Letter from Jimmy Doughty to his sister Winnie

Letter from Jimmy Doughty to his sister Winnie

Writes that he had recently attended aircrew selection board and medical and was now back in the RAF. Comments on his exam results and some of the tests that he had to take. Writes that he was finishing his civilian job and speculates on future training time.

1943-04-04

Four page handwritten letter and envelope

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EDoughtyJCDoughtyW430404

[three postmarks] [five postage stamps]

[underlined] W [/underlined] 296227. Pte. Doughty
“B” Coy. A.T.S.,
31, Highfield Street,
Leicester.

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[underlined] 1 [/underlined]

49, Tavistock Gdns,
Ilford
Essex.

4-4-43.

Dear Win,

Went up before selection board, and aircrew medical Friday. Result I am now once again a member of the R.A.F. and I report on Mon. 12th at St. John’s Wood.

The educational was jam {it must have been I got 100 percent for both my maths and intelligence papers}, the bloke on the selection board said If I had not been in before I could have gone as navigator but as I had, I’m now going as Straight A.G. with a recomendation [sic] for a commission.

Had to do a darn good test in one room, they had a arrangement shaped just like a cockpit of a plane, with joystick rudder bar and every

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thing, and there was a glass chart on the dash board with a small square in the middle, and on this chart was a small dot of light moving in all directions over it. And with the aid of the joystick and rudder-bar you had to keep the light in the square, and it was’nt [sic] so easy as it sounds.

So I’m packing up work tomorrow and having a week off, I guess it might be some time before I see you again now, unless or [sic] leaves coincide.

Still so I have been told its a very short course so prehaps [sic] in about 3 months I’ll have my wing, (if all goes as I’m hoping).

Im [sic] darn lucky I shant [sic] have to do any square bashing, I’ve got a document to hand to the C.O. at St Johns Wood saying,

“The above named airman has been

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accepted for immediate entry to an I.T.W. for training”

So I’m hoping I simply colectt [sic] my kit and go straight of [sic] to a gunner’s school.

Well thats [sic] all the news I have for now, so,

Cheerio Win
Best of Luck
Jim {1386802}

P.S. I retain my old number.