Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Writes that he is now at new station (Upper Heyford) and recounts recent activities. Says he now a pilot officer and describes recent leave in London and Somerset as well as catching up with family news. Goes on to describe leave in Scotland and continues with news of activities back on base. Mentions starting operational training the following week and mentions fellow Rhodesians and other commonwealth aircrew..

Three page handwritten letter

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SBakerDA19210428v20037

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c/o Officers Mess.
R.A.F.
Upper Heyford.
Oxon.
England.
My Dearest Mother,
Was so pleased to get your long letter dated 19th May last week but am sorry to hear that Dad has had a spot of car trouble however it should be better by now.
As you will note by the address am now at my new station which is not too bad. Am now a Pilot Officer and will have a snap taken of myself in the new uniform.
Left Cranfield about the 26th of last month on what was to have been four days leave before reporting here. However had to spend two days of that in London waiting for my new uniform and then managed to get down to Somerset for two days. Am glad to say that I found them all pretty well there and bearing up wonderfully. As usual I stayed with Uncle Jack but got round and saw Roy Brake and family. Also went down to Wyke and had a day there. The new house “Coombe Croft” is very nice indeed. Saw Bruce and his wife as well
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Vera (Bruce’s wife) is still as strange as ever. They are all pretty busy haymaking.
Had to leave there on Sunday and got here that afternoon only to be told that I had another weeks leave so left again on Monday for Glasgow. Had to go via London as it is pretty awful going to Scotland any other way. Left London on Tuesday morning for Glasgow and got there only to find Uncle Jim Dunn & Aunt Isobel had left the day before for the North of Scotland on holiday & the Tullochs were leaving the following day for Warrington to see the Gatherums who used to be in Edinburgh. However went down to Warrington with the Tullochs and spent a couple of days with the Gatherums.
Arrived back here last Sunday and have done nothing this week except orderly officer once and was witnessing officer at pay parade yesterday. However am getting on to a course starting on Monday. This is an O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit) where we practice and learn most of the things we dont [sic] know already and have to use our operations. Expect I shall be here at least 2 months.
There were quite a few Rhodesians
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here who have been trained at home (in Rhodesia). Met Dougie Leggo in London also a few other fellows I knew at home. My old team mate from Bulawayo is at this station as a Sergeant Pilot. About 60% of the Officers mess is composed of colonials. Australians New Zealanders Canadians, South Africans Rhodesians apart from a few Poles etc.
The Officers Mess is a very swell affair and we are very comfortable here. There are four other Rhodesians who I have been with all the time so am not lonely or anything.
Well dear Mother will close now. Very much love to you all at home
from
Your loving son
Donald