Letter from Pat Hogan to his father

Letter from Pat Hogan to his father

Writes of going to Bridlington for a long weekend but not being impressed. Comments on recent weather. Continues with description of some of his activities. Notes he had been on the squadron longer than most and would have finished his tour had not things happened. Mentions plans for the future and asks after other family and friends. Comments on politics and other gossip.

1945-05-29

Four sided handwritten airmail letter

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EHoganPJHoganDH450529

A436464 F/S HOGAN P.
RAAF AUSPO
LONDON
29/5/45

Dear Dad,

I’m not certain whether it was just before or just after last week and that I wrote you. In any case we had a long weekend & Jock & I went into Bridlington on the Saturday as it is the closest holiday resort & the Monday & Tuesday were Bank Holidays. We weren’t very impressed, however, & came back on Sunday afternoon.

The weather lately has been terrible, [inserted] cold strong [/inserted] [underlined] winds & cold [/underlined] all day long for weeks. I’ve had a beautiful cold for a while, & friends of Greg in Bradford have for some time been asking me to go over there. I arranged to go this weekend although I didn’t feel much like it. After sending a note off Tuesday to say I’d be there Friday night, we were mucking about on the bikes & I bit mother earth & am now adorned with a couple of the most ornamental decorations - a beautiful thick upper lip almost completely devoid of skin, as also is my chin. Went to Bradford & had a

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very nice time. Jack & [indecipherable name] Collett are charming people & were apparently very attached to young Greg.

Do you think I took some ribbing in the mess today? I’m pretty well known as I’ve been on the squadron longer than the majority - indeed we’d have finished our tour had nothing happened. In any case with about 4 days growth standing up through it, it does look lovely.

Meeting old acquaintances, [inserted] all the time now [/inserted] all the Englishmen are gone & Aussie crews are turning up from everywhere everyday. Just skeleton crews left of course, pilots, w/ops, F/Engs, & Navs. Oh to be a bombaimer & go home.

Hope to stay with [indecipherable name] & Jack if we do go on [indecipherable word] [missing word] and out East for they are good scouts & have all the clues. We will have to get a new W/op, too, for Dickie was a “Pongo”. Whatever happens it will be some time before I get home.

How is Kev’s camp going this time? No doubt Eileen & Doreen are also home? As I find it difficult to settle down long enough to write a letter every {missing words] I’ll never ever attempt to tackle accountancy whilst over here.

Pleased to note Dan is O.K. In his last letter to me, he gave me his first hint that he

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[missing word] getting fed up with it & wants to get back. How did the [indecipherable word] enjoy their sorjourn? Ray Gearon [indecipherable word] something to “shoot a line” about now.

Politics are the subject of the day over here now. If this deadbeat race don’t wake up to themselves this time & overthrow the Tory domination & oppression, they don’t really deserve to be [indecipherable word] pitied any longer. The papers are terribly hostile to Conservatism after their recent low schemes but the majority of the people are probably not interested enough in their own welfare to vote & [inserted] many [/inserted] others are being deprived of one through the rush election.

Shaun Caddy (a N.Z. W/Op from this sqdn) who was in Mannie Dyer’s crew & has since been repatriated to this country is being married [missing words] Yank on Saturday & I’ve been invited along. I’ve met the girl a few times, too, & she is quite nice.
I sent several more books a few weeks back & a certificate from G.Q. Parachute Co. & a large group photo last week. Let me know & if they turn up.

Well, Dad, that seems to be the lot for the present. I hope you are all still keeping fit & well & not over taxing yourself at work. Love to all at home. Pat.

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[ink stamp] BY AIR MAIL [/ink stamp] AIR LETTER IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL. {postmark] [postage stamp]

Mr. D. H. Hogan
67 Chapel St.
Bendigo Vic.
Australia.

Sender’s name and address:-

A436464 F/S HOGAN P.
RAAF AUSPO
LONDON