DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick diary of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve Air Corps, December 3, 1941-February 25, 1942

Transcribe
Translate

Nile Kinnick diary of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve Air Corps, December 3, 1941-February 25, 1942

Page 052

Wednesday Jan 7
What a jolt I received this morning! My instructor, Mr. Thatcher, was grounded for running into the tail end of an army plane up at Sherman Field. This means that I will be assigned a new instructor, probably. Mr. Bergen, who has something of a reputation as a tough customer - at least a very profane talker. However, I like his looks and believe that I will get along ok even though the change is coming at the end of my seventh hour. I regret very much Mr. Thatcher's plight. He is a fine fellow, and a man under whom I enjoyed working. Everyone seems to agree that he is a fine flyer and instructor, but has been plagued by hard luck ever since he came on the base. I guessed he washed out a plane last July, has hit barrels along the runway several times, and now this last accident brought the axe. My most urgent hope now is that I'll get the rest of my hours very soon. Sure do want to solo within the next few days. About half of my section is now safely

Saving...

Wednesday Jan 7 What a jolt I received this morning! My instructor, Mr. Thatcher, was grounded for running into the tail end of an army plane up at Sherman Field. This means that I will be assigned a new instructor, probably. Mr. Bergen, who has something of a reputation as a tough customer - at least a very profane talker. However, I like his looks and believe that I will get along ok even though the change is coming at the end of my seventh hour. I regret very much Mr. Thatcher's plight. He is a fine fellow, and a man under whom I enjoyed working. Everyone seems to agree that he is a fine flyer and instructor, but has been plagued by hard luck ever since he came on the base. I guessed he washed out a plane last July, has hit barrels along the runway several times, and now this last accident brought the axe. My most urgent hope now is that I'll get the rest of my hours very soon. Sure do want to solo within the next few days. About half of my section is now safely