Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Writes that he had written regularly and was at a loss as to why she had had no mail from him. Possibly the mail had gone down. Still at Brough but no flying due to fog and rain. Mentions other mail and discusses a photograph. Writes of all the other things he need to learn to be a pilot apart from flying and worried about passing the course. Mentions that he does not have to pay duty on cigarettes and talks of other people he has met.

1941-01-24

Four page handwritten letter and envelope

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SBakerDA19210428v20023

[inserted] No 2 [/inserted]
[three postage stamps]
[two postmarks]
Mrs C. Baker,
“Charlton”
Inyagura,
S. Rhodesia,
S. Africa.
[page break]
[postmark]
[page break]
[Royal Air Force crest]
Usual Address.
“Some where in England”
Saturday
Jan 24.1.41.
[underlined] 1 [/underlined]
My Dearest Mother,
Have received two letters from you since last I wrote. I cannot understand why you had not heard from me for so long as the longest time that I have not written has been two weeks at the most. However we have just heard that all mail from the 2nd to the 22nd of November has gone down or something so perhaps that accounts for it.
Am glad to hear that you are all fit, and I hope that you will
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[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
have had suitable rains for the tobacco which you were needing so badly when you wrote.
Am still at Brough but have not had any flying for nearly a week due to snow fog and rain. Have almost forgotten what decent weather is like and can hardly imagine it ever being too hot.
Had a letter from Harry at the same time as yours which was also very welcome although it took me about an hour to decipher what he had written.
Yes I must admit it was a pretty grim expression on my face in that snap but I can’t see anything funny enough in having a snap taken to make me smile. However perhaps I shall one day pluck up
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[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
enough courage to pose again.
We are trying to learn all sorts of things to become pilots and it seems to me as if being able to fly a ‘plane is about the least important thing. This navigation is still a bit of myth to me as there are such an awful lot of things to do [deleted] be [/deleted] and work out before starting on a flight. It is such a common thing to hear about a bomber going to the other end of Germany and back that seems childs play but Im [sic] thinking theyre [sic] pretty smart. We have some exams next week which I shall probably
[inserted] P.S. The cable to Phyllis was sent while on leave in Glasgow. Wrote a long letter about it which you should have received by now. Thanks very much for £7.10 cable received yesterday.
[page break]
[circled 4]
fail and be thrown out. However will let you know later.
No I do not have to pay duty on the “cigs” etc but please dont [sic] worry to send any more chocolate as the sea voyage doesn’t seem to do it any good.
Do you remember Wickins who [deleted] came [/deleted] was on the boat from England. Short and dark and worked in the post office. Well some of the fellows have met his people who stay at Brough so shall probably go and see them.
Well must close now with much love to you all from
Your loving son
Donald