26 July 1937

Dear Mother:

Today clouds completely overcast the sky at 4,000 feet. Even though it is July, we have had no really hot weather, although it is very nice.

I took off in my Fury this afternoon and stuck my nose into the clouds, and after climbing by instruments for 2,000 feet the cloud got lighter and lighter until I burst out into brilliant sunshine. It never fails to thrill me. As far as the eye could see was one unbroken sheet of white cloud. Above the sky was a clear blue. I spent half an hour frolicking at top speed along the surface doing steep turns, figure of eights, etc. and contour chasing, dipping a wing or my undercarriage into the top of the cloud layer. Real fun.

Followed them a great many slow rolls and rolls off the top of loops etc.when, alas, my time was up. So open goes the throttle, up, up we go vertically, cut engine, allow plane to fall over on one wing, and then in a vertical dive down right through cloud to a thousand feet in one fell swoop (ahem!). Back into a murky world. Haze, slight drizzle, etc.

All this week we are preparing for camp and most of our machines are being tuned up for the rough life we will lead them next week.

I had a nice weekend in London with Graafstra. We went to two very good variety shows featuring Florence Desmond etc. Very expensive, but we only live once says we!

On Sunday we went to Luton where the great Whipmade Zoo is located and had a real enjoyable day there.

Of course we ate very expensively of the best. That is half the enjoyment. The soup, fish, chicken, a large glass of Puzner Lager, Cassata ice cream and coffee with a couple of big Corona cigars, imported at great expense on the Queen Mary direct from New York. All the real high class eating places have their bands and one can spend a real evening at one.

At Luton I saw what was probably the most exclusive gliding club in England. Their aerodrome is just at the bottom of a high hill. They catapult their sail planes into the air. Ten of them flew back and forth all day above the ridge of hills. It's the first time that I had seen actual sail planes. These flew for hours effortlessly back and forth and only landed when they wanted to. They had a very large aspect ratio and were very beautiful. They are awfully equipped with blind flying instruments as well as rate of climb indicators. As soon as they were catapulted the crews forgot about them, for they could stay up as long as they desired and this without engines. It was one ideal spot as the wind was blowing against the hill and causing very good up currents.

I read tonight that Social Credit is about to go to town and for the world to stand by. I read this in the Times.

Ronny must be growing quite a bit these days. I hope he can talk now and say Bill instead of Bull (although he's quite right).

Well, Mother, I'd like to go back to Canada and have some of your real home cooking - puddings, cakes, etc. - just the home touch, eat in my shirt sleeves instead of behind a starched shirt and mess kit. No "Gentleman, the King!" - no "Gentlemen, you may smoke!"

It's not half as bad as I make out. - Still!

Love Bill