CA1309

Letter from Charlie Rudd to family from Mather Field, California
(C. Avis Catalog entry #1309)
(Document ID #310)

[No spelling corrections have been made -ca]

The Rudd Family, 
    916 S. 1st St.
        Temple,
            Texas

Postmark:
SACRAMENTO
MATHER BR
Oct 15 
9 AM

[3 cent stamp]



Mama and Dad

                                    Mather Field, 
                                        Oct. 4, 1918

Dearest Mother and Father: ----
    Quite a few letters have rolled in the last few days.  I got an nice letter from Madge Saturday, a combined letter from Hilda and Mildred Sunday and a letter today from LeRoy Talley.  On top of all of that I received a letter from you and Mrs. Selfridge the first part of the week.  That's pretty good for me don't you think?  
    I have gotten three letters from Madge since she went to Alvin.  I sure was grieved to hear of Roy's sad calamity.  It is just too bad.  He was such a capable boy and the only one at that.  His mother worried quite a bit about him all the time and I am sure it will break her heart.  I am going to write a letter of condolence to her real soon.  I will first have to get into the mood to do it as it will be the first letter of that type I have ever written.  
    It sure makes me sad to think of it.  He was such a wholesome boy, a good room-mate an a finer friend couldn't be found.  I am very sorry I didn't keep in closer touch with him.  For now that opportunity is forever blocked.
    I mailed the second issue of the "Air Currents" to you Sunday.  I consider this issue superior to the first copy.  The comic hints at the men on the field are good. 
    I don't think peace is possible now as the German government, whoever that may be now, is trying to add provisions before evacuating Allied territory.  This within itself should be a clue that the Germans are not ready to humble themselves as they will have to in any peace or Armaistus that the Allies will make.  Do you think, after all the horrible deeds and treaterous acts of the "German Intrique", that the Allies would give the Germans would give the Germans an honorable peace.  Would it be right to those who have sacrificed so much, for the Allies to come to easy terms with the Huns just as soon as they are gaining the upper hand?  Do you think the Germans would abort, if they had the upper hand coming forceably their way?  Did they in the big drive in 1914 when the[y] had the Christmas diner engagement?  No I say.  This is only a German skeme to gain time.  They are beaten on the lines now they are trying to retrieve with pretty shallow "Mankind Saving Peace talk".  It was only when they were the looses, their men were being sacrificed to no avail, that the Kaiser and his co-workers realized that mankind was being so brutally sacrificed.
    We must push this affair, since we have been compelled to enter it, until, as I have read so often, a world-wide democracy is safe for eternity.  
    But off the war talk.  Let the talk of Peace drop your mind because Germany is not ready to come to our terms now.  They have too much "German honour" to do that now.
    I would sure like to know Martel's address.  I would like to write to him and will do so if you can furnish the address.  
    Madge has been keeping pretty well supplied with Houston Post clippings.  That keeps me in closer touch with school than I have been since I left last fall.
    I can hardly Mildred being in High School.  When they start up while you are away, it always seems like another "Springing up in the night" affair. 
    LeRoy told me he had a little touch of the "Flu", but is alright now.  This little spree is about like the one that happened in the early fall last year, only it seems to be hitting the Northern States harder.
    Here is a pun on it.  "He opened his mouth and Influenza."  I suppose you have already heard it.
    I may have a chance to go to Houston when I am winged up.  I am going to try to on account of Madge.  In a letter to her I mentioned the fact and she seems to want me to come so much that I am going to use my influence to go there if a choice is available.  Then I could come up home ever so often.  That would be find don't you think?
    Tell Papa that flying is quite safe much more so than I had an idea.  Just so long as the ship is functioning properly and the pilot holds his head it is as simple and as natural as ride on a motorcycle.  You just drive it by the way you feel.  A man shouldn't drive a ship unless he feels natural in it.  If he doesn't feel natural sooner or later he will be bumped off.  The one important thing that training gives you is the "Feel of the Ship".  When you acquire that you can  just fly the old ship just be the way it feels to you.  Fly it so that you feel natural and you are safe.
    Stalls are the accident makers in flying.  They are easily detected but if not remeded and you haven't sufficient altitude, they may result seriously.  Most all the accidents are traced to just this thing and a natural feel of the ship can pick up a stall in a second.  Don't think we dread stalls for we don't.  A stall is next to nothing with plenty of altitude, (which is the smart safety you have).  And only an item when you are close to the ground if you realized you are stalling.  Ignorance, of this apparently simple fact, until it is too late, resulting in a tail spin close to the ground, is the thing that takes the toll.  A ship usually goes into tail spin from a stall, and in a tail spin altitude is loss very quickly.  In a tail spin you will loose at least around a hundred feet and much more usually.  Men have fallen thousands of feet in a tail spin with out ever coming out of them.  Don't worry about me and flying.  I hope I am safe and I want you folks to think that I am.  Worry is a fore-runner of trouble, so don't invite an unwelcomed visitor.  
    I will close now for this time just on the verge of the writers' cramp.

            With love to all of you,
                    Chas.