Officers' Mess,
Grantham,
5.3.40.
Having resumed flying once again after the rains of February, we are being worked to death with lectures and P.T. thrown in - you might not think that a 250 mile cross-country flight is hard work, but it jolly well is when you aren’t used to it. We certainly are rattling up the hours now, as the weather is absolutely perfect for flying.
Yesterday I was flying to Wyton and Rugby on a triangular course, and met low clouds soon after leaving. I kept well above them and having checked the drift and corrected the course before losing sight of the ground, I carried on as per schedule. At the time I was due at Wyton, I altered course for Rugby, and again at Rugby I changed course for home, still flying by instruments. Much to my delight, when half-way home, I spotted Leicester some five miles to port, which meant only a very slight change in course to bring me back directly over Grantham. About ten miles from home, the clouds completely disappeared, so I rolled home in brilliant sunshine. Good piece of navigation, don’t you think? We expect to start night-flying next week.
I spoke to the Group Captain tonight, and found out some interesting news. In the first place, we are not going to Oxford, but are remaining at Grantham for Advanced Training. Secondly, those of us who are now in the officers' mess are to be treated as Officer Cadets, and will have the full Mess service, including a cup of tea in the morning. Of course we shall have to pay the full amount - about £5.15.0 a month - to cover the extra cost of the evening dinner etc, but I think it will be worth it. In addition, we are to wear a white armband on tunic and greatcoat to signify that we have been selected for commission, so I think we are more or less set now for a P/O's job. I think we shall retain our stripes for the present, however, and will probably look like wounded soldiers when we turn up at home. I shall not, according to the old man's present arrangements, be home for Easter, but with luck, I may get a few days a fortnight or so after, when our Inter exams are over.
I have got that photograph for you, but cannot send it just at the moment as it is too large for the envelope. I'll procure a bigger one in due course, and you will receive it in a day or two.
Love to all,
Your affectionate son,
Geoff. “P/O”. (Potential Officer)
P.S. Please ask the family as a whole not to add to the already large number of lectures which I get per day.
Please give the £1 to mum. It is about due, I think.