Fleet Air Arm Detachment
Dekheila Aerodrome
Alexandria Egypt
June 18, 1939
Dear Jean:
I received your letter yesterday - written from your death bed (chicken pox).
You will be much better now and perhaps finished with Grade X for a couple of months.
Didn't you take Algebra I at Sunalta - and I note that you don't take geometry. Is it possible for you to get junior matriculation by next year or senior in four years?
It's about time that auditorium at Central was condemned - it nearly fell through when we held dances there.
You say that it must be wonderful for me to glide along feeling as though the whole universe was mine (I am dragged through the air with terrific noise and some vibration).
As you say, there is lots of fresh air and many thrills. Try looping and rolling in formation so rightly that your wings are tucked in behind formation leaders.
(Your propeller practically tickles the ailerons of the leader!)
A new captain has taken over Glorious - Capt. D'Oyly Hughes DSO DSC. During the war he swam from his submarine off the Dardanelles - blew up a Turkish fortification and swam back - submerged and got away - so he is a good man.
When the captains change, a flimsy is made out for the benefit of the new captain and officers personally. Mine is enclosed. Capt. Lister DSO etc.
I am glad to hear that you enjoy your trips to Nanton to see Dora Jewel. Will certainly be pleased to get pictures of Housty and Jean - gee you're tough!
The heat here in Egypt is terrific, but I get lots of swimming in the blue Mediterranean - you should see my tan.
I have been living in a tent so long now that I am beginning to feel like a desert Bedouin. Even here, though, my marine servant brings me an early morning cup of tea. I stretch out my arm through the mosquito netting and quickly recover it. An amazing thing out here is that at high altitudes it can be colder than temperatures found at that height in England, even in winter.
You should have quite a quiet summer holiday after your trips down East and to Banff. You are travelling a lot more than I did at your age. Still, I have been making up quite a lot of lost time in the last three years.
My swimming has improved a great deal since coming to the Mediterranean. I did very little in England. The sea there is cold and the weather mostly uncongenial.
How do you like my new Egyptian stamps? Army Post - special cheap stamp rate for Britain's outposts. One piastre each or equivalent of one cent. One Hundred piastres is $5 or £1. Money is in 1 piastre, 1/2 piastre, 2 piastre, 5 piastre (25 cents) 10, 20 silver pieces. The only notes are the 50 piastre and 100 piastre and up - very much like English notes but American equivalents.
Greek money is in drachmas, Malta and Gibraltar use English money.
Egypt is very much more fascinating than any country I have so far visited.
waves
With Love
Your big brother (195 lbs)
Bill
