Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley.
Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regular columnist for the Port Isabel South Padre Press. He has spent many years collecting and sharing the history of the Rio Grande Valley, as well as treasure hunting and formerly owning an Island-based bookstore.
8-24 flew my last new ship today … remember when you sent me a picture of the Aircobra, back when I was in Sweetwater ??? we refer to it as the time bomb … when you start it up you have to get off the ground immediately or the coolant boils, the instrument panel vibrates so you have to put your foot on it to read the instruments … but after you get off it’s the smoothest fastest little thing you ever saw … flew 4 hours and on my last landing, checked the gear (you have 2 sets of indicators, and an emergency pump that you test) and came in … it wasn’t completely down, neither the main gear or the tricycle … my instructor saw it when I was just off the runway, and in the calmest voice you ever heard he said ‘ease it down!’ … the gear didn’t retract … I would have been desolate if I’d damaged one, although it wasn’t my fault, as I’d done everything I could to be assured it was down … now that I’ve flown all ships I might get orders out of here any day … ground school stops tomorrow … they’ll probably send us to Dallas to pick up a 51 … bobby and i hope we’ll get a trip together … Marion wrote today that she had a forced landing on a co-pilot trip in a b 17 … sounded exciting, one motor blew up … address me at Dallas … I sure am going to be looking for a ship headed towards Florida … much love, Cornelia
(Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Fred G. and Frances Yerkes, March 24, 1944)
Editor’s Note: The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were civilian women pilots who served with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Formed in August 1943 by merging the WAFS and WFTD programs, they trained rigorously at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. Over 1,074 women graduated and flew more than 60 million miles in 78 types of military aircraft, including the P-39 Airacobra and P-51 Mustang. Their duties included ferrying new planes, test flying, and towing targets, freeing male pilots for combat. The program ended on December 20, 1944. The WASPs received veteran status in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010. They were true pioneers — the first women to fly U.S. military aircraft.
The so-called “bra-less” look may be the in-thing in some areas…but it’s definitely out at the Edinburg High School. The school board recently amended its dress code concerning girl’s attire with this statement: “Under-garments will be worn. “But then, one wary board member posed the question…”Can we really be sure they are wearing the undergarments? “The principal came up with the solution…send them to the school nurse and she can find out for sure. (WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.) August 11, 1972, 6:00 p.m.)
McAllen — THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAS ANNOUNCED THE SEIZURE OF WHAT THEY TERM A VERY LARGE CLANDESTINE LABORATORY AND PARAPHERNALIA FOR PRODUCING MESCALINE AT A McAllen RESIDENCE YESTERDAY.D-P-S AGENTS, ASSISTED BY McAllen POLICE AND U.S. CUSTOMS OFFICIALS ARMED WITH SEARCH WARRANTS MADE THE RAID. THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE ARRESTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SEIZURE.AMONG THE MATERIAL TAKEN BY THE OFFICERS WERE OVER 1,000 POUNDS OF PEYOTE, 25 GALLONS OF MESCALINE, 80 GALLONS OF BENZINE, 25 POUNDS OF CAUSTIC SODA, FOUR GALLONS OF ACETONE, THREE POUNDS OF MARIJUANA AND A QUANTITY OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT.
(WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.) February 5, 1973, 8:25 a.m.)
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