an army check tomorrow. So he doesn’t have much chance. Another one got a U-2 on his 30 hr check. So out of the 10 original men in our room, 3 have washed. 3 of us have U’s to ride off from our 30 hr check.
This one has an army U from his 20 hr. check. One of the others just passed his 20 hr. check and the other two are doing okay. Those 2 have passed their 30 hr. checks.
So you can see the wash-outs are adding up. I found out that I had one of the toughest army check pilots that are here. But I almost passed it then. While I was up there he swore and cursed all the time. But after we got down he wasn’t quite so bad. He was afraid the engine was going to drop out he said.
Well it sort of looks like the rain has finally stopped. We finally had a nice clear day. But it is awful hot. Well folks I guess I have run out of anything to talk about.
Oh yes, I was supposed to get a tooth pulled today but the dentist is sick. We had our teeth examined a few days ago and he said this tooth would have to come out. There isn’t much left of it anyway.
Well let me know how everything is. I just remembered, they have jack rabbits down here. I’ve seen some of them. They have big ears and are a lot bigger than the cotton tails.
Well so long,
Alva
P.S. By the time you get this letter I will either be washed out or I will be pretty sure of getting through.
A.B
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