The Coolidge examiner., 1942-05-15
Charles Moody
Writes Of Storm
Met While Flying

Advanced Flying School, Mather
Field, California, written to his
parents Mr.. and Mrs. C. ]
Moody. contains news of genera
interest in his description of an
exciting incident typical in the
lives of those who take to the
air" as we'll as news of special in
terest TO those who know him:
The letter follows:
Dear Nom and Pop:
Just three more weeks and two
DAYS and I'll be a brand new 2nd
Lieutenant-ain't that sumpin'!
Six months ago this looked so far
away ! couldn't even imagine it..
II was almost like a very nice
dream. and now it is about to be-
come a reality.
We had another very nice rain
Monday and Tuesday mornings,
hut it cleared up enough so that
we flew yesterday afternoon.
There were plenty Of planes
for a change, so we all flew for
nation and | got in an hour OF
instruments. While we were fly
ing formation | noticed rather a
severe storm coming down from
the north. but did not realize II
was coming as fast as it was. A
short while later Lieutenant Ire
land told us to go in as the storm
was approaching pretty fast. we
moved into echelon formation,
keeIed off and followed down
into the pattern and on the down
wind leg ran into one of the worst
hail storms | have ever seen. The
hail was as big as peas and we
were hitting it about 140 miles
an honr. The noise was about ten
times worse than If we had been
in a tin building. The plane Is
small closed. and metal, so you
can imagine what ii was like.
We were only in 1t about five
minutes. but l thought the plane
was going to come apart around
No We had to stay in the air about
AN hour until the storm mad
moved across he field. 1t only
covered about five miles, but was
moving rather slowly.
One of our flying formations
is an echelon to the right as the
nlanes are to the right OF the
leader. For an echelon formation
the lead ship shakes his wings
sounds funny. doesn't III then
dips one of them, depending on
which side he wants them TO FORM
tn change back 10 the V forma-
t,on he dips both wings, or maybe
I should say rocks the wings /
will have TO explain all this some
time when ! am there in person.
!, would take a week TO tell all
about cross overs and cross uh-
dars and how TO change lorna
ton and keel off from all the an
ferent formations, and all tha'
stuff like that.
We begin night flying tonight 50
aren't flying this afternoon. Ihat
accounts for the spare time
have on my hands. We VIII get
six hours OF night landings, iour
hours cross country, two hours
time and distance, tinterception
problems) and two hours night
formation.
| have 40 hours now and ohly
have 80 more TO go so shoulu
he finished in another TWO anu
= half weeks If the weather is
half way decent.
took cross country iiighl
TO Redding last Saturday morning
and had a very distinguished pas
senger il | do say so myself. 1
am short on dual time, so Lieuten-
ant James Stewart went along
with me. He is one of the junior
instructors here at the Ilelu.
Seems TO be a very nice guy.
Ordinary as any other officer.
Told me | had given him good
ride but was rather nervous about
nv landing. 1t was pretty good
though. or he wouldn't be in the
be upset. Guess acting is bit
more up his alley. than flying.
He must be a pretty good pilot
though or he wouldn't be nj the
air corps.
Well, I'm going over to see II
I can get an hour in the Link
Trainer. Would like to get II
finished up as soon as possible.
Love, Charles.