August 15, 1943

Contact Bill and Emily,

We now have two weeks left here at Basic. How I got through this thing is beyond me.

I took my instrument check yesterday. I screwed it up royally. The funny part of it, for two whole hours before I took the check I was flying cross country on instruments with the hood over my head and I hit my destination right smack on the nose. The only thing I can figure out is that I got "checkitis" and got tense on the controls. He didn't say I flunked it but hell. I'll know for sure tomorrow.

At the present time, I've flown over 125 hours in the air. If I don't check somebody's tail off with my prop when we're flying formation, it'll be a miracle.

We had to make a choice last week on what we wanted to fly on "Advance". I put in for single engine school. I wanted to consult you on the matter, after all you do have the brains. Under the circumstances I had to make my choice then and there. I guess I want to fly back if somebody starts shooting. It's no fun flying a four motored bomber straight and level while somebody else shoots. Let me know what you think about my decision, After all, one can get away twice as fast in a pursuit 400 MPH.

I have a high enough average that I don't have to take my final in Meteorology. Thank God.

They now get up an hour and a half earlier. It's not so bad we finished out night flying last week. Another "Thank God". In four days I got eleven hours sleep. That's not counting what I got in grounds school. The instructors woke me up twice in one class. Me and twenty other guys. He keeps the chalk in one hand and shakes us with the other and he's plenty busy.

Good old "Uncle Dud". I passed me sending and receiving code the first two days we had it.

Gee, I hate to do this again but we leave here the 28th. That means we don't get paid until about the 15th or 20th of next month. I'm very poor at handling a budget. I's appreciate it Emily if you would make one out for me. I'll tell you, my biggest item is food. The cafeteria gets rich on me. Well almost. I also bought some clothes.

The first month after I get my wings I'll turn my monthly pay over to you.

Love and Kisses

Al

P.S. Fifteen dollars will get my pictures, year book and laundry. Amen, Amen, Amen