Joe’s Letters, WWII: “Finally on a Squadron!”

One of my Uncle Joe’s letters will be posted to this Blog each and every Friday until they are done. Please see below for a link to Joe’s full story and the other letters in this series so far.

At the time of this letter, Joe has just arrived at RAF Methwold where he is finally attached to an operational squadron, the 218 Gold Coast Squadron. He is less than a month away from his first Operation sortie.

Letter 86; 28th November 1944

Letter transcript:

” 30——- SGT

c/o Post Office  Site

218 Squadron

RAF Station, Methwold

Nr. Thetford, Norfolk.

11.00pm Monday

Hello Mom,

Well at last I’m on a Squadron! We got here 2 hours ago. We are not far from the old station Feltwell. Unfortunately this is not too nice a place but we will be moving out soon, very soon. I know where we are going but I can’t tell you so you will understand. I know the place, it’s OK, we landed there once and got a bit of a look round. That was when we were on Stirlings.

I don’t know if I’ve told you but we are on with a special Squadron and doing a special job. Please do not say anything about it to anyone yet. We will not be on ‘Ops’ for a few weeks yet. I can’t say much this time as I haven’t had a proper look round yet! 

Forgive me for being so brief  but I had to write to let you know where I now am.

‘Til the next time, God bless and Cheerio.

Lots of love, Joe xxxx

P.S. The skipper is now a Flight Lieutenant!! Wow!!”

This must feel like the end of a very long road for Joe and the other crews. It has been less than a year, but still the endless training and exams, moving around and lack of sleep must have felt as though they were never going to end. He certainly sounds relieved to be finally attached to the 218 Gold Coast Squadron, and on the final leg of his journey to live operations!

To read more about Joe’s letters please follow this link. There you will find the full selection of letters to date, as well as more information about his fascinating yet ultimately tragic story. He was our family hero. He IS our family hero. If I knew how to complete an effective RAF salute, I would salute you now, Joe. Long may your memory live in our family stories. I hope to post a new letter from Joe’s correspondence with his Mother here every Friday until they’re done. It will be a turbulent and heart-wrenching journey. Subscribe to the Blog to make sure you don’t miss any of it.

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