Letter to Leonard Cheshire from G W Whittaker

Letter to Leonard Cheshire from G W Whittaker

From Air Ministry discussing Cheshire's 'Eastern Tour'. and subjects for possible lectures.

1947-02

Two page typewritten letter

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SCheshireGL72021v10081

A.890158/46/E.S.3.

AIR MINISTRY
Alexandra House
KINGSWAY, W.C.2

February 1947

Dear Group Captain Cheshire,

I am very glad to hear you are fit again and will be able to set out on the Eastern tour on April 5th.

There are two points I would like your help in at this stage – (1) itinerary (2) subjects.

1. I see that you suggest we should arrange the timing of the itinerary. Does this mean that you would let the Ops. People plan an outward and homeward itinerary; or would you, as before, refer to visit Units only on the outward route and have a clear run back. It is quite possible of course that some of the places which we were keen on your going to last December, may now be closed, or others added. Our own Director has been visiting Units in the Far East and in India and before the route is finally fixed, it would be useful to add his suggestions. He should be home by mid March which should be in time to make small modifications.

2. [underlined] Subjects for lectures. [/underlined] Your original titles as supplied by the C.A.C. were –
“Problems of Resettlement”
2Post-war Problems of the ex-Serviceman”
“The Atom Bomb”
Do these still stand? I was not quite clear from the meeting at your flat (where we concentrated on the itinerary and dates)

Group Captain Cheshire, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.
/whether

[page break]

Whether you had any special lines of approach you would like indicated in the titles. From the point of view of the Commands concerning attractive titles (for the ordinary lecturer that is) mean a lot. Your name will supply this need in itself. From our angle we like an educational flavour in the subject as the C.A.C. lecturers go out under the aegis of this Directorate. It occurred to me that you might like a change to change or add to your list of entries as three months in these days can make a difference.

I hope to see you before you go. Your suggestion of a meeting for final plans seems worth sticking to, and I know the Director himself would like to have a word with you as he does with all the lecturers who go out.

Yours sincerely
G W Whittaker

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