Murphy, William Martin (Flying Officer, b.1919 - d.1942)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 404353 Flying Officer William Martin Murphy, 460 Squadron RAAF, Australia, Canada, Europe, 1940-1945.

Wallet 1 of 3 - Contains 15 letters Murphy wrote to his mother, and one to his father, between 1940 and February 1942. The letters cover his training at No 2 Flying Training School in Lindfield, New South Wales, his posting to Canada and his progress with the Empire Air Training Scheme in 1940 to 1941, his commission, flight to Scotland and further training in England in 1941, his posting to 460 Squadron RAAF, and preparations for his first operational flight as a navigator.

Wallet 2 of 3 - Consists of correspondence to, and from, Murphy's parents and sister regarding his fate. The wallet includes the telegram informing Murphy's family that he has been posted as missing following an operational flight over France, correspondence relating to the search for the crew of his Lancaster and, later, confirming Murphy's death and providing details on the circumstances of his final flight. The wallet also includes three portraits of Murphy (one in a flight suit), one of Murphy with his mother, a group portrait of Murphy with friends in uniform while training in Canada, and a photograph of Murphy's grave, as well as news clippings related to Murphy's death and of two French girls who tended to his grave.

Wallet 3 of 3 - Contains Murphy's flying log book, issued by the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941. The log book documents Murphy's training in Canada and the United Kingdom, his qualifications, his service on operations over Europe with 460 Squadron RAAF from December 1941, and his final flight on the night of 29/30 May 1942, by which point he had logged over 380 hours of flight time.