| dc.description.transcription | 3-20-44Dear Folks,They let us come home from the flight line a little early today so I have a few minutes. In that few minutes I will try to tell you my experiences of the past few days. I haven’t been doing much flying lately because I haven’t been here. They loaded me andabout thirty others up on a bus and took us to Monroe La. to retake our high-altitudetest again. We left here at 11:30 Friday morning and got back Sunday night. The trip was a lot of fun but I got behind with my flying since the weather was good most of the time I was gone. Saturday morning,I listened to lectures for four hours then Sat. afternoon they took us up to a simulated 38,000 ft. with oxygen masks, itwas rather uneventful since I didn’t get the bends this time. In fact,I suffered no ill effects whatsoever. Then Sunday morning they took us up again. They took us to 20,000 at first without masks and left us there for about 30 minutes. In that 30 minutes things began to happen. Some of the boys began to get sick, some acted and felt drunk, and some felt nothing. I was one of the ones that felt sick. They told us that we were lucky because that would always be a warning to us that we needed oxygen. Those that felt drunk wouldn’t care whether they needed oxygen or not, and those that didn’t feel anything wouldn’t know whether they needed it or not and would just passout. Then we put our masks on, revived, and went up to 30,000 ft. There they had us take off our masks two or three at a time. As soon as we would pass out,they would put our masks on usand in a matter of seconds we would be revived. When they let me pass out all of the pencils were in use so I didn’t get to write anything. The man in charge had me say “Mary had a little lamb.” I started saying it and the man almostcouldn’t get me to stop. When he did get me to shut up,he told me do some coordination exercisesso I started rubbing one hold and patting the other. That’s as far as I remember and even that is very vague. But the boys told me I stopped doing that and started spreading my arms and bringing my two fore fingers together. I guess I thought that was too simple because I closed my eyes and startled doing it. About that time,I passed out and they put my mask on me. I revived immediately and started putting my fingers together again. I didn’t have the slightest recollection of ever passing out. They did all of this just to teach us not to abuse but to use our oxygen masks whenever we are supposed to. The Army believed in teaching things the hard way but the most effective way. I learned my lesson and so will everyone else, that is what they wanted. After that they loaded us back on the bus and brough us home. Today I have resumed my normal activities. I did go to the post office today and buy that money order that I spoke of in my last letter so apply it as I prescribed.The only flying news is that I am going on one of my cross countries in the next day or so. This one goes from here to El Dorado, and to Tallulah La., and then back here. From here to El Dorado is practically straightthrough to Texarkana. It sure would be a shame if failed to turn at El Dorado and kepton going wouldn’t it?Its time to go eat so I’ll quit. Your cake sure is good Mama,Love,Joe | |
