Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

He writes about his night flying and taking three Home Guard for a flight in his aircraft.

1943-07-18

Four handwritten sheets

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EGortonHGortonLCM430718

F/O H. Gorton.
OFFICERS’ MESS,
ROYAL AIR FORCE,
CARK,
NORTH LANCASHIRE.
TELEPHONE GRANGE 390.
18/7/43
Dearest,
Your letter arrived yesterday morning, and was very welcome. To receive a letter from you is a real tonic. Almost without knowing it, I divide the week up into days when I may expect a letter from you & those on which a letter is unlikely. Sunday is the worst of the week, because there’s no possibility of a letter then.
I don’t quite know when your parcel of chocolate will arrive, as it wasn’t collected until this morning, although I put it out for the post yesterday morning. With any luck you’ll get it on Tuesday.
I was flying last night
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in wizard weather – full moon & clear sky, but did only one detail as my second pupil did not turn up. (He’d had a headache & had taken Aspros before having a rest; as a result he woke up at 6.0 a.m.)
This afternoon I took three Home Guards up with me, & surprised myself by trying a bit of real low flying – tree top level & that sort of stuff. I’ve never done it before; I suppose I must just have been feeling that way.
I’m rather surprised that Grace wouldn’t consider the Hillman Minx. The peace time price for one used to be about £185, so I should have thought £200 would be about market price now. Of course, I don’t know if she’d be able to get
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a calf through those narrow doors.
I think you are quite right about moving into the house before you start the job. That means, really, that the house is more important. As soon as Mother returns home I think I’ll spend a day off in Bolton & see what I can do.
I was going to post this letter first thing tomorrow morning, but I’ll keep it open & get the railway vouchers. I’ve also got to see the Accountant Officer & fill up a form about my allowances, so if I remember one I’ll remember the other.
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I’ll certainly get the extra wool from Mother; she’s due in Farnworth on the 28th, so you’ll get it in August.
I’ll sort out the socks & shirt when I do my laundry on Monday night.
I’ll keep the watch when it’s ready, but the instrument basher went on leave on Friday & owing to my being asleep all morning, I wasn’t able to get hold of him. It will be next week before I shall get it, as he has locked it up in his box.
All my love, darling,
Harold