April 29, 1942
(Return address deleted by censor)
April 29, 1942
Dear Mom, Dad and All:-
Here I am at last
in one of those positions I hoped for when I started out, seated at the
control desk in charge of the watch of six mechanics and seven WAAF's with
everything runnning smoothly for once. My promotion hasn't come through
yet, but I am acting chargehand, the first rank above my original one as
a craftsman, and hope to be wearing the emblem of my new rank before long.
Guess that's about all I can tell you about my job because it's [--censored--]
I put in for leave
today to go to Ireland the 22nd of May for ten days. The CO and CTC
have okayed my going so I shouldn't have any trouble at all. I will
try and find all the relatives and call on them. Hope they can show
me around a bit. I will write and let them know I am coming.
I think I will see Sr. Gertrude's nephew first as he is in Dublin and he
can help me locate the rest. The addresses were rather vague, but
I guess the towns are pretty small anyway.
I haven't yet had
my passport renewed, but will go down to Edinburgh next Monday, to do so.
intended going last Monday, but couldn't get away.
The CO just came in
to pay a visit and seemed satisfied with the way things were going. Said
he would sign my leave request tomorrow morning and the Wing Hqtrs. would
take care of everything in the way of a letter of permission and permit
to leave England. Had a little chat about the ability of some of the new
mechanics recently assigned here and the operation of the equipment, and
he left. He's a fine fellow to talk to, a flight lieutenant (equiv. to
an Army Captain), and was with Western Electric.
I have been taking
bags of snapshots lately and they're not bad. This camera of mine is sure
a pleasure to work with. Had a snap of Lorna taken down on the beach enlarged
to half-plate size and it turned out very well. The same one I sent you
a print of. Am becoming more adept all the time in developing and printing
and have everyone in camp after me to take their pictures or develop films.
The printing paper is extremely hard to get though. I usually use Velox
Vest Vocket (2 1/2 x 1 7/8) or 120 size of medium grade VV2. I've managed
to buy films pretty regularly, although everyone else says they can't get
them. You just have to know the right people, and somehow I usually manage
to get to know them. One thing I would like to have and you can't get here
is a Weston Junior exposure meter. Art could probably get me one at Wards
when he gets the next check and mail it to me Air mail, North Atlantic
Route. They're a bit expensive, but with film scarce as well as materials
to develop with, I think it would be worth it to be sure of getting the
best from every picture. Have him send it to the American Eagle Club as
usual and write me a letter direct at the same time and mail them together
so I can check up on it.
This is the queerest
country. At nine o'clock at night the sun is still shining as brightly
as it does about five o'clock in the summer at home, and it stays light
until about eleven o'clock and is light in the morning at five. We're near
the midnight sun zone so I suppose that accounts for it. Sure is queer,
though, to come back from town on the 10:30 bus and have it still daylight.
That seems to be about
all the news I can think of at the present time. Haven't been doing much
of anything except eat, sleep, work, and go to the movies in Aberdeen with
Lorna. Going to the Pouishnoff concert tomorrow night, He's supposed to
be the greatest modern interpreter of Chopin's music. Next week we're going
to the musical Chu Chin Chow at His Majesty's Theatre. We also have a sightseeing
trip up the river Dee planned for the next day off. So life isn't too bad
in Bonnle Scotland. There are two new CTC men here now. They came last
week. Both are from California ana we all get along swell.
Well, Cheerio, and
don't forget to write. Haven't received any letters or packages since I
cabled.
Love
Bob