To Isabel Bain from Commanding Officer no. 75 Squadron
Title
To Isabel Bain from Commanding Officer no. 75 Squadron
Description
From Andrew's squadron commander expressing his sympathy at her loss. Andrew was popular for his 'cheerfulness, willingness and quiet confidence' and was a skilful air-bomber. He was on his 11th operation from the base.
Creator
Date
1943-08-24
Temporal Coverage
Language
Format
One page typewritten 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
EOC75SqnBainID430824
Transcription
NO. 75 (NZ) Squadron,
R.A.F. Station,
MEPAL,
Near Ely, Cambs.,
Ref:- 75 NZ / 089/CAS. August 24th. 1943.
Dear Mrs. Bain,
I find it a grievous task indeed for me to write a letter such as this. During your husband’s stay with my Squadron, which proved all too short, he had become extremely popular amongst all ranks for his cheerfulness, willingness and quiet confidence. He had amply proved himself to be a most skilful air-bomber, one whom the Squadron and the Service can ill afford to lose.
On this fateful eleventh operational flight, the crew of which he was a member were detailed to attack a strongly defended target situated deep into German territory, but after the aircraft left base no further signal was received from it. Knowing however, the efficiency of this crew, who worked well together as a team, and that their Captain was an extremely skilful and prudent pilot who did not take unnecessary risks, I feel we may yet learn during the course of the next few weeks that they are all safe and well as prisoners of war. Any news which comes through will be forwarded to you without delay.
In the meantime, all your husband’s personal effects have been carefully listed, packed and despatched to the Central Committee of Adjustment, Colnbrook, Slough. They will be forwarded to you from there after certain formalities have been completed.
The whole of my Squadron joins with me in expression of deepest sympathy to you, during this time of sorrow and anxious waiting. We pray with you for his safety and well being.
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
Wing Commander, Commanding,
[underlined] NO. 75 (NZ) Squadron, R.A.F. [/underlined]
Mrs.I.D.Bain,
25, Beaufort Gdns.,
Bishopbriggs,
[underlined] Glasgow, Scotland. [/underlined]
R.A.F. Station,
MEPAL,
Near Ely, Cambs.,
Ref:- 75 NZ / 089/CAS. August 24th. 1943.
Dear Mrs. Bain,
I find it a grievous task indeed for me to write a letter such as this. During your husband’s stay with my Squadron, which proved all too short, he had become extremely popular amongst all ranks for his cheerfulness, willingness and quiet confidence. He had amply proved himself to be a most skilful air-bomber, one whom the Squadron and the Service can ill afford to lose.
On this fateful eleventh operational flight, the crew of which he was a member were detailed to attack a strongly defended target situated deep into German territory, but after the aircraft left base no further signal was received from it. Knowing however, the efficiency of this crew, who worked well together as a team, and that their Captain was an extremely skilful and prudent pilot who did not take unnecessary risks, I feel we may yet learn during the course of the next few weeks that they are all safe and well as prisoners of war. Any news which comes through will be forwarded to you without delay.
In the meantime, all your husband’s personal effects have been carefully listed, packed and despatched to the Central Committee of Adjustment, Colnbrook, Slough. They will be forwarded to you from there after certain formalities have been completed.
The whole of my Squadron joins with me in expression of deepest sympathy to you, during this time of sorrow and anxious waiting. We pray with you for his safety and well being.
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
Wing Commander, Commanding,
[underlined] NO. 75 (NZ) Squadron, R.A.F. [/underlined]
Mrs.I.D.Bain,
25, Beaufort Gdns.,
Bishopbriggs,
[underlined] Glasgow, Scotland. [/underlined]
Collection
Citation
OC 75(NZ) Squadron, “To Isabel Bain from Commanding Officer no. 75 Squadron,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 24, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/16644.
Item Relations
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