Letters from a Bomber Pilot

For anyone wishing to read some of the letters Donald Plaunt wrote home, I’ll post the odd one here in sync with the calendar. Donald has undergone several stages of pilot training, both in Canada and the U.K. At his last posting, he underwent training in Operation Training with a crew in Kinloss, Scotland and was assigned to fly a Lancaster bomber that required a crew of seven aircrew. After Kinloss, he was given leave and expected to report to 97 Squadron of the RAF in Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, U.K.

From “Christmas Overseas”

Dec. 18 ’42 –telegram – sans origin – Mr. W Plaunt LEAVE ON MONDAY FOR XMAS MAY YOU ALL HAVE A VERY HAPPY ONE ALSO THE PARTY ON NEW YEARS IS AS GOOD AS EVER. LOVE DONALD PLAUNT

Dec. 22 ’42 – telegram – overseas – Mrs. W PLAUNT SPENDING XMAS WITH BILL HOPE YOU HAVE GOOD HOLIDAY LOVE DONALD PLAUNT

Dec. 25 ’42 – Catterick, York

Dear Mom and Dad;

Well, here it is Xmas and although it isn’t anything like the good time we have at home it isn’t too bad considering. As you probably know by my cable of Dec. 22 I am on Bill Lane’s squadron for my leave. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have Xmas dinner with him as he is now a Pilot Officer and I don’t belong! It is too bad but it can’t be helped!

In spite of everything else there seems to be no shortage of liquor and everyone, excluding me of course, is quite inebriated, “ye olde English spirit,” you know.

However, Christmas for Bill and I is somewhat dampened due to Syd’s absence (their Sudbury friend was shot down over France on Dec. 9th). However, we are quite confident he will turn up as a prisoner or make a clean escape from France as it isn’t too tough a proposition.

He completed the letter the next day: “Well, as you see I didn’t get this letter finished Christmas Day. Bill turned up and we went to town and had a very nice tea at a home in Darlington. Bill didn’t feel too well so he hit the hay early and I went to the dance on the station without him. The more I see of this place with the Canadian squadron, the more envious I am of Bill. He has the “swellest” bunch of fellows imaginable here – all pilots and the same types – so it is much nicer.” Donald was curious to know: “How is Katherine Anne Jr. coming along these days? No doubt the older gaffers had quite a time at Christmas or, at least you would have had quite a time with them. Well, Pater et Mater, Willie is champing at the bit so I must awa’. Goodbye now.”

When he arrived back at the base on Dec. 30, he was astounded at what Santa had brought him. Donald was quick to tell his mother of his good fortune:

Well, you can imagine the mighty pleasant finale to an excellent leave when I arrived back here and found twenty-one letters waiting for me and four parcels. It certainly was swell, quite a variation of persons too. Of course, from you and Dad, Kae, Jean. Mrs. A. C. Edwards, a lovely letter indeed, Mr. Hamilton of Ridley and my young friends as well, Jim Hinds and Gordon O’Reilly. I received a super camera from Helen, Bill and Agnes so tomorrow I will take some snaps and will send them some immediately, if not sooner! A swell box from Kae including sox, braces (scarce as hen’s teeth over here) and a real sweater. A big sweater arrived from Jean, for my birthday 1941, remember?

I am writing this under the greatest of difficulty. You remember, I told you that my wireless op was a horn player, well my flight engineer turns up with a guitar, so they are both hammering away. Well, tomorrow night is New Year’s Eve, and I am thinking of the swell times we had on that date and on Jan. 1st, I hope you have the usual time “at home.” I will celebrate my New Year’s at 6 am Greenwich time and at 12 pm Sudbury time, the same time as you will.

You asked about Mason Hargreaves of London. Yes, I knew him real well and roomed with him at Kinloss. The snaps I sent you were his and were in his kit when he was shot down. It was the same time I had to force land at [cut out]. It is not my idea to report that sort of thing in a letter but seeing you knew his mother.

Well, Mom, I have been flying tonight, and it is getting quite late so I must say goodnight for now as I could use a bit of shut-eye. Write soon and often. I will answer your letters next time I write. A very, very, Happy, and again I say, Victorious New Year Mother.

PS Perhaps you have noticed I have given my squadron number. I just found out it was OK to disclose it. I thought I couldn’t send it before because of security reasons.

Dec. 26 ’42 (same letter)

Well, as you see I didn’t get this letter finished Xmas day. Bill turned up and he and I went to town and had a very nice tea at a home in Darlington, then back here. Bill didn’t feel too well so hit the hay early so I went to the dance on the station without him.

The more I see of this station with the Canadian squadron the more envious I get of Bill. He has the swellest bunch of fellows imaginable here, – all pilots and the same types – so it is much nicer.

How is Katherine Anne Jr. coming along these days? No doubt the older gaffers had quite a time at Xmas or at least you would have had quite a time with them.

Well, Pater et Mater, Willie is champing at the bit so I must awa’.

Goodbye now .

Love,

Donald

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CBC TV Report on Letters from a Bomber Pilot

REVIEWS of Write Soon and Often:

I've read many WW 2 stories and would class this one as among the best in capturing the frustration and uncertainties involved by airmen. As I read through his story I was touched with its poignancy. The author’s choice of the letter material is telling for an old sweat like me. Such scenes as the inefficiency of the coal stove which spewed smoke and some heat into the sleep space of the Nissen hut reminded me of what I lived through. I was amazed at the flow of letters and goodies to Donald, when in my case, in nearly three years in the U.K., Malta and Italy, I think I only got cigarettes a couple of times from some kind source. The youth of these airmen comes through loud and clear. Your depth of research awes simple old me. A great read. Well done.
General Bill Carr, RCAF and former Spitfire pilot

Write Soon and Often is the fascinating story of Donald Cameron Plaunt, a bomber pilot, of Sudbury, Ontario who was killed over Germany in 1943. The book is lovingly compiled from letters he wrote to his family and written by his nephew Andy Thomson. The author has skilfully stitched together excerpts from the letters, the letters themselves and the author's summaries of them within the context of the war. Hundreds of books have been written about World War II. None that I have read comes close to being as good or as readable as this one.
Bill McLeod, author of The Chapleau Game Preserve, Murder in the Schoolhouse and Chapleau, a Retrospective, see billmcleodbooks.com

This was an engaging read! You have woven snippets of letters with your knowledge of the family with the result that I really had a sense of this young man’s life and his times. It was very effective! I have a full appreciation of his personality, desires and attributes as well as his frustrations. He was fully aware of the political and social environment and I am certain he would have fully participated if he had been given a chance to live longer.
Six sorties in 9 days! I cannot fathom how he could tolerate the stress of that period! The madness of Bomber Command, Harris and all the rest who thought this one out. Dieppe Raid is another example.
Your visit to Ottawa with the students and the meeting of the two bridge partners illustrate chance or predestination!
Dick Ogilvie

I like the book a lot, learning things I had never realized before. It covers your Uncle Donald's story, a promising 19-year-old signing up for war duty because "it's the right thing to do". The cited logs, telegrams and historical details of the events put it into the bigger context of the war in 1942. Adding Donald's personal correspondence reveals the complex connections to family and friends. A real eye opener if one wants to understand how we are all connected and how our actions affect many more people aside from ourselves. Thanks for writing and sharing this book!
Erhard Kraus

I've bravissimoed (sp?) Andy on the phone to "Write Soon and Often", plus I want to pay my compliments to the editing team! It reads so smoothly and grippingly that I read it in one extended swoosh, ending at midnight last night. After Pog, this adds more depth and breadth and intimacy to my sense of the Sudbury branch. Respect too.
Will be taking it to Mom ubernachste Wochenend. I'm sure she'll really enjoy it. As she knew about Alan Plaunt in 1941, she also knew of Donald's loss in '43, which spurred our reminiscences of WWII and New Liskeard. Anxious and sad times.
Tom Plaunt

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Letters from a Bomber Pilot

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