Letter from Terry Ford to his family

Letter from Terry Ford to his family

Terry Ford writes home of his domestic, social and RAF training life.

1943-03-16

Four handwritten sheets

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1585520 LAC Ford T.A.
72 Course ‘E’ Flight,
41 S.F.T.S.
Weyburn, Sask.
16-3-43

Dear One & All,

I’ve just written an A.G., so I will go into a bit more detail in this. As you know Don is now on the way home. It was quite sudden, & I miss being able to go to his room for a chat. I did well out of it though. He left me a case, a shaving kit, a forage cap, tobacco pouch, & writing kit, & 2 pairs of wings, which he couldn’t bother to take. I gave him the other stockings I bought in Montreal, & 2 prs of socks I happened to have bought. Sorry it was too sudden, to get anything else.

I had a newsy letter from Roy but the news was six months old. I’ve also heard from Basil

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& Reg Popplestone. Please thank Auntie Lot for her letter & Gran & Granpy [sic] for their good wishes.

What sort of job have you got Mum. I suppose I shall hear when your letter arrives.

John & I spent the week-end in Regina, but life is pretty deadly there. The beer parlors [sic] close at 8p.m, & the liquors stores are sold out & besides you have to buy a license. You should have heard Don’s views on all this. We stayed in an hotel as we wanted a good sleep. I felt so tired & slept nearly all the time. Anyway I’ve decided to give up cigarette smoking, & we haven’t flown for 2 days, so I now feel much fitter.

We’ve had a howling blizzard now for 3 days. The worst yet.

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The snow drifts are tremendous. We have to stagger through 3 feet of snow to get to the cook house. Visibility is about 20yds & some parts of the camp are almost impossible to get at. And we thought spring was on the way!

I’ve had an A.G. from Jack. I hear he is on Wimpey’s again.

The flying is going fairly well. I’ve knocked off most of my solo cross countries. We go about 300 miles. It seems nothing out here. We pass nothing bigger than towns of about 5,000 people in that space, & only one or two of them. Yet at home its like going to Manchester – Derby & back.

We start [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] night – flying soon.

Well, there is very little

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news, so I will wrap up.

We are now swotting for the final exams.

Much love

Terry.

P.S. I hope Feet got her cable on time. I’m afraid this weather will delay it on this side.

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