1473358
L.A.C. JEFFCOCK, R.
SAME
ADDRESS
JULY
20th/ 42
Dear Ma &
Pa etc/
- Thanks
a million for the parcel which I received this tea-time, its
grand, theres enough grub to feed all the boys on the 'drome,
but dont worry, it will go through the usual sources!
- I
got your letter same time as the parcel. Thanks.
- Delighted
to hear my bruvver has got promoted again. I thought I might
beat him to it, but apart from that, - dont you think it is a
terrible scandal
the way they throw stripes about
in the army! They aint so generous in the R.A.F., one has to
work now & then for a couple of stripes! But joking apart,
I think he's doing damn fine & I only hope I shall get on
in the service as well as he.
- You
may be pleased to know, folks, that I've been on my first "flip"
today, yessir, had 40 mins. We didnt go very high, only 1,200
ft, but it was great. I felt fine right through the trip except
when your "kite" gets into an "air pocket",
(an "air pocket" is an area of warm
air & the pressure in that area is less than that of the
surrounding air, therefore, when a plane , ("kite"
to the R.A.F.) flies into an air pocket, there isnt enough pressure
to hold it up, naturally, it drops until it reaches a pressure
strong enough to hold it) Get me, folks!
- When
the kite drops, your stomach objects & tries to stay at the
same height. Rather a queer sensation but you get used to it
'cos you're running into 'em every few minutes.
- The
really thrilling, (& sometimes a little sickening) movements,
I haven't got to yet, but I shall be doing within the next week.
Such movements as stall turns, slide slips, dives & vertical
spins & rolls are what you may term as thrilling!
- If
things work out as per schedule, I shall be coming home about
the 4th of August, if that is so, I shall miss Eric by 1DAY.
So we can only hope that my leave will be delayed for a day or
two. Col is having
his leave on the 7th of august
so I shall see him O.K. But I suppose it will be ny luck to miss
seeing Cyril.
- The
house where I am staying is a nice placeitself, but I cant settle
down in it somehow. I believe Capt. Mathews is still in the army
& I have only seen his wife for about 10 mins all told. I
have a room to myself and its very quite at night, in fact it
tends to get rather depressing. I cant get out much at night
'cos
I dont get back from the drome till well after
7p.m. Last saturday night I didnt go to bed till 11 o'clock (which
isnt really late) & the maid tried waking me at 07.45 am
on sunday but her efforts were fruitless. I didnt get up till
0850 then I had to tear round the corners to get to church parade
for 0930! So now I am scared to go to bed late for if I shouldn't
get up in time, and I dont want to be on a charge at this stage
of my course for being late for (or
absent from)
parade!
- I
should be O.K. if my London pal was with me (he's a genius at
getting up on time. Just like you Ma.) But unfortunately, I'm
all on my "owneeo".
- You
were a bit out in your estimation about this dive & Scarboro.
I've never seen such a dead place as Carlisle. From reliable
reports, I hear that it has one dance hall about the size of
a modern corporation house kitchenette. - A cinema with admission
fees
of 4d & 6d! & a more
decent cinema whose prices range from 1/-d to 2/6d
(There is no reduction for the forces like there was in Scarboro).
I had a glass of beer whilst I was searching for billets one
night & it was absolutely putrid.
- A Consolation.
- Dear Ma, you
have no need to worry about your son becoming a drunkhard. Alchohol
is strictly forbidden to us 'cos it will affect our flying capacity.
That was the
one and only glass Ive had here (I
only had it because I needed it). So there, ya fast thing!
Quite a dramatic statement (& a worse sacrifice) eh Pop?
- How
am I doin, folks? 9 Pages and all out o' me own 'ead!
- By
the way, why mention Gretna Green, Pop? You dont think Im one
of those dashing young "Glamour boys" who whisks shy
damsels to the old smithy & pledge myself to a life of misery
over
- the jolly old
anvil?
- Pleased
the old tomatoes are coming on. I'm hoping they'll be ripe for
august week. Try emptying the jerry on 'em, ole man. (I do know
a bit about gardening, see)
- So
Len has finally got his papers, "huh"! Do you know
what he's going as? I dont suppose it will be air crew 'cos he
wears glasses & those sorta things wont do for us glamour
boys!
- Speaking
of glamour, Ive manage to grow about
- another inch
of hair, but I'll be damned if I can get a parting in it!
- That,
by the way, is another racket here. There isn't a service barber
& we have to go to the civvy barber & it costs us 1/-
just to have our necks cleaned up. No, we dont get any extra
for it.
- Will
you give me the date of when Cyrils leave as soon as you get
it folks? Yer see, I want to shake him, you know, flourish the
jolly old "props" and show him what a clever
- little boy Reginald
is !!!
- Well
folks, 12 pages aint bad going & my arm is nearly dropping
off. So I'd better call it a day. I may send you a spot of washing
this weekend, ma. But dont worry it wont be much! Remember me
to the neighbours and Peggy, give her a squeeze for me!
So -
- Cheerio, best
o' luck &
- keep smilin'
- Son Jeff.
-
- P.S Just think
of it, 12 pages, its terrific!
- P.P.S. I know
the writing's getting worse. Please excuse it.
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