[Martin Gleeson]

Hello Brian,

Thanks for your reply. As I wrote in my first post I have no wish to offend anyone, particularly his family. I am very, very careful about anything I write here or elsewhere.

We researchers value greatly the personal writings of airmen and others and sometimes treat their written word as ‘gospel’ . Quite often as we know memory plays tricks, so we need to be careful and double-check anything stated as fact where possible. It is not a sin to exaggerate one’s deeds and experiences to one’s family and I am sure Eric never expected his letters to be scrutinized by later generations of strangers. He did not make any boastful claims, such as shooting down enemy aircraft.

However he made reference in two letters to possible operational service in or over France during mid-May 1940 and to a specific case when he was shot down into the Channel. The latter especially was noteworthy, considering how well the Battle of Britain has been researched (and of course there is still more to be learnt). It deserved to be checked for accuracy, not just accepted at face value and that is what I did. The ORB for 238 Squadron is quite good regarding operations, unlike many others as you rightly point out.

I certainly agree with the premise of ‘Absence of Evidence is not Evidence of Absence’ as Paul McMillan wrote, being too long at this this game myself to believe otherwise. That noted I stand by what I wrote earlier, but I would love evidence to come to light to prove me right – or wrong. I wonder if Eric Bann’s log book survives somewhere as that would answer the above issues. One would hope his wife received it at some point.

BTW I have over 20 of the books authored or co-authored by you.

Hello Gerry,

On the subject of log books I wonder if Gordon Batt’s is still around. He and Eric Bann would probably have had very similar flying experiences in May 1940. I saw the references to the three yellow scarves in the letters. Very poignant considering two of the three would soon be lost.

Regards,

Martin.