Letter from Terry Ford to his parents

Letter from Terry Ford to his parents

A letter from Terry Ford to his family, where he writes the training for flying–boats takes 18 months – 2 years. The hut has had to be fumigated after Clem Fletcher reported with mumps. He was hoping to see ‘Dubarry was a lady’ at the Opera house. He expresses concern for Uncle Reg who was involved in a grenade accident.

Four handwritten sheets

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EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M[Date]-010001,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M[Date]-010002,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M[Date]-010003

1585520 LAC Ford T.A.
Hut 21, “J” Flight,
2 Squadron, RAF,
Heaton Park,
Manchester.
Dear Mum, Dad & Moira,
Thank you for your letter
I was very surprised to hear about Uncle Reg, & I very much hope he is getting on alright. It must have been a nasty accident. There have been quite a few accidents with grenades lately, haven’t there.
The training for flying – boats does take between 18 month & 2 years, which is one of the reasons why I didn’t feel to keen on it. As for the Hudsons, they are bombers in a way but not in Bomber Command. There duties are varied. Bombing ports ships submarines & convoying ships but they don’t go on great long night trips like Bomber Command. Sometimes they don’t do anything but convoying
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don’t think from my cricketing experience, that I really have the confidence.
Uncle Reg must have been pretty cool to direct the H.G.s to put on a tourniquet, after being nocked about like that & I hope he soon gets on the job again.
Clem Fletcher woke up on [deleted] Frid [/deleted] Monday, feeling pretty poor, & when he reported sic, it was discovered that he had mumps. The hut was fumigated & we have to report every morning for a few days to make sure we haven’t got it. We all feel O.K. so it seems pretty sure we shan’t get it now.
We’ve had a pretty good time lately, dancing, roller skating, etc, & we are trying to see “Dubarry was a Lady” at the Opera House with Frances Day Jackie Hunter & Arthur Riscoe, although the reports say it is rather disappointing.
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for months on end. John Fisher still has a chance for flying – boats but not a very good one.
His address is ‘Shandon’ Dale Brow, Prestbury, but as I have only been there twice & Mr & Mrs Fisher have now gone to Windermere for 3 weeks, I don’t know that I’d bother to write.
I may get a 48 hr this week–end. We’ve had very bad luck. We were all given 4 days leave yesterday, but it was cancelled immediately & I don’t think there is any chance of getting it now. Anyway I’d like to see Denis, but we may get posted before he arrives, in fact we probably shall.
I will try & write to Uncle Reg as soon as possible I see you suggest I should try for fighters, Dad. I should like to fly them, but as I say I
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Well there is nothing much else to say, as we are still doing more or less the same, although we have now finished the refresher course we were on & are now doing Squadron co–operation quite a bit. Anyway, I’m rather enjoying life here now, so I’m not worrying.
I will write before I get posted but you realize that I shan’t be able to say anything about it, so the letters will just stop, & the next you will hear will be a cable from the other side.
Love To All,
Terry
P.S. Would you mind sending me one of the photo’s of Dad & I in Home Guard kit, if you don’t mind?
P.P.S. We can’t get in to see ‘Dubarry was a lady.
P.P.P.S. I may get home sometime.
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