Cumberland Hotel,
Marble Arch,
London, W.1
Telephone Ambassador 1234.
Telegrams.Cumberosel, London
November 9, 1940
Dear Dad:
Haven't heard from you for some time - hope everything is going OK! Fourteen days leave and really having a good time.
The best line I have heard so far was from an Australian officer friend of mine who said last night:
"We'll win this war yet as long as England stands firmly behind us!"
Took a girl to the cinema yesterday. The picture was dedicated to those intrepid American newspaper correspondents who risked their lives in London amongst the dead and dying. Hooey! Reminds me of those American pictures that are gratefully dedicated to those intrepid soles in the United States Marine Corps who bla bla bla.
I suppose you saw that Bill Taylor, who used to be with me at Hatston, is now CO of the American Eagle Squadron of the RAF with Group Captain Sweeny. He is immensely wealthy and comes from New York. Ex U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. He also flew the New York-Chicago night run, which is the most dangerous one in the States from the weather point of view - grand type and their squadron should do a lot.
The Fifth Sea Lord was inspecting us the other day and said, "I hear that you have an Australian pilot here that has been over the Norwegian coast sixteen times." My CO said, "excuse me sir, he's and Canadian, and has crossed the coast 29 times."
Nevertheless, from then on I have been christened "Digger Martyn."
My total operational flights over enemy territory now total 29 - aside from fighter work over the fleet in the North Sea and Mediterranean, ten over France and Belgium, and the rest over Norway, all daylight raids. My last trip was over Tromso in the Arctic Circle so that now I have covered every place in Norway from north to south and have the area well wrapped up.
Wish I could wangle a cushy job - in Canada - say staying at best hotels. Royal York in Toronto, etc. behind a mahogany desk recruiting for Fleet Air Arm. "Yes, my good man, you'll probably do." I could do with it.
Love Bill
Said he modestly - I think I am No. 1 man in the FAA for number of operational raids done in this war. (Don't repeat this.)
