Robert to Lydia 7 Sep 1944

Wednesday, Sept 6.[1]

Dear Lydia[2],

            This morning I was critiqued on Missions 23, 24, & 25 and passed them all so I’ve been rather happy all day & confident enough to invest in an officers guide. Yesterday we had our final test in celestial & altho (sic) I don’t think I did too well on it, I believe my previous grades will hold it. There’s one more mission to be flown but unless I lose the plane in the Gulf of Mexico or do something equally fantastic or dreadful, the last mission shouldn’t be too great a hurdle. Sunday night we flew to a field near Wichita Kansas [3] arriving there about 1 in the morning, stayed overnight & slept late & after lunch flew to Jackson Mississippi where we had supper & slept in our own barracks at Hondo Monday night. When so much is crowded into the first day of the week, every day from Wednesday on seems like it should be Saturday. I guess I’m getting the spirit of Navigation because I even like to talk shop in off hours. I’m enclosing a chart that will give you an idea of the extent of our celestial course.

            Maybe I was too hasty in paying you off. If I get a leave on graduation I don’t think I’ll be able to come home in state, that is via air-lines or Pullman and still have the safe margin I always like to have[4]. I’m dissatisfied with my clothing situation: the P.X. stock wasn’t too fancy & ordering from a civilian concern on the outside was fraught with many uncertainties & besides all but the kids clothing stores in San Antonio close up Saturday afternoon. What I’d have like to do was get only the one set I’d need for graduation & get the rest at Ross Bros. or some place, but we have to have practically our entire wardrobe to clear the field. Some day this week we have our final uniform fitting & I’m just hoping my blouse, pinks & trench coat are satisfactory because I had them made to measure & those 3 items represent fully half my uniform allowance[5]. With my greens and pinks and olives and tans my clothes will rival the plumage of tropical birds.

            The European war as far as my participation there is concerned is a closed book. Right now I’m hoping India is where I’ll be going, but if I settle for New Guinea, I can only be pleasantly surprised wherever I’m sent.

            Time magazine hasn’t started coming yet. I don’t know whether you should write in & hold up the subscription or wait until I know my new address notice.

            Graduation is the 18^th. If I have a leave I’m taking the 1^st train out early a.m. the 19^th & be in California the 22 or 23^rd. would you still be in L.A. then?                           

                                                                                    Love

                                                                                                Bob[6]

Picture of Postcard 

---

[1] Postmarked 7 Sep 1944.

[2] Addressed  to Mrs. Walter T. Smith, 1919 Beechwood, Hollywood 28, Calif

[3] A postcard was found in this letter with the inscription “I can almost see the goal, Bob.” It is postmarked Sep 5, 1944 from Winfield, Kansas.

[4] I believe “safe margin” refers to financial reserves as he mentions taking the train home later in the letter. Flying and travelling first class are expensive and the previous sentence discusses debt, so I believe this is the proper interpretation rather than having enough time, which is also mentioned in other letters and a factor in wartime travel in between duty stations.

[5] Then, as now, officers must pay for their own clothing, but have an allowance.

[6] Pre-printed return address, “CADET CLUB. Hondo Army Air Field, Hondo Texas.”  Handwritten around the pre-printed return address, “A/C Robert B Richert 19111319,14-12-9B,Sec. K 25, HAAF, Hondo, Texas”