Letter from Squadron Leader W. C. Ollason to Mr Gadd

Letter from Squadron Leader W. C. Ollason to Mr Gadd

A letter of condolence from the captain of Sergeant George Edward Gadd's crew to his father, Mr G Gadd. It describes the circumstances of Sergeant Gadd's death in action and tells how much he was liked and respected. It goes on to say that the crew will continue the struggle with renewed effort and with a sense of a personal score to settle.
It is signed by Squadron Leader W. C. Ollason.

1943-04-06

Three handwritten sheets

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EOllasonWCGaddG430406-0001, EOllasonWCGaddG430406-0002, EOllasonWCGaddG430406-0003

R.A.F. Station
Holme-on-Spalding Moor
Yorks.
6.4.43
Dear Mr Gadd,
I was the captain of the aircraft in which your dear son and our sadly missed and very trusted colleague, George Gadd met his untimely end in action on Saturday night and I would like to offer to you my sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this very sad time of bereavement. Having completed our mission successfully and started on our homeward journey the aircraft received a direct hit from a high explosive A/A shell and was severely damaged, various services being put out of action. The flak engagement continued thereafter for about seven minutes and as soon as contact had been again
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established between crew members, those who could leave their posts at once went to the aid of the gunners from whom I could get no reply. I was greatly distressed to learn that your son was dead when found and removed from his turret, and the other gunner seriously injured. My navigator considered that your dear son had died instantaneously and had not suffered atall [sic] and this was confirmed by the medical authorities, as soon as we had landed at our base.
I have been captain of this crew since last December and although naturally enough we had found ourselves in tight corners on numerous occasions we always got out unscathed and George’s cool courage under difficulty was an example to all and his cheerful disposition was infectious throughout the crew [sic]
In the Squadron among other gunners he was considered a first class gunner in fact one of the best, and his loss is felt acutely, as everyone had nothing but the highest praise for his outstanding ability. We fellow crew members asked no more that he would continue to fly in our crew, as we all felt that he would always give a very good account of himself in any situation no matter what the odds against him was [sic]. We will all miss his cheerful disposition which was always most outstanding in the most difficult situation [sic]
We who remain all felt [sic] very sad and dejected but our spirit is unbroken and we will soon take up the struggle again, as Im [sic] sure George would wish, and will put new effort into it to settle up what we feel now is a personal score.
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I hope it will be some small comfort to know that George did not suffer and was a man of unflinching courage who died at his post in action, which if we must pay the supreme sacrifice is all that we air crew ask.
May God grant that he will find peace at last and may He give you comfort and guidance in this, your saddest hour of bereavement [sic]
Allow me to remain in sympathy
Yours very sincerely
[signature]
(S/LDR. W.C. OLLASON).