SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 19, 1943-
■THE BATTALION-
Page 3
PROPWASH
Squadron II
Joseph E. Platt
The gentlemen of Squadron II
are invited to attend not one but
two weddings today. Two fellow
Squadron members, Lester A.
Moeller and Willard H. Sellers,
wish, through this column, to in
vite everyone to their wedding
ceremonies. Both cermonies will
be performed at the Y. M. C. A.
Chapel. Sellers takes the step at
3:30 p. m. and Moeller takes over
at 8 p. m. (Everyone try to make
both events and given the men a
genuine Air Corps send-off.)
Two of the men decided it was
plenty warm on the road run
Wednesday afternoon so they
struck out across the “cornfield.”
An instructor was waiting on the
other side of the shortcut to greet
the boys. From all reports the
consequences were plenty tough.
Profit from the boys’ unfortunate
experience and take the full
course, men.
If there is an arranger in the
Squadron, Myron McIntosh would
like to have a conference with
him. Seems that Mac has written
a song and wants someone to ar
range it.
Flight 6 wants to issue a chal
lenge to the other flights in bas
ketball. They think they have
enough talent to beat any of the
other flights. If any flight does
not think so, see Edward O. Mar-
Herold D. Phillips, brother, Pvt.
Herold D. Phillips’ brother, Pvt.
John H. Phillips, passed two in
teresting days here the past week.
John is in the Field Artillery and
stationed near Greenville, Penn.
The Air Corps, he thinks, really
keeps us busy.
Three months rolled by again
for Ralph W. Newport. He peered
cautiously into the mirror and
then decided he must do it. Yes,
sir, he put a blade in his razor,
borrowed some shaving cream and
followed the directions on the box.
His roommates vouch for the de
tails.
TURRET TIPS
Squadron I
Some men like to sleep in class,
some like to read a magazine, or
sit and dream, and then there
are always those few who like
to listen to the instructor; but
Owen Ward has found something
new to occupy his time. This week
Owen was seen with his sewing
kit in class and while listening
to the words of the instructor was
sewing buttons which our laun
dries tear off so well.
Thursday night saw the organ
ization of Squadron I’s potential
softball team. About thirty men
reported and from the results, it
looks as if we will have two or
three ball teams. Our pitching
staff looks promising with Gene
Walker making a strong bid for
the position.
That new schedule finally has
caught up with the boys of Squad
ron I. From the looks of it, the
general opinion is that we were
better off with the old master
schedule. This new schedule
seems to be the supreme master
schedule. It takes away our Eng
lish class and one hour of physics
laboratory, and in their place
gives us one hour of military drill
and one hour of supervised study,
plus two extra hours of physics
on Saturday morning. Advice to
the newer Squadrons is to be sat
isfied with what you have, be
cause your future holds a stiffer
one. Robert Vallier’s new job is
handling out handkerchiefs to the
boys one at a time.
Have you heard that terrible
grumbling every noon about
12:30? That noise comes from the
boys of Flight C, who are im
patiently waiting for their Flight
Lieutenant, John Thaxton, to
bring their mail. It seems that
Thaxton is always the last one
to get the mail over to his flight.
Keep trying Thaxton. Incidentally,
Thaxton is a hobbiest in shaving
lotions, just ask him.
In our second physical I fit
ness test the majority of the
Squadron showed improvement. A
fine record was set by Bill Wil
liams, who, in the course of the
hour, did one hundred and sixty
sit-ups, fifteen pull-ups, and then
proceeded to run the 300 yard
shuttle-run in 40 seconds. Can
you match that, gentlemen?
How about last evening’s Wing
Ball? Style, pre-eminence indeed!
And did you see those sergeants
and corporals from Squadron III?
Smooth operators . . .
ACID NEWS
RUDDER
DUST
by A/S Jack E. Shaw
Everybody knows that the mo
rale of any group of men, is the
biggest and most important con
tributing factor to their success.
There must be, ways and means to
see that this thing called “Mo
rale” is strengthened and kept at
it’s peak. One of the best ways
to boost morale is to provide good
entertainment to the men and the
back-bone of good entertainment
is good music. That is exactly what
our Air Corps Detachment Band
provides.
During the past few weeks that
these music-makers have been pro
viding music for retreat, Satur
day reviews and assembly pro
grams; their improvement has
been remarkable. Obviously this is
the result of long and constant re
hearsing which, incidentally, takes
place every night, Monday through
Thursday.
On top of the splendid military
type of entertainment that is
furnished by the Detachment Band,
there has come from within the
band another group of talented
musicians who, without a doubt,
are strictly ridin’ a lazy “eight!”
Yes, you’re right! The Swing Band
is definitely on the way. A libra
ry of over fifty orchestrations is
being formed and at the future
Wing Balls—just ask for it and
they will play it.
The 308th College Training De
tachment is independent and will
be one of the most distinctive
groups of it’s kind in the coun
try, thanks ot the high calibre
and precision shown in it’s reviews
which is made possible by spirit
and snappy cadence provided by a
good band.
At the last Detachment assembly
Wednesday evening, the men were
surprised ‘but good,’ at the variety
of entertainment dislayed by squd-
rons two and three and the most
interesting narrative told by Cap
tain Thompson, assistant opera
tions officer at Bryan field. I’m
sure that the cheer which split the
air when Captain Thompson told
hod he downed a bevy of Japanese
Zero fighters was being echoed
and re-echoed all over our land.
In addition to the splendid music
by the Detachment Band, Manuel
H. Alvarez of squadron two and
David C. Campbell of the same
outfit, ‘gave out’ with a swell bit
of harmony. Alvarez tickled the
keys of his accordian while Camp
bell accompanied him with his
guitar. Dennis L. Woodal, former
ly with the WSB barn dance in
Atlanta, Georgia, surprise the fel
lows with several numbers on his
Hawaiian electric guitar and was
accompanied also by A/S Camp
bell. Don’t worry fellows, they’ll
be back again soon!
Air Crew Quiz No. 3
“BOMBERS”
If you get 10 correct answers,
you’re a “hot pilot”, eight correct
ones makes you a “white hope/’
while six or fewer right ones, class
es you as a “tyro.”
1. What is generally accepted
as the world’s fastest medium
bomber ?
2. The “Blenheim” is a bomber
flying for what country?
3. What type of American
bombers was responsible for sink
ing the mighty Bismarck?
4. At what distance can a gun
ner on a B-17 be SURE of hitting
the bullseye?
5. About what is the diameter
of our highly successful 37-mm.,
shell ?
6. Here’s one for you geograph
ers. From noon rise to moon set,
is a day.
7. Approximately what has the
pay-load or bomb-load of our B-17
heavy bombers been?
8. In what kind of bombers did
General Doolittle and party bomb
Tokyo ?
9. Actually what was the secret
“Shang Re La” base of General
Dolittle’s mission?
10. Who is flying the big
bomber when the “eggs” are re
leased ?
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ACTD STAFF
Alvin B. Cooter Editor-and-Chief
Jack E. Shaw Managing Editor
Fred J. Rosenthal Associate Editor
Alan E. Goldsmith Associate Editor
Max E. Stump Associate Editor
James Terrell Squd. One Editor
Joseph E. Platt Squd. Two Editor
George A. Martin .... Squd. Three Editor
Bill Peters S.qud. Four Editor
Service Record
A/S George A. Martin
(Editor’s note: The. subject this
week is a man taken from the
ranks who has a very interesting
story to tell. I am sure you will
enjoy it.)
A/S Norman P. Buckner was
born in Choice, Texas, May 27,
1919. He attended school in Gal
latin, Texas, and later went to Lon
Morris College for a year and a
half. While at High School, Nor
man won a ribbon as a track man
for the mile run. He also played
short stop on the Cherokee County
All Star team and wqji the County
singles for tennis. Mr. Buckner was
a member of the National Guard
from 1936 until he received his
honorable discharge in January,
1940.
After leaving the Guard, Nor
man accepted the position of clerk
and recorder with the Farm Se
curity Administration and Agricul
tural Adjustment Bureau of Cher
okee County, Texas. He held this
position until March, 1941, when
he resigned to accept a position
with the Rettigs Company of Hous
ton, Texas. Mr. Buckner managed
from one to three stores of the
Rettigs company, the largest of
their kind in Houston, until June,
1942. He then enlisted in the Air
Corps and was sent to Lowry Field,
Colorado. While there he attended
several Technical schools including
Armorer’s, and Enlisted Man’s
Bombardier. Later he was trans
ferred to Giger Field, Washington,
for advanced training. From Sep
tember, 1942, until March, 1943,
he was Bombardier on a B-17-E on
patrol duty and also a Bombardier
Instructor. During this time he
visited bases in Canada, Alaska,
and the smaller Aleutian Islands.
On one of these patrols the Nav
igator sighted a Submarine on the
surface which was idenified as be
ing an enemy craft. As they ap
proached, the sub crash dived and
Mr. Buckner dropped three one-
hundred pound bombs on it. A
large amount of oil was soon
sighted on the surface. Due to the
smallness of the bombs and the
fact that the sub might have re
leased the oil as a ruse, the sink
ing was never confirmed.
About three weeks later Mr.
Buckner had the extreme misfor
tune of crashing in the hills of
northern Idaho. The plane was
completely demolished and there
were only two survivors out of
the nine man crew. Norman spent
twenty-seven days in the hospi
tal convalescing and was then
transferred to Scotts Bluff, Ne
braska, to be head of a bomb sight
maintainence and automatic pilot
maintainence department. The Air
drome Squadron that he was at
tached to was broken up shortly
afterwards and he was transferr
ed to Salina, Kansas, where to
took his entrance examination for
Cadet appointment. After being
sent to Sheppard Field for class
ification, Mr. Buckner came here
to Texas A. & M.
Norman is very fond of flying
and hopes someday to become a
commercial pilot after the war. He
has a very quiet, unassuming man
ner and neither drinks nor smokes.
Having not only the respect of his
classmates, but also of his student
officers, we fell that Norman will
go places as a pilot. He carries our
best wishes with him wherever
he may go.
Circling the Field
Squadron III
Poking around the numerous
pigeon holes of Bizzell Hall, your
reporter uncovered the following
bits of news.
First of all congratulations go
to A/S Shelby H. La Crouix. Shel
by was a proud new father of a
seven-pound seven-ounce baby girl
Saturday, June 12.
A. & M. College is an old haunt
for A/S Paul A. Harris. Paul re
ceived his B.S. degree from A. &
M. in 1940—lived near Bizzell Hall,
which he relates was the former
Band hall. Incidentally, Goodwin
Hall, just north of Bizzell Hall
was formerly the Foreign Legion
hall. Mr. Harris knew the famous,
twice all-American John Kim
brough, who lived in Hart Hall.
Aviation Students Raymond C.
King and James W. Hogan com
ment upon the excellent Aggie
spirit here. They both are amazed
at the outstanding friendliness of
the A. & M. Cadets, as well as that
DUTY, HONOR,
AND COUNTRY
By A/S Alvin B. Cooter
For this we stand! No foe too
strong, no obstacle too large can
stand between the glory and hon
or that we have so desperately pro
tected. “We, the people of the
United States, in order to form a
more perfect union, insure domes
tic tranquility —.” Do you remem
ber reading those famous lines of
the Constitution of the United
States when studying American
History? When I read those few
words that were so greatly ar
ranged they left in my memory
a deep impression that will live
with me always. When I read those
words I knew then that they were
more than just statements; they
were life itself. A new nation was
being born—one that would live
in the eyes of the world. “We
the people”. You and I, the people:
we govern for ourselves alone. We
provide the laws which establish
justice for all. “In order to form
a more perfect union—.” Yes,, we
did form a more perfect union. We
have completed the tack that we
set out to accomplish; succeeded in
solidifying the small thirteen states
into one nation, great in power,
liberty, and justice. “Insure domes
tic tranquility—.” Our lives in
sured in domestic peace. We have
freedom of our own lives.
We hold these priceless posses
ions for our own, but now Fascism
and Nazism are trying to deprive
us of the gift that they do not
have. It is not us that counts, but
what we stand for, and we stand
for all the glory that our forefath
ers won for us. We still stand
against any one or any number
who will try to deprive us of the
freedom which we rightfully de
serve. A peice of parchment, and
a woven piece of silk; the parch
ment our constitution, and the silk
our flag—in the parchment and
the silk lies the desires, ambition,
love for a nation, and the freedom
of the soul. We sand as strong as
one who would defend his loved
ones. Thirteen which grew to for
ty-eight; thirteen which were
strong, but now forty-eight that
are stronger. Solidification of a
divided people to defend all the
things we stand for. What holds
us together? I say proudly that
we stand together because of the
duty to our country, the pride
which we all hold, the love of
freedom, and the right to uphold
justice for all men no matter what
race, color, or creed. Isn’t that
what we stand for? What do you
think ?
of the Navy, Marines and other
branches of the Army.
A/S Robert C. Johnson is proud
again to be under the command
of Captain Sam B. Hill, his former
Squadron Commander on Mata
gorda Peninsula.
A/S John C. Hempell is happy
over word received from his wife
that she will be here at College
Station June 21.
A/S Robert W. Lemon can not
understand why he received a de
merit for his field jacket being
unbuttoned—because he said, “I
had it in my barracks bag all the
time!”
A/S John A. Jameson used to
write to twenty girls before he
came to College Station, but since
he is so busy with academics, etc.,
Johnny can now only handle the
correspondence to fourteen of his
choicest.
A/S Alexander Abraham is
proud of the numerous pictures in
his photo album, which were taken
in St. Louis and Jefferson Bar
racks, Mo. In nearly every picture
Mr. Abraham is viewed with at
least two lovely young ladies.
(The line starts at the rear, gen
tlemen!)
VOLCANO AS WEAPON
IN THIS WAR TAKES
DECIDED SETBACK
WASHINGTON—A n Allied
block buster bomb conceivably
could start an eruption of a vol
cano, such as Mount Vesuvius in
Italy—but the odds are between
3,000,000 and 4,000,000 to 1 against
it. This calculation was made
Thursday by Dr. Gerald F. Lough-
lin, chief geologist of the Geolog
ical Survey.
He described speculation about
the possibility of starting up a vol
cano by bombs as a good deal of
loose talk.
‘The earth forces involved,” Dr.
Loughlin said, “are so enormous
as compared with any that man
can bring to bear that the latter
are wholly inconsequential.”
HART THROBS
Squadron V
Alvin B. Cooter learned two
things that one is definitely not
supposed to do while flying. (1)
Do not put your plane in a spin
before cutting your throttle. The
last time “Coot” looked at his
airspeed indicator, he said he was
doing 165. Going places, wasn’t
he? (2) Never land your plane
while you are still 50 feet in the
air—it doesn’t work.
I hearby make a public apology
to Sergeant Gralla. I misunder
stood the Sergeant’s method used
in punishing those who sleep in
class. I apologize.
If you gentlemen aren’t blind,
I suppose that you have already
seen that the ribbons are still on
our guidon. Why not keep them
there until we leave?
Answer to “WILL SELL two
gates” add in last issue. Have not
got A gas coupon, but have shoe
ration coupons. Signed—“Bojo”
Rogers.
Joe “Flash” Fretz really did
au reet in the shuttle run dur
ing the P. E. tests today. He.
crashed through the group of on
lookers, screams of the maimed
and dying were heard, and when
the dust cleared, five persons lay
prostrate on the turf of Kyle
Field. Nice running, boy, but put
your flaps down next time.
Do beautiful, exotic women
lure you to secluded rendezvous
and attempt to pry military
secrets from your firm, silent
lips by pressing their lips to
yours, and passionately embrac
ing you? Do they? Well, the next
time they do, look up Ray “Ham”
Hamrick, will ya? He wants to
go along.
I’m cutting this short tonight,
fellows. I’m on the Dawn Patrol,
and I need my shut-eye. Besides,
I’m running out of dope, paper,
and cigarettes.
DRIFTING
By A/S Fred J. Rosenthal
An Introduction:
As thoughts come and go to our
sometimes wandering minds, we
wish that we could express our
selves to others. It is with this
idea that we introduce to you this
column and suggest you watch
for it in this section from time
to time. Most material will be
light of mind while other lines
will be a bit more serious but we
wish to assure you that it will
all be of interest.
OUR THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
You don’t have to be a genius
To write letters, for it’s no
art;
Just take up your pen and
think good things,
Then write with all of your
heart.
WORST JOKE I EVER HEARD
Army life isn’t so bad. You wake
up to music every morning.
JEST IN PASSING
Since allied air attacks are
mounting in ferocity and with the
metropolis still treated as an open
Farmers Called On
To Aid In War With
Choice Timbers
Already overworked farmers
have been called on for still an
other vital contribution to the
prosecution of the war. The U. S.
Forest Service has appealed for
increased production of selected
timber from farm woodlands to
meet war needs.
Joseph C. Kircher, of Atlanta,
Southern Regional Forester, points
out that such production can bring
the farmer financial profit, can
substantially aid the nation’s war
effort, and can serve through se
lective cutting to establish wood
lands on a sustained producing
basis.
“During the summer ‘lay-by’ pe
riod, there are few farm jobs
which will return a better profit
on the operator’s labor and that
of any hired help he may have
than getting out marketable tim
ber,” Kircher states. “The demands
are keen for almpst all types of
usable wood—poles and piling,
sawlogs, veneer logs and pulp-
wood. In fact, almost every spe
cies of tree that grows in the
South is now finding its way to
the fighting fronts.”
The Forester points out the op
portunities for converting labor
already on the farm into increased
income by cutting, logging and
delivering farm woodland timber,
rather than selling it as stumpage.
Prices paid for delivered timber
run from three to eight times high
er than for mere stumpage sales,
depending on the type of timber,
city II Duce’s theme song prob
ably is “There’s No Place Like
. Rome.”
SUDDEN THOUGHTS
I hope the war doesn’t end un
til we get a furlough.
its location, and the product for
which it is used. In some South
ern sections, the buyers pick up
the timber where cut and logged,
when the farm operator is unable
to do the hauling.
In stressing the growing short
age of timber vitally needed in the
war, Kircher pointed to recent in
stances of delay or failure of de
livery. Several weeks ago a large
U. S. ship, docked to load an im
portant cargo of food, munitions
and hospital supplies for the Af
rican front, was delayed six days
because the necessary lumber to
brace and secure her cargo was
not available. In another instance,
a critical shipment of aircraft re
pair parts missed a convoy be
cause the lumber necessary to
make the packing boxes was not
produced on schedule.
“Even farmers with small wood
lands can help swell the produc
tion total,” Kircher emphasizes.
“Where farmers need technical ad
vice in selecting and marketing
timber, they should get in touch
with their State Forester, Exten
sion Service Forester, or a repre
sentative of the U. S. Forest Serv
ice for this assistance. These spe
cialists can give expert advice on
selecting the trees to be cut, and
on how they should be sold to real
ize the greatest possible return
and to serve their highest war use
fulness.”
NOMINATION FOR
EDITORIAL PAGE
The London edition of the
“Stars and Stripes,” news publi
cation for service men abroad, re
cently announced that fifty-seven
per cent of the men in the Europ
ean theater of operations are buy
ing War Savings Bonds through
the pay allotment method. An
nouncement was made by the
theater bond officer, Col. J. H.
Fulton.
THE BEST PAPER
MONEY CAN BUY/
U.S. WAR BONDS - STAMPS
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DVEPI5-FUR5TOR.AGE HATTERS
214 South Main Bryan, Texas
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FRESHMEN - - - GET YOUR HAT NOW
YOU’LL NEED IT!
Freshmen: You are required to have a Campaign Hat. Come in
today and get a Stetson. We have all sizes and can fit your head perfectly.
There is no quality like a Stetson.
Just a reminder: Use the Exchange Store every opportunity it’s
an Aggie Institution.
DO YOU NEED ANY OF THESE ITEMS?
Regulation Stetson Hats, Shoes, Shirts, Uniforms, Insignia, Web
Belts, Trench Coats, Books, T-Squares, I.E.S. Lamps, Drawing Boards,
School Supplies, Biology Supplies, College Jewelry, and Drawing Instru
ments.
The Exchange Store
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