Letter from 408 Squadron to John Taplin's Parents
Title
Letter from 408 Squadron to John Taplin's Parents
Description
The letter confirms that John is missing during an operation over Hamburg. The circumstances are not known.
Creator
Date
1943-02-04
Language
Format
One double sided 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
STaplinJA1268696v10024-0001, STaplinJA1268696v10024-0002
Transcription
IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
FILE No. 408/C.702/46/P1.
[RCAF crest]
ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE
OVERSEAS
[underlined] No. 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron. [/underlined]
4th February, 1943.
Dear Mr & Mrs Taplin :-
By the time you receive this letter, you will no doubt have been informed by signal that your son, 1268696 Sergeant John Albert TAPLIN, was reported missing as a result of air operations on the night of 3rd-4th February, 1943.
At approximately 6.00 p.m. on the night of the 3rd instant, “Johnny” (as he was known to the boys) and members of his crew took off from this aerodrome to carry out operations over Hamburg, Germany, but, unfortunately, failed to return. He and his crew were due back at this aerodrome at approximately 1 a.m. the next morning, but no news has been received from either the crew or the aircraft since the time of take-off.
It is with regret that I have to write to you this date to convey to you the feelings of the entire Squadron. The loss of your son and other members of his crew is greatly felt by everyone in my Squadron. He was very popular with the boys especially in the Sergeants' Mess where he was looked upon as “a good fellow.”
Exactly what happened on Wednesday night is unknown, but it is my sincere hope that “Johnny” and the other members of his crew will be fortunate enough to be made prisoners of war and reported alive and well. To be a prisoner of war is not the happiest thought in one’s mind, particularly for you who was fond of your son, but, on the other hand, I hope you will bear with me that it carries a certain gratifying thought in knowing that our loved ones are alive and well and will, some day, return home safely.
This War has caused grief to millions of people all over the world, and, it is a sorrowful state to know that so many fine young men must make great sacrifices in order to crush and erase from the face of the earth, an infuriated enemy whose jealousy and hatred of our spirit and strength will eventually crush him and the members of his clique.
[underlined] P.T.O. [/underlined]
[page break]
-2-
I do not wish to grieve you further in your deep sorrow, but trust that you will bear with us until such a time as definite information is received one way or the other concerning the welfare of your son.
“Johnny’s” personal belongings will be forwarded to the Officer Commanding, Central Depository, Colnbrook, Slough, Bucks., and that Officer will communicate with you in the very near future. Should there be any further information you require or anything in my power that I could do for you, I will only be too pleased to comply with your wishes.
May I offer my most sincere sympathies as well as those of my Officers and men in your anxiety.
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
Wing Commander Commanding,
[underlined] No. 408 (RCAF) Squadron, LEEMING. [/underlined]
Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Taplin,
12 Whitesmead Road,
Stevenage, Herts.
FILE No. 408/C.702/46/P1.
[RCAF crest]
ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE
OVERSEAS
[underlined] No. 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron. [/underlined]
4th February, 1943.
Dear Mr & Mrs Taplin :-
By the time you receive this letter, you will no doubt have been informed by signal that your son, 1268696 Sergeant John Albert TAPLIN, was reported missing as a result of air operations on the night of 3rd-4th February, 1943.
At approximately 6.00 p.m. on the night of the 3rd instant, “Johnny” (as he was known to the boys) and members of his crew took off from this aerodrome to carry out operations over Hamburg, Germany, but, unfortunately, failed to return. He and his crew were due back at this aerodrome at approximately 1 a.m. the next morning, but no news has been received from either the crew or the aircraft since the time of take-off.
It is with regret that I have to write to you this date to convey to you the feelings of the entire Squadron. The loss of your son and other members of his crew is greatly felt by everyone in my Squadron. He was very popular with the boys especially in the Sergeants' Mess where he was looked upon as “a good fellow.”
Exactly what happened on Wednesday night is unknown, but it is my sincere hope that “Johnny” and the other members of his crew will be fortunate enough to be made prisoners of war and reported alive and well. To be a prisoner of war is not the happiest thought in one’s mind, particularly for you who was fond of your son, but, on the other hand, I hope you will bear with me that it carries a certain gratifying thought in knowing that our loved ones are alive and well and will, some day, return home safely.
This War has caused grief to millions of people all over the world, and, it is a sorrowful state to know that so many fine young men must make great sacrifices in order to crush and erase from the face of the earth, an infuriated enemy whose jealousy and hatred of our spirit and strength will eventually crush him and the members of his clique.
[underlined] P.T.O. [/underlined]
[page break]
-2-
I do not wish to grieve you further in your deep sorrow, but trust that you will bear with us until such a time as definite information is received one way or the other concerning the welfare of your son.
“Johnny’s” personal belongings will be forwarded to the Officer Commanding, Central Depository, Colnbrook, Slough, Bucks., and that Officer will communicate with you in the very near future. Should there be any further information you require or anything in my power that I could do for you, I will only be too pleased to comply with your wishes.
May I offer my most sincere sympathies as well as those of my Officers and men in your anxiety.
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
Wing Commander Commanding,
[underlined] No. 408 (RCAF) Squadron, LEEMING. [/underlined]
Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Taplin,
12 Whitesmead Road,
Stevenage, Herts.
Collection
Citation
408 Squadron, “Letter from 408 Squadron to John Taplin's Parents,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed May 20, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/44319.