Letter to be sent in the event of his death in action by Plt Off Cyril Joe Barton VC

Last letters were written by personnel to be sent to relatives in the event of their death.

Pt Off Cyril Joe Barton wrote this letter for his mother. Barton reflected on his Christian faith and doubted whether he would survive his first tour of 30 operations. On 31 March 1944, he was killed returning from a bombing operation to Nuremberg, as he attempted to land his damaged Halifax safely. 22-year-old Barton was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously in June 1944.