C/o R.A.A.F. Base P.O.

Kodak House

Kingsway

London WC 2

Thursday 19^th August.

Dear Mother and Family,

Have just got up after a spot of night flying. Went to bed and 6 o’clock ‘Smorning – been flying since half past nine last night and as it is three o’clock now have had some good solid shuteye.

Our engineer, Bert Jowett, had his initiation into night flying and as it was a perfect night with a big moon he liked it a lot. After we’d had breakfast he was feeling so perky and bright ( 5:50 in the wee sma’ hours) that he didn’t think it was at all necessary to go to bed and get some sleep. So we (old hands?) took him aside and breathed in his ear words of wisdom – told him that if he didn’t go to bed now he’s be a mere shadow of his former self by afternoon – very blurred at the edges an’ all that. Finally he was persuaded that this early morning wide awake feeling was just a sort of second wind and when that was gone you’d had it, and hr went to bed.

Incidentally, Mum, it is now

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tomorrow (ie: 20^th) because I’d only got half a page written when I got a phone call to say I was to get airborne for what they called “fighter affiliation” a friendly fighter tags along and makes dummy attacks while you do your best to turn the old kite inside out to avoid him. Our mid-upper Ernie (Thirkettle), the Norwegian with the unpronounceable name, told me afterward that at one stage he saw the earth where there should have been sky and after that didn’t know where the hell he was.

The other day we went on a cross-country over just about all of England in perfect weather and enjoyed it a lot. By the way, you can tell Uncle Perce or Uncle Bert (if they’re still driving a car) that in just 6 hours we used nearly 1100 gallons of petrol – that ought to make them envious. P.S. Regards to them and to Uncle Carson Auntie Lucy Grandma and the Aunts

Still we had

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5,000 horsepower to chew it all up so its only to be expected.

Received your airgraph the other day, Ian, & also yours Margaret. Thanks a lot chaps. I’ll look into this Saint Club next time I’m in London , Ian, and send you the badge, if any.

Clarrie Gardner was back here again today after a few days leave, and went to his squadron this afternoon. He was a course ahead of me here, so I may be seeing him again in a week or so.

About a week ago I went into Doncaster to see Gwen Lunn, and we saw a show called “The Desperadoes” in colour. Good show, too. Gwen was in Leeds a few weeks ago and saw “Fantasia”. She thinks she’d be all out to catch up to my score of seeing it 6 times but would like to see it again very much – so would I.

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Ran into Bing Crosby in Doncaster , too, he sends his congrats. to Margaret and wishes her bags of happiness, and sends his regards to you all. Believe he has an impending commission coming up, too. Hope he gets it – should have had it from the start, anyhow. (I may have sent this item in a previous letter, Mum. If so, well this confirms the previous report.)

I’m still looking round for a little bus. Might eventually finish up with a mo’ bike – more economical & cheaper – ye niver know. Just to think that a single hour’s flight in one of these kites, would run such a vehicle for about 12000 miles (a good year or two) it makes me wonder where all the petrol comes from.

It seems that I am running out of news, now Mum, that is

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that I can talk about, so I’ll close now, wishing you all the very best. Please thank Mrs Wicks and Mrs. Boase for their kind regards (reminds me, I owe Brian a letter)

So-long for the time being, Mum,

Bags of love to all

from Sid xxxx