Letter to Leading aircraftwoman Hayhurst from Flying Officer EJ Detheridge

Letter to Leading aircraftwoman Hayhurst from Flying Officer EJ Detheridge

He writes that Johnnie is missing but hopes that he may be safe, likely as a prisoner of war.
A handwritten annotation states 'Died in crash'.

1944-07-29

One typewritten sheet

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E49SqnRAFHayhurstJM440729

No. 49 Squadron,
Royal Air Force,
Fiskerton,
[underlined] Lincoln. [/underlined]

49S/C.401/314/P1.

29th July, 1944.

Dear Lacw Hayhurst,

I thank you for your letter of 24th July.

I am very sorry to inform you that [inserted] * [/inserted] Sgt. Holden was reported missing as a result of air operations on the night of 9th June last.

He was flying in an aircraft which set out that night to attack a target at Etamps [sic], and since taking off no news has been heard of him or his crew. He is therefore reported missing, but we are still hoping to have news that he and his crew are safe, though this will probably mean they are prisoners of war.

I regret that there is no more information I can give you at the moment.

[inserted] * Died in crash. [/inserted]

Yours faithfully

E.J. Detheridge

Flying Officer, Adjutant,
[underlined] No. 49 Squadron. [/underlined]

2073102 LACW. Hayhurst,
R.A.F. The Roughs,
West Hythe,
[underlined] Kent. [/underlined]