Royal Canadian Air Force

Ottawa, Canada, 2nd June, 1944.

Airmail

Mr. Joseph Senton,

Simpson

Saskatchewan

Dear Mr. Senton:

It is wit deep regret that I must confirm our recent telegram informing you that your son, Warrant Officer Second Class Claude Senton, is reported missing on Active Service.

Advice has been received from the Royal Canadian Air Force Casualties Officer, Overseas, that your son and the entire crew of his aircraft failed to return to their base after taking off to carry out an anti-submarine sweep. At about 2:30 P.M. on May 24th an S.O.S was picked up from the aircraft which was then approximately one hundred and eighty miles northeast of the Shetland Islands and one hundred and twenty miles off Norway, but nothing more was heard.

The term "missing" is used only to indicate that his whereabouts is not immediately known and does not necessarily mean that he has been killed or wounded. He may have reached enemy territory and might be a Prisoner of War. Enquiries have been made through the International Red Cross Society and all other appropriate sources and you may be assured that any further information received will be communicated to you immediately.

Attached is a list of the members of the Royal Canadian Air Force who were in the crew of the aircraft together with the names and addresses of their next-of-kin. Your son's name will not appear on the official casualty list for five weeks. You may, however, release to the Press or Radio that fact that he is reported missing but not disclosing the date, place or his unit.

Permit me to extend my heartfelt sympathy during this period of uncertainty and I join with you and the members of your family in the hope that better news will be forthcoming in the near future.

Yours sincerely,

R.C.A.F. Casualty Officer,

for Chief of the Air Staff