December 30, 1943

Dear Mom, Pop, Avis, Shirley and Marie,

Wheeee! You should see me buzz around in this Thunderbolt. It's really a hot ship. Johnson, one of my pals had to go around the field seven times before he could get it down. It's really rough, if you don't land it in the first third of the field. It costs you $10. So far I've been lucky. This flying is getting to be expensive now that I'm an officer.

What a big ship for a fighter aircraft. It stands better than 12 feet high. It looks like a bomber, but flies like a kitten.

The country around here is nine tenths swamp. We have one big lake east of here that's as big as the ocean, it's name is Okeechobee.

It's a good deal down here, if you get lost all you have to di is call in your radio and say, "Hey which way do I go to get home?" They come back in about 15 seconds and give you the course to take to get to the field.

We have to be in bed at 11:30 tomorrow night, which is New Year's Eve and also. we fly New Year's day so that means we might just as well stay in the post. As a matter of fact, I haven't even seen the town yet. Only from the air.

As Ever Love and Kisses

Al

Happy New Year