Aug 30, 1941

Btry. E-94th L.A.

 

 

Dear Pauline-

                        Our battery finally went to the firing range. We have been going everyday for a week, we still have one more day for firing, which is rapid firing in the kneeling position. There are four positions that we fire from. Prone, sitting, standing and kneeling. The first few days we had preliminary firing and now we are firing for a record. The set up for the firing is as follows:  one day you fire, then coach the next man, next day you keep score, and next day work in the pits, by pushing the target up into view and lowering it when the fire ceases. You also patch the holes and signal the scorekeeper by sending up disks that tell the value of the shots. 

            There are two men to a target and 40 targets to a range. The distance is 200 yards and the bulls eye is 10 inches in diameter. The bulls eye is a white disk or 5 points. The red disk 4 points, black and white 3, black 2, and a miss is a red flag waved once across the target.  To qualify for Marksman out of 200 points is 134. For Sharpshooter 168 and Expert 178. One man in our battery got 177. If I get 40 points Monday I still can make Marksman. I did alright on slow fire but fell down on the rapid. On rapid fire you get 10 bullets 5 to a clip and 60 seconds to fire them. A bullet travels 40 yards in ½ of a second. There have not been any fatal casualties. They are very strict in regards to safety precautions. The muzzle must point in the air at all times and the bolt of the rifle must remain open. On the firing line you load and lock by pushing the safety lock over to the right. We use a .30 caliber Springfield rifle and .30-ML Ball ammunition. If this rifle is not held right when firing it kicks and you’re liable to get a sore shoulder and a swollen or split lip. Here are a few tips Frank or Luke can use when they go deer hunting or if they stop in a shooting gallery. This is for a standing position- Face target. Then do half right face. Spread legs 1 to 2 ft apart. Body erect and balanced. Left elbow under rifle, butt high on shoulder. Right elbow height of shoulder. Cheek firmly pressed against stock with eye as close to rear sight without straining neck muscles. Front sight just touches bottom edge of bulls eye. Here is the most important part:

            Breathe while aiming– After sights are lined up on the bulls eye, draw in a little more than ordinary breath and let out a little and hold the remainder while aiming and squeezing the trigger. Squeeze trigger with the 1st or 2nd joint of index finger. Squeeze with such a steady increase of pressure that you do not know just when the rifle will go off. If sight wanders off, hold pressure on trigger and reassure pressure when sights are lined up again. By doing this you won’t flinch. Otherwise you will have anticipated the shock and explosion when the rifle goes off and your shot will go wild.

Saturday we had a parade review, of the 2nd and 3rd battalion and we were complimented by our new camp commander Major General Fredrick H. Smith. After his speech our battery had pictures taken.

            After the firing range session is over we got some bayonet practice and search- bight drill twice a week at night. This bight is 60 inches in diameter, with a 8,000,000 candle power beam that can be seen 200 miles away. At 20 miles you can read a newspaper and if you direct its beam towards the shrubbery it will burn it up in a short time. You can also get a bad case of sunburn.

            The horns on the sound locator are so sensitive it can detect the sound of a plane motor 12 miles away. The bight is operated by remote control by a control station operator. The Power plant furnishes and carries the main power to the searchlight, the distant electric control system, and the rotary converter. Rotary converter is a motor generator, operates (78 volts d.c. current) driving the generator which generates 110 volts alternating current to operate the data transmission system. I don’t think I’ll try to explain orienting and synchronizing the various elements of the bight unit as it’s too deep for you. Frank would understand it; it’s still a little deep for me. I have to learn all about it, as i have been made light commander.

            That means extra money after a while and extra headaches. The one good thing about it is you don’t have to do kitchen work or other dirty detail work. There has been several others made commander and after awhile they will sort them out and keep the best ones.

            Well whatever happens it don’t worry me none cause I know just as much about the power plant, light, control station and sound locater as the next one so none of them can kid me. I won’t be able to go home yet cause our battery office issued only 34 furloughs to the men and they picked them out of a hat to see who would go. If they modify that 28 year age bill I’ll be out soon and I’ll drop around and see you all.

            How come Mary broke out in a buying spree, taking interest in the home, is she planning on getting married or something? Well so-long Kid I’ll see you when the bill goes through.

                       

Your bro. Pete