Letters of Ronald Henry Etherton, August - October 1943-Part 3 of 11

6. 
I've been leaving it until last 
to thank you for your first two  
letters. You'll never realise how much 
I had been looking forward to getting 
them. And thanks for the perfume 
and kiss. Mine won't show but it'll 
be just under my signature. 
I've lost track of the cards I've sent. Did 
you get one from Winnipeg? I gave it to a kid 
to post Unless your photo is ready in 
the next week or so no.  I guess you'd 
best post it to the same address as on 
the top of this letter by but until 
you get a cable write to IY Depot. 
That is -   Aus 423088 
Sgt Etherton R.H. 
R.A.A.F. 
IY Depot 
Halifax  N.S. 
When you get the cable it'll be 
Aus 423088 
Sgt Etherton R.H. 
R.A.A.F. Base Post Office 
London  England. 
7. 
Then it'll probably be best to write 
by airgraph , unless you want to send 
photos. And I'll number my letters. You 
do the same. This'll be 1. And pack  
that photo well. I don't want anything  
to happen to it. As soon as I can I'll  
be having some taken and will send one.  
I wanted to ask you for have one but  
didn't like to. Did you read my thoughts? 
The wing is well. That's another  
reason why I'm so attached to that old  
uniform. Would you like to fix another  
one for me. I'll tell you just what later. 
I wanted to you keep the Army show  
programme but I had to do it in a  
roundabout way. Didn't I? 
I hope you like Debra. She's a swell  
person but she hasn't a happy  
life at all. She was married to a fellow  
who caused her a lot of grief and whom  
she divorced. She has a little daughter  
who makes up for a lot she's missed  
but just the same she's been deeply hurt. 

8.  
How is your cold? And the toothache? 
Don't be scared of the dentist. Just tell 
him I said not to hurt - or else! My 
cold has disappeared and I'm fit as -- 
Well, I feel fine. 
Sure I like Canada but not fr 
even all the rest put together is as 
equal to Edmonton. As for going back 
to Australia - that's a long way off. But 
when the chance does come I won't be  
going unless you come too because I 
very sincerely meant the verse on the 
cushion cover. Please give my best 
wishes to your mother and father 
and also to Lenoro & Kathy. 
Look after yourslef and stay as  
beautiful as you are - I still think 
you're all part of a dream 
Love 
Ron 
x x x 
x x x

Canadian 
Spirit 
Y.M.C.A. 
Mind 
Body 
  
By Air Mail 
Par Avion 
  
Letter 1 
Miss Jean Ayre 
13007 122 St., 
Edmonton 
Alta 
  
Aug 8th 
on way 
to

Canadian 
Spirit 
Y.M.C.A. 
Mind 
Body 
  
On Active Service 
Aus 423088 
Sgt. Etherton R.H. 
R.A.A.F.  
IY Depot 
Halifax 
10 August '43 
  
Letter 2. 
  
Dear Jean, 
I've been waiting very expectantly but 
haven't received your third letter. I'm not  
complaining but I do hope that there's 
another on it's way. You can't imagine 
how much I'm looking forward to your 
letter. 
We still aren't doing much here -  
an occasional lecture, rifle shoot, various  
tests and trips in the decompression 
chambers to get used to high altitude 
flying with oxygen. To impress the 
necessity for oxygen we did one trip to 
25,000 feet without. Most last about ten 
minutes before passing out. It's really 
comical to watch the antics of some of 
the fellows then. It reminded me of 
you watching the people getting out of 
the street car in the rain that night - 

good fun until it's your turn. Everyone  
has different reactions - some twitch, some 
become very self confident, others pugnacious, 
others very dopey - me for example. As  
the lack of oxygen becomes apparent you 
start to become incapable. You start to  
write the alphabet and finish something 
like this WXYXYXYXYX. Stupid isn't it? 
Still the demonstration is effective. 
Some become blind at great heights 
even with oxygen. Then your flying is  
finished. One of (our) fellows was unlucky 
enough to have that trouble. 
This evening I and another fellow  
went into town for supper and went to  
a show. We had to wait in the café 
and then the show wasn't much "She has  
what it takes" and "North of the Rockies." 
The streets are narrow and crowded. I don't 
feel much like bothering to go in again. 
Would you write to my sister. I'll 
ask her to write you too. I hope I don 
you don't mind if I give her your address. 
Her name is Edna and Miss E.M. Etherton 
93 Regent S 93 Regent St, Kogarah 
N.S.Wales, Australia will find her.

3. 
She's a swell kid. Don't bother about 
knowing something to write about. Just 
reassure her that I'm well and tell 
her all about Edmonton and the good 
time we had together. I'll ask her to 
send you some photo's of where we live 
and of my civilian life. 
It's now nearly 11 p.m. I guess you've  
been in bed quite a while and it's time 
I went. Sweet dreams and all my love 
Ron 
x x x 
x x x 
x x x

Edna Kay Etherton 
Kogarah NSW 
District Barton 
Australia 
Electoral Roll 1949         Clerk

Canadian 
Spirit 
Y.M.C.A. 
Mind 
Body 
  
Airmail 
  
Aus 423088 
Sgt Etherton R.H. 
R.A.A.F Auspost 
Ottawa 
  
Letter 2 
Miss Jean Ayre 
13007 122 St., 
Edmonton 
Alberta 
  
Aug 10th