Dyson, John Henry (Flight Sergeant, b.1916 - d.1942)

Places
Accession Number PR05367
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement Extent: 3.5 cm; Wallet/s: 2
Object type Letter, Log book
Maker Dyson, John Henry
Place made Canada, United Kingdom
Date made 1940-1942
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copying Provisions Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.
Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 402569 Flight Sergeant John Henry “Jack” Dyson, No. 405 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Canada and United Kingdom, 1940-1942.

Flight Sergeant John Henry Dyson trained as a navigator in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme in 1940-1941. He went on to serve with No. 405 Squadron, and died in a flying battle over Germany on 26 February 1942.

Wallet 1 of 2:
Folder 1 consists of 13 letters from Flight Sergeant Dyson to members of his family, dated between 12 November 1940 and 4 December 1941. In his letters, Dyson mentions his journey to Canada, looking forward to receiving mail from home, arriving at Edmonton, Alberta, to continue his training, the excellent living conditions at camp, ice skating, working hard, travelling by train to Mossbank, Saskatchewan, for bombing and gunnery school, frustrations with the large amounts of mud, difficulties in obtaining good cigarettes, evening leisure activities, having an unpredictable flying timetable, doing another course at Rivers, Manitoba, seeing Winnipeg from the air, going for a walk into town with friend 402360 Robert “Bob” Johnston, local sightseeing, embarking for the United Kingdom, taking part in a rowdy “crossing the line” ceremony, taking part in a concert on board the ship, his impressions of England, being asked to sign a child’s autograph book, receiving a very helpful parcel from his family, sightseeing at Stratford-on-Avon, taking 12 days of leave with a retired Admiral at Bradenham, being on operations, drawing new items of uniform, celebrating his wedding anniversary, being very busy, and feeling homesick.

Folder 2 consists of four letters and documents relating to the death of Flight Sergeant Dyson. It contains:
1x Letter from the Department of Air to Flight Sergeant Dyson’s wife, dated 19 March 1942, informing that her husband was missing as the result of air operations. Form titled “Information on action taken to trace missing members of the Air Force” attached.
1x Letter from the Department of Air to Flight Sergeant Dyson’s wife, dated 27 August 1942, informing her of his presumed death.
1x Letter from the Air Board to Flight Sergeant Dyson’s father, dated 5 May 1943. List of personal effects attached.
1x Commemorative Scroll bearing the name of Flight Sergeant Dyson.

Wallet 2 of 2: consists of one flying log book of Flight Sergeant John Henry Dyson, with entries dated between 2 February 1941 and 26 February 1942. The entries contain details of flights, such as dates and times, aircraft types and numbers, pilots, and purposes of the flights. Some of these purposes included navigation exercises, photography, bombing and gunnery practice, cross country flights, and operational flights targeting strategic points in German-occupied Europe. The log book also includes certificates for courses completed.