Photo Gallery

Taken 4 December 1943 at Hawthorne School of Aeronautics, Hawthorne Field, Orangeburg, S.C. Graduation day from Primary School, A.A.F, for calss SE44D. L-R: Pinkawski from Chicago, Estes from Walton, NY, Mr. R. J. Sexton, instructor, from Detroit, Blaney from Toranto, Canada, Basel from Detroit, and Bissinger from Philadelphia. Courtesy of Bob Estes, son

Back of Robert Estes' graduation photo. Note the wings he drew. Courtesy of Bob Estes, son

Ian Lochhead, Number 12, and the basketball team from the Amarillo Army Air Field. Air crews trained at Amarillo. Photo courtesy of Ian Smart Lochhead

Amarillo Army Air Field Basketball Team. Photo courtesy of Ian Smart Lochhead family

Information sheet from Amarillo Army Air Field. Courtesy of Ian Smart Lochhead family

Ian S. Lochhead in training at Amarillo Army Air Field. Courtesy of Ian Smart Lochhead family.

Ian S. Lochhead in training at Amarillo Army Air Field. Courtesy of Ian Smart Lochhead family.

Ian S. Lochhead in training at Amarillo Army Air Field. Courtesy of Ian Smart Lochhead family.

Army Air Base, Casper, Wyoming Dear Mother: I just received your letter a couple of days ago and was very sorry to hear about the country being so dry and desolate. It’s a wonder that country doesn’t turn into a real desert it seems to be so dry every time I go there. This is pretty much of a desert here but it has been raining and snowing lots lately. We were grounded for about two weeks on account of bad weather. We expect to finish our training here about the 10th of June and will go from here to Salina, Kansas. And from there we expect to go overseas in about a month. I don’t think I will be able to come home because from what we can find out now we only get 6 days leave, and I couldn’t make it home and back in that length of time. Please have the family send me news and photos. I have plenty of everything else unless you want to send me a big T-bone. This is all sheep country up here and that is what they give us to eat most of the time, and you know that I never liked sheep...dead or alive. I think you’ve been watching too many war movies. The air corps is not so exciting, romantic and dangerous as you imagine. It is about the most monotonous thing you can think of to sit in a plane for 10 hours in the cold and noise. Well, that is all I know to write now, so had better close and get ready to fly. We are scheduled to fly tonight from 8:00 until 6:00 am. Good bye, Earl

Workplace newspaper with John J."Sonny" O'Leary thank you to everyone for sending him gifts.