Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents

Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents

Written from Swift Current and states he has passed examinations and gives scores. Writes that he is pleased to be going Medicine Hat on twins along with most of his room mates. States when he is moving and but before that they are redeploying aircraft to Bowden Alberta. Provides new address at Medicine Hat. Goes on with account of winter weather and clothing required. Gives account of farewell dinner and flying next day. Concludes with catching up with news and mentions photographs

1941-11-21

Three page handwritten letter and envelope

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EMadgettLR-AGMadgettHR411121

[underlined] 11th letter [/underlined]
No. 1330340. L.A.C. H.R. MADGETT.
(Course 33)
No. 32 E.F.T.S. R.A.F. Station.
Swift Current,
Sask.
[underlined] 21st. Nov. 1941 [/underlined]
[inserted] Recd [underlined]8th Dec [/underlined][/inserted]

Dear Mum & Dad,
You will be pleased to know I have got through the final exams O.K., my average mark being 77.6%. My actual marks for each subject were Airmanship 167/200: Airframes 86%: Aero Engines 88%: Signals 70%. Theory of Flight 66%: Navigation 134/200: Armaments/Aircraft recognition 165/200.
The next good news is that I am going on twins to Medicine Hat. Bill Girdwood is going to Moose Jaw for singles, but most of my room pals are going to M.H. The Moose Jaw crowd are going tomorrow, but we are staying on till Wednesday and Thursday, on which days we are flying the kites to Bowden, a 450 mile trip, to where the whole unit is moving. No doubt we shall land at Medicine Hat, Lethbridge perhaps, Calgary & then Bowden, to gas up. From Bowden we shall go to Medicine Hat. To save delay in the mail, which is bad enough now, I think it would be better if you addressed letters from now on to:-
No. Rank. Name.
34 S.F.T.S. RAF Station
Medicine Hat. Alberta.
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined] The weather at the moment is pretty foul; there is a blizzard blowing, and when out in it, your exposed face freezes solid. We have not been issued with any scarfs or balaclavas, and the gloves we have are no good, so I would be glad if you could send some of these comforts over, made of really thick wool. It was an ordinary day yesterday as far as weather goes and saw from a daily bulletin in the Post Office that in the morning it was 140, the highest being 240 for the day. How would you like that?
On Wednesday night, we had the farewell dinner; and oh boy what a time we had! It was held in the Healy Hotel, the officers’ hotel down town. The menu was: Cream of Tomato – White Fish – Roast Country Turkey, Baked Potatoes, Creamed peas, carrots, cabbage – Tutti Fruitti [sic] – Fresh Fruit Fruit Cake and Tea. After the dinner, the merriment started. How we all got home afterwards we don’t know, but we do know we had awful hangovers in the morning, during which morning we had to fly. For the first time, I did not want to go up, but after 15 mins. dual, my instructor whose picture I enclose, sent me up solo. To keep myself from dozing off, I resorted to low flying and developed a new technique, i.e. flying along on top of the railway line into deep cuttings. You can just get your wings in between the two banks.
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
With this snow, it is very easy to get lost when you are up, as all landmarks are blotted out. The glare is also very strong and tiring for the eyes; for this I have bought, as most others have, a pair of good antiglare glasses.
I have just received your 5th. letter, the first one for ages from overseas. So please write often as letters are the most welcome things in the day. Thanks for the picture of Mary. I guess I shall have to write to her now. Talking of pictures, could you send me some of me in your next mail as I want to send a row away signed.
There last two weeks I have been mending colossal holes in my socks. Gosh what a long, long job! Such a long time doing such a little.
With Love from
[underlined] Hedley [/underlined].
P.S. On the radio, they have just said the conditions of the highways – almost every[deleted]one [/deleted] highway is blocked.
P.P.S. When you receive one of my letters with a photo in please let me know what picture it was - & then I won’t send the same one twice. What was the first picture?
[page break]
[inserted] Recd [underlined]8th Dec [/underlined][/inserted]
[postmark][postage stamps]
Mr. & Mrs. L.R. Midgets,
127. Longhand Road,
Sidcup,
[underlined] Kent [/underlined]
[underlined] ENGLAND [underlined]
VIA AIR MAIL
[page break]
This envelope approved by the Canadian Post Office Department for [underlined] AIR MAIL ONLY [/underlined]. Use for other purposes not permitted.