Bill Watt At One Of His Favorite Places...A Duckpond!

My daddy, Bill Watt, was quite a man.  His life was far too short.  He was born in a house on South Hansell Street in Thomasville, Georgia, on February 16, 1920, and he passed away on November 22, 1978, after a battle with cancer.  He graduated from Thomasville High School and attended Georgia Tech for 3 years until the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor and he left Tech and joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942.

Basic Flight Training

 After the passing of my mother (Daddy's second wife, Jane Faulk Watt) in April 2009, we were going through everything in her attic and I found a box with his pilot log books...both military and civilian.  What a treasure!  Using his military log book, I am able to trace his flight training and service in the Air Corps.

Interestingly, he started taking flying lessons while at Georgia Tech.  He applied and received License # 89214-41.  His first flight recorded in his log book was on January 20, 1941, in Atlanta, Georgia in a Piper J-3 Cub NC25788 (just like the one in the photo).  The plane was powered by a very small Lycoming 50 horsepower engine.  On the section for 'Duration of Flight' is written 37 hours 50 minutes.  However, in his handwriting off to the side is a note that reads "Obtained licensure at Southern Airways on C.P.T. (Civilian Pilot Training) Program."  Which leads me to believe he had already received 37 hours instruction prior to this first entry in this book.



A Look At The Log Book

Here is a scan of the first page of his log book written in his hand-writing.  Additional entries include flights from Thomasville to Quincy, Florida, and a nearly 6 hour flight to and from Macon, GA.  I enjoyed reading some of his Remarks about each flight.  Some of them read:  "Traffic bad." "Pretty country."  "Strong wind."  "Very hot."  "Made two good landings."  And that's it.  Just that one page of civilian flight training listed in this log book.

Basic Military Flight Training

Daddy's first entry into his military log book was on July 6, 1942.  There are 'rubber stamps' out in the log book which tell me the instructors did not want to have to hand-write a lot in their student's log books.  U.S. Army Air Forces Primary Training for Bill Watt took place in Chickasha, Oklahoma.  His first trainer was a Fairchild PT-19A, like the one pictured to the left.  His log books shows flights taking place nearly every day in July after the 7th with over 23 hours for the month.  On through mid-September in the BT-13A accumulating 60 hours.

Moving On To The BT-13A

Next up was the transition to the more powerful 450 horsepower Vultee BT-13A trainer like the one pictured to the left.  This also entailed a transfer from Chickasha, OK, to Goodfellow Field in San Angelo, Texas.  Daddy lists his first solo flight in this plane as a 35 minute flight on September 18, 1942 and a 2 1/2 hour night flight on November 2nd from Goodfellow to Sweetwater, Texas and back.

Ready To Fly

Daddy is pictured here front, left with some of his fellow trainees.

Bill Watt next to a BT-13A

Daddy made the local newspaper during this photo taken during training (top, right).

On To The AT-6

Another new trainer and another new duty station.  This time it was the 650 horsepower AT-6 (photo to left) and he was based at Moore Field, Texas.  There are numerous more entries in chronological order as he accumulated hours.  The last entry from Moore Field has a rubber stamp statement signed by Sgt. J.R. Bradley, Dispatcher, which reads:  "I hereby certify that the foregoing entries are true and correct according to records on file in this ofice, Air Forces Advanced Flying School, Moore Field, Mission, Texas.  Flying time:  Hrs:  89  Mins: 50;  Link time:  Hrs:  10  Min: 15."

A Number Of Different Planes

The log book now begins to show a number of popular military aircraft showing up along with a number of different cities.  Remember, he has just turned 23 years old.  One of his first assignments was with the A.T.C. (Air Transport Command).

The B-25

There are a number entries of daddy flying the B-25 (pictured left).  His first flight in a B-25 was on March 22, 1943.  One of his longest flights recorded was a nearly 14 hour flight from Whitehorse (state?) to Fairbanks, Alaska on April 4, 1943.

Daddy In Convertible

Now, I'm probably going to have to check with one of my uncles on this photo, but here is Daddy in a white convertible with mountains in the back.  I'm wondering if this is Great Falls, Montana.  This is a photo I had printed from a color slide that I found in my mother's attic.

Taking A Break

Daddy posing in basic white T-shirt.  Again, this one is from a color slide as you can see some of the purple spots on the print.

Blonde Friend

The mystery continues as I am not sure who this blonde woman is.  It is not his first wife, Betty, as she was a brunette.  And is definitely not my mother.  Looks like they are on the side of a boat or sitting on the edge of a dock.  About the only thing else I can add is 'nice work!' (It must have been the white convertible!).

The P-39 Airacobra

Daddy's first flight in a P-39 Airacobra was on June 9, 1943.  I am sure he enjoyed flying this single seat fighter after flying trainers and bombers up until then.  The Airacobra had a cannon that fired through the middle of the propellor and the driveshaft of the plane went right between the pilots legs and connected to the engine which sat right behind the pilot...a very unique design for its day.  Additionally, the plane had a tricycle landing gear and did not have a tail wheel.  Coincidentally, the P-39 was stationed at the Thomasville Army Air Base (Bill Watt's hometown).

Flying The B-17

Daddy's first flight in a B-17 was on April 14, 1943.  There were a number of flights from Denver, Colorado to Salina, Kansas.  The B-17 was a very large 4 engine heavy bomber and was the United States' main bomber to deliver bombs to Germany.

The P-40

At the beginning of World War II, the U.S.'s most current fighter was the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, made famous by General Claire Chenault's Flying Tigers.  Daddy first flew a P-40 on December 10, 1943 and he took No. 44-244 from Great Falls, Montana to Anchorage, Alaska, in 13:35.

The P-38!

I had a lot of questions that I thought of after daddy died and one of them was, "Did he ever fly a P-38" (which is one of my all-time favorite fighters of World War II (Click on the P-38 link above to read about this phenomenal plane).  His first flight must have been a real Christmas present for him as the flight in No. 43-635 took place on December 26, 1943.  He logged several long flights from Great Falls to Chandler, Arizona; from Long Beach to Dallas, Texas and from Dallas, Texas to Oakland, California.  Incidentally, the Japs nicknamed the P-38, "The Fork-Tongued Devil" because of its unique design.

The Fighter Page Of The Log Book

This is a really exciting page for a World War II aircraft enthusiast!  Daddy was getting paid to fly some of the most popular War Birds of all time.  True, the P-39 did not turn out to be what we wanted, so we sent them to the Russians in the Roosevelt's 'Lend-Lease' agreement, the certainly, the P-40, in its day and of course the P-38 were really good planes.  I have a P-38 model made by the Franklin Mint, on a shelf in my office at work.

A Night Out

I just recently found this photo in the bottom of a box.  It had a nice cover that reads 'Remember the Nite Spot - Frank Nick, Prop. - Dallas.  Dine and Dance.  Floor Shows Nitely."  Bill Watt is second from the left.

The A-20



A-20

 On February 2, 1944, Daddy made his first flight in an A-20G No. 43-066.  The plane was equipped with an R-2600 engine and on February 6th he took an A-20 from Daggett, California, to Newark, New Jersey, a 13 hour flight.  On the return flight, I'm sure he got a kick out of flying another one of our best fighters, the P-47D from Evansville, Indiana to Alameda, California...flight time was 14 1/2 hours.  The last flight in his military log book was on April 6, 1944, in B-17 No. 43-732, that he took from Great Falls, Montana to Tampa, Florida, in 12 hours.  This last page of his military log book is signed, 'W.A. Watt, Jr., 1st Lt. A.C.'




P-47D



On To The Hump



Bill Watt is pictured here with members of his unit in India.
He is on the back row right in the middle.

 Bill Watt left the States for a really big adventure after April 1944, when he joined up with the HUMP Pilots.  They were so-named because they flew supplies from India over to the Chinese who were fighting the Japanese.  The flying route took them over the top of the Himalaya Mountains, one of the coldest, toughest terrains on earth.

Orders To Board Troop Plane

Here are orders for Daddy dated June 20, 1944 to board a C-46 (specific I.D. # of plane included) and that he will get a maximum of $7.00 a day to pay for his meals.  (To enlarge the orders, just click on the document).

This Is Not A Fighter!

Initially, Bill Watt was flying the C-47 cargo plane (the civilian version is the Douglas DC-3).  He later joined the Search & Rescue squadron.  The flying route to China was treacherous and planes went down in the jungle enroute.  When a plane would not show up, out went the Search and Rescue plane who looked for flashes of the shiny aluminum on the route and hopefully see signs of life nearby.  They would then push out survival supplies in hopes that the pilots could walk out of the jungle to help.  This flight path was affectionately called, 'Aluminum Alley' because of all the wrecked planes.  One of my Daddy's co-pilots in India, Howard Peterson, sent me the photo to the left in 1997.  He kept in contact with my mother after Daddy died.  The inscription reads "This was our 'home' for a year.  Willie Watt & I flew in a dive at 360 mph on a test flight in 1945."

C-47 Skytrain

Letter To Parents From The Hump

I found a box of letters Daddy wrote to his parents while going through things in my mother's attic.  The letter to the left is dated Sunday, December 17, 1944 from Assan, India.  He is 24 years-old at this point.  The letter reads:
Dear Mom & all,
Since the mail system is all jumbled up again, I've gotten three letters from you in the past three days.  Nov. 21st, 28th and Dec. 5th!  Didn't get to go to church this morning since I had to fly!  I usually can get one of the boys who doesn't go to church to take my flight, but they all wanted to go this morning so I flew!  Haven't been having any trouble lately, so I guess the Lord is looking out for me!  Sorry to hear Dunk (his brother, Donald, who was also serving in World War II) didn't get to spend all of his leave at home!  They probably called him back and he sat around Charlotte for two weeks afterwards.  That's what usually happens!  Guess Lin (his brother, Lindsey, who was also serving in World War II) has pulled out by now too.  Hope Hank (his brother, who was in medical school) can make it home by Christmas so one of the four will be there!  Don't think I'll be there.  Little too far for a weekend.  When I head back that way I want it permanent.  Home never looks so good until you get away from it!  How's the cook on cinnamon bread?  My mouth waters every time I think about it and good fresh butter.  Think I could go for a big glass of sweet milk too!

(Page 2) I'll probably spend all my money on food when I get back.  Ice cream, steaks, oysters, shrimp, etc...Pardon me I just drooled all over the paper!  Haven't seen anything of the Xmas boxes as yet.  Got the notebook O.K.  Thanks alot.  Also the nosedrops O.K.  Got rid of my last cold in four days!  Had a Xmas card from Mrs. Conrad today.  She sure is one swell person.  How about sending her something for me for Xmas?  It'll be late, but better than never.  Table mats or something.  You know what women like!  Frieda (Patterson Spangle, a nurse from his hometown of Thomasville who was also stationed in India at the time) called up last week and wanted me to come up to a Xmas party.  Doesn't know the date yet, but wants me to come.  Don't know whether I can make it or not, but I'm going to to try.  Haven't seen Bill Parker or Johnny Craig.  My old C.O. (commanding officer) made Lt. Col., the other day.  He's stationed over in Burma.  Better close and take a shower.  Give my love to everyone and tell Granny to behave!  -Bill

Hump Pilots Reunion

After the war ended, the Hump Pilots began getting together each year.  I have fond memories of these.  Ever since I could remember, Daddy was always a fractional-owner of a twin engine plane we kept at the Thomasville airport.  Every summer we would load up in the plane and go to the Hump Pilots reunion.  I remember going to Arlington, Texas; Miami, Savannah, Georgia; and Monroe, Louisiana.  I was always Daddy's co-pilot and my sister and mother were in the back.   My main job as co-pilot was to watch out for other planes and let Daddy know when I saw one.  Pictured to the left is a photo from one of the reunions.  Daddy is far left on the front row.  Howard Peterson is second row, far right.

Happy Times

I have had so many people who knew my Daddy come up to me since he has passed and tell me that he was the sweetest, kindest man.  I remember him being fun to be around.  When I would misbehave, one of his favorite sayings to me as he balled up his fist was to jokingly say, "Boy, I'm going to give you a knuckle sandwich!"  This photo captures his personality well.

Color Photo In P-47

I found this photo, which was actually an old color slide (kids 18 and under, you may have to ask your parents what a 'slide' was!).  I had to take it down to a photo lab in Tallahassee to get it printed, but what a great shot of Daddy in the cockpit of a P-47.  You can see the big smile on his face because he is about to take-off in a really great fighter.  His parachute is sitting on the windscreen (that's what the military calls what we would call a 'windshield').

On The Hunt

Here is a picture of Daddy hunting on a local plantation.  I would estimate this one was taken in the early to mid 60s.