17 February 1938

Dear Dad:

Lovely warm weather here today. Yesterday we had a rugger game with the Signal Corps. I sustained some bruised legs and a black eye.

Getting in some real flying. In two months we take delivery of our new Spitfire monoplane single seater fighters which are the fastest aeroplanes in the world - much faster than the Schneider Trophy racers - so your son will be flying the fastest aeroplanes in the world (plus 450).

The A.O.C. was quite pleased with our Squadron and promised that we should be the first to get them so are we waiting!

I hope you enjoy your vacation at Vancouver.

Today Pilot Officers Robinson and Thomson were here for the day -flew up this morning.

I am eating like a horse again and piling on the weight.

It is certainly nice here after the rigours of Canada = what ho! That trip back certainly did me a lot of good.

Today I practised air-to-ground firing and fighter attacks on other Furies flown by Squadron pilots. Sky very cloudy and we did them above the clouds in brilliant sunshine. I am glad to be back flying and in harness again.

P/O Robinson has got himself engaged - I hope not too seriously. P/O Overall had a wonderful holiday in Niagara Falls. I see that quite a few of my old pals have gone abroad - mostly with Army-Cooperation Squadrons. That is about the only objection I have to fighter squadrons but I wouldn't change this job.

Did you get the £-18 all right? - I see that Lloyds have debited my account for the amount.

In our new machines I could fly to Edmonton from Calgary in less time than it takes you to shave.

Love Bill
Write soon.