Marianna, Florida
January 1 - 20, 1943
Friday, January 1, 1943
Eglin Field - Biloxi, Mississippi
1:20 Aerial gunnery AT-6
1:00 Formation
Saturday, January 2, 1943
Eglin Field - Biloxi, Mississippi
1:50 Aerial gunnery
Ralph Parker scrapped wing tip landing. Wrote letters.
Sunday, January 3, 1943
1:00 Aerial gunnery
Left Eglin at 12:00 and arrived back at Marianna at 11:00. Ping pong with Phillips and Racine.
Monday, January 4, 1943
1:00 Link trainer
:50 Instrument flying
:55 Formation flying
1:05 Oxygen flight
1: 00 Night transition
January 5, 1943
1:00 High altitude 20,000'
1:00 Link trainer
First fatal accident - A/C Crowe killed night transition.
Wednesday, January 6, 1943
Loafed around and played chess with Perry. Went to Auxiliary Field for night flying, but it was scratched when bad weather moved in.
Thursday, January 7, 1943
Rain - no flying. Open post - went to Cottondale and Chipley with G. Phillips.
Friday, January 8, 1943
Rain - no flying. Ground school in the afternoon. Stayed in and read in the evening.
Saturday, January 9, 1943
Got my officer’s flying equipment at Air Force Supply. Logged 2:35 night transition.
Sunday, January 10, 1943
Instructor and student from flight I-A killed on take off. Night transition 2:40. Night navigation 2:15. 1 got careless and ground-looped on landing at 0300 in the morning. Luckily, I didn't hit the wing tip, just spun around.
Monday, January 11, 1943
Logged combat - 1:05
Two ship formation - 2: 1 0
Night navigation - 2:25
Tuesday, January 12, 1943
No flying. Signed discharge as aviation cadet. Signed oath of office.
Wednesday, January 13, 1943
Graduation!!! I am now a 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Force and a potential "fighter pilot." Called Mom and Dad. Had pictures taken by George Phillips father. Logged 2:30 night navigation. Phil McCullough got lost.
Friday, January 15, 1943
Link trainer 2:00. Jeff Hall, my neighbor from Fitchburg, was my instructor. Went to the Officers Club at night.
Saturday, January 16, 1943
Collected $250 uniform allowance. Got discharge certificate. Signed for insurance. Logged :20 day transition. Flying all done.
Sunday, January 17, 1943
Rain - waited for orders. Officers Club in the afternoon and evening. Played cards with Phillips, Rauch and McCullough. I lost.
Monday, January 18, 1943
Rain - waited for orders. Read all day.
Tuesday, January 19, 1943
Cold, windy, clear - still no orders. Went to town and spent $45 on clothes. Officers club at night.
Wednesday, January 20, 1943
Received new assignment at 0900. After a ten day leave I'm going to report to the 48th bomb group at Key Field, Meridian Miss. Most of the guys are going to Groton Conn. to fly P-47's. We'll be flying A-24 dive bombers. Adams, Rauch and Phillips are also going to Key Field.
Left Marianna at 23:00 by bus.
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