Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

He writes of his flying, the weather, attendance at a court martial at RAF Swinderby and arrangement for meeting up at Newark station.

1944-06-19

Four handwritten sheets

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EGortonHGortonLCM440619-0001

OFFICERS’ MESS
ROYAL AIR FORCE
WIGSLEY
NEWARK
NOTTS
Monday 19/6/44
Dearest,
I’m feeling a bit tired tonight, as I did 1 1/2 hrs flying – circuits and bumps – in the hot sun today. I was just taxying out to go solo, too, when my port wheel burst. It was fortunate that it didn’t happen on take off or landing, wasn’t it?
Thank you very much, darling, for the washing, & also for the two letters, which arrived this morning. When you mentioned sending a parcel of food, I thought for the moment that you had guessed that our food here is pretty lousy & were wanting to supplement it. Still, I soon guessed what it was all about, & of course I’ll take it to Spalford. I hope
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to get away early on Friday, take my kit & the parcel of food over to Spalford, & then go to meet you. I rang up the Station at Newark this evening but could get no reply. I’ll try again, but as I don’t think I’ll write again, you must assume that the trains are O.K. at this end unless I phone.
Of course it is possible that I shan’t be allowed to go in time to meet your train. In that case, your best plan would be to park your luggage at the station & go to the Savoy for some tea. If you can find a taxi & can go to Spalford without waiting, perhaps you had better telephone Mrs. Gibson, as I shall call there before I go on to Newark.
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3.
I discovered after dinner that I have to go to a court martial at Swinderby tomorrow as an officer under instruction. There are five of us going, & it ought to be very interesting.
I’m hoping to be able to go in the car, but five is rather a load for the Austin. One of the five has his Singer 9 here, but its tank is dry & the problem is how to get to the nearest garage with his car so as to be able to use our coupons.
We tried to solve this problem tonight by going to the Gibsons, ostensibly to let them know that we should be along on Friday evening. In reality, we were hoping to get petrol & eggs, but
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to our disgust there was no one in. So that’s six miles of petrol gone & nothing gained. What happens tomorrow remains to be seen.
I’m very interested in this interview you’ve got, although of course it’s a pity I shan’t see you for two days, I suppose. It sounds quite a pleasant job – a good part of the country, anyway, - & if you find you need a car, the Austin is here, ready to your hand. Still we’ll talk about that when you come.
All my love, darling,
Harold.