8/27/43

Dear Elva,

It was darn nice of you dropping me a note as you said, and I can assure you it was a surprise, but a very pleasant one. I’ve gotten so far back on my correspondence that I have long ago given it up for a good job. We honestly do not have a great deal of time for writing, and to make matters worse the heat plagues you terrifically so that if you do have a little time to yourself you usually spend it trying to keep cool. I honestly believe I have perspired more this summer than in all the summers past together. My only salvation has been the P.X.’s where-in I have consumed more milk and soft drinks than I even believed possible.

So much for a tiresome subject, rather let’s talk about your “aircraft recognition”, which is really a grand thing to be working with. I have had nineteen days of same that is I have had a half hour period each day for that length of time. Of course in that time we did not cover all the planes but did cover a good share of the important ones. We have a projector and have slides which show a certain type of plane in different angles or positions, and have them flashed at such speeds as one fifth, one tenth, and one twenty-fifth of a second. To be honest I haven’t done so well, as at the speeds they are flashed on the screen, make it pretty hard to catch them all. My eyes wouldn’t pass the gunnery tests so I hardly could expect anything else. It’s as you know extremely important that a person is able to identify a plane quickly. We were told here that in a good many cases our own gunners have shot down their own planes because of inability to recognize friendly planes.

In answer to your statement that I failed to say goodbye when I left for the Army, I must confess I am sorry it turned out that way, however I didn’t have much choice, as my mothers misfortune came about at just that time, and I really never did get to suing anybody as I hoped I could. Perhaps I can make amends when and if I should get a furlough. I am about through here having about seven more days to complete my training at this field. At the present I am out on bivouac putting to use what I have learned in the school, under conditions somewhat similar to what we will have to face over there. It’s [a] really great experience out here despite the hardships or discomforts that go with it.

I have signed up for specialists’ school here but so far I have not heard whether I have made it or not. I should like very much to specialize on the engine or the propellers as they are the most important parts of a plane. Perhaps if this war should even end, the extra knowledge should insure my getting a position in “Pratt Whitney”, or “Hamilton Propeller.”

Well Elva, I hardly know what more I can add to this rather “hodge-podge” scribbling so I rather think I had better sign off here and perhaps when next I hear from you, you can give me an inkling of something you would like to know or hear. Please remember me to all your folks and give them my best wishes and love,

Love, Chas

P.S. What do you think of my little niece, “Gretchen”? And is her mother spoiling her the motherly way?