Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.048 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Childress, Texas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 30 September 1943 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 27.2 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Asks Bee to send him all of his winter clothes, that he had sent back in Ellington. He writes that his "screwy" schedule is a "darn good one" that gives them a lot of free time. Their days now start at 10:30AM and go to 3:00AM with a break from 6-9PM.
The weather has taken a turn for the worse and they haven't been flying. The class ahead recieved a lot of their equipment and will be graduating in six days. Everyone in his class is doing their best to not be washed out before graduation, especially with their last two classes. Sends his congratulations to Ken and Bunny, and wishes he could be there in person.
The letter is written on "Army Air Forces, Bombardier School, Childress, Texas," letterhead and is dated "Saturday nite." "Letters in a Box" notes that the date is September 30, 1943.
Robert "Bob" Stone was a Bombardier in World War II and served in the Pacific Front. These letters, were compiled by Bob's wife, Sheila M. Stone, and Ali Adair into a book named Letters in a Box. This book details Bob's service to his country, and his life after the war. Bob's letters were donated to the collection by his wife, Sheila M. Stone, in 2017. It contains a variety of letters, postcards, patches, pins, photographs, and scrapbooks that relate to Bob's training and combat missions.
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
Thursday
Dear Dad and Bee -
This will have to be a quickee asking you to do me a favor, Bee. A directive came out that we're going to have to turn in our O.D.'s when we graduate and so I'd appreciate it if you'd send me all the winter clothing I sent home from Ellington. Please attend to this as soon as possible because I'll have to have them very soon.
Our new schedule turned out to be a darn good one although quite screwy - very unlike being in the army. We get up at 10:30 in the morning with breakfast at 11:15. We go to P.T. at 12:20 and then have three hours of classes from 3:00 until 6:00. We then have lunch at 6:00 and are free until 9:00 when we go to the flight line where we fly until 3:00 in the morning. Then we have our supper and go to bed. It's an odd schedule for the army, but it's really swell because it affords us lots of extra free time. We feel like a bunch of bankers getting out of bed at 10:30.
This past week we've had a tough break
[2]
on the weather. As a matter of fact I haven't flown for exactly a week now. All summer we had clear blue skies and never lost a day of flying. However, for the past week the field has been closed in due to a 500 ft. ceiling. I've never seen anything like it - there's been a solid blanket of dark clouds over the whole sky so that you can't see through to the sky at all.
It certainly feels great to be coming down the home stretch. The class ahead of us got all their equipment (parachutes, flying suits, etc) yesterday and they graduate in six days. Then we're next. These last days are just as tough [inserted: as ever] and we're all on our toes doing our best to finish out this orgy without a mishap. As each day goes by we all heave a sigh of relief since it's one less day to sweat out.
In ground school we're studying celestial navigation and meteorology which are our last two courses.
Can't think of any more now except congratulations to all of you about Ken and Bunny. I tried to wire him last night but western union wouldn't take the wire. Please tell him for me. Wish I were home to congratulate them in person.
S'long all - Bobby
[envelope]
A/C R. L. Stone 12120188
Class 43-13
Squadron 7 Flight D
Childress, Texas
Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
N. Y.
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