No. 3 Wing
Jan 24.17

My Dear Sister

I do wish you could see the machines lined up before a raid. It's a wonderful sight. Just imagine if you can five or six dozen machines lined up along a big field with their noses into the wind & at a given time, take off one after the other. No outsiders ever see this & what a crowd it would attract in New York. Then they return in flocks, sometimes one at a time & in two & threes, flash up, circle & land. Then again, who's not back? What happened to your flight etc. It's a great game, but?

You are all strung up for awhile after & suffer from a bad headache from the exhaust gasses of the engine. Believe me the old drone sheds look awfully good on the way back.

I don't know what happened to the mails, that is, the parcel mail as I have not received any Xmas mail at all.

We are in for a hot time here, in the near future as I believe the Huns are sending down three or four extra squadrons to make a big attempt to wipe us out. Up until now, we have had things pretty well our own way in the air. Only the Guns to look out for. One thing - you can't be shelled & have Huns after you at the same time so that's something.

About an inch of snow here & quite cold & this is sunny France.

Lots of Love

Pete