Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

He writes about his journey back to base. His crew has a new wireless operator. He explains the complications about his next leave.

1944-08-10

Two double sided handwritten sheets and envelope

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ440810

[postage stamp] [postmark]

[inserted] 10-8-44. [/inserted]

Miss J. Welland,
7, Queens Drive,
Surbiton
Surrey.

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[underlined] Thursday, 10th August, [/underlined]

F/O. C. Darby, 154676,
Officers Mess
R.A.F. Station
Barford
Nr Bloxham
Oxon.

Dear Jean,

Well, here I am back at camp again, I managed to get through the Underground before the alert went and got a decent seat in the train, there were'nt many people travelling, only four in our compartment.

At last we have a W/Op, he arrived on Tuesday, yesterday we did a cross country during the day, it was marvellous flying at 15,000, when we were

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over Cornwall we could see the French coast quite clearly, I should think this is at least 100 miles from where we were. This W/Op is a F/O, has done one tour of ops, seems a pretty decent type of chap, his name is Lee, is married, about our age, both the skipper and I think he will suit us perfectly. We are doing a night trip tonight if the weather is O.K. apparently the people here say they are trying to get us finished straight away, I'm not certain how long this will take or what leave we shall get, according to Group orders we are entitled to not less than 7 days leave, a course starts at

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the next place for the other members of the course on 18th August, [underlined] officially [/underlined] we are still on this course but I can't see how we can manage it, at the very earliest we should'nt get cleared from both Barford and Upper Heyford until Monday. I think we may be put back a course but its too early to judge, what I shall do is ring Mother on Sunday evening, if you would like to ring them later on, say 10 o/c they'll have the latest gen, am sorry about all this but you know how it is.

How are all the figures going at Eastwoods, are you pressing on?

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or has someone mislaid half a dozen bricks, perhaps you have caused the group to cease work as a protest against overwork and ill treatment, I must'nt be too rude with leave so near, you never know what may happen, I might even be pushed in the nearest water tank.

I's'nt it annoying just finding out that the train at night stops at [indecipherable word] look at the time we've been wasting!

Well, must pack up now, its getting near briefing time and we've tea to get before.

Cheerio for the moment, take care of yourself, don't run old Tedder down yet!

Yours Jack