21 October 1936
To Dad
Dear Dad:
Here are two pictures of the school here. I have no pictures of the residence but here is one of our training machines.
As you can see they are the latest type Miles Hawk Trainer. They are very fast machines and delicate to handle.
One pictures shows the instructors. All are R.A.F. officers.
One marked on outside is my instructor Flying Officer Wilson. The one in middle is chief flying instructor Flight Lieutenant Moir.
Tonight I have just finished circuits and landings. All day the machines have been going up, around and landing. It's a great life.
Taxi out, turn into wind, open throttle fully, ease stick well forward: - tail comes up, you tear along ground then slowly ease stick back, then hold level to gain speed and then climb straight up to clouds. We pass over lakes, then railway junction and the town of Reading.
The other day I was up with chief instructor doing spins - ouch! rather hard on tummy - He did one and then I did one. - Neither of us got sick but we should have.
Elm trees line one side of aerodrome - pretty but one has to look out when landing.
I have been practising stripping a machine gun. I can strip and assemble a Vickers in one minute, five seconds. Instructor took one minute, fifteen seconds in test.
As I probably told you I have tea in bed in the mornings - Heh! Heh!
Well if everything goes well I shall go to Uxbridge December 17 and get uniform and "wings" which will be rather nice.
Our class numbers 18: 1 New Zealand, 1 Australian, 1 Falkland Islands, 1 India, 2 Canadians and rest Englishmen - rather a cosmopolitan crowd but all real gentlemen with breeding.
Listen, don't send my letters around. I blow too much.
Your loving son
Bill