Letter from Pat Hogan to Miss Marie Hogan

Letter from Pat Hogan to Miss Marie Hogan

Mentions arrival of her mail and that he should have written earlier. Writes that he has been busy night flying long hours and preparation takes a long time as well. In addition he finds it difficult to sleep during the day. Catches up with news from home. Says that war news is heartening with the end in sight but he wonders how long it will go on if the Japanese do not pack it in. Comments on a Australian colleague who had been killed and catches up with news from home.

1944-08-30

Four sided handwritten airmail letter

IBCC Digital Archive

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EHoganPJHoganM440830

A4364[obscured numbers]4
F/SGT HOGAN P J.
RAAF
AUSPO
LONDON W.C.2.

30/8/44.

Dear Marie,

I had a couple of air graphs from you last week. I should have written earlier, I’ll admit, though I probably have no hope of catching Dan whilst he is still at home. The fact is that we have been doing our share of night flying lately. Long hours in the air at the pace we have to work take it out of one at the best of times, particularly as they entail almost as much work in preparation before take off. It is worse of a night because it is so hard to sleep by day. I’m not saying we don’t have time to sleep or even that we don’t sleep. However I will say that one always feels tired. Particularly when it comes to letter writing. I just don’t seem able to muster any enthusiasm

[page break]

or concentration. Consequently I’m afraid you must forgive me for my rather scratchy efforts.

I suppose Dan has almost finished his leave by now. No doubt he has had a coupler of trips to Melbourne & has done a little dough on the horses. Otherwise I presume he has been resting & having a fairly quiet time. In any case I can no doubt expect to be hearing of or from him in the near future. Is he going straight back.

The war news has been very heartening of late & one can hardly be accused of overoptimism in surmising the end in this theatre at least is definitely in sight. I once entertained hopes of getting off to France but that now seems out of the question. However one never knows where one will end up, if the Japs don’t pack it in. I don’t think I’d mind the Far East although the life of an N.C.O is not too glamorous out there.

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I’m afraid I can’t give you very much information on the condition of your parcels as they arrive for as yet none have come to hand.

I understand that “Shanty” O’Dwyer from Wanganatta “went for a Burton” recently. Jim knows his Aunts & I think Doreen boards with his sisters.

I was both surprised & sorry to see the Referendum swing the way it did but will hardly lose any sleep over it. I’m very pleased indeed to note that the youngster has started to ‘trip the light fantastic’. In my humble opinion it should be encouraged at an early age. How did his holiday camp go?

By the way chaps over here seem to get good service from Australia with these Air Letters - only 1’ from Australia.

Pleased to not you are all well & as it is time I was back at my section I’d better close. Regards & love to all at home

Pat.

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AIR LETTER

[postmark] [postage stamp]

Miss Marie Hogan
67 Chapel St.,
Bendigo Viv
Australia

[two postmarks]

Sender’s name and address:-

A436464
F/Sgt Hogan P J
RAAF AUSPO. LONDON.

[postmark]