Elder, James (Sergeant)

Open letter to the Air Board, Australian Public and Press from RAAF personnel serving in the Middle East. Dated 31 August 1943 the letter was written in reply to reports in the press that Australian airmen in the Middle East were enjoying more generous RAF conditions of pay and service than RAAF personnel in the Pacific and were therefore reluctant to return to service in the Pacific Theatre. The letter was given to Sgt James Elder to deliver when he returned to Australia on compassionate leave, however by the time Elder reached Australia via England many of the airmen who signed the letter had already returned to the Pacific Theatre and so the letter was never delivered. Some of the forty six RAAF personnel who signed the letter served with 450 Squadron which was stationed at Agnone Sicily in August 1943, others may be from 3 Squadron which was also stationed in Sicily at the time. The collection also includes three photographic reproductions of German propaganda material aimed at Australian servicemen and some examples of wartime currency.