An emotive grouping to RCAF J38970 Flying Officer John Newman. After previous Ferry Command flights of Liberators and Mitchells, F.O. Newman was ferrying a Dakota to a Scottish airfield in March of 1945 when it failed to arrive. Although some identifiable mailbags later washed up, no sign of the aircraft or either of the two crew members was ever found. He left a young wife and a two month old son behind.
The group includes:
May 1945 front page of the Sudbury Star (from where his wife hailed) outlining his death
Telegram and cover from the AOC 45 Group RAF expressing his concolences
Several photographs of F.O. Newman, his wife and son
Official regrets from the Minister of National Defence for Air
Ration book and ID card of his wife, Aili
Four different Victory pins
A letter and cover from Aili to her husband that was returned by the Postmaster with deep regrets
A very nice and unused Ferry Command jacket crest in a style we've not seen before. One small nip at the tip of one wing, the crest is 180mm x 90mm
The Royal Air Force's Ferry Command was responsible for delivering aircraft from manufacturers to operational squadrons, particularly across the Atlantic. While Ferry Command started as a civilian operation, it became militarized as part of the RAF during the war.
