Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Bill says it is difficult to write letters as he is so busy flying, or preparing for flights which never happen. He did manage to fly very close to his home the other day. Getting through the flights now, so should then get some leave.

1943-01-04

Two page handwritten letter

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430104

Sgt. Akrill,
R.A.F. Upper Heyford.
OXON.
Mon. 4.1.4[deleted]2[deleted] [inserted]3[/inserted].
Dear Mum,
Thank you for your lovely, interesting letter. I saw Sgt Hughes & managed to get your letter down to Mrs. Bates.
Havn’t much to tell you but thought you’d be wondering. I’ll try to let you have a line [deleted] wh [/deleted] as often as I can but don’t get bothered if you don’t hear for some time as I’ll be at it non stop, day & night as long as the weather holds. You’d never believe I could rush about as I do these days – leaping out of bed & tearing round preparing for flights, taking about 3 minutes over a meal when I’ve chance to get one at odd hours & then coming staggering back & crawling straight into bed (perhaps never actually flying at all).
[page break]
On Sunday morning it was very tantalising when we were coming back from Goole & the pilot said “Coming up to Newark now!” & I rushed back to the Astro Dome to have a look out & there was Stapleford Woods just alongside. Norten Woods behind & P.H. which we’d come right over in the dist. Had a longing look at Newark & then went back to work. Should have been up over N. Yorks and [indecipherable word] Newark again today but didn’t get off. Detailed for it tonight.
On Sat. were detailed for big exercise co-operating with Ground & Fighter defences but that was scrubbed & we were put on other exercises & messed around until gone 7 [inserted] when all was scrubbed [/inserted] I was asked down to a party of some friends of the Bates that night at 7 & was so fed up that I rushed off down & got there about 8. Had quite a nice time, though it meant another late night This is the first time for 3 days that I’ve had a sit down!! Still I don’t mind as long as it means getting finished here & getting some leave.
Love to all
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]
[inserted] Lots of my pals are flying to Swinderby today. I won’t be doing it as it’s a 2 hr. trip & we have finished all our short trips.