Letter to James Foulsham's Father

Letter to James Foulsham's Father

The letter has details on James' last flight.

1944

Two typewritten sheets

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[inserted] Please return this letter home [symbol] [/inserted]

No. 109 Squadron,
Royal Air Force,
Little Staughton,
Nr. St. Neot’s
Huntingdonshire.

109S/353/47/P.1.

Mr. Foulsham,
2, Poulters Lane,
Worthing, Sussex.

Dear Mr Foulsham,

I am writing to you to give you some of the details of the loss of your Son Squadron Leader James Foulsham as a result of air operations on Thursday 20th. July.

He took off at 1425 hours with a formation of Lancasters to bomb a special target in France. Owing to the high degree of accuracy required for the particular operation your Son was piloting the special Lancaster at the head of the formation.

From the reports of the other members on the operation, the formation was subjected to very accurate anti-aircraft fire approximately 2 minutes before reaching the target.

The leading aircraft received a direct hit and three other aircraft in the formation were badly damaged. Although your Son’s aircraft was very badly damaged and on fire he carried on with his bombing run in an endeavour to attack his target at all costs.

Unfortunately the aircraft had to leave the formation just before the target was reached, turned towards the coast and was eventually reported to have hit the ground some ten miles from the French coast.

I regret to say that only one parachute was seen to leave the aircraft, but as observation was extremely difficult under the circumstances more of the crew may have got out.

Your Son Wing Commander Foulsham visited me yesterday and I have given him as many details as possible.

…continued……………..

Undated letter (1944?) to James Foulsham’s father (page 1)

[page break]

Page
[underlined] TWO. [/underlined]

Your Son was an extremely capable and experienced pilot and he had made 63 operational sorties, 41 of them with us.

He was very well liked by all the members of the Squadron and his loss to us is very great.

It is impossible for me to offer you any satisfactory condolence but you have the sympathy of the entire Squadron behind you at this time.

The arrangements as to the disposal of his kit have been communicated to his Wife who will undoubtedly get in touch with you if you have any personal wishes with regard to its disposal.

May I again on behalf of the Squadron and myself express our deepest sympathy.

Yours sincerely,

[signature] [inserted] R.A. KLEBOE D.F.C., A.F.C. [/inserted]

Wing Commander, Commanding,
[underlined] No. 109 Squadron, R.A.F. [/underlined]

Undated letter (1944?) to James Foulsham’s father (page 2)