Viewing page 43 of 69

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

To All Members    —10—     January 19, 1942

keep the government from folding up, is for everyone to make a substantial investment in victory.

Everybody employed should set up a systematic arrangement of buying U.S. Defense Bonds. The purchase of these bonds is also an excellent safeguard against inflation and post-war depression, for it will act as a buffer until things again can become adjusted to peace-time conditions. I don't think we ought to bicker about the purchase of Defense Bonds. There is too much at stake. If we lose this war we will find the miserable snaky Japs on one end of the country doling out rice, and on the other side we will have the goose-stepping, vacuum tops laying down the law. As far as the Italians are concerned, they are in the category of also rans, but they will be right up there in the front line when it comes time to apply the screws. It is easy enough to say that this cannot happen but don't forget it has already happened at Wake Island. The best way to apply the proper preventives, is to make regular investments in victory by purchasing Defense Bonds right up to the limit of our capabilities to buy securities. Let's not put it off.

At the last meeting of the Central Executive Council, the importance of driving home the fact that we are actually at war to the average citizen, which includes the air line pilot, was discussed at some length. Sooner or later we are going to have to realize that we are actually at war, although many of us probably will not realize this until the enemy lays some "eggs" in our close proximity.

In general, the CEC pointed out that it probably would be wise, as well as patriotic, if all air line pilots would not get too far away from their respective operating offices while this war is in progress. This is especially important for pilots stationed along the coast lines no matter where they may be. Some of the heaviest aircraft losses that have been suffered by warring nations, are those that have been blown up on the ground. It is a certainty that no one knows from which direction the enemy will strike next. Obviously, in the event of attack, all airliners should be manned as quickly as possible after an alarm has been given, and the only way that this can be accomplished is to have all pilots stay pretty much on the alert at all times.

This doesn't mean that you have to hang on the end of a telephone for 24 hours a day, but it does mean that it will do no harm to let your operating office know where you may be found on your days off. Another situation that is important concerns itself with emergency calls from the Army or Navy to make special trips hauling personnel and material on short notice. Should the companies have difficulty finding crews to man their equipment in instances of this kind, it will no doubt result in the Army considering seriously taking over the air lines, lock, stock, and barrel. One of the air lines has instituted the practice of having one crew on the alert at all times at each of its principal stations to take care of Army emergency charters.

In any event, it obviously behooves all of us to bend over back-