Letter from Ron Dewey to his wife

Letter from Ron Dewey to his wife

The letter to Audrey refers to an operation which resulted in a landing at Exeter before being transported back to Langar. He goes into some detail about other operations before closing with expressions of affection.

Seven handwritten sheets

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EDeweyR[Recipient]A[Date]-010001, EDeweyR[Recipient]A[Date]-010002, EDeweyR[Recipient]A[Date]-010003, EDeweyR[Recipient]A[Date]-010004, EDeweyR[Recipient]A[Date]-010005, EDeweyR[Recipient]A[Date]-010006, EDeweyR[Recipient]A[Date]-010007

[Royal Air Force crest]
1391811 Sgt Dewey
No 2 Aircrew Mess
Waddington
Lincs
Dearest Audrey
No doubt you have been wondering what has happened to me since I phoned you and have probably been saying all manner of things about me I don’t blame you if you have but before condemning me let me tell you briefly of some of the things that have happened & caused the delay. After the Spezia raid (which has quite an interesting story attached to it) we were returning when vibration started in the aircraft On reaching England we landed at Exeter and found that we had lost about 8 ins off one prop. It being a fighter drome we were sent to a Bomber Command rest home to await
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transport to take us back to Langar where we operated from. Another Lanc eventually collected us and took us to Langar getting there at 10.30 at night after interogation [sic] we were free again. Next morning I flew to Wigsley to have yet another interrogation followed by a cross country & bombing flight needed to complete our training. We then waited anxiously for posting and as we thought leave. At last it came to Waddington in No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron This actually is quite an honour as it is the crack squadron of the Group. After a hectic period of packing, getting forms signed etc, seeing the CO and other personalities we eventually got on our way to Waddington.
Arriving, again the seeing of people (including W/Cmdr Nettleton V.C. CO of the Squadron) we found billets and went on a look see round the camp. The next shock was to find that we were on a cross country that
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night. Next day we told that were to be on a raid that night!!! We were briefed etc, even had ops supper (egg & bacon) when it was postponed until the next night. We were now more or less confined to camp though that entails no hardship on this camp as one has everthing [sic] that one needs in the camp.
The next night we went to Stettin and met Germany for the first time. Not too bad. Next came Duisburg, where we met flak in really large quantities.
On returning from Duisburg we were given some sleep and next day we were briefed for a special part in a special operation which we were to undertake as soon as possible. I can’t
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tell you much about this except that the Commander in Chief of Bomber Command came down to the briefing and wished us luck. So we waited for the weather only one thing of any note occurred Sir Archibald Sinclair came down to the station and had a look see, we had to show him our kites. Well to cut a long story short I am at this moment sitting in the lounge having had supper and am waiting to go out to the kite, three hours from now I shall be over Germany.
Cont: Next day. Well I am back after a very succesfull [sic] trip to Dusseldorf. We have been more or less officially credited with a big success. On reaching the target we found it burning well and covered with a thick pall of smoke. Bombing through this (by means I cant explain) we felt the bombs go
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Then I saw our cookie burst, then there was a terrific glare through the smoke and a huge column of smoke shot up through the other smoke to thousands of feet. This has been confirmed by at least five crews so we seem to have done a bit of good. This raid was quite hot too, and it too has a story which I will tell you when I get home.
I am afraid I must have given you a bit of worry as to what was happening to me, but I think you must admit that in this job, the job has to come first, especially as we have been given the assurance that if our plans succeed we shall win the war [underlined] this [/underlined] year.
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Well my love I dont quite know when I shall be getting leave but I think there is every likelyhood [sic] of it being soon. I shall be very pleased to get home again soon I can assure you, I shall certainly have been around a bit since I last saw you.
How is Nellie getting along now it seems ages since she last said “Come on Ron, look at that time.” Give her my love and tell her I hope to see [deleted] you [/deleted] her soon.
Well darling I must close now and try and catch the village post please excuse the last part of the letter if it’s a bit mixed, as I am rather tired, I got to bed at 9.30 this morning and have just got up. Cheerio for the present my
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darling, I [underlined] will [/underlined] write again as soon as possible but make no rash promises. Until we meet again in person, all my love dear and lots of kisses from your everloving sweetheart
Ron
Give Nellie my love and all at 10, 88 & 74.