Sept. 8, 1943
Wed. 8:45 P.M.
Dear Folks:
Just time for a few words. We didn’t have any school tonight so I have time to write.
I soloed this ship yesterday. I only had 2 hrs. 5 min. dual instruction and 4 landings. My instructor helped a lot in those landings too. I think we are supposed to have at least 3 hrs. I soloed with the least amount of time of anybody I guess. I was sort of surprised because I didn’t feel like I was doing well at all. Any ship I fly from now on I will have to fly without any dual instruction. I’ll just have to be right the first time. I had 2 hrs. of solo today and no time with my instructor. So today I sort of got acquainted with the plane. I found out a lot of things about it.
You know I just found out today that Italy had surrendered. Must be they heard that A. D. Bessey is in advanced school now and is liable to be over there soon.
This old plane is pretty touchy compared to the B-T but it is like driving a fast car after driving a truck. Those old B-T’s seem so clumsy now.*
Well folks I have a cross country flight to plot yet tonight so I think I better close. I had 2 teeth pulled Monday so I was grounded for one day. It still bothered a little the next day but I still soloed. My instructor is a pretty good fellow. I think 2 of his students haven’t soloed yet. One has 4 hours and the other has 3 hours.
Well folks I think I better close for now. I’ll see you in about 8 weeks (I hope).
Yours truly,
Alva
P.S. This is a hot place here and they have some nice storms here to.
*The BT-13 was the most widely used trainer aircraft in WWII. It was flown by most American pilots in transitioning from Primary trainers like the PT-19 to more advanced trainers like the AT-6.
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