ALLENDER, Howard to Robert D. Chambless - 1944-08-10
From Gauss and his Children
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Letter
1st LT. Allender H. F. 0-889106
No. 27 T.C.S.
69th Composite Wing
APO 627 c/o Postmaster
New York, N.Y.
August 10, 1944 China
Dear Robert:
It was a very pleasant surprise to receive your letter, tho' it was no surprise that you heard of my whereabouts thru Gaby. She seems to know everyone. But being by nature effusive, Gaby has caused me to be misrepresented. Her adulatory imagination has been condemned so many times by me that she no longer takes me seriously.
Gaby is only a slight acquaintence, but an excellent correspondent. I haven't seen Gaby for 3 years, and during that time my desultory letters have given full scope to her vivid imagination. At times she violates the unwritten code of correspondents and either publishes or displays my letters. Nothing annoys me more! -- I get flamin' mad and vow never to write to her again. After six months or more I develop a thirst for letters from someone, and I overlook Gaby's indescretions. I appreciate Gaby's patience in writing to me tho', for she has been my only correspondent in the post 3 years. (Some girls I used to know would write for a few months, after I went overseas -- then they would marry, or find other "interests" nearer home.)
That, then, should be kept in mind as a measure to evaluate what I am, and have been doing. In order to gain the perspective, devoid of romanticism and imagination, I'll give the few brief facts:
I finished High School the same year as yourself, but had an ambitional ideal of social architecture, but no means of acquiring the education required. If you remember, the Loyalist government of Sapin, at that time was entering its curial phase. There was an opportunity for self-educatioin -- and money. I took the chance. All I received in the way of money is a small copper real, stamped with my passport of amnesty.
In brief, I wandered for two years thru' Europe and Africa. I cme home with only a few hundred dollars, a rare "blue" monkey (now in Washington Zoological Gardens) and a pressing ambition. I managed one year in college before the Draft Board gave me a number. Very unpatriotically I "skipped" the country and lost my scholarship of the U. of Florida.
I served with the Canadian Highland Light Infantry (a composite Scotch Brigade) and was transferred to the R.C.A.F. I thought the H.L.I. was destined for home defense -- but they were later shipped to the Far East. I was in RAF Observers school when the Highland Light Inf. and Winnipeg Grenadiers were lost at Hong Kong.
In Dec. 1941, I hitch-hiked home on Xmas leave, and happened to meet Gaby -- while calling upon another girl. At that time, Gaby was just another girl, none of which had a place in my schedule.
As you mentioned the RAF navigation training, I would describe it in a little more detail. It's still my pet subject and hobby.
First of all I was trained as an RAF Observer, which means: trained in Navigation, Gunnery, Bomb-aiming, aerial photography, General Recco., etc. Although I was in training for two years, the last year was actually in "operations."
G.R. (General Reconnaissance) was the aim of all Navigators interested in their trade. That meant "Coastal Command," with long stooges of 10 to 24 hours out to sea. By working hard I managed to make the list for training. Even then, in our training, we operated against Jerry subs striking at shipping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
I was sent to England (U.K.) to go onto "Sunderlands," the jackpot of all aircraft. The situation had changed in meantime, however, and I was sent to night torpedo bombers. I had a Canadian pilot, a Scots co-pilot (had pair of wings from Pensecola, Fla.), and 3 wireless fops from, London, Wales and Dublin. It was a polygot crew -- but a good one. We operated (in training) in the Irish Sea, North Sea, and the hellish Bay of Biscay.
I was content. Ten hours out into the night, sweeping the French coast, etc. for enemy shipping. I had to work in a fever over elaborate sweeps and searches, revising & correcting my Air Plot every few minutes. I had to have a minimum of 2 three-position-line astro fixes every hour. Our interception and "radius-of-action" plots had to have less than 0.3% error -- or we personally caught hell from Group.
My squadron was sent to the middle-east during the North African Invasion period. After the invasion of Italy we packed -up and started general movement to India - Berma. After 5 months with RAF in Indian Ocean I went to Delhi and was transferred to U.S.A.A.F.
That is the general, and very ordinary outline of my experiences with the R.A.F. It leaves out many interesting episodes, but interesting only to me. As far as navigation goes my greatest compliment came when several Navigators and myself from my squadron in U.K. were transferred for a short time onto Wellington night bombers to act as pathfinders. We had experience of combining astro with radar with W/T -- with lots of basic D.R.
I've now been with the U.S.A.A.F. for 5 months, and that means I've only been overseas for 5 months!
The C.B.I. theatre is, in my opinion, the most interesting of any theatre. I was extremely lucky to workon liaison with British under Wingate. I suppose I was the only one who was willing to use "petrol lorry" for gas truck, etc.
I met one fellow, from Brooklyn, while with the British in Burma. He was a "Flight Leftenent" (captain) in the R.C.A.F., and had been working as a liaison officer the British Column. That was a fellow who had been around!
I've been in China for some months flying as a blinkin' co-pilot. The important item in my transferring to the U.S. Air Corps has been my qualifying for University Extension Courses. I've covered quite a few subjects in the past on my own, but organized courses are like manna from heaven. I've requested courses in Economics, all advanced Psychology, Sociology, Geology and those subjects requiring the more reading and less class attendence. Someday, when I return to the States I'll be able to take Philosophy and Logic and Ethics; but too many books are required for the subjects to have them sent to China.
So you see, I'm just a guy anxious, but unable at present, to carry out my ambition. I save every copper I can to give me financial independency, and an opportunity to complete my University education without sweating over a scholarship.
That's why I hate to be called "soldier-of-fortune", as Gaby has tried her best to glamourize me. It's an odious label of indolence, and vagabondage. And if I thought I was living as futile an existence I'd "apply the axe" right now.
I envy you for being, as you called yourself, a home-body. But at the same time, I have no desire to emulate you; there wouldn't be much at home for me as long as the war lasts. When I come home I want to be able to go immediately to university.
In the meantime I'll sit in China and read, study, write, think, and wonder. China is a splendid place for reflection, espeically if you have several books by Lin Yutang.
I certainly appreciate your writing and hope I may hear from you again someday. In the meantime don't credit all the information about me you may hear from Gaby. She is naturally inclined towards "castle-building" and believes that the exotic means romantic. From my little experience it's usually the opposite case.
Sincerely yours,
Howard.
C.B.I. -- China-Burma-India
Source
Handwritten original in the private collection of the Chambless family. Transcribed to softcopy by Susan D. Chambless, November 18, 2001.
