Letters of Ronald Henry Etherton, June - August 1944

Places
Accession Number AWM2020.22.8
Collection number AWM2016.832.1
Collection type Digitised Collection
Record type File
Item count 1
Object type Letter
Physical description 40 Image/s captured
Maker Etherton, Ronald Henry
Place made United Kingdom: England
Date made 1944
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Source credit to This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government.
Description

Letters relating to the Second World War service of 423088 Flight Sergeant Ronald Henry Etherton, 76 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

In letters to his sweetheart, Jean Ayre, written between June and August 1944, Etherton describes his experiences of serving in the Royal Air Force as a navigator in England. Some of these experiences include being involved in a record-breaking flight in a Halifax bomber, going to see a film in York on his day off, the impact of the English weather on his spirit, being satisfied with his navigation work, the joy of receiving letters, having his sleep patterns disrupted by night flying, being posted to 76 Squadron, being disappointed in his new base, and being part of successful bombing raids.

In every letter, Etherton assures Jean of his love, and often writes hopefully about their future together.

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

This file contains:
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, [England], 1 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 2 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 3 June 1944;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, [England], 5 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 6 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, [England], 7 June 1944;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 9 June 1944;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 12 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 13 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 14 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 17 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 18 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 20 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 23 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 28 June 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 2 July 1944;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, [Aberdeen, Scotland], 6 July 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 25 July 1944;
Letter from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 27 July 1944;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 30 July 1944;
Airgraph from Ronald Henry Etherton to Jean Ayre, 2 August 1944.