| date | TR's notes* | scan | transcription | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944.01.15 | Daytona | HHR&JCR | Re going with Russ Keller to a cocktail party and meeting some very young ladies. Also about sending some lost wings to another naval aviator, who had been assigned overseas but whose mother sent T.R. a pair of “gold” cufflinks as a token of appreciation. | html | |
| 1944.01.26 | Daytona | HHR&JCR | [Sore throat. Signs of spring. Ezio Pinza concert. Wacs replaced by Waves. Hellcat and SB2A not flown.] | html | |
| 1944.02.07 | Daytona | HHR&JCR | Re being asked to help form and train a Squadron; Prof. Oakes Ames | html | |
| 1944.03.14 | Daytona | HHR&JCR | After a visit by his parents (HHR & JCR). | html | |
| 1944.03.26 | Daytona | HHR&JCR | [This letter lacks TR’s customary sign-off, suggesting that it’s missing one or more pages at the end.] | html | |
| 1944.05.02 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | Arrvied on West Coast. San Diego, then Alameda. Archie Coolidge. | html | |
| 1944.05.09 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | Comparing SBD (Douglas “Dauntless”) & SB2C (Curtis “Helldiver”). Rather brief. | html | |
| 1944.05.15 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | [SB2C Helldiver compared with SBD Dauntless. Visit to Muir Woods.] | html | |
| 1944.05.23 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | [Baggage finally arrives. Dive bombing in SB2C is tiring. Dinners ashore. Vist to Stinson Beach.]
|
html | |
| 1944.06.10 | Grays’ | HHR&JCR | [At the Grays’ listiening to Brahms and Beethoven. Visit with Mrs. Maillard. to dance with a friend’s daughter. Dive bombing accuracy improves.] | html | |
| 1944.06.21 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | Formation flying; organization of air group. Charles Farrell. Some impossible sentences. | html | |
| 1944.07.03 | Vernalis | HHR&JCR | [Description of N.A.A.S. Vernalis. Mostly night hops, including over SF Bay. Climb of a nearby 2000-ft mountain, detailed descriptions of jack rabbits and birds. Squadron leadership described.] | html | |
| 1944.07.15 | Grays’ | HHR&JCR | [Working schedule described. Flying hours building despite fog. Flying an SBD feels like a toy compared with SB2C. Trip to Santa Barbara, seeing J.B. Talk of 1500-meter race in sports news.] | html | |
| 1944.07.27 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | [Arrival of Pacific World spurs speculation about coming voyage across the Pacific. Reference to “the big explosion.” Plans for entertainment. Scores five bulls-eyes in dive-bombing contest.] | html | |
| 1944.08.06 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | [Going to sea put off. Continuing training includes gunnery exercises. Attended a performance of “The Merry Widow” and Beethoven concerts. Bike ride up 1750-ft Round Top. Night flying.] | html | |
| 1944.08.15 | at sea on a “baby flat-top” | HHR&JCR | Practice carrier landings on a “jeep” carrier off the Golden Gate & pelagic birds. Good bike ride. | html | |
| 1944.09.04 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | [Comments on news from home, and Normany invasion. Bicycle trips, shore birds seen.] | html | |
| 1944.09.23 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | [Comments on family news. Reflections on the departure of Ben and Joanna Rea, British evacuee children who had been staying with TR's parents, leading into comments on British attitudes and military poerformance.] | html | |
| 1944.10.06 | Alameda | HHR&JCR | re climb up Mt. Shasta on short leave before going overseas. 25 pages; interesting account not too badly written. It begins on p. 9 | html | |
| 1944.10.17 | an unnamed U.S. N.A.A.S in Nevada | HHR&JCR | Mentions Air Group Commander Konrad. Also about books read. | html | |
| 1944.11.12 | Hilo, Hawaii | HHR&JCR | Voyage to Hawaii and pelagic birds | html | |
| 1944.11.24 | Hilo, Hawaii | HHR&JCR | [reading, death of Endicott Peabody, mail, Hawaii sightseeing] | html | |
| 1944.12.06 | Hilo, Hawaii. | HHR&JCR | Trips to look for birds etc. Confusing since it mentions possible future duty in the States. | html | |
| 1944.12.14 | Hawaii | HHR&JCR | [not very interesting, presumably because of censorship] | html | |
| 1944.12.25 | At sea | HHR&JCR | At sea between Hawaii and Guam. Constellations. | html |
Abbreviations
| Alameda | U.S. Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA |
| Atlanta | U.S. Naval Reserve Air Base, Atlanta, GA |
| Daytona | U.S. Naval Air Station, Daytona Beach, FL |
| Grays’ | the Horace Grays’ apartment in San Francisco |
| Vernalis | U.S. Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Vernalis, CA |
TR’s notes
These notes are a combination of
- Post-it™ notes attached by TR to many of his letters
- notes in an index prepared by TR.