“Yes, that’s the man. A pilot with plenty of experience and the habit of being lucky.”
“Why, sir, I was with him in France for a year. He’ll do it, and there’s nobody would like to help him more than me. Is he here? Could I see him?”
“No, but if you want to write him, here’s his address. He hasn’t come East yet.”
So in the Skipper’s mail one morning a few days later was a letter from Billings:
“Capt. Malcolm McBride, D.F.C.,
Dear Sir:
I take my pen in hand to tell you that this is your old Sergeant Billings of No. 206 Squadron. You will remember me from the old days in France, especially the time you took me up for a ride and threw the old Bristol fighter about until I lost my false teeth, and had to get leave to go back to London to get a new set fitted.
I am working now for the company that is building your engine, and you can rest assured that I will watch it, Captain, until it is ready for delivery. What I was wondering was, wouldn’t you be needing some one to look after it until your hop-off? I would like nothing better than that job. I think I could get a leave to help you if you would write to Mr. Block.
Hoping this finds you “in the pink” as it leaves me,
Yours respectfully,