A Story of War

Still going strong, and I get a touch of malaria yesterday. I do not disclose it as that would mean another three weeks here and I should lose my acting squadron leader position – so I just take ten grains of quinine. Here let me record that on returning from the Arakan I made it pretty plain that I thought 100 sorties was pretty good, though only 160 operational hours with it, and I think Tom Pierce put me up for a D.F.C., but that was four months ago now, so I shan’t get it. That’s the second time of being put up.

There is an American pilot I meet here at meals occasionally and he gives me the correct figures for their pay:

2nd Lt – $150 basic pay plus $75 flying pay
1st Lt – $166 + $83
Captain – $200 + $100
Major – $250 + $125
Lt Col – $275 + $135.50

Also 10% extra for serving overseas, and 5% extra for every three years service. $1 = Rs3, 4 annas.