Letter to Phillip Mathew's Father from 61 Squadron
Title
Letter to Phillip Mathew's Father from 61 Squadron
Description
The letter advises that his son and crew is missing.
Creator
Date
1944-09-25
Spatial Coverage
Language
Format
One typewritten sheet and envelope
Conforms To
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
EOC61SqnRAFMatthewsB440925-0001, EOC61SqnRAFMatthewsB440925-0002
Transcription
[underlined] AIR MINISTRY [/underlined]
If undelivered return to:-
The Officer Commanding,
ROYAL AIR FORCE
SKELLINGTHORPE
[postmark 29 Sep 1944] [Official Paid stamp]
Mr. B. Matthews,
87, Woodland Road,
Northfield,
BIRMINGHAM.
[underlined] 61S/1000/236/P.1. [/underlined]
[page break]
[crest]
No. 61 Squadron,
Royal Air Force,
SKELLINGTHORPE,
Lincoln, Lincs.
Reference: [underlined] 61S/1000/236/P.1. [/underlined]
25th September, 1944.
Dear Mr. Matthews,
It is with the deepest regret that I have to confirm the sad news which you will have received by telegram that your son, Flight Sergeant P. M. Matthews, is reported missing with all his crew from air operations on the night of 23/24th September, 1944.
He was detailed to attack Munster on that night, and after the aircraft left this Station nothing more was heard of it; this in itself is not necessarily final, as wireless silence has to be maintained on operations to prevent the enemy from easily ascertaining the position and intentions of our aircraft. There is therefore, every reasonable hope that he and his crew may have escaped by parachute, as so many others have done, in which case there should be good news of them.
Your son is a highly skilled Wireless Operator and this was his twenty first operational sortie, all the others having been highly successful. We also valued him as a very fine type of N.C.O. His loss is indeed a great blow to the Squadron.
It is desired to explain that the request in the telegram notifying you of the casualty to your son was included with the object of avoiding his chance of escape being prejudiced by undue publicity in case he was still at large. This is not to say that any information about him is available, but is a precaution adopted in the case of all personnel reported missing. Furthermore, for reasons of security it is regretted that the names and addresses of the next-of-kin of the remainder of the crew cannot be given yet, but I know you will understand.
The deep sympathy of all members of this Squadron is with you in this anxious time of waiting, which we earnestly hope, will soon be happily terminated by good news.
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
Wing Commander, Commanding,
[underlined] No. 61 Squadron. [/underlined]
Mr. B. Matthews,
87, Woodland Road,
Northfield,
[underlined] Birmingham. [/underlined]
If undelivered return to:-
The Officer Commanding,
ROYAL AIR FORCE
SKELLINGTHORPE
[postmark 29 Sep 1944] [Official Paid stamp]
Mr. B. Matthews,
87, Woodland Road,
Northfield,
BIRMINGHAM.
[underlined] 61S/1000/236/P.1. [/underlined]
[page break]
[crest]
No. 61 Squadron,
Royal Air Force,
SKELLINGTHORPE,
Lincoln, Lincs.
Reference: [underlined] 61S/1000/236/P.1. [/underlined]
25th September, 1944.
Dear Mr. Matthews,
It is with the deepest regret that I have to confirm the sad news which you will have received by telegram that your son, Flight Sergeant P. M. Matthews, is reported missing with all his crew from air operations on the night of 23/24th September, 1944.
He was detailed to attack Munster on that night, and after the aircraft left this Station nothing more was heard of it; this in itself is not necessarily final, as wireless silence has to be maintained on operations to prevent the enemy from easily ascertaining the position and intentions of our aircraft. There is therefore, every reasonable hope that he and his crew may have escaped by parachute, as so many others have done, in which case there should be good news of them.
Your son is a highly skilled Wireless Operator and this was his twenty first operational sortie, all the others having been highly successful. We also valued him as a very fine type of N.C.O. His loss is indeed a great blow to the Squadron.
It is desired to explain that the request in the telegram notifying you of the casualty to your son was included with the object of avoiding his chance of escape being prejudiced by undue publicity in case he was still at large. This is not to say that any information about him is available, but is a precaution adopted in the case of all personnel reported missing. Furthermore, for reasons of security it is regretted that the names and addresses of the next-of-kin of the remainder of the crew cannot be given yet, but I know you will understand.
The deep sympathy of all members of this Squadron is with you in this anxious time of waiting, which we earnestly hope, will soon be happily terminated by good news.
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
Wing Commander, Commanding,
[underlined] No. 61 Squadron. [/underlined]
Mr. B. Matthews,
87, Woodland Road,
Northfield,
[underlined] Birmingham. [/underlined]
Collection
Citation
61 Squadron, “Letter to Phillip Mathew's Father from 61 Squadron,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed June 14, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/38957.