Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

He has been doing a lot of flying, some with engine and radio problems. He talks about tennis with Jean and his next leave.

1944-07-26

Two double sided handwritten sheets and envelope

This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.

EDarbyCAHWellandJ440726

[postage stamp] [postmark]

[inserted] 26-7-44 [/inserted]

Miss. J. Welland
7, Queens Drive
Surbiton
Surrey

[page break]

F/O. C. Darby. 154676.
Officers Mess,
R.A.F. Station
Upper Heyford
Oxford

26.7.44

Dear Jean,

Thanks a lot for your letter which arrived this afternoon, I had just began [sic] to wake up, having just got up after night flying until 4.30 AM this morning, we were on a four hour trip, up to York and half way across the north sea to Denmark, unfortunately our W/T went U/S and we did’nt cross the coast, perhaps it was as well

[page break]

2/

as the weather was bad, and a lot of ice about.

When I got home after this course shall go over to Dannants about the photo, can tell you they'll have to paint in quite a few grey hairs, they’re on the increase since I came here, we came in on one engine the other night, had to jettison a lot of fuel to get back; we seem to be the unlucky ones, something always goes wrong.

Am pleased to hear you are going to 'rest' after your strenuous labours, you'll need it

[page break]

3/

for when I get home, shall have to perfect that 'short' stroke of mine at tennis, am glad to hear that tennis is progressing, perhaps you are able to concentrate better now, I've just thought of a rude remark but perhaps I'd better not.

Regarding leave, the course in front of us only had [underlined] five [/underlined] days does’nt sound so good does it? however we shan't know until we are nearly finished. We do get another day off however, next Thursday the 3rd August, if all goes well should get home Wednesday night.

[page break]

4/

at the moment my bicycle needs repairing but I may bring it home on the Thursday and get it serviced at home, ready for a few trips to Brighton and back on my leave – coming?

Mother did’nt mention about the window, can imagine her saying "and it was such a beautiful pane of glass"

Well, must pack up now, cheerio for the moment, look after yourself, please remember me to Mother & Father,

All the best

Yours Jack