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War Correspondence

Personal Letters of Robert West. (Wireless Operator) No. 75 (NZ) Squadron

2nd. Letter.

AC1 West R.
AC Wing
‘C’ Squadron
Class C.14.D.
RAF Madley,
Hereford

Dear Mam & Dad,
Sorry I have not wrote you sooner but still here goes now, as it is the first free time I have had for quite a while. I have lost my cold nearly now but still I don’t think I will lose it properly till I leave here, as I think three quarters of the camp have colds.
I had a nice experience yesterday, we ran into an electric storm, lighting was dancing along the wings of the plane, hailstones came lashing in through the window and I had to keep hold of both sides of the plane to keep myself from being tossed out of my seat.
The pilot had hold of the stick with both hands and could not let go to close the windows and that lasted for twenty minutes. When we got down the pilot said it was the worst trip he had ever had, then he was sick. I walked to the lav to make sure I would not have to change my underpants when I got back to the hut.
I have only about three more trips to do at this camp now and the rest of the course is coming along as well as can be expected. With a bit of luck I should be away from here within the next five or six weeks.
Well, I think that is all the news for the present except to wish Denis plenty of luck and I hope he gets his AB. So for the present I’ll say cheerio.
Love to all
Boby. XXXXXX

3rd. Letter.
Sgt’s Mess
RAF Balnageith
Forres.

Dear Mam & Dad,
Hello again, I was glad to receive your letter and everything is still going O.K. You did not tell me you had an air-raid a week ago on the Friday night/Saturday morning of the 22nd/23rd. of this month and that there were twelve bombers over and that one was shot down off Hartlepool, but still I expect you would have forgotten about it, but as you can see I still get to know the news and I was not told by any letter from anyone and it is not only a rumour either, so what do you think of that;
In fact I could tell you the day after any raid has occurred and need not read the newspapers.
Our crew had a day off yesterday and we all went to a place called Nairn for the day. It is generally called the Blackpool of the Highlands but actually I would prefer the Blackpool of the South anytime.
We had our photos taken in a group, the pilot, navigator, bomb aimer, and air gunner and of course me, so if they are any good I shall send you one.
No other news from here at present, except we should be leaving around March the 9th and what do you think about letting me and Vida becoming engaged. Please let me know what you think of it soon.
Well, there’s now more new at present, so I’ll say cheerio.
Love to All,
Boby. XXXXXX

Extract from 4th Letter. 8th January 1943.
RAF Balnagerth
Forres.

Dear Mam and Dad,
Hello once more. I have just received some news of quite importance, our crew have been posted to a place a couple of miles from Grantham and we have to be there on the 16th of March, so the sooner we finish here the more leave we will get.
We hope to fly out tonight and again tomorrow night then we will be finished, so should be home around about Saturday. When we get to this new station we will be flying the Lancaster bomber, Britain’s newest, heaviest and fastest bomber. Oh, what a time we will have.
The weather up here at present is lousy and the last two trips we have had has been awful.

6th. Letter. February 1943
No 2 Aircrew Sgt’s. Mess
RAF Waddington
Nr. Lincoln

Dear Mam & Dad,
Just a few lines to let you know everything is still O.K. and everyone in our crew is in the best of health. This is just going to be a short note as we are going flying tonight and we have to report for briefing very shortly.
I am sorry I did not sent you a birthday card Mam, but I forget all about it until Saturday night, but I hope you will excuse me and I send my birthday greeting and I hope you see many, many more to come.
The weather is still holding out fine here. I only hope it keeps like that.
Well I have just come back from briefing and boy if old jerry only know what I do now what a panic would start across there. Anyway you will read all about in either tomorrows newspaper (Tuesday) or Wednesday’s paper. But still putting all this on the side I hope to be on leave for my 21st, there is still a slight chance of it coming off.
Have you got a little lucky mascot I can have, such as a little white elephant or anything like that, so I can hang it on my Battle dress?
Well this is all for now so I’ll say cheerio for now.
Love to all
Boby. XXXXXXX

Extract from 7th. Letter.
RAF Waddington.

Dear Mam & Dad,

Hello again, how are you all getting along. I am still fine and in the best of health. We’ll what did you think of the show we put on Monday night at Dortmund, Mam. I am really getting my own back on Jerries for the times he had kept us out of bed and scared us.
I was talking to our bomb aimer the other day and I asked him why he joined up as aircrew when he was in a very reserved occupation and he said he joined up the day after his mother had been killed in an air raid on London. So now I know why such a quiet guy as him has to stick it.
I was talking to one of the ground crew the other day. He said you are from Durham, don’t lie. So I said yes, so he said, well I had a pal at school who come from West Auckland, I have a photo of him, do you know him? I looked at it and it was a photograph of Les. It is funny how things crop up isn’t it.
We soon are going to cause Jerry another headache tomorrow. Just think you are in bed now. So I will say goodnight till I write again on Monday, so for now I’ll say cheerio.
Love to all, Boby. XXXXXXX

Letter 12th March 1945.
W/Off. West
Sgts. Mess
RAF Mepal
Ely, Cambridgeshire.

Dear Mam and Dad,
Just a few lines as usual to let you know I’m getting along OK. My leave is due to commence on the 29th of this month, which is just over a fortnights time.
I am now halfway through this tour with the trip I did today and will say it was the most marvellous sight I have ever seen. Over a thousand aeroplanes in the sky in daylight, all heading the same way.
I’ll bet the people in England whose towns we passed over must have had a big thrill to see it.
I have a lot more sweets and chocolate collected together for Margaret and I’ll send you them on when I get time and also something to send them in.
I am sending you 15 clothing coupons that I want you to keep for me till I get home, to buy a Mac, that is if you can give me 3 coups to put to it.
Te weather is great down here, how is it up home, any warmer than the last time I was on leave.
Well, this is all for this time, so I’ll say cheerio for now.
Lots of Love to all.
Boby. XXXXXXX

Pilot Officer Robert West of 75 Squadron was killed in action on the 21st. March 1945.
England

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