The Royal Air Force in Texas: Training British Pilots in Terrell during World War II

Chapter 5: America Enters the War

81 Chapter 5 America Enters the War On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered the war. The next day aircraft at the Terrell school sat idle as groups gathered to listen to the latest details of the attack and discuss the monumental events. Some buffoon, seemingly always present in any gathering of men during times of stress, boasted, “We’ll lick the goddamn Japs in sixty days.” Others asked what the cadets thought. With typical British reserve, the cadets tactfully suggested that it might take a bit longer than that.1 The declaration of war immediately affected Terrell and the school. Guards were added at the front gate and the previously easy access to the base became restricted. Two days after Pearl Harbor the Terrell city marshal, Zeb Henry, arrested an “alien suspect.”2 Terrell merchants removed all merchandise made in Japan from store shelves. County commissioners passed an ordinance prohibiting parking on the airport road. A week after Pearl Harbor, Mrs. R. B. Wood of Terrell had still not received word of her son, Van Wood, and stepson, D. C. Ayres, both stationed on the battleship Arizona. The Terrell city commission added an armed guard at the municipal water works and water employees were authorized to carry weapons.3 Other cities across the United States took similar precautions because of a common fear of possible sabotage to municipal water supplies. The Civil Aeronautics Authority suspended all private pilots’ licenses pending a review of birth certificates, positive identification, and the administration of a loyalty oath.4 Since the personnel at Terrell were civilians, this order grounded all of the instructors. A week later, at least eight instructors 82 Chapter 5 were still waiting for copies of birth certificates.5 Doctor and Mrs. W. A. Grant of Terrell were notified their only son had been killed at Clark Field in the Philippines on the first day of the war.6 This was one of the first notices in what became a long list of casualties from Terrell and Kaufman County during the next four years. Just before Christmas, more than two weeks after Pearl Harbor, Mrs. Wood received word that her son and stepson had both been killed on the Arizona.7 A week later Mrs. Wood suffered a near fatal heart attack. About the same time, Mr. and Mrs. Will Howard learned their two sons, also stationed at Pearl Harbor , were both safe.8 The office of Civil Defense took out full-page newspaper ads advising citizens on the proper procedures in case of an air raid. Governor Coke Stevenson added Terrell to the list of cities to receive an aircraft spotting station.9 Local citizens signed up for courses in civil defense or first aid, while others volunteered to be air raid wardens. Two months after Pearl Harbor, Civil Defense authorities shipped 10,481 gas masks to Terrell, along with 200 steel helmets for air raid wardens, 40 pairs of firemen’s hip boots, and 24 folding canvas cots.10 The Iris theater added equipment so the movie could be interrupted for President Roosevelt’s radio broadcasts.11 After Pearl Harbor the British cadets discarded the grey civilian suits and wore their blue RAF uniforms into town. The cadets were guests in Terrell and Dallas homes for Thanksgiving and Christmas.12 Two cadets, H. A. Booth and D. Hutt of Course 4, received a free weekend Christmas flight to Kansas City and Chicago from Braniff Airways. The pair stayed at the Stevens Hotel in Chicago, attended a hockey game, toured the city, and gave numerous press interviews before returning to Terrell on Monday to resume flight training.13 After the holidays Beveridge wrote an open letter to the citizens of Terrell to express: Our gratitude and appreciation for the kindness and hospitality shown by people in Terrell and the neighborhood to our pupils over the Thanksgiving and Christmas periods. America Enters the War 83 In Britain, as in America, Christmas is the Festival of the Home, and it has meant a very great deal to our pupils so far from their own homes to have the opportunity of participating in your Christmas festivities. They came back to barracks, laden with gifts and eatables and one and all spoke of the good time they had. May I add the thanks of the R.A.F. staff here...