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A Letter From The Adj
A letter to the squadron written by Flight Lieutenant E. M. ‘Hal’ Tidswell, 609 (WR) Squadron Adjutant from November 1940 – January 1943.
605
county of Warwick Squadron, Royal
Air Force, Ford. 20th
February, 1943. Dear
Squadron Leader and all your Minions, I
can only say in excuse for the lateness of this letter that I was rendered
speechless with surprise and gratification. I am sorry that before I left you on
Thursday I was only able to see a few people to thank for the magnificent watch. As
a souvenir it was unnecessary because I will always remember my association with
609 as the proudest and probably the happiest of my life. I think by now you
must be the highest scoring squadron of the Command; for a long time you have
been far ahead of any other in ratio of gains for losses. There is no doubt at
all that when the history of the past few years is written the West Riding
Squadron will figure most prominently as one of the few crack squadrons that
contributed to the winning of the Battle of Britain and later to the victory
that gained for us air supremacy within striking distance of the shores of
Britain. Then
it will be my boast that for over two years I was a member of the Squadron and
knew the people who made that history. Even now almost daily as I read the news
of your exploits I am tempted to turn my watch face in for all to see that once
I was one of you. Again
thank you all not only for the souvenir but for all your friendship and kindness
to me. May Warwickshire forgive me but the West Riding will always hold the
heart of your most sincere admirer. Halliday Tidswell. |
Copyright © 2002 609 (West Riding)
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