ADDRESS REPLY TO:
The Secretary,
Department of National Defence for Air.
OTTAWA, Canada.
ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE (Letterhead & Seal)
AIR MAIL
OTTAWA, Canada, 8th October, 1943.
Mr. E.G. Hansell
Box 417.
Vulcan, Alberta.
Dear Mr. Hansell:
It is my painful duty to confirm the telegram recently received by you which informed you that your son, Sergeant Harry Ernest Hansell, is reported missing, on Active Service.
Advice has been received from the Royal Canadian Air Force Casualties Officer, Overseas, that your son was a member of the crew of an aircraft which failed to return to its base after a bombing raid over Hanover, Germany, on the night of September 28th, 1943. There were four other members of the Royal Canadian Air Force in the crew and they also have been reported missing. Since you may wish to know their names and next-of-kin, we are listing them below:
Flight Sergeant J.A. Leach,
Next-of-kin, Mrs. J.O. Leach, (mother)
12 Delavan Avenue, Forest Hill Village,
Toronto, Ontario
Sergeant Orville Lytle,
Next-of-kin, Mr. Joseph Lytle, (father)
Roland, Saskatchewan(struck out) Manitoba
Sergeant J.H.T. Monteith,
Next-of-kin, Mrs. J.H.T. Monteith, (wife)
188 Geoffrey Street, Toronto, Ontario
Sergeant R.C. Pedlar,
Next-of-kin, Mr. F.N. Pedlar, (father)
Lougheed, Alberta.
This does not necessarily mean that your son has been killed or wounded. He may have landed in enemy territory and might be a prisoner of war. Inquiries have been made through the International Red Cross Society and all other appropriate sources and you may be assured that any further information received will be communicated to you immediately.
Your son's name will not appear on the official casualty list for five weeks. You may, however, release to the press or radio the fact that he is reported missing, but not disclosing the date, place or his unit.
May I join with you and Mrs. Hansell in the hope that better news will be forthcoming in the near future.
Yours sincerely,
W.R. Gunn
Flight Lieutenant,
R.C.A.F. Casualties Officer,
For Chief of the Air Staff
