Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

He writes of his visit to RAF Ternhill, his duties and social activity at RAF Cark.

1943-09-05

Three handwritten sheets

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EGortonHGortonLCM430905

ROYAL AIR FORCE.
TERN HILL.
MARKET DRAYTON.
SHROPSHIRE
[Royal Air Force Flying Training School crest]
5/9/43
Dearest,
I have another letter written, which I was going to send you yesterday, but fate decreed otherwise.
On Friday I was Orderly officer, but was feeling cheesed through having been on Night Flying the two previous nights, so I got another chap to do the defaulter’s parade at 10.0 p.m., & went to see Thunder Rock, a wizard film which you must see if you get the chance.
Of course, I was terribly sorry I’d gone out, when I discovered that you’d been ringing up, although it was by the merest chance that I went back to the Mess instead of going straight to bed.
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2
As for Kendal, my mind is in a whirl. If you could get the job for a term, I should be delighted, but by all the signs, it seems unlikely that I shall be at Cark very long. Ops postings are coming through very quickly now, & I was talking to a Squadron Leader from Command yesterday who confirmed my idea that we should all be going soon.
The decision, however, rests with you. I’ll find a room in Grange when I go back tonight, & will ring you up on Monday evening & learn if you are coming up here.
All the same, I was jolly glad to hear your voice on Friday, because I’d had no letter since Tuesday, & I couldn’t help thinking
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3
that you might be ill.
Yesterday morning the C.F.I. asked who wanted to take a S/Ldr down to Tern Hill. Roderick & I jumped at the chance, but when we arrived we found that it had clamped at Cark, & so we couldn’t get back.
The Officers’ Mess here is a very good place, - peace time buildings, & it has been a pleasant break to spend a night here. We shall be away first thing after breakfast, so I shall post this before we leave.
All my love,
Harold.