#22

Thur April 17 (or thereabouts)

Dear Mother:

I seem to have run out of ink already—just enough left to address the envelope.

We have been having a bit of a drive on this last victory loan and I have taken out $500 this time as it looks as if I am going to start accumulating money over here. This time I got a receipt which specifies mode of delivery (I think—not having it with me here) and it occurred to me that I sent a similar receipt for the other one on to you. Anyway this latest one will be delivered to dad when paid up so please note in your diary to watch for it.

I thought I mentioned before what leave we get but you seem to be in doubt in your last letter. Operational aircrew get double what Dick does ordinarily. Just at present the system seems a little upset and I would not be able to go to any of the places I usually do.

I am taking a short course and sat present am detached to a different station. The mess is a moderately large and not particularly old house and so is much more comfortable than our Nissen affair. Also the meals are infinitely better which does grieve me as this is only a training station. We have had eggs for breakfast several times this week and always fresh hot toast for both this meal and tea. The coffee is the best I have had over here also except for some stuff I make from a concentrate in my hut. Batman service is good too—buttons polished every day without asking instead of very infrequently and after much prodding. Rooms are not Nissen but wooden and I’ve got mine so hot right now I have had to take my shirt off. Lovely.

One day we had to be away for lunch and so took rations with us. Then we found we hadn’t got nearly enough plates etc aboard to handle all of us. So we put off flying till after lunch (weather was duff anyway) and took all the food to a near by farm cottage and the farmers wife cooked us a splendid meal of steak and eggs.

The night before I had bought half a doz. from this place because I slept the night in the ward room with one of the crew and we had late supper and breakfast aboard.

I suddenly seem to have come to the end of my tether with this letter. I should be in bed anyway as we have to get to work here by 0800 and that is a lot different than 0900 or later which is what I am used to.

With love from
Tony

P.S. Oh yes. About the F/O. It is automatic after six months commissioning and usually comes thru in about eight or nine.

[Editor’s note: Transcription provided by collection donor.]