Letter to Arthur Hope's Father
Title
Letter to Arthur Hope's Father
Description
The letter advises Arthur's father that his son is missing.
Creator
Date
1943-12-23
Temporal Coverage
Language
Format
One typewritten sheet
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
EMcLeodLAJHopeD431223
Transcription
[Crest]
No. 50 Squadron,
Royal Air Force,
Skellingthorpe.
Lincoln.
23rd, December, 1943.
Reference:- 50S/643/322/P1.
Dear Mr. Hope.
It is with deep regret that I have to confirm the telegram you have already received that your son, Sergeant Arthur Denis Hope, has been reported missing from air operations.
He was the Wireless Operator of a Lancaster aircraft which was detailed to attack FRANKFURT, and, unfortunately. nothing has been heard or seen of this aircraft since take-off. In view of this, it can only be assumed that they got into difficulties whilst over enemy territory. However, they would be flying at a height sufficient to enable them to make use of their parachutes in the event of an emergency, there is a good chance that they may now be prisoners of war. In this event, it will be several weeks before we receive any definite information, which invariably is received via the International Red Cross Committee. Any news will be immediately transmitted to you by the Air Ministry.
Your son displayed outstanding zeal and devotion to duty, and the Squadron can ill-afford to lose his services. It is the sincere hope of his many friends in the Squadron, that good news will soon be forthcoming.
I must ask you to be of stout heart, and to hope for the best at this trying time, and, if I can help you in any way, please do [sic] hesitate to write, and I will endeavour to assist you.
Yours
[signature]
[underlined] Squadron Leader. [/underlined]
(L.A.J. McLeod).
Mr. D. Hope,
2 Barque Street,
Cubitt Town,
[underlined] London, E.14. [/underlined]
No. 50 Squadron,
Royal Air Force,
Skellingthorpe.
Lincoln.
23rd, December, 1943.
Reference:- 50S/643/322/P1.
Dear Mr. Hope.
It is with deep regret that I have to confirm the telegram you have already received that your son, Sergeant Arthur Denis Hope, has been reported missing from air operations.
He was the Wireless Operator of a Lancaster aircraft which was detailed to attack FRANKFURT, and, unfortunately. nothing has been heard or seen of this aircraft since take-off. In view of this, it can only be assumed that they got into difficulties whilst over enemy territory. However, they would be flying at a height sufficient to enable them to make use of their parachutes in the event of an emergency, there is a good chance that they may now be prisoners of war. In this event, it will be several weeks before we receive any definite information, which invariably is received via the International Red Cross Committee. Any news will be immediately transmitted to you by the Air Ministry.
Your son displayed outstanding zeal and devotion to duty, and the Squadron can ill-afford to lose his services. It is the sincere hope of his many friends in the Squadron, that good news will soon be forthcoming.
I must ask you to be of stout heart, and to hope for the best at this trying time, and, if I can help you in any way, please do [sic] hesitate to write, and I will endeavour to assist you.
Yours
[signature]
[underlined] Squadron Leader. [/underlined]
(L.A.J. McLeod).
Mr. D. Hope,
2 Barque Street,
Cubitt Town,
[underlined] London, E.14. [/underlined]
Collection
Citation
L A J McLeod, “Letter to Arthur Hope's Father,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed June 14, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/41581.