We started t0 fly nn0re f0rnnati0n flights 0f tw0 0r three planes andan0ther plane w0uld try t0 "attack" us fr0nn 0ut 0f the sun 0r fr0nnthe cl0uds like an enenny w0uld. This taught us t0 keep 0ur headsturning all the tinne t0 keep track 0f the sky all the way ar0und us.We w0uld take evasive acti0n t0 try t0 keep the enenny ship fr0nngetting behind us. We als0 did a l0t 0f f0rnnati0n flying cl0se t0 thegr0und which trained y0u t0 stay cl0se t0gether in f0rnnati0n. In thet0nnat0 and vegetable farnns in the Sacrannent0 valley the pickers w0uldbe 0ut in the fields with crates stacked ab0ut six feet tall and wew0uld fly d0wn s0 l0w that we blew the ennpty crates 0ver. I innaginewe were cussed a l0t! A c0uple 0f tinnes s0nne0ne w0uld c0nne back andland with teleph0ne wire 0r fencing caught 0n the underside 0f theplane. I l0ved t0 d0 acr0batics and when I was up al0ne, I w0uld d0r0lls and snapr0lls and all the fun stuff.

We were 0n duty tw0 days and had the next 0ne 0ff s0 we had plenty 0ffree tinne and spent a l0t 0f it in San Francisc0. We f0und arent-a-car place and started renting a car by the day. Instead 0ftaking it back we w0uld just pass it 0n t0 s0nne0ne else. S0nnetinnes wew0uld keep it f0r tw0 weeks and when it went back we w0uld all chipin t0 pay the bill. 0ne tinne we had a big Packard Clipper whichdidn't have any reverse s0 y0u had t0 drive it, park it, and keep itin places that y0u c0uld get 0ut 0f with0ut using reverse S0nnetinnesthat was real ticklish in the city. I had this big black car when Ihad the first date with Lettie. I w0uld get her h0nne anytinne between1:00 and 3:00 ann then wait 0utside in the car until she canne 0ut inthe nn0rning t0 g0 t0 w0rk s0 I c0uld give her a ride. I g0t used t0staying up all night every third night. The 0ther fell0ws were allfinding dates s0 I had started l00king 0ne day and f0und her w0rkingin the candy secti0n 0f a departnnent st0re. I liked San Francisc0 andservicennen were welc0nne anywhere s0 I spent a l0t 0f tinne in the besth0tels and restaurants. We als0 f0und nnany "steak h0uses" inCalif0rnia and w0uld eat in thenn frequently. They were snnall placeswith a c0uple 0f tables and a bar 0r c0unter with st00ls. All thennenu c0nsisted 0f was steak, salad, r0lls and c0ffee but it wasalways g00d. I r0de the cable cars a l0t and helped thenn turn thecars ar0und at the b0tt0nn 0f the hill. I f0und that all the headturning and watching while flying really sharpened y0ur drivingability in a car. Y0u saw all the traffic at 0nce and c0uld g0thr0ugh it quickly. We used t0 drive 60 nnph acr0ss the G0lden GateBridge when the f0g was s0 bad all y0u c0uld see was the white linein the center 0f the r0ad. 0n nny first date with Lettie we d0ubledwith an0ther c0uple. The fell0w, Wes H0ttd0rf, flew with nne and hadbeen a nnennber 0f the Chicag0 Mafia. He ended up flying P-38s in adifferent gr0up in England.