R.N.A.S.
Aug 2/16

Hello Ann

There must be a hold up in the mails as I have had nothing for two weeks and I am so anxious about Eloise. The call for lights out just sounded. It's a very pretty call. Wish you could hear it. In fact, all the naval calls are fine. This does not apply to officers. Zepps are expected tonight but they have become a sort of wolf call. No one but the town people pay any attention to the warnings. We don't even get the landing ground lights out.

I passed by Navigation exam a few days ago and quite surprised myself - well up the list. They were holding me back in flying until the exam came along, only one a month, so I am on Avro's now & cross country flying. I will go to Cranwell for my final exam in in two weeks to be confirmed & will if I get through, be sent on action service to East Africa & France. I hope Glad is all OK by this time. She must have had a tough time of it.

Wish you could see the cabins we have - 6' x 6' just room to turn around & soft coal fires at each end of the halls to keep hot water. The banging that goes on would wake the dead. I think I told you we are divided into two watches, our watch flying every other night & morning.

You should have the flying pin by this time. It must be three weeks ago that I sent it. The last letter I had enclosed one from Miriam. Do you remember and was * #1. I received some papers from * yesterday, very good of him to think about me.

The flying field is just at one end of a big reservoir and a very funny thing they have landed machines all around it. Forced landings - you know, engine "conked" but as yet no one has landed in it. Trees, streams and ditches have all had their share, but not one in the reservoir.

I hope these letters get to you OK siss. I can't understand why I don't get any mail. I am plugging hard for the final for I do want to get through this stuff and get to the front. I never thought I would have to go back to college again before I would be ready to kill Huns but oh my, I'll do anything once but never again. The wireless was the hardest for me. Some way or another most of these squirts had had it before and I never got a chance to ketch up. But it's beginning to come now. I can get the first drift of the messages. Bomb dropping is my specialty. Wish I could go into detail but the King's secrets must be guarded.

Well write me again sis,

With lots of love from Pete