Hopwood, S.J.(Jock) (Leading Aircraftman)

Letters of Leading Aircraftman (LAC) S.J. (Jock) Hopwood to his mother from September 1943 to November 1945. They cover two phases of his career: (i) when he was stationed in Australia and training as a RAAF aircraft instrument repairer in various locations, including Adelaide, Sydney, Townsville and Charters Towers (September 1943-March 1945) (ii) service with RAAF Groups 157, 248 and 597 on Tarakan, Labuan and Balikpapan Islands (March-November 1945). The letters concern mainly personal and domestic matters and describe the writer's non-official and social activities, as well as his fellows and the places where he served (especially Tarakan) and the routine of Air Force life. There are occasional references to operational activities on Tarakan, air raids and the effects of ground fighting against Japanese forces, but there is evidence accounts of his own official duties were censored. Many of the letters include detailed and sophisticated pencil or ink sketches of people, places or scenes he experienced. The letters were published by Wendy Collins as "Tasmania to Tarakan: Letters of World War II of S.J. Hopwood 1943-1945".