Somewhere in Mariana Isles.

Bryant College Service Club
Dear Sirs:

After reading your recently received Easter Letter I suddenly realized that it was about time for yours truly to drop you all a line again.

My scenery has changed considerably since I last wrote and I have had quite a few exciting experiences. As you can see I am in the Mariana Isles, about 1500 miles from Japan. I am the navigator of B-29 [which makes for long hard work]. At present I have 6 missions to my credit. We have burned and blasted Osaka, Nagaya, Omura and other targets. On my last mission we blasted a chemical factory located about 100 miles north of Tokyo. I had the satisfaction to see our bombs land squarely on our aiming point.

Gosh, this Pacific Ocean is really an immense affair. You really do get tired of looking at all this blue water on these 15 - 17 hr. missions. I think I can be justified in saying that this is a navigators show.

Our living conditions are not exactly as they were states-side but they are constantly improving.

Oh yes--I must mention the Jap situation here. They are still cleaning the Japs out of the jungle. In fact I hear there is still quite a bunch roaming around. You can bet I don't go wandering around this jungle.

That's about all the poop I have at present.

Again many thanks for your letter.

Yours Truly
Harry A. Melkonian
[Transcription ends]

AIR CORPS TRAINING DETACHMENT
BENNETTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

Aug 2 1943

Bryant College Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, Rhode Island

Dear Sir:

I have just received your last letter dated May 30, 1943. It finally caught up with me after going through Pittsburg, Pa., Nashville, Tenn., and Maxwell Field, Alabama.

I really do appreciate the list of Bryant men now in the service. You’d be surprised how much a fella wonders about the whereabouts of his classmates. If at all possible I may try to meet some of the boys. By the way, I received a tin of cigarettes from you some time ago while I was at Maxwell Field…I did acknowledge receipt of the tin, but evidently the letter never reached you. Thanks again.

As for myself…I have just started my primary flight training. It’s a swell outfit and we are having a good time learning to fly. Our ship is a Stearman P T 17. It’s really a sweet ship and handles like a baby. Right now I am looking ahead to my first solo flight, which should come soon. Of course we are all looking ahead to the day when we get those shiny silver wings.

Again may I express my sincere thanks.

Yours truly
Harry A. Melkonian ‘40
aviation cadet

55th Flying Training Detachment
Bennettsville, South Carolina [Transcription ends]

June 21, 1943

The Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, R. I.

Thank you for the generous gift of cigarettes I received this afternoon. To say the least, I was both surprised and gratified to find that my Alma Mater is taking such an interest in it’s [sic] graduates who are in the service.

I have been here at Maxwell Field now for three weeks and next week will shed the title of zombie and don the fangs and claws of an upperclassman. After my pre-flight training is completed here I am looking forward to Primary Flight School.

Again, I would like to express my appreciation and thanks for your kind gift.

Yours for Victory
Harry A Melkonian
Aviation Cadet
Sqd. F Group 2
A.A.F. P.-F.S. (Pilot)
Maxwell Field, Alabama
[Transcription ends]

ARMY AIR FORCES FLYING TRAINING DETACHMENT
NAVIGATION SCHOOL
CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA

Jan. 23, 1944

Bryant Service Club:

Dear Sirs:

Many thanks for your generous Christmas gift. No need for me to say how much I look forward to your letters about whats what with the boys. It’s a pleasant surprise to read about the fellas I studied with and where they are located.

As for myself – I’ve been down here at Coral Gables soaking up the sunshine for the last four months. Uncle Sam is trying to make a navigator out of me and the end is not too far ahead. We are stationed here at the University of Miami and Pan American Airways gives us all the navigation instruction. These Pan American men are just about the best in the business and they really try to give you the benefit of all their experience.

Navigation is quite a subject to master and needless to say it’s quite different than the accounting I absorbed at Bryant. Now that we are proficient in celestial navigation I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sit under a starry sky with a bundle of charm and not think in terms of altitude and [indecipherable] of the heavenly bodies as they wheel by.

Our graduation day is Feb. 12, an of course we then get – FURLOUGHS! It will be my first leave since I entered the service – one year almost to the day.

Again I want to thank you for your package and letter.

Best wishes to all my friends and good luck to the Bryant Service Club.

Yours Truly

A/C Harry A. Melkonian
Bryant ‘40 [Transcription ends]