Letter from Royal Air Force Graveley to Mrs. Wells
Title
Letter from Royal Air Force Graveley to Mrs. Wells
Description
A typed letter from Wing Commander S. P. Daniels of Royal Air Force Graveley, to Mrs H. Wells, formally notifying her that her son Sergeant R. H. Wells, as a Tail Gunner, is missing as a result of air operations on 2/3 December 1943 to attack Berlin, with no specific reason given for his failure to return.
The second page details the handling of Wells' personal effects and notes that a flying brevet was enclosed with the letter, though this is not present with the letter.
The third page lists the names, addresses and next-of-kin details of the other six crew members.
The second page details the handling of Wells' personal effects and notes that a flying brevet was enclosed with the letter, though this is not present with the letter.
The third page lists the names, addresses and next-of-kin details of the other six crew members.
Date
1943-12-05
Spatial Coverage
Language
Format
Two page typed letter
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
EDanielsSPWellsH431205-0001; EDanielsSPWellsH431205-0002; EDanielsSPWellsH431205-0003
Transcription
Royal Air Force,
Graveley,
Hunts.
Ref: 35S/C.68/128/P.1. 5th December, 1943.
Dear Mrs. Wells,
It is with profound regret that I find it my unhappy task to confirm the telegram you will have received informing you that your Son is missing from air operations.
As Tail Gunner of his aircraft he took off at 17.08 hours on the night of 2nd December, 1943 to attack Berlin and nothing further was heard from them so it is impossible for me to give the reason for their failure to return, but I do assure you that any information received will be passed to you immediately. The usual source of news is the International Red Cross who advise Air Ministry, they in turn sending you a telegram. In other cases where the aircrew concerned is a prisoner of war in enemy hands, frequently a letter is received direct by the Next-of-Kin prior to this telegram.
Your Son has been doing exceptionally well and he and his crew had proved themselves to be one of the most efficient and reliable in the Squadron and it will not be easy to replace them.
There are however, always a proportion of missing crews who escape by parachute or make a forced landing, and I, the Squadron as a whole and your Son's brother aircrew share your impatience for the good news that he is safe though a prisoner of war. Meanwhile we wish you to know that you have our deepest sympathy in this period of anxiety.
Attached to this letter are the names and addresses of the Next-of-Kin of the other members of the crew so that you may communicate with them should you wish to do so.
P.T.O.
[page break]
Your Son's kit and private effects are now being attended to by the Effects Officer, R.A.F. Station, Graveley. It is the regulation that they are forwarded to a Standing Committee of Adjustment, R.A.F. Central Depository, Colnbrook, Bucks., who will communicate with you in due course submitting the inventories of personal effects. I am however, enclosing his brevet as I feel sure you will like to keep this for him.
One further point, I would ask you to be discreet concerning the information in this letter which might be of value to the enemy.
If there are any points not covered by this letter, please do not hesitate to ask assistance from myself or my staff.
Yours sincerely,
(S. P. DANIELS.)
Wing Commander,
Royal Air Force,
[underlined] Graveley, Hunts. [/underlined]
Mrs. H. Wells,
115, Ashdon Road,
Saffron-Walden,
[underlined] Essex. [/underlined]
[page break]
Next-of-Kin List
R124667 F/Sgt. Stinson, H.V. — Captain.
Mother: Mrs. O.W. Stinson, Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.
1319108 Sgt. Day, M.J. — Air Bomber.
Father: Mr. A. Day, 37, Ramsbury Rd., St. Albans, Herts.
1470442 Sgt. Richardson, D.A. — Navigator.
Father: Mr. E.A. Richardson, 74, Stretten Ave., Cambridge.
1151764 F/Sgt. Allso, G.W. — Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.
Mother: Mrs. W. Allso, 44, Market Street, Lutterworth, Nr. Rugby.
R100251 F/Sgt. McCubbin, F.C. — Mid. Gunner.
Father: Mr. H.C. McCubbin, 424, Empire Avenue, Fort William, Ontario, Canada.
1318974 Sgt. Wells, R.H. — Tail Gunner.
Mother: Mrs. H. Wells, 115, Ashdon Road, Saffron-Walden, Essex.
Fiancée: Miss D. Watson, 104, Lawn Avenue, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
100588 Sgt. Merrill, G. — Flight Engineer.
Wife: Mrs. M. Merrill, 11, Moss Street, Springfield, Wigan, Lancs.
Father: Mr. W. Merrill, 28, First Avenue, Wigan, Lancs.
Graveley,
Hunts.
Ref: 35S/C.68/128/P.1. 5th December, 1943.
Dear Mrs. Wells,
It is with profound regret that I find it my unhappy task to confirm the telegram you will have received informing you that your Son is missing from air operations.
As Tail Gunner of his aircraft he took off at 17.08 hours on the night of 2nd December, 1943 to attack Berlin and nothing further was heard from them so it is impossible for me to give the reason for their failure to return, but I do assure you that any information received will be passed to you immediately. The usual source of news is the International Red Cross who advise Air Ministry, they in turn sending you a telegram. In other cases where the aircrew concerned is a prisoner of war in enemy hands, frequently a letter is received direct by the Next-of-Kin prior to this telegram.
Your Son has been doing exceptionally well and he and his crew had proved themselves to be one of the most efficient and reliable in the Squadron and it will not be easy to replace them.
There are however, always a proportion of missing crews who escape by parachute or make a forced landing, and I, the Squadron as a whole and your Son's brother aircrew share your impatience for the good news that he is safe though a prisoner of war. Meanwhile we wish you to know that you have our deepest sympathy in this period of anxiety.
Attached to this letter are the names and addresses of the Next-of-Kin of the other members of the crew so that you may communicate with them should you wish to do so.
P.T.O.
[page break]
Your Son's kit and private effects are now being attended to by the Effects Officer, R.A.F. Station, Graveley. It is the regulation that they are forwarded to a Standing Committee of Adjustment, R.A.F. Central Depository, Colnbrook, Bucks., who will communicate with you in due course submitting the inventories of personal effects. I am however, enclosing his brevet as I feel sure you will like to keep this for him.
One further point, I would ask you to be discreet concerning the information in this letter which might be of value to the enemy.
If there are any points not covered by this letter, please do not hesitate to ask assistance from myself or my staff.
Yours sincerely,
(S. P. DANIELS.)
Wing Commander,
Royal Air Force,
[underlined] Graveley, Hunts. [/underlined]
Mrs. H. Wells,
115, Ashdon Road,
Saffron-Walden,
[underlined] Essex. [/underlined]
[page break]
Next-of-Kin List
R124667 F/Sgt. Stinson, H.V. — Captain.
Mother: Mrs. O.W. Stinson, Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.
1319108 Sgt. Day, M.J. — Air Bomber.
Father: Mr. A. Day, 37, Ramsbury Rd., St. Albans, Herts.
1470442 Sgt. Richardson, D.A. — Navigator.
Father: Mr. E.A. Richardson, 74, Stretten Ave., Cambridge.
1151764 F/Sgt. Allso, G.W. — Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.
Mother: Mrs. W. Allso, 44, Market Street, Lutterworth, Nr. Rugby.
R100251 F/Sgt. McCubbin, F.C. — Mid. Gunner.
Father: Mr. H.C. McCubbin, 424, Empire Avenue, Fort William, Ontario, Canada.
1318974 Sgt. Wells, R.H. — Tail Gunner.
Mother: Mrs. H. Wells, 115, Ashdon Road, Saffron-Walden, Essex.
Fiancée: Miss D. Watson, 104, Lawn Avenue, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
100588 Sgt. Merrill, G. — Flight Engineer.
Wife: Mrs. M. Merrill, 11, Moss Street, Springfield, Wigan, Lancs.
Father: Mr. W. Merrill, 28, First Avenue, Wigan, Lancs.
Collection
Citation
Royal Air Force Graveley and S.P. Daniels, “Letter from Royal Air Force Graveley to Mrs. Wells,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed September 5, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/61254.