Basic Training 1955, Women in the Air Force
My Story
by
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Dear Mom:
My first plane ride – and on American Airlines. Sherry and I had a wonderful trip from New Haven to LaGuardia Airport. We got into New York (LaGuardia) and waited 15 minutes for a bus. We were the only ones on the bus and the ride was 35 minutes long. We arrived at Idlewild Airport and had 15 minutes to check our luggage and get on the plane to Dallas.
The plane that we took from Dallas to San Antonio was full of fellows for the Air Force. When we arrived at the airport there were two other girls plus us that rode with a whole busload of fellows. Of course it was dark out so we didn’t get a chance to see much then of Texas. We got to Lackland Air Force Base at 9:00 PM (CST) and had to hang around there and wait until 11:00 PM (which was 12:00 midnight Eastern Time) at the Supply terminal. We were given Government Issue items: bedding, pillows, sheets, blankets, some toiletries, etc.
Finally a bus came for us and we settled in our temporary barracks around 12:00 CST (which to us was 1:00 in the morning.) When we got to the barracks, we had to make our beds before we could go to sleep. We crawled out of bed at 5:30 AM CST. We had only 15 minutes to wash and dress. None of us have really unpacked yet because we have to move to permanent quarters.
Wednesday: Today was a very mixed up day because we didn’t know what we were going to do next. We have to “muster’ and march to chow (40 of us) and when we get to the building we have to stand at attention for about 15 minutes, until we get in. Then we walk in line and can’t say anything and have to look straight ahead while standing at attention when the line isn’t moving. In other words we have to do a lot of waiting before we do something more. The Air Force term is: “Hurry up and wait.” We didn’t really have a whole mile to walk to where we got our uniforms. When we finally got them, it was great because all you see is people in uniform and when you’re in your civvies you stick out like a sore thumb.
For our fatigue uniform that we wear daily, we wear blue slacks that are very shiny. I don’t know what they are made of but they’re good wind breakers. We have brown jackets and have to keep them buttoned down all the time they’re on. A blue cap goes with this and “Lil Abner” shoes that are very comfortable. They come high – past the ankles though and are hard to get used to, but have very good support for marching. Wednesday morning it rained a sort of drizzle that wasn’t a very pleasant greeting but it cleared off in the afternoon and was nice.
Thursday: We got up; at 5:30 again but it wasn’t so bad this time because we had lights out at 8:30 and had a good nine hours sleep. Today we went to chow at 6:00 and at 7:00 we marched to a classroom a few buildings away and were given a talk that was like a welcome and a pep talk combined. She was a very pleasant person and made everything sound good. So far, I really like it here.
We’re supposed to move tomorrow night after chow (Friday) and have a different Tactical Instructor for Flight 3, our Flight. We met her today and I like her already. She’s an Airman 2nd Class (A 2/C) so she told us that she’s no better than the rest of us. (We are “Airman Basic” A/B). You have a respect for her but she feels like she’s one of us. She gave us a pep talk this morning about living in the barracks and lots of details like that. When she first started marching us she told us that she wouldn’t bite us or kill us. She only kills on Saturday and today is Thursday.
She has a very good sense of humor but is strict when she should be. They say that she is one of the best on base. We’ll all feel better when we move into our permanent barracks so we can unpack and get into a routine. The first thing you say to anyone new that you meet is – where are you from? We sure have them from all over! Mississippi, Oregon, Missouri, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, California, Georgia, South Carolina and more.
After supper chow which is usually 5:30, we have from then till 8:30 (lights out) to relax and wash and iron our clothes, shower, write letters or whatever else.
We have been told that there are only three answers to anyone: “Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am, and No Excuse Ma’am. We say Ma’am to every WAF and Sir to every male. We have to call everyone “Airman.” We can’t use nicknames like Dottie- we say Airman Smith, etc. Well - I’ll sign off and write more tomorrow night. Give my love to all.
Ruth
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Book Details
About the Book
Letters from home and letters to home during her U.S. Air Force Basic Training are scattered with humor, wonder, family history, and insights to military life. This book also includes classroom training notes that show not only extensive training of Air Force facts, statistics, rules and regulations, but also citizenship, military intelligence, security, personal/social responsibilities and character building - to name a few.
Read about how her WAF Flight 3 strives to become strong team members and excel to win the Honor Plaque four weeks in a row. She shows how daily efforts come together in support of the team effort. Continual lessons include: learning how to march in unison, make beds, store rolled clothing, go to classes, support others within the Flight, maintain good grades, clean the barracks, keep up closets and drawers to specifications – getting up at 5:00 every morning and going to bed at 8:30 each night, serving as barracks guard and on various work details. These are all unique learning experiences for a naïve 18 year old leaving home and family to venture out into the military world.
About the Author
Ruth N. Spooner retired from the U.S. Mint and traveled around the United States to eventually settle in Florida. With 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren scattered across the country, she has many places she can visit. Her time served in the Air Force holds fond memories for her that she shares with you in her story.