Letters of Ronald Henry Etherton, August - October 1943

Letters relating to the Second World War service of 423088 Flight Sergeant Ronald Henry Etherton, 30 Advanced Flying Unit.

In letters to his sweetheart, Jean Ayre, written between August and October 1943, Etherton describes his experiences of training in the Royal Air Force as a navigator in Canada and England. Some of these experiences include undergoing a training course in Halifax, Canada, leave in New York, United States, going to a summer camp, flying without oxygen, seeing shows at the cinema, and doing his own laundry. He then travelled to England, and wrote about his daily routine (including inspections, route marches, exercise, and lectures), being on gun crew duty, leave, the joy of receiving letters, the pressure of being a navigator, struggling with the cold English weather, and going through exhausting training drills.

In every letter, Etherton assures Jean of his love. He often anticipates their future together and makes hopeful plans.

Ronald Henry Etherton died while taking part in a bombing mission on 13 August 1944.

This file contains:
Postcard from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Winnipeg, Canada, 25 July 1943;
Postcard from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Canada, 26 July 1943;
Postcard from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, New York, United States of America, 28 July 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, New York, United States of America, 30 July 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 2 August 1943, [includes envelope];
Card from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Montreal, Canada, 4 August 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Ottawa, Canada, 8 August 1943, [includes envelope];
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Halifax, Canada, 10 August 1943, [includes envelope];
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Halifax, Canada, 11 August 1943, [includes envelope];
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Halifax, Canada, 15 August 1943 [includes envelope];
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Halifax, Canada, 17-19 August 1943, [includes envelope];
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Halifax, Canada, 23 August 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Halifax, Canada, 25 August 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Halifax, Canada, 26 August 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, London, England, 3 September 1943;
Telegraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 4 September 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, London, England, 7 September 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, Birmingham, England, 20 September 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 23-24 September 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 30 September 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 4 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 7 October 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 8 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 8 October 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 10 October 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 11 October 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 12 October 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 13 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 16 October 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 17 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 19 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 21 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 22 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 24 October 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 27 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 28 October 1943;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 29 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 30 October 1943;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, England, 31 October 1943.