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

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

Page 096

interest to hear from me. Mr. Adams, also, was most cordial in our last conversation. But once again I want to say that it was the large number of enlisted men who gathered around to say goodbye which gave me the real thrill. Just before we left Commder Tomlinson gave us a little talk which I thought quite good. He advised us to always pick out a particular spot on which to land regardless of how large the field might be. Then he told us that he thought we would be ahead a lot of the new men reporting at the same time we do, because he had never secured flying at Fairfax because of a cross wind as they do at a lot of bases. He said he didn't believe in starting a man out the easy way. His parting shot was, "now lets lick hell out of those damn Japs."
Finally, about three oclock, Pettit, Agan, Haugebak, & I drove out the gate and turned toward the southland. We took Highway #71, to #35 to #13 and thence into Springfield,

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interest to hear from me. Mr. Adams, also, was most cordial in our last conversation. But once again I want to say that it was the large number of enlisted men who gathered around to say goodbye which gave me the real thrill. Just before we left Commder Tomlinson gave us a little talk which I thought quite good. He advised us to always pick out a particular spot on which to land regardless of how large the field might be. Then he told us that he thought we would be ahead a lot of the new men reporting at the same time we do, because he had never secured flying at Fairfax because of a cross wind as they do at a lot of bases. He said he didn't believe in starting a man out the easy way. His parting shot was, "now lets lick hell out of those damn Japs." Finally, about three oclock, Pettit, Agan, Haugebak, & I drove out the gate and turned toward the southland. We took Highway #71, to #35 to #13 and thence into Springfield,