25 November 1937

Dear Dad:

Thanks for your last letter. Just got a card from Ronny Thomson who is in Paris having a wonderful time looking about.

I see you are going to the Peace River - I'll bet you freeze. It's not too cold here - except when you fly. As we spend most of our time at 15000 feet and above we feel pretty cold.

15,000 feet is the highest we are allowed to go without oxygen (three miles).

Yesterday three of us pretended to be a raid - so we flew out to sea then turned in towards the coast at 15,000 feet. It was a perfect day - clouds far below us and the sun glistening off the cowlings and wheel fairings. It's lovely flying alongside your Flight Commander and looking across you see one of your pals keeping perfect formation on the other side - "Squadron Crests" glinting.

Coming in over the coast we can see the beaches miles below and the light houses etc. - beautiful sight.

Then a few miles in and presto 41 Fighter Squadron drops out of the sky forming line astern, then echelon right, then each man to his opponent -what grand do's!

You should see a modern operations block. Map of England a huge table - blue and red markers depicting incoming raids and heights and calculated speeds etc. Operations Officer keeping track of his fighters and working out interceptions and sending out instructions by wireless.

Every week we do battle climbs to 25,000 feet with full war load to test our speed of climb. All speeds etc. have to be reported and sent into Group.

We have many jobs besides flying as Orderly Officer, Duty Pilot, Operations Officer, Armament Navigations Officers and Officers in charge of Airmens Messing, Sports, etc.

Military flying takes a lot out of you and I am quite ready to rest my bones after a day's flying. Today was very bumpy and my little fighter was tossed about in every direction like a chip of wood on a rough sea - we just let them go and ride them like a bucking bronco.

Above 10,000 feet there are no bumps or very rarely.

Well, about five weeks from today I should be sailing for home - I'll miss some flying but the rest will be good and also be glad to see you and rest of the family.

Love Bill