Dear Mother,

Uncle Jack seems to be doing O.K., doesn't he? But I doubt whether he'll get the car, just as you do. Alice just isn't the type to give up her access to transportation.

I took my first ride in a B.T.-14 Friday - it was just an orientation ride to show me the practice area. That is the part of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri in which we are allowed to fly. Also I learned how to start and stop the engine. Then yesterday I started flying for work. I had to do everything but land the plane. Believe me, it is certainly a big jump from a 175 hp P.T. to a Basic trainer with 450 horses. Also we have concrete runways here to use, which makes for precision takeoffs and landings.

In a P.T., we had a total of 5 instruments to use, while in B.T. we have over 40 instruments, a radio for communication purposes and just loads of little switches for this and that. Naturally we can either send or receive with our radio.

My instructor is a gigantic fellow named Lieutenant Ben Southward. Really, I don't think that he is more than two years older than I am. But he certainly can fly! And I think that he'll be able to teach me to fly a B.T.

Yesterday when I started the engine I made radio clearance with the control tower and looked back at my instructor. He just said, "Well, you're the pilot - let's go." So, I started taxiing out, thinking that he most certainly would take off. But, much to my surprise, he just said, "Go ahead - you're clear." So - I gave her the gun, thinking that my instructor must be crazy. But I got her off O.K. - in fact, I didn't have any trouble at all. Now if I can only land these darn things!

I'm going to have to close this letter as I have an autobiography to write for my instructor. He wants to know about my past for some reason or the other. So, write soon.

Lots of love,
Jack

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