Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Writes while spending 14 days leave in Chicago where they were having a great time. Talks of their recent wings parade. Writes of changes to training system and that he has to get more flying in before returning.

1942-06-08

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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EXAMINER 412

[missing word] Service Men’s Center
[missing numbers]6 WEST WASHINGTON STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

[postage stamp] [postmark]

MRS H ELLIS.
54, WULFRIC RD.,
MANOR,
SHEFFIELD. 2.
YORKS
ENGLAND

[air mail stamp]

[page break]

P.C. 90
OPENED BY

[page break]

Chicago Service Men’s Center
176 WEST WASHINGTON STREET * CHICAGO

SGT/PT E.L. ELLIS
CHICAGO
8/6/42.

Dear Mam and Dad,

..As you will know if you have received my cable I had my wings presented last Thursday by Group Captain Bonhara-Carter and so I am now a Sergant [sic] Pilot.

The Wings Parade was on the first anniversary of No 12 SFTS being opened so the parade was a grand affair and the camp was open to the public. It was a grand day and people came by the thousand – it was like a football match: were we nervous. Being an English course as we walked up they called out our names and home towns After the parade Pilot Officer Payne – my instructor got hold of all his pupils, four of us, and took us into the officers mess we had a great time.

As I said in my cable I shall not be coming straight home owing to a change in the training system and I shall have to stay in Canada along with the rest of our course until we have got more flying time in. I do not think it will take very long though.

No doubt you have read the address on the top of the letter, Chicago, we are spending 14 days leave down here and are we having a great time; I’m with Hammond (Sgt Pt) and Knight (Sgt Pt) and as we are pilots in the R.A.F. every one wants to know how many we have shot down etc.

We only arrived yesterday morning but we have already made friends with the American army and navy pilots down here.

I think thats about all Mam

Many Happy Returns on your birthday

Remember me to all

Your loving son

Lewis.

P.T.O.

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A week ago I got a letter from Mr Foster; Neipsend,

I shall be sending you another parcel when I get back to Brandon.