[Letter] 1942 October 6, Maxwell Field, Ala. [to] Pres. Stoughton
Dublin Core
Title
[Letter] 1942 October 6, Maxwell Field, Ala. [to] Pres. Stoughton
Subject
Fischer, George
Vomacka, Robert
United States. Army. Air Corps
Description
Novak writes of his graduation from the Radio School of the Air and attaining his dual degree in radio operating and radio mechanics. He tells of being appointed a "Flying Cadet" and then taking a condensed Pre-Flight training course to become a pilot.
Creator
Novak, Alfred
Source
Wagner College Archive, Horrmann Library
Date
10/6/1942
Contributor
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Is Part Of
A complete index to the letters in this collection can be found here: http://library.wagner.edu/wagnerarchive/StoughtonPDF/Correspondence index.pdf
Format
application/pdf
Language
eng
Type
text
Identifier
Novak1
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS
MAXWELL FIELD, ALA.
A/C Alfred R. Novak
Sq. E Gr. 5 BKS 927
Maxwell Field Ala.
A.A.F.P-F.T.S. (P)
Oct. 6 1942
Dear Pres. Stoughton -
It has been some time since I last wrote of my whereabouts. As you know the new programs mapped out by our armed forces are so fast that one seldom knows how or where he stands.
Since last writing you I have successfuly completed and graduated from The Radio School of the Air. I attained a dual degree one in Radio operating and one in Radio mechanics. I spent some time on our h[-----] both as Radio man and mechanic. I was about to have been sent to gunnery school and promoted to Staff Sargent when I heard of my appointment as a "Flying Cadet."
This was Sept 14 and a few days later I was sent to Nashville t[---] where I officially recieved my
[Page 2]
advancement in rank to cadet. At Nashville we took numerous physical mental and coordination tests for classification as Pilot, Navigator or Pilot. I applied for, and successfuly completed the requirements for Pilot.
It was there along with a number of other young men I was chosen to complete a condensed course of Pre-Flight. This course is ordinarily 10 weeks long but we are attempting to finish it in 19 days. We are therefore on a [--]idid 16 hour a day study system. I'm sure you'd enjoy such a system at Wagner that being the equivalent to what some Wagnerians take per week - all subjects taught are on a colligiate bases with allowances for time and that which the studnet is already familiar.
Socially the Cadet Corps. strives to make each cadet a perfect gentleman and need I say succeds
[Page 3]
The ideals of Christianity and gentlemanerisms taught me at Wagner have given me a decided advantage over the other cadets.
Another boquet for Wagner is that friendships founded at Wagner remain constant and can be found in all active walks of life. To date I have met Pvt. George [Fischer] who is studying Radio at Scott Field and Sgt. Bob [Vomacha], a medical technician in Nashville Tenn. I have also heard of numerous other men in our armed forces who hail from the College on the Hill -
I shall soon be in Primary Flying and shall send you another bulliten of Progress -
Yours Truely
A/C Alfred B. Novak
P.S. I am also interest in keepin my pledge - So if you would tell me who
[Page 4]
is in possession of my pledge card I would be glad to fulful my promise.
I hope you will excuse the writing and spelling as I have just been operated on for a slight injury and am a bit nervous yet. -
MAXWELL FIELD, ALA.
A/C Alfred R. Novak
Sq. E Gr. 5 BKS 927
Maxwell Field Ala.
A.A.F.P-F.T.S. (P)
Oct. 6 1942
Dear Pres. Stoughton -
It has been some time since I last wrote of my whereabouts. As you know the new programs mapped out by our armed forces are so fast that one seldom knows how or where he stands.
Since last writing you I have successfuly completed and graduated from The Radio School of the Air. I attained a dual degree one in Radio operating and one in Radio mechanics. I spent some time on our h[-----] both as Radio man and mechanic. I was about to have been sent to gunnery school and promoted to Staff Sargent when I heard of my appointment as a "Flying Cadet."
This was Sept 14 and a few days later I was sent to Nashville t[---] where I officially recieved my
[Page 2]
advancement in rank to cadet. At Nashville we took numerous physical mental and coordination tests for classification as Pilot, Navigator or Pilot. I applied for, and successfuly completed the requirements for Pilot.
It was there along with a number of other young men I was chosen to complete a condensed course of Pre-Flight. This course is ordinarily 10 weeks long but we are attempting to finish it in 19 days. We are therefore on a [--]idid 16 hour a day study system. I'm sure you'd enjoy such a system at Wagner that being the equivalent to what some Wagnerians take per week - all subjects taught are on a colligiate bases with allowances for time and that which the studnet is already familiar.
Socially the Cadet Corps. strives to make each cadet a perfect gentleman and need I say succeds
[Page 3]
The ideals of Christianity and gentlemanerisms taught me at Wagner have given me a decided advantage over the other cadets.
Another boquet for Wagner is that friendships founded at Wagner remain constant and can be found in all active walks of life. To date I have met Pvt. George [Fischer] who is studying Radio at Scott Field and Sgt. Bob [Vomacha], a medical technician in Nashville Tenn. I have also heard of numerous other men in our armed forces who hail from the College on the Hill -
I shall soon be in Primary Flying and shall send you another bulliten of Progress -
Yours Truely
A/C Alfred B. Novak
P.S. I am also interest in keepin my pledge - So if you would tell me who
[Page 4]
is in possession of my pledge card I would be glad to fulful my promise.
I hope you will excuse the writing and spelling as I have just been operated on for a slight injury and am a bit nervous yet. -
Original Format
http://library.wagner.edu/wagnerarchive/StoughtonPDF/Novak1.pdf
Date Digital
2014
Citation
Novak, Alfred, “[Letter] 1942 October 6, Maxwell Field, Ala. [to] Pres. Stoughton,” Wagner College Archives and Special Collections, accessed April 25, 2024, https://wagnercollections.omeka.net/items/show/16342.