5 June 1937

Dear Mother:

This is Saturday and we start flying on Monday. This afternoon the new course arrived and are busy finding their way around.

I'll bet they are all in a flat spin. I know we all were - scared to death at all the strangeness.

Afraid to do anything in case some huge monster opened out at us.

Some fun - the first agony of a dining in night. The stiff collars, etc. Tying bow ties with double-ended ties etc.

Flying service types for the first time - the huge engines - the good old circuits and bumps.

Some difference I can assure you from the free and rather easily-run civil school.

It will certainly be great getting back into our stride. I am still rather anxious to know exactly what I am to learn squadron duties as.

Little Willy yearns after single-seater fighters. I wanna be alone. I was very careful to show them how much I liked aerobatics and flying upside down, etc. so I think I'll be posted to them.

If so I shall have a single-seater fighter to fly on Monday.

We shall do a terrific amount of formation flying on them, so it will be very interesting doing everything with your pals - a nice, compact team ready to do or die for His Majesty, etc.

By the way, wings certainly set off the uniform. Before I looked like a bird shorn of its wings.

Now of course - everyone can see that I am a fully qualified pilot of the General Duties Branch.

- casually one side my man.

It adds quite a lot to your evening mess jacket with its gold wings of the R.A.F. on your lapel.

Love Bill