Boca Raton Radar

On February 28, 1944, Mike wrote Mary and Mickey on stationery with the following Letterhead:

"Here I am again in another part of the country."  Mike says.  "Of all the places that I have been, this is the place for me.  You wouldn't believe that in this U.S. of ours, there are the two extremes of climate.  You up north are probably having snow.  I was swimming today in the Atlantic and have a beautiful sun tan."

Mike explains that he is there studying for about six weeks.  He goes on to say that he can't tell them what he is studying, but the letterhead will give them an idea if they think hard.  Right now they have been working on the fundamentals of electricity.  He hints that [this line of study] is really something new that has something to do with radio, but much newer.

Mike describes Florida as a state that is really something with groves of orange trees, grapefruit, and coconuts.

Their letter had arrived that day and had been forwarded from Carlsbad.  He tells them not to worry about him being a pilot.  Mike was awaiting orders when this came through sending him to Boca Raton.  Mike says he may still get the call as a pilot yet, and would like to fly a plane which would give him three ratings, "…which is not to be sneezed at.  But this training now is really something good too."

"Tell Jerome that his valentine was well appreciated.  Tell him that his Uncle Mike thinks a lot of him.  There's not much more.  Write to:  15 Academic Group, Boca Raton Field, Florida    Love, Mike"

On March 10, 1944, Mike wrote to his sisters, Rosie and Betty from Boca Raton:  "Hello, sisters.  How ya'll?  Your letters have been coming quite frequently, so this joker thought it's about time to return a few words."

Mike tells them the pictures they sent were OK.  "The pine trees and that big tree in the woods with the initials carved in it bring to me fond memories.  Ah-yes!  To be young again.  That is the thing to be desired."

He continues that Florida is really OK.  It is nice and warm here and very lush with vegetation.  "The local tomatoes are OK too!  Beautiful tomatoes!"

"Ah, but very soon ole' Michael is going across this 'big drink' outside the window of course, to see the other side.  There are but ten short days left for me here in B.R.  There will be a short stop somewhere on this side yet before I cross.  As yet I know not where.  It's about time this chicken has been doing a little action.  You know 3 years in the army is a long time.  I am now getting a 5% increase in pay as a result of those 3 years.  Not bad, hey!"  [That "hey!" could be a repeat of the Slovak for "Yeah!"  It's quite interesting to hear Slovaks converse, and when one is in agreement with the other, they repeat, "hej, hej, hej" the way speakers of English repeat, "yeah, yeah, yeah".]

Mike tells them that the ocean is really a wonderful sight to see.  He says the waves are really high, and the ocean looks even better from the air.

The letter ends with, "On my flights here I've gone down to Key West and over…."  [Not sure why we do not have the remainder of this letter.]

Also on March 10, 1944, Mike writes Mary and Mickey for the second time from Boca Raton.  [Mike's opening statements make it sound like this is his first letter to them from Boca Raton.]

Mike says, "Yes, this is Mike writing at long last.  This time from a new place.  I'm in Florida and very soon will be leaving for parts unknown."

Mike explains that he left Carlsbad on the 14th of February and arrived in Boca Raton on the 20th.  Mike and another fellow drove all the way and had a very pleasant trip.  They saw about 1800 miles of the country.

Mike describes Florida as being a really beautiful state with palm trees and sunshine.  They are right out on the ocean, and Mike has been swimming a few times and brags about his beautiful tan.

Mike goes on to say that he was sent there for a few weeks of study before being assigned to a crew.  Mike says there are only about ten more days left there in Florida.  He has enjoyed every bit of the time spent there, and he has been very busy.

Mike says that he has been to Miami and Palm Beach, and those towns are really beautiful.  He says that the buildings are all nice and clean looking.  Mike says that there are a lot of old people down there for the winter and also a lot of Jews.  "I never saw so many Jews in my life." Mike states.  He also says the prices there are very high too.

"Bob Hope was in Miami Beach, but I missed him.  I'm going to school eight hours a day, so I had no chance to see him."

"Tell Jerome Ole' Uncle Mike still thinks he is the best boy of all and to write soon.  Love, Mike"

On March 21, 1944, Mike sent a legally notarized document home to John Halaiko, his father, granting John Power of Attorney.  The witnesses on the document were Elmer G. Sandberg of 721 N. Pickering, New Whittier, California, and Robert E. Costello of 431- 7th Street, Brooklyn, New York.  This document is signed, notarized, and witnessed on March 8, 1944.

A second legal document was also sent to John Halaiko dated March 8, 1944, and appointing Mike's father his Executor of his Last Will and Testament.  The same witnesses, mentioned above, signed The Last Will and Testament also.

The Last Will and Testament made in The State of Florida, County of Palm Beach begins, "In The Name of God, Amen.  I, Michael J. Halaiko…."

[According to some preliminary research about Boca Raton Air  Field from Wikipedia:

"The main mission…. of Boca Raton AAF was the training of Air Force personnel in the use of Radar. The 3501st BU provided instruction courses for airborne radar operators, mechanics, and electronic officers. Aviation cadets sometimes spent up to 20 hours per day on academic and military training. Classes included engineering, aerodynamics, and communications…. It is important to remember that during World War II, Radar technology was classified Top Secret. Personnel selected to attend the Radar School were highly qualified and rigorously selected, as well as having to pass a rigorous background investigation.

These courses meant an ever increasing need for flight training and for aircraft. The heavy volume of maritime traffic in the Atlantic provided ample opportunity for practice in radar applications. The airfield operated 24 hours a day with B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, and B-26 Marauders supplied by Third Air Force constantly flying. Radar-bombing runs were frequently made on the Avon Park Bombing Range. In addition to teaching the operators, Boca Raton AF was responsible for installing Radar in aircraft and for training pilots in the use of the equipment. Training forB-29 Superfortress crews from MacDill Field using Radar also took place here during the last year of the war."]

[The majority of Boca Raton Airfield was wiped out by two consecutive hurricanes in 1946-1947.]