TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS JANUARY 11, 1918 P. 3
Christmas is all over, but didn’t seem like Christmas to me. People in town were mighty nice to us, as most of us were invited out for Christmas dinner.
I went out with three other fellows from New York, and surely had a nice time
I am sending you a clipping from newspaper, showing a Miniature Range at ground school. This is a map of Belgium, showing every road, river, railroad, etc. This is one subject that flunked eight men one week in my squadron. You are about twenty feet above map, as would equal 16,000 ft. in air, and you locate and connect artillery fire. The Code Signals have a wonderful system.
Well, I made my first flight today. I went up about 4000 feet. I don’t think anything can compare with this branch of service.
Flying is absolutely the greatest living sport. I took control when we left the ground. After you are in air Memphis and Mississippi River look about two inches wide. I was up thirty-five minutes, but seems half that time. The air was fine, although it was cold, as was about zero this a.m., but cold weather doesn’t stop flying at this place. I was not so cold 500 feet up, but from there on was real cold, running eighty miles per hour. I would go up even if I froze my nose off. It is the most wonderful thing in the world to look down and see the things below you. We had fifteen machines in air at once this a.m. Certainly is a pretty sight. I will go up twice tomorrow and once each day until I make my solo.
The helmet is fine, as I wear it under my leather helmet, the way you are supposed to do. You naturally couldn’t keep it on if you wore it alone.
I have a big sheep skin coat and a $10.00 pair of goggles. My leather helmet cost me $16.50.
You asked me how much we are drawing per month. We get $100.00 per month and all expenses. We expect to be here about six or eight weeks and will get commission.
I have a picture of my squadron at ground school, intended to send it some time ago, but have nothing to wrap it in. Will send you a snap shot some day of myself dressed as a pilot.
We have machine gun range each day. The ambulance is always on field, in case of accident. We start flying at 6:45 a.m., and fly all day. Mechanics keep machines in extra fine shape. We just walk out and crawl in.
Ten fellows came in today from San Diego, Cal. (flyers) and they say this is a much better place, as they were treated like----out there.
The reason for flying so early in the morning is, the air is so much better, no bumps and not so many waves and holes in the air.
We play football vs. Memphis New Year’s day. It is going to be some game as two machines are going to fly in town and over park, and make pictures of the game.
We still have to study and take exams. We also have classes at night. Thirty-five fellows also came in this morning from Garden City, N.Y. They finished the ground school at Georgia School of Technology a month before I did and were sent to New York, expecting to be sent straight across but they have been up there all this time doing guard duty and haven’t even seen an aeroplane, so they sent them down here to do their flying. Think of the time they have lost. I know about ten of the bunch, fine fellows too.
We have some pretty good musicians here, as one fellow certainly can romp on the violin.
I am getting on my feet again, as I was all in when I finished the ground school, for I stayed up till two or three a.m. several nights, studying for exams, but I pull down 152 pounds now.
There are all kind of chances of getting fired out of this place. If you can’t make your solo within eight hours they simply discharge you, but that doesn’t worry me.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Tom C. Rogers of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He was in training at the aviation school in Memphis, Tennessee. He was writing to his parents.
TRANSCRIBED BY DAVID COLLINS
Christmas is all over, but didn’t seem like Christmas to me. People in town were mighty nice to us, as most of us were invited out for Christmas dinner.
I went out with three other fellows from New York, and surely had a nice time
I am sending you a clipping from newspaper, showing a Miniature Range at ground school. This is a map of Belgium, showing every road, river, railroad, etc. This is one subject that flunked eight men one week in my squadron. You are about twenty feet above map, as would equal 16,000 ft. in air, and you locate and connect artillery fire. The Code Signals have a wonderful system.
Well, I made my first flight today. I went up about 4000 feet. I don’t think anything can compare with this branch of service.
Flying is absolutely the greatest living sport. I took control when we left the ground. After you are in air Memphis and Mississippi River look about two inches wide. I was up thirty-five minutes, but seems half that time. The air was fine, although it was cold, as was about zero this a.m., but cold weather doesn’t stop flying at this place. I was not so cold 500 feet up, but from there on was real cold, running eighty miles per hour. I would go up even if I froze my nose off. It is the most wonderful thing in the world to look down and see the things below you. We had fifteen machines in air at once this a.m. Certainly is a pretty sight. I will go up twice tomorrow and once each day until I make my solo.
The helmet is fine, as I wear it under my leather helmet, the way you are supposed to do. You naturally couldn’t keep it on if you wore it alone.
I have a big sheep skin coat and a $10.00 pair of goggles. My leather helmet cost me $16.50.
You asked me how much we are drawing per month. We get $100.00 per month and all expenses. We expect to be here about six or eight weeks and will get commission.
I have a picture of my squadron at ground school, intended to send it some time ago, but have nothing to wrap it in. Will send you a snap shot some day of myself dressed as a pilot.
We have machine gun range each day. The ambulance is always on field, in case of accident. We start flying at 6:45 a.m., and fly all day. Mechanics keep machines in extra fine shape. We just walk out and crawl in.
Ten fellows came in today from San Diego, Cal. (flyers) and they say this is a much better place, as they were treated like----out there.
The reason for flying so early in the morning is, the air is so much better, no bumps and not so many waves and holes in the air.
We play football vs. Memphis New Year’s day. It is going to be some game as two machines are going to fly in town and over park, and make pictures of the game.
We still have to study and take exams. We also have classes at night. Thirty-five fellows also came in this morning from Garden City, N.Y. They finished the ground school at Georgia School of Technology a month before I did and were sent to New York, expecting to be sent straight across but they have been up there all this time doing guard duty and haven’t even seen an aeroplane, so they sent them down here to do their flying. Think of the time they have lost. I know about ten of the bunch, fine fellows too.
We have some pretty good musicians here, as one fellow certainly can romp on the violin.
I am getting on my feet again, as I was all in when I finished the ground school, for I stayed up till two or three a.m. several nights, studying for exams, but I pull down 152 pounds now.
There are all kind of chances of getting fired out of this place. If you can’t make your solo within eight hours they simply discharge you, but that doesn’t worry me.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Tom C. Rogers of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He was in training at the aviation school in Memphis, Tennessee. He was writing to his parents.
TRANSCRIBED BY DAVID COLLINS