Wednesday, October 2, 2013

World War II Letters Home October 2, 1938-Estelles Wickenkamp

                                                                                                              No. Flying Training School
                                                                                                              Royal Air Force
                                                                                                             Brize Norton, Oxford
                                                                                                             October 2, 1938

Dear Esther:

I have received about 9 letters from you and it is nice to get your letters so try to drop me a few lines about once a week, also how about a picture or so once in a while.  Today has been just another rainy Sunday, in fact the last week has been rotten weather for flying and everything else.

I'll answer a few of your questions first.  I haven't been able to locate D.B. Lindsay yet, but probably will sometime this winter.

At all the inland stations we use land planes but at the coasts we have seaplanes and fling boats - I hope  you know the difference.  I don't know how we get to be Officers so soon, but we are!  All the boys are promoted at practically the same time rat.  In an other couple of months I will have my wings and my appointments signed by the King himself.

You can rent some bicycles (I mean "push-bikes") over here for 2 or 3 bob a week.  A lot of these English cigarettes are blended but I don't like them.  I smoke Players Navy Cut.  They are something like a Turrett. - plain Virginia tobacco.  I think I will quite smoking this week.  If I do I can save about 30 bob a month.

I just finished writing a letter home and i sent a few more snaps.  I have to get all my snaps done 3 or 4 times so I can send them home to you,  and have one for myself.  But I don't mind;  I think it's always nice to be able to see what things look like.  The only trouble is that sometimes I forget what pictures I have sent you and what ones I have sent home, so if I send more than one to you and I haven
t sent one home can you send it. I know Mama, Papa and Richard are always anxious to hear from me.  I suppose you all worry about me - after seeing something in the paper about R.A.F. crash, etc.  Richards wants to know whether he should put in an application.  Well, I really don't know what to tell him.  It is nice and all that but there is a lot of red tape and blooey about it all too.  Anyhow i wrote and told him that maybe he should stick it out in the garage and probably I can help him when I get back.

The clocks in England were all set back an hour this morning,  so it is quite dark at 7:30 when we have our supper.

I am on of the Orderly Officers tomorrow so I won't get any flying or classes.  We have to go around the camp and inspect everything to see that all is in order.

It seems as if the big crisis over the Czechs is over with.  It almost looked as if there would be a war.  In the last few days it has cost England about 50,000.00 for A.R.P. (Air Raid Precautions).  They are still digging trenches in the parks in London and everyone in England has been issued with gas masks.

I don't feel much like writing tonight, as usual but maybe I'll get in the mood again sometime and write a more interesting letter.
                                                                                                     Love,


                                                                                                     Estelles
                                                                                                     

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