Two part airgram from Reginal Weeden to his mother

Two part airgram from Reginal Weeden to his mother

Part 1. Explains delay in writing due to 48 hour pass which allowed him to go to new York. Describes activities there.
Part 2. On return was posted to air observers school and was packing to go. Arrive in Toronto and did tour including Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland and Detroit as well as other locations in Canada. Writes about training schedule at observer school at Malton Ontario.

1943-05-17

Two pages of handwritten airgram forms

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EWeedenRCCartwrightI430517

MRS. I. CARTWRIGHT
416 COWLEY ROAD
OXFORD
ENGLAND

002153

1602823 LAC. WEEDEN R.C.
NO. 1 A.O.S.
MALTON
ONTARIO
CANADA.

17-5-43

[underlined] PART. 1 [/underlined]

My dear Mum,

I expect you will be wondering when am I going to write but I hope the following will explain the delay. Firstly last week-end we were issued with a 48 hour pass from Friday night until Monday morning. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for, so quickly packing a few essential things I was bound for New York with my two pals. After travelling all night we arrived at Pennsylvania Station at 8.30 am Saturday. The next thing was, we reported to the Maple Leaf Club on 5th Ave. and before we could do anything we had an invitation for lunch at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York’s finest hotel, next tickets for a show, then two dances lasting until 3 am. What a day? [sic] and a scorcher too. We crawled back to our hotel The Chesterfield, dead beat. Sunday commenced with a tour of the Empire State Building, followed up by another show, what a riot, jitterbugging in the aisles, and finally a tea-dance at the Biltmore Hotel, from here we caught our train back to Montreal.

Continued ¬--------

[page break]

MRS. I. CARTWRIGHT
416 COWLEY ROAD.
OXFORD.
ENGLAND.

002280

1602823 LAC. WEEDEN R.C.
NO. 1 A.O.S.
MALTON
ONTARIO
CANADA.

17-5-43

[underlined] PART. 2 [/underlined]

On reporting back to our station – Lachine we were posted to Air Observer School and so once again we were off packing etc., and managed to get away by Wednesday afternoon. I hope you received my cable which I sent Tuesday night. We arrived at Toronto about 9 pm and as we had a few days leave until Sunday we decided to tour the States. Thursday saw us in Niagara Falls. Buffalo, Erie, and Cleveland. Friday we arrived at Detroit and spent a grand evening with a Yank instructor. Saturday we were bound for Malton, via Windsor, London, Hamilton and Toronto, so ended the most hectic week I have ever experienced. Malton is about 15 miles outside Toronto which is quite handy to get in for a week-end, but from all accounts I shall have my hands full, flying until midnight, late classes til [sic] 11 pm, both these twice weekly and then of course private studies which is most essential for I intend to pass this course. Closing now, thanks for birthday cards which I received today. Regards to Den & Bill.
To Evelyn xxxxx Love Reg xxxxx