July 4: 1 wonder if your gift of payehle told you what was happening, between the hows of 6 and 6.15 this afternoon, as it has about other great days in my life. For today. one of the greatest ambitions of my life has been fulfilled. I was involved in_an air battle with the enemy for the frst time in my life.
It seems that Providence went out Father Pahon led us into the beautiful green cemetery, Tony being carried by six officers of the squadron. All' the members of the squadron' who are here attended under the Squadron Leader. the! Commanding Officer, and representa~ tives from. the Air Officer Com: manding - In Chief, Headquarters Royal Air Force, the Oflcer Commanding the Fighter Wing in person, and representatives from the Squadrons inthe Area. Mrs. Somerville and the Jadies of the Squadron, Lady Petrie and several. civilian friends showed how well he was liked by being present on a very hot and trying day.
There were a number of wreaths the white cross from you. was carried by am airman of the squad-of its way lo fill my cup of Joy, for was the type of engagement that every fighter dreams about and tongs for, but very seldom ets these days fighter v. fighter' ina dog. tight sprend. allover' the sky—each man for himself. At about 6 o'clock this evening T led five of our fighters into fection ayainst nine Italian fighters over their own aerodrome in Libya Fon, "Tony lies at the side of a hedge right close, to the Cross of Remembranee, it is a quiet and pretty part of the cemetery When I was told that a crashed fighter aircraft had been located {rom he air, I went off at once and landed beside it and found Tony lying his side, He had been most obvious:
=the whole thing only lasted about six minutes—though it seemed like batan-hour, We. shot down the Deceived By Clouds whole nine, 1 having the luck to Account for four of them. Our chaps put up a wonderful show and had no losses, though one pilot had to. uso his parachute on the way Home because his aircraft was Tony's Flight was proceeding to its war station inthe Western Desert and when some fifteen miles North of T write this by the tight of a candle stuck in a bottle on our landing round a few miles from the Front. Tt'is a. glorious starlit' night and Joking back the whole thing looks Wke-an unreal dream. When it was all over, ooking down and seeing, six smoking piles on the ground, and the relief on counting the remaining alreratt and all our boys were safe. Do you remember that film "The Dawn Patrol""—the atmosphere just the same though more #0, and to add to the drama as we were sitting round) our mess. tent this evening, an Iatian pilot was brought in who had been shot down this morning.
Made to Feel at Home The poor fellow was deathly white and had obviously resigned himself anything. We immediately. tried fo make him feel at home and gave him a drink, a cigarette and. some food, which he wolfed, He could not apeaie English and on my asking in French, found, he, could speak Spanish, having served in the war, 80 T interpreted between him and the Days, He might have stepped out of Chelsea with his pointed Balbo beard, dirty silk shirt, shoddy trousers, no stockings and Sandals. 1 walked 10 his tent with him to see if he was quite comfortable and yave him a packet of cigarettes, Mis " gratitude was pathetic. T should think most of these Italians didn't want (0 it all, T must close now, as 1 im sending this by a chap who carly 1 do hope this news gets to you soon Knowing how you wait for" it All the time, and that any success of hniine means "0 much 1 you. You we both thi this you know how 1 a riy' life fur something. like nel now that it has happened, 1 eat ally believe ful for" the Ick
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.