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Title
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[Letter from Dorothy Scott to family, October 10, 1943]
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Identifier
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MSS600c_Scott,Dorothy_Correspondence,Dec1942-July1943_19431010
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Type
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Letters
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Creator
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Scott, Dorothy, 1920-1943
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Dorothy Scott joined the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) in 1942. Stationed at New Castle Army Air Base and with the 5th Ferrying Squadron at Love Field, Dallas, Texas. Died in 1943 while in Pursuit training.
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Description
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Letter written by Dorothy Scott to her family on October 10, 1943. Scott discusses becoming a army instrument instructor, teaching students, the potential to go to pursuit school, and putting together a ground school for women.
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Format
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1 pg., front and back
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Language
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en
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Rights
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Materials may not be used without permission. For further information, please contact (940) 898-3751 or womenshistory@twu.edu
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Rights Holder
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Woman's Collection, Texas Woman's University, P.O. Box 425528, Denton, TX 76204.
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extracted text
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[Page 1]
Wasp Extraordinary
5th Ferry Group
Love Field
Dallas, Texas
Oct. 10,1043
Dear Family:
To try to keep you all up-to-date on my doings is an impossible job, however I'll try to cover the past two days.
Friday morning, Oct. 8, 1943 (red-letter ay) your esteemed relative became an army instrument pilot. Hurray! Mostly the feeling heareabouts was “well, it's about time ! I took it in a C 60 which is a big cargo plane used here for hauling pilots en masse. I did a good job says my pilot and everyone-- so I'll- take a bow.
With that behind me finally the deal was for me to instruct it to the girls and some fellows perhaps. Well about that same time Colonel Baker who is C.O. for this sector and who used to be the head guy in Delaware (Don will know) hears about the deal of me teaching and says "no". His argument (tho [sic] they don't argue) was that no new instrument pilot is qualified to teach. It goes round and round and still is no. That was surely too bad because the instrument school had made a new name plate for me and hung it wilth [sic] all due ceremony, and I had a plane, students and was ready to go.
That was the situation last nite. This morning we have a review and so get out before daylight and freeze to death before the head guys along with the rest of the post. And my last one was a few weeks ago in the afternoon wherein we all sweated it out -- this texas weather! We did ok I guess tho[sic] some of the new kids don't stand at attention very long without fidgiting[sic] a lot.
Right after review I go with Delphine and a check pilot on a C47 (like I flew with Nancy Love) and we spent the rest of the morning in the air. Now I'm Delphine's co-pilot on a trip coming up next week, then I'll go as first pilot. Back here instrument school calls up and says to hike right over with a student to fly instruments! I recover from a faint and do so. Somewhere the wires got twisted and up I go. It was Quite [sic] a deal.
Teaching again is swell. I just love to talk anyway and to get a student in my power on the listening end is wonderful. The girl was Batten, the little short girl who joined when I did in Delaware (Dad and Don will know her.) She sure tries hard and did o.k. too.
[Page 2]
We landed after five p.m. so now I don’t know whether I’m actually an instrument instructor or not. (everyone quits here at five except pilots) But now it doesn’t matter because something else has come up.
Nancy Love comes back on a one-day visit on another matter and I inquire about some pilot-requests that had come into the office and of which I had not been included on the answers. Florene and I don’t see things the same way all the time and she would as soon double-cross me as not (a personal opinion based on fact) so I asked Nancy direct. The deal is to go to pursuit school! Now this has been my pet for a long time so I ask if I can get on and she says yes. Now what will come of this is anybody’s guess. It may mean a transfer to a training school and then to a pursuit base so that’s one possibility. What else is up to the gods and powers-that-be.
(NOTE!) Donot[sic] mention the above paragraph in any of your letters since wrong readers may be around. Never say much of such things in any letters– they’re dangerous.
I’m really in favor of getting a transfer since I’ve been here a long time and there’s lots of the world to see yet. Pursit[sic] is ideal and leads to bomber transition– we’re on the way up. If it’s a transfer it may be the west coast– I hope, tho[sic] anything goes.
My big new job of organizing a ground school for all girls is well under control. I have an office, a secretary (who knows more than I do) a class room, lots of students and subjects, and am getting instructors fast so I won’t have to do it. The trick to running a thing is not let it own you or you’re stuck with it– and I want to keep flying.
The day is now half-an-hour along (12:30a.m.) of the 10th so here’s for some sleep.
By—
Dorothy
Dot
D.D.
Sis
[written in pencil] Dad- Prestone here O.K. Maybe can buy some at my friendly station. Should I of save mine. Had to get a new battery today. Goodvich 51 plate 13.95 ok?
