22 October 1937
To Mother · 41 Fighter Squadron, ROYAL AIR FORCE, CATTERICK
ROYAL AIR FORCE,
CATTERICK,
YORKS.
TELEPHONE NO.
OLD CATTERICK 53.
Dear Mother:
"How be you" - still clicking on all 12 or what? Fog all over England and Catterick so thick that last night when I was Orderly Officer I was on my way to turn out the grand and cut across the playing field after walking for five minutes I ran into a fence directly at right angles to my proposed destination but I finally got there and gave commands to an almost invisible squad. This morning there is a slight continuous drizzle with low cloud but it doesn't dampen the spirit of 41 Fighter a bit.
This is a grand station - I like it better every day. The pilots in my squadron are tops and will fly in any weather.
By now I am probably a Pilot Officer but it doesn't come out in orders for about five weeks after - good old Air Ministry red tape and all that.
What is the weather like in Calgary? Any snow yet?
I hope Dad's Terraplane is still running okay! I suppose he will have to buy a new one soon.
Ryder, one of our pilots in "B" Flight has been in India for 12 years. His father is a Colonel in a Ghurka Regiment out there. All the army officers in 26 Army Co'op have seen service on the frontiah Bah! Jove! also.
It seems strange for army officers in their khaki to wear wings (R.A.F.). Some of them are always seconded to the R.A.F. to learn flying as are some officers from the navy for duty with the Fleet Air Arm.
The Army, Navy and Air Force in England are wonderful with lots of tradition etc. This country is great on God Save the King - huge Empire to protect etc. - maybe not as much B.S. as the Yanks but a whole lot more important. Over here it is no disgrace to be an officer in the Army and serve in India, Iraq, etc. - in fact it is a real job. I mix with a lot of real he-men army officers here and they are on the whole grand chaps. Admittedly they dress in evening clothes nearly every night and drop cards when visiting; like I drink tea, but they are the real McCoy.
I hope Jean is getting along all right in High School - everything is quite different but very interesting.
Nearly everyone has had a real good winter cold here except yours truly - I haven't lost a day since I have been here - still grade A1B - (Fit for full flying duties at home and abroad) Hotcha!
Love Bill