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CAPTAIN EMERINE: COMMUNITY GOODWILL

The first contact we made was with the newspapers in St. Joseph. The newspaper is by far the best contract. The luncheon groups didn't seem to know what the 1st OTU was, what its mission was, and so talks were given to acquaint the people with the base, which has paid us off. You never get anything free so you have to pay back-- pay back your debts. We take the veterans from the local hospital, bring them to the field, give them entertainment and food. We also have used the housing certificate award which has helped out a great deal. the award goes to people who help the soldiers secure living quarters. A good little band can do a lot of good - War Band shows, etc. Every town should be proud of its field. If they are not - then it is your fault.

If the local newspaper gets in a jam - I encourage the EM in my office to go down and help them get out the paper. It pays dividends. 

We have three chapters of War Dads. We receive the most cooperation from them because they actually have sons in the service. 

Let your CO know what you are doing. I send a report of my day's activities each day.

LIEUTENANT MILLISON: HOMESTEAD MISSION:

Our mission is teaching pilots how to fly four-engined C-54 planes. Our planes are flying around the clock, 24 hours a day.

We have a very fine navigator course. Flying is the roughest, ground school is the safest, and requires a lot of studying at night. The washouts in some classes were high. Lots of pilots who come to the base aren't very good C-54 pilots. Usually they have a lot of points and they figure that if they get in the C-54 pilot training program they will be classified essential. Otherwise, if they stay and ferry planes they will be able to get out of the Army that much sooner. The best post war chance of C-54 pilots, and perhaps the best of any pilots, will be on commercial airlines. However, a lot of them are going to have to start at $150.00 a month as co-pilots. 

We try to get hold of all the C-54 stories we can. Wherever we see a C-54 plane we get the names of the pilots and usually you find that the pilots were trained at Homestead.

LIEUTENANT FREELAND: BASE COOPERATION

Let  personnel on your base know the policies of Public Relations on aircraft accidents, so in case there is an accident the personnel will know how to handle the situation.

Every department on the field can be of help to you at one time or another.

LIEUTENANT JOHNSON: FERRYING SERVICE STATIONS:

A ferrying service station is in business to service aircraft. On

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