The Crew of Halifax NP 934

The Crew of Halifax NP 934

A section with a header page, seven photographs and two letters.
The first page is the header which states 'The Crew'.
Photo 1 is a head and shoulders portrait of Hugh Jones, captioned 'Hugh Brenton Jones - Air Gunner'.
Photo 2 is a head and shoulder portrait, captioned 'Bernard Twilley - pilot'.
Photo 3 is a head and shoulders portrait of Harold Hildebrand, mid upper gunner.
Photo 4 is a head and shoulders portrait of Roy Hitchen - flight engineer.
Photo 5 is a head and shoulders portrait of Carl Cassini, bomb aimer.
Photo 6 is a head and shoulders portrait of Edgar Baron, 2nd pilot.
Photo 7 is a half length portrait of Richard Holden, navigator.
Letter 1 is from Mrs Baron (mother of the 2nd pilot) to Hugh Jones mother, after the war. She encloses the photos of the cemetery at Leopoldburg and the temporary graves at Les Fosses.
Letter 2 is a letter to Carl Cassini's parents to be delivered in the event of his death.

Seven b/w photographs and two copies of letters

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SJonesHB1866363v10012, SJonesHB1866363v10013, SJonesHB1866363v10014, SJonesHB1866363v10016, SJonesHB1866363v10017, SJonesHB1866363v10018, SJonesHB1866363v10020, SJonesHB1866363v10021, SJonesHB1866363v10023, SJonesHB1866363v10024

THE CREW
[page break]
[black and white photograph of a graveyard]
Leopoldsburg
[black and white photograph of the grave of Flight Sergeant Jones]
[inserted] Les Fosses? [/inserted]
[black and white photograph of three middle aged women standing in a graveyard]
18 The Fairway
Bromley
Kent
Dear Mrs Jones
Thank you for your nice letter. I am Enclosing the Snaps as promised they have come out much better than I expected, as My Daughter does not know much about taking them and I know nothing anyhow I think It was a very good effort on her Part and I hope you like them. to Finish up the Spool Mrs [indecipherable name] & Hall and myself was taken Mrs [indecipherable name] is the one without her Hat.
I am In the [inserted] 2 [/inserted] Middle, Mrs Hall the other side I am sending you one to give you an idea How the Graves are [indecipherable word] done, they Realy [sic] do look nice. Yes, I am of the same opinion as you, about the Air Ministry. I had no idea, when I wrote them, that the visiting of the War Graves was done, by the best of People they sent to me. I think it is their Duty, to undertake to look after and take the People of the Grand Boys who gave their lives for the Country, but it seems as if they would rather help the poor Germans, and all the Brave things our Boys did, are a thing of the Past. It is only us who Loved them So much and miss them [inserted] 3 [/inserted] that always have them in our Hearts.
Well Mrs Jones I hope these wont make you Sad, I only want them to bring a little Comfort to you. I hope you all have a nice [indecipherable word] Holiday. Fine weather and Feel better for the change
I must now Say
Good Night God Bless
Yours Sincerely
E M Baron
PS
Please Excuse [indecipherable word] as I have such a lot of letters to get off.
[inserted] letter written to Mother after the war.
From Mrs Baron, mother of co-pilot. [/inserted]
[page break]
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Hugh Brenton Jones in uniform]
HUGH BRENTON JONES – AIR GUNNER
[page break]
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Bernard Twilley in uniform]
Bernard Twilley - pilot
[page break]
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Harold Hildebrand in uniform]
Harold Hildebrand – mid upper gunner
[page break]
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Roy Hitchen in uniform]
ROY HITCHEN – FLIGHT ENGINEER
[page break]
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Carl Cassini in uniform]
Carl Cassini – Bomb Aimer
[page break]
In a tender and courageous letter to his parents, written on Sept. 15, 1944, Carl provided an extraordinary insight into what the uncertainty of war was like for a young man.
I would like to share with you his letter, word for word:
F/O Cassini, C.W.
Officers’ Mess
RAF Station
Snaith, Nr. Goole
Yorks.
Darling Mum and Dad,
I have decided to write this letter – which you will receive in the event of my being posted missing or killed on operations over enemy territory.
I must start off by saying, quite definitely, that I am not afraid to die. Like everyone else, I think I feel scared when over the target but the excitement at that time usually nullifies the effect of fear.
[inserted] LETTER WRITTEN BY CARL CASSINI JUST BEFORE HE DIED [/inserted]
[page break]
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Edgar Baron in uniform]
EDGAR BARON – 2ND PILOT
[page break]
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Richard Holden in uniform]
RICHARD HOLDEN – NAVIGATOR