16 November 1938

Dear Dad:

Had a wonderful morning cooperating with the Mediterranean Fleet manoeuvres. Three of us were detailed for inner anti-submarine patrol. C.O., Lt. Nicholls and self.

Fleet left harbour and submarines were to try and penetrate destroyer screen and fire torpedoes at big babies like Warspite (Battleships). Torpedoes are set to pass under the ships so accuracy can be noted.

Did a two-hour patrol. As submarines are a great deal slower than war ships, they must always approach from the front. There's no such thing as an astern chase. They also can wait in front thus:

ships of the line

Destroyers always dash back and forth zigzagging in front of battleships and we did patrol in front in three sectors thus:

CO

Nicolls

self

in ringed areas

Believe it, old boy, it works. Ahead of us, larger machines did wider patrols. The sub sneaks along below the surface and every now and then as he manoeuvres between destroyers and approaches he must bring the periscope up for a few seconds and he leaves a feather behind the periscope as it passes through the sea. That is one way of catching him.

Two out of three were sighted by outer patrol and the C.O. sighted the third and all dropped smoke flares on the spot - 45 minute intervals in attacks, actually.

I'd like to see the expressions on sub commanders face when he raises the periscope to find a smoke flare burning on sea in front of him showing he is discovered. I saw all three beneath the surface before they lifted the periscopes - wonderful sight. Saw one about to raise the periscope and so dived my fighter down low in front of him so he got a look at me through the periscope as it broke water.

It's the wonder of a life time to do patrol over the fleet as they steam at full speed in perfect formation with the huge battleships in line and the destroyers throwing the sea to both sides.

We always take along an Osprey two-seat fighter for signal purposes. We often operate out of sight of land and must have direction finding or a trained navigator to plot all our changes in course and get us back.

Came back after two hours and then did instrument flying in the station tutor for 40 minutes - spins under the hood.

Sending you some pictures taken in Northern Ireland when I was there and also of Catterick during some air observer corps exercises and a card of a Gully-Gully expert in Alexandria - (you know nothing up my sleeves etc.)

Well, I'll bet the winter is cold again as usual this time of the year. We are getting rain now for our winter here in Malta. Soon the airmail is coming here so my mail will be nearly as good as from England.

I get wonderful programs from all over on my radio (which I rent for 10 shillings a month $2.50 short, long and medium wave.

I would say my chances were pretty slim of ever getting home again for years. It's sort of a tradition in the navy to finish a commission, go home, have a month's leave, and go out again for t 1/2 years. And many have their month's leave cut short to go to sea again. Nothing like as cushy as the R.A.F.

But the navy gives one the opportunity of spending time at all the countries and inspect aerodromes all over the world. In the R.A.F. you might get posted to, say, Aboukir, Egypt, where you would see Aboukir all right but little else, while we can drop in on them and what a time they give us! Glad to see new faces.

Did I tell you that I did more flying in the month I had in Egypt than any previous month since I started flying?

We used English stamps because all our mail was put in a sealed bag and carried by Imperial Airways to England, so no pretty stamps. These Maltese stamps look like dollar bills!

Write often. I enjoy your letters very much.

Love Bill