Chaplains Office
RAF Waterbeach
Cambs
March 27th 1944
Dear Mr and Mrs Casey,
I am writing to express my profound sorrow that your son, Sgt L Casey, is missing after operations on the night of 15/16. I understand the anxiety and uncertainty which you must feel. To those who were waiting up for the crews that night, it was a great grief, when your son's plane failed to return.
The trip in which his crew was engaged was a long one, over Germany, and it is not unreasonable to hope that they may have escaped disaster by baling out, and become prisoners of war.
But, of course, there is no certainty about this and it is not until official information comes through via the Red Cross that your terrible suspense will be ended. You may rest assured that whatever this news, it will be sent to you at once.
I know whatever has happened to him, your son would not have you overcome with sorrow, and you can be sure that his chief thought was less for his own safety than for loyalty and devotion to duty. Like so many other brave men he has willingly hazarded his own life for a great cause, and we may be proud and thankful for his example.
During these times, I feel we can commit ourselves and anxieties into the hands of God, who cares, and suffers in the grief of his people. We should hold on to the truth that wherever our loved one is, there God is and where God is, he is.
I do pray that you may find in God your comfort and be made strong to bear your heavy burden of suffering.
With my renewed sympathy
Yours very sincerely
G West
Chaplain