R.A.F. Marham
February 28, 1940
Dear Folks:
I don't remember exactly when I wrote last but I suppose it have been over a week ago. How is everything going on the farm? I'll bet you are all patiently waiting for Spring to come. Well, that's where I am ahead of you as it is already here. At least the weather is, although the leaves haven't come out yet.
I am getting the Free Press now or did I tell you that before? I am terribly sorry to say that I never received any of your parcels nor the one from Esther. It's too bad, I can't imagine what has happened to them. I wrote to Harwell and they never got there so I suppose they got lost before they got to England or maybe lost over here during the Christmas rush. If you don't mid, you might send me a small box of cookies and some home-made candy. I'd love to have some. I have to admit I haven't sent your parcels yet. It seems that when I want to send it I can't find any paper or string and otherwise I don't seem to get the time to find some or else I forget it. But I will get my batman busy this week and i am including an old pair of service trousers for Richard to wear - you will have to patch them up as I tore them on Saturday night when:
F/O Scott and I crashed over our machine. We were just taking off for a 3 hour night trip over to the Bristol Channel but we only got to the top of a hill just off the aerodrome. Scott happened to be flying into a row of big trees and cut the tops off 3 of them. It didn't shake the machine any, just a dull thud. I was standing under the astro hatch looking out. Realizing we were going to crash I yelled to the crew "hold tight" - a few seconds later, which seemed like minutes the plane hit the ground. Luckily we hit it quite flat, although 1 wing was going down as the end had been cut off by the trees. The petrol has been punctured and burning before we hit the ground, but as we hit the back half of the aeroplane broke off and the remained swung around facing the direction from which we had come; also the front turret broke off. For both of these breaks we were very thankful as it meant 2 big holes for 7 of us to crawl out. The instant we touched the ground, which was at 100 m.p.h. the whole machine being sprayed with petrol burst into flames. It gave us light to see by but we had a pretty hot time. it is funny that just before we went up I told the tail and nose gunners that they need not ride in the turrets, that they could sit on the bed and keep out of the way.
Anyhow, after our impact, I drug these 2 gunners out, the 1st one was quite alright but the 2nd fellow had temporarily paralyzed his legs and couldn't walk. While I as pulling him out I got the snaps of my parachute harness hooked on some of the control wires, so I had to stop and knock the safety buckle loose and leave it there. After that I was going back into our flaming cage to get the 4 men when I saw them already crawling and stumbling across the field. I couldn't see how they could get out as I didn't know the nose had broken off. After a few minutes the fire tender found us and half the camp guards were there but the flames were up to the sky then.
Scott and the Dental Officer who was sitting in the 2nd pilot's seat got off with a fractured nose and a gash in the forehead respectively. The wireless operator got a cut in his eyelid, the Sergeant Observer got nothing nor did the 2 gunners suffer. I got my hip and ribs bruised up a bit, but an x-ray revealed no breaks; also my left hand got burned a bit - I still have it bandaged. I don't think anyone suffered any moral shaking. On the whole I suppose we were very lucky 7 and we shall have a brand new aeroplane to fly. A number of pictures were taken and as soon as I can get some I'll let you have them.
About 4 days before this we went over to heligoland to blow up some of Germany's largest warships but we couldn't find them at night even though they were frozen in the ice, so actually our trip was a wash-out.
I'm afraid i haven't such news to write about. I am spending my 3 days leave with Doug and his wife here in King's Lynn.
The weather hasn't been very nice lately; we saw the sun a couple of times in the last fortnight. Well, I think I have nearly overdone myself writing this much, so for a few days I lay low. Tell me all the local farm news when you write.
Best Wishes and Love,
Estelles
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