9 December 1936

Dear Bob:

Thanks for your letter of the 23rd of November. Today we are developed in a dense fog - the like of which I have never seen before. This is the busiest time of the course - we are writing our final exams and having practical and oral exams in photography and gunnery.

The Superintendent of Reserve will be around and fly with each one of us to check our flying - you would be surprised at the standard of flying required here at Woodley. Jackson, the fellow who spun in from 200 feet, has lost most of the gum from his upper teeth on one side and is in terrific agony at times - he will be held back for awhile at least.

After he recovers he has to go through Central Medical Board in London again.

When we go on cross-countries we carry chits for the Duty Pilot at R.A.F. drome - thus:

P/P Wm Martyn

Woodley - Sywell.

Time of Arrival

Good

Landing: Medium

Bad

Duty Pilot signs.

My dear friend Rolt landed down-wind and made a terrific landing.

Sywell has an aerodrome that slopes downhill.

On this particular day we landed into wind uphill but Rolt landed downhill and downwind.

Duly endorsed our chit - Landed down wind - landing bad. Result -a report goes into Air Ministry.

Final - not known.

It's a beautiful job doing cross countries - you have a folded map in one hand - control plane with right hand and keep looking over side of machine for land marks to check on and correct for change in drift - at same time keep on compass course - land going past you at 135 mph.

After a long cross country to hit an aerodrome over strange country on the head is a thrill mon friend.

Duty pilot here wires duty pilot at destination of departure and he wires back your time of arrival and departure "if you arrive" - you should see R.A.F. burn up red tape and wires if someone is lost.

Rolt, the chap that landed down wind, was the fellow who crashed and completely demolished a Hawk EL after his engine cut out after take-off.

It is pretty good that EL or No. 13 is still advertised in Flight and Aeroplane. You should see it now.

How am I doing said I as I skilfully half-rolled off the top of a loop.

Bill
P.S. Have you ever tried a loop off the top of a roll.