7 Practical Jokers at School

The practical jokers at Dallas Aircraft Maintenance School:
Bob Azevedo, Leo Kurland, Jack Kellar, Vasil Voikides
Public domain photo by US Army Air Corps, 1943

In five months Dallas Aviation School at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, gave young men the skills and confidence to work on airplane engines in the field. Starting from the basics of working with metal they learned how to repair and replace engines. They gained experience they would need to build on when they were eventually sent into combat. Schooling aside, Jack’s primary concern on arrival was when and how he could be with Alice again.

Barracks A and B, Dallas Aircraft Maintenance School

27 January 1943, arrival at Love Field: Sgt Eiland gave us a short talk about the school. He made my heart sink to the bottom of my shoes when he said, “You will have to sign a paper saying your wife will not accompany you here.” The following morning I wrote several letters, one to Alice, and my heart was really down in my shoes, or lower, by now. For the first time I realized I was away from home and I missed Alice so much that words can’t express. I sent a telegram to Alice and finally I laid down on the bed and did a little real old-fashioned crying and finally fell asleep.[1] 

Jack, far right, marching to school, Dallas

Jack had no formal preparation for aircraft maintenance. In high school he participated in band, orchestra, and drama and took no shop classes.[2] As an appliance deliveryman, he learned on the spot basic adjustments of stoves and refrigerators.[3] Jack’s journal describes the progression of his classes (in added boldface type).[4]

First day of school: We learned how to tin a piece of metal and how to make wire connections and solder them.

Second day: We started to make a Dzus wrench[5] and then we made a screw driver. The next several days were spent in the metal shop and then on into electricity and magnets.

Beginning of second week: We finished our first phase today and will start on Structures tomorrow. Time seems to drag along.

The following week: We finished Structures and started Hydraulics. We got into “Props” and met up with a S.B. for an instructor.

Jack and Alice in front of the USO Club

Up to this point Jack had little to say about his instructors and wrote respectfully about them. Three weeks of school and Alice’s arrival in Dallas emboldened him to join his pals Bob Azevedo, Leo Kurland, and Vasil Voikedes (photo above) in teasing and playing practical jokes on their instructors.

School is interesting now especially that Alice is here. In Electrical systems we had a good old F.O. [@#$%] with whom we had a lot of fun but did not learn much.

We went on thru engine overhaul and Carburation. From there we went to engine test and had Pop Bruner. We had lots of fun with him and played lots of tricks on him.

We went into Preflight & daily inspections with Mr. Karns. He sure was a swell fellow and very interested in airplanes. We enjoyed Mr. Murray for 25 hr inspection. We worked on the piper cub for 5 days and still it would not run right for us. For 50 hr inspection we had an old Codger who was as full of bull _ _ _ _ as a Christmas goose. We got his number and had lots of fun with him.

We went into our last phase of engine change with an instructor that was really O.K.

When Alice arrived, Jack was happy, and the fun began, both as a couple and with new friends they met in Dallas. Alice lived at the home of Mrs. Taylor who rented rooms to several Army wives.

Alice in her handmade Easter dress
She covered an old handbag with
matching fabric.

Boy was it good to see Alice when I met her at the station!!! Our days were well spent together as I was on the night shift. We went to dances at the U.S.O. and to Fair Park. We rode street cars all over Dallas. We went to quite a few shows and at one saw the “Ink Spots” which we enjoyed very much. The girls would go to the U.S.O. dances and bring us cake & cookies which sure were good.

Jack on the merry-go-round at Fair Park

Alice & I went out to church Palm Sunday & Easter Sunday at Southern Methodist University
Methodist Church. It is a beautiful church and you really feel close to God when you are there. The church was quite packed and the services were beautiful. We enjoyed the preachers at several other occasions at the same church.

On our [first] anniversary Voikides took us to Dinner, and after dinner we had a big time, ask Alice about it. We spent lots of afternoons laying on Mrs Taylors lawn in the sun and the evenings on the porch swing with Pat & Betty Hahn. We enjoyed our noon meals by sitting on the railing in front of the mess hall and talking about people & taking pictures.

Betty and Pat Hahn, Jack and Alice Kellar, Margaret and Rocky Mitchell
in front of the cafeteria

Betty Hahn, Margaret Mitchell, and June Radsky
at the Taylor home

Jack, Pat Hahn, Ralph Barkemeier
Lake Buchanan wiener roast

One afternoon Alice, Betty Hahn, & Betty Barkemeier got some wieners and made some potato salad. We went down by the lake & had a swell picnic. Boy did we eat.

Jack and Alice had good times in Dallas. Once she got there. However, her solo train trip from California left her at the mercy of strangers and her own inexperience.

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[1] Jack J. Kellar, “My Life in the Service,” diary, 22 October 1942–July 1943; held and transcribed by Judy Kellar Fox. The diary is a preprinted fill-in book, My Life in the Service (Chicago: Consolidated Book Publishers, 1941). Jack began the section titled, "The Following Pages Contain the Diary of My Life in the Service." He completed about eight months of narration, often at long sittings, not daily. Excerpts are lightly edited for consistency.

[2] Santa Rosa (California) High School, report cards, 1935–1939, Jack J. Kellar; Kellar family memorabilia collection held by the author.

[3] Jack J. Kellar, interview about his first years after high school by Judy Kellar Fox, 12 April 1993; cassette tape recording and transcription held by the author.

[4] Jack J. Kellar, “My Life in the Service.”

[5] Pronounced “zoose,” a dzus wrench is a quarter-turn wrench for dzus fasteners.