Letter from Juanita Stull to her parents Huston Hogan and Zella Hogan. Typed by Juanita on very thin paper on Friday April 30, 1943. Copied in its entirety by Vicki Clark Stull of April 24, 2016. The spelling and wording have been kept as in the original document. A scanned copy of the original is in the digital documents of Darwin and Vick Stull. Darwin was the son of Juanita.
Dear Folks,
Hear your little girl is now 20 years old today. It doesn’t seem possible that I can be that old. This is another letter that I can’t say I haven’t anything in particular to write about. It’s a long story, and I don’t know all the details, and even if I did they would be military secrets. I’ll try to tell the story as I know it.
Tuesday evening Frances and I waited for the boys to come in before we went to supper. When seven thirty came and they weren’t here we figured they had to fly late, and were ready to go out the door when they drove up. Bill got out of the car without his jacket or hat, and so did the other fellow. That puzzled me. Then watching them come to the walk we knew something was wrong. We thought probable they had to go back to the field.
When they got in Bill said they had a little accident. I thought he meant in the car. They he said Cominole (the pilot) was killed and I realized it was a plane crash. They were about 50 miles out at sea, one the way in, when the plan caught fire. First Cominole told them all to prepare for a water landing but then he said he thought they could make land and as soon as they were over land for all to bail out. He told Bill they would make a crash landing which requires the pilot and co-pilot. Bill wasn’t flying when it happened but took the seat immediately. Bill put his chute on, and then told Cominole to put his on. He reached for it, had a hold on it, then he said they would crash land. Bill tried to persuade him that the plane would explode as soon as it hit the ground, if the wing didn’t fall off before that. Then the controls broke (probably burned in two), and then Cominole told Bill to “Get out of here”, and when Bill left the seat the altimeter read 500 feet. His chute didn’t open completely, but it caught in a tall pine tree and broke his fall. If he had hit the ground, his legs would have been broken at least, if not his hips and back too, if he had still been alive. Everyone parachuted to safety, except Cominole, and no one was seriously hurt. Bill had several bruises on him, but none of them were too bad. If he had left the plane five seconds later he would have never made it.
The Colonel, and Major came after the crew in another plane, and Bill asked for permission from the Colonel to co-pilot home, and the Colonel let him. Bill said he sat back and acted as if he was completely at ease, which was of course the best thing, because Bill felt that the Colonel had complete confidence in him, even after the crash. Of course the Major was right there so if Bill would have become nervous, or hysterical or anything he would take over without any trouble.
The enlisted men all went to the Colonel the next day, and asked for Bill to be made Pilot and Houp co-pilot. Houp was in the co-pilot seat when it happened. He is to go over as a fill-in co-pilot. But the Colonel said Bill didn’t have enough hours to be made pilot. The enlisted men begged and pleaded that hours don’t make so much differences, but Bill said if he had been offered it, he would have refused for the very same reason.
The new pilot is here, Bill met him yesterday. He is Lt. Hyde, but that’s about all Bill knows. He does know that he does not know as much about a B-24 as Bill does, so Bill will have a lot on his hands.
We haven’t written the Stulls yet, and we don’t know just how to tell them. So don’t mention it to them yet. We have written that Bill is to go over soon. The accident will delay that for a few days, a week at the most.
Bill was quite upset about the accident for a while. He kept saying to me Nita, I kept telling him to put his chute on. But Cominole seemed to be in a shell, and didn’t seem to hear Bill. He wasn’t out of his mind exactly, because he flew the plane so calmly, but Bill said he as as white as a sheet, so he was scared.
The crew all got three days off. So Bill and I have enjoyed ourselves yesterday and today.
One couple upstairs – he is a Lt. in the signal corp, a mess officer, and OD yesterday. We went out to the field, and took her, more for the ride than anything. Then we decided to find him. That was practically supper time then, and so we ate out there in the mess hall. It sure was fun, and the food was really good. We didn’t eat with the boys (the are all colored), but they sure can cook, and I guess they can sure put the food away. Vic (the Lt.) sure seems proud of the mess he ?? and it was clean. Then we came back to town and went to the show. We are going on a picnic tonight.
Here’s hoping the baby comes today, a couple of days early. I’ve always wanted someone to help me celebrate my birthday. Now’s the chance.
If Rhodie says anymore about me writing think nothing of it. I answered her letters vary soon after they came for a while, then began to write to her as she wrote to me. I get a letter from her on the average of once a month.
I’ve been trying to make a blouse by hand. I’ve done better than I expected, but the pattern didn’t fit too well, so I’ve had to do some of it over.
Bill gave me a pretty locket for Easter, and my birthday combined. It is heart shaped, and has six imitations diamonds in it. It is so dainty and sweet. I got a card from Ruby and Gene yesterday. The said there was a present at home for me.
I think that’s about all the news for now. Next time I write I hope I have better news, although the news that Bill wasn’t hurt is good news. And I guess that’s the most wonderful birthday present I could have knowing that he is safe.
Write soon. We don’t know just how much longer we will be here, but I’m afraid it won’t be too long now.
Lots, of Love,