Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents
Title
Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents
Description
Writes from Medicine Hat with only four days to go. Still has some flying required to reach his 90 hours and weather has been poor. Outbreak of scarlet fever might delay departure. Still has C.F.I test to go and has found out he has been recommended for bombers. He wanted light bombers such as Blenheim not lumbering Halifax or Stirling. Concludes catching up with family news. Encloses airmail stamps as requested.
Creator
Date
1942-02-08
Temporal Coverage
Language
Format
Three page handwritten letter, envelope and two stamps
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
EMadgettLR-AGMadgettHR420208
Transcription
[crest]
[underlined] 8th. Feb. [/underlined]
No. 1330340. L.A.C. H.R. Madgett.
Hut 14A. Course 33.
No. 34 S.F.T.S. R.A.F.
Medicine Hat.
Alta.
Dear Mum & Dad, well, here I am again and only 4 more days to go. (We hope). Its going to be rather a squeeze for the other flight. They have still quite a few hours to get in yet to get the required 90 hours. In our flight we each have an average of only 5 or 6 hours to get in. to make matters worse, the weather has turned against us, and the ground today was covered with mist and very low snow clouds above. The cold weather is back again and we had a heavy fall of snow a few days ago. Another thing which will affect our leaving here if we are unlucky or are not careful is an outbreak of scarlet fever in the hut which adjoins ours, 14B. we have to gargle daily for this reason.
On Wednesday evening, we are having the Wings Dinner, and you can be sure we will make the most of it: even a merrier time than at S. Current.
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
As regards the flying, I have only one more test to go through, - the C.F.I.’s test. On our course 3 are going as instructors, and 6 on a G.R. (General Reconnaissance) course here in Canada before going to England. I don’t think I am one of them. [deleted] Quit [/deleted] Quietly snooping around most of us have found out what we are going on – I am recommended for bombers – then second – fighters (.I want twin engine fighters) & 3rd (unlikely) G.R. I want light bombers such as Blenheims – not lumbering Halifax’s or Stirlings. You are just a busman when you fly those things. There’s no fun or interest in flying straight & level for hours on end. On the X Country’s here (which have endurance of about 2 hours average) I get absolutely bored [deleted] ) [/deleted]. In light or medium bombers you get a bit of everything, including low flying & low level bombing which would suit me down to the ground.
I have not [deleted] have [/deleted] had any letters from John for ages now, and I of course do not know his address. I have
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
saved some mags. for him, and as its getting late now, I shall send these mags to you, for you to pass on to him. You can keep the newspapers if you wish; in fact I think you [underlined] had [/underlined] better keep them.
Mail has been very scarce this week, and only had [deleted] on [/deleted] a letter from Mrs. Hamilton today. she did not say much. Getting cold weather; wondering whether I shall pass through Dalhousie on my way back, etc.
I shall be writing again later on in the week, so, as there is no more news at the moment I will finish.
So long –
With Love from [underlined] Hedley [/underlined].
[underlined] P.S. [/underlined] Please find enclosed 3 Air Mail Stamps (2/6) as [deleted] enclosed [/deleted] requested.
[page break]
[postage stamp]
[page break]
[postage stamp]
[postmark][postage stamp]
Mr. & Mrs. L.R. Madgett.
127. Longlands Road.
Sidcup.
Kent.
[inserted] Recd March 16 [/inserted]
[underlined] England [/underlined].
[page break]
From: 1330340 .L.A.C. HR Madgett.
R.A.F. 34 S.F.T.S.
[underlined] Canada [/underlined]
[underlined] 8th. Feb. [/underlined]
No. 1330340. L.A.C. H.R. Madgett.
Hut 14A. Course 33.
No. 34 S.F.T.S. R.A.F.
Medicine Hat.
Alta.
Dear Mum & Dad, well, here I am again and only 4 more days to go. (We hope). Its going to be rather a squeeze for the other flight. They have still quite a few hours to get in yet to get the required 90 hours. In our flight we each have an average of only 5 or 6 hours to get in. to make matters worse, the weather has turned against us, and the ground today was covered with mist and very low snow clouds above. The cold weather is back again and we had a heavy fall of snow a few days ago. Another thing which will affect our leaving here if we are unlucky or are not careful is an outbreak of scarlet fever in the hut which adjoins ours, 14B. we have to gargle daily for this reason.
On Wednesday evening, we are having the Wings Dinner, and you can be sure we will make the most of it: even a merrier time than at S. Current.
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
As regards the flying, I have only one more test to go through, - the C.F.I.’s test. On our course 3 are going as instructors, and 6 on a G.R. (General Reconnaissance) course here in Canada before going to England. I don’t think I am one of them. [deleted] Quit [/deleted] Quietly snooping around most of us have found out what we are going on – I am recommended for bombers – then second – fighters (.I want twin engine fighters) & 3rd (unlikely) G.R. I want light bombers such as Blenheims – not lumbering Halifax’s or Stirlings. You are just a busman when you fly those things. There’s no fun or interest in flying straight & level for hours on end. On the X Country’s here (which have endurance of about 2 hours average) I get absolutely bored [deleted] ) [/deleted]. In light or medium bombers you get a bit of everything, including low flying & low level bombing which would suit me down to the ground.
I have not [deleted] have [/deleted] had any letters from John for ages now, and I of course do not know his address. I have
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
saved some mags. for him, and as its getting late now, I shall send these mags to you, for you to pass on to him. You can keep the newspapers if you wish; in fact I think you [underlined] had [/underlined] better keep them.
Mail has been very scarce this week, and only had [deleted] on [/deleted] a letter from Mrs. Hamilton today. she did not say much. Getting cold weather; wondering whether I shall pass through Dalhousie on my way back, etc.
I shall be writing again later on in the week, so, as there is no more news at the moment I will finish.
So long –
With Love from [underlined] Hedley [/underlined].
[underlined] P.S. [/underlined] Please find enclosed 3 Air Mail Stamps (2/6) as [deleted] enclosed [/deleted] requested.
[page break]
[postage stamp]
[page break]
[postage stamp]
[postmark][postage stamp]
Mr. & Mrs. L.R. Madgett.
127. Longlands Road.
Sidcup.
Kent.
[inserted] Recd March 16 [/inserted]
[underlined] England [/underlined].
[page break]
From: 1330340 .L.A.C. HR Madgett.
R.A.F. 34 S.F.T.S.
[underlined] Canada [/underlined]
Collection
Citation
Hedley Robert Madgett, “Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed December 10, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/11203.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.