Duchess Millicent & Nathan Crawford's Letters

Description:In a letter dated 8th April 1944 Crawford jokes about his delayed reply to Duchess Millicent's letter, remarking that she probably presumed he was ‘among the “quick or the dead”’.

He writes ‘shortly after writing you last I went for my first ride in the sky over the Third Reich. In complete accord with that old bit about the “pleasures of anticipation being greater than those of realization”, it was not nearly so thrilling as I had expected.’

The letters given an insight into allied military strategy in 1944. Crawford writes ‘I had a “key” part to play which included pressing the button that let the bombs go. I had taken a look at them hanging smugly in the bomb bay before we took off. So it didn’t take much imagination to inspire the brief, isolated thought “those poor bastards!”. He adds 'we lost 33 aircraft that night. It was the first 3000...raid on Frankfurt’.

The letter also describes the return of the aircraft and their men from battle. He writes 'coming back over England I finally quit working…to witness my first homecoming. It was very beautiful. And peaceful. Stars blinking over head and search lights coming below to guide us home…Everyone home’.

He continues, reflecting on his lucky escape, writing ‘coffee and rum. Interrogation. Cigarettes. Hearty backslaps from lads you would greet with only a nod yesterday, - and tomorrow. In their slightly too noisy welcoming voices you detect a note that makes it hard to tell whether their relief is because you got back or because they got back. But all very jolly. And everybody is happy.’

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