Dear Mother,

I had quite a day of flying today - had a total of 2 hours and 25 minutes in the air. I rode my instructor in #175 for an hour and one half and spent the rest of the time in #173 solo. Today was the first time that I was allowed to leave the traffic pattern - that is, leave the pattern that surrounds the field. Up until today my solo work was supervised by my instructor. But today, I left the pattern and flew completely on my own!

This flying is really wonderful! Today on my solo time, I did 3 spins, lots of stalls, all kinds of turns, rectangular courses, elementary eights, etc. When you come down here I'll explain those terms to you.

Here's the way the washout situation looks right now. About 34% of 44-A have been washed - with lots more to come. I have a 20-hour check (progress ride) coming in the next couple of days, so maybe.

These checks are given every twenty hours, so we have three of them while in Primary. If a student fails a "P" ride, he gets what is called an elimination ride. Back at pre-flight, I was rooming with three other fellows - King, Calenberg and an Italian boy named Cianinaichella. All three of these fellows have been washed. Calenberg and King both had previous flying time before coming here. So, I'm doing quite well to be here this long.

What is left of 43-K (my upperclassmen here) leave for Basic tomorrow. Seems like all who get through Primary here go to Coffeeville, Kansas for Basic. If I get through, I'd certainly like to go there.

Here's some more news. All boys who wash out as pilots are put in the regular Army - no more navigation for eliminated pilots. All the fellows leaving here are going to Jefferson Barracks, which is at St. Louis.

So, if I wash out of flying here, I just go into the regular Army like Dick. Seems as though they have enough navigators and bombardiers. Anyway, wash out rates run about 5% - 10% for those two phases of flying. If I can get to Basic, I'll be pretty well set.

Well, I've certainly said enough about flying for today. However, that is all that I can think of nowadays. It's really the greatest.

Love,
Jack

 Jack was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery

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