Mr. E.E.C. Richards,
848 Nootka Street,
Vancouver, B.C.

Dear Mr. Richards:

It is with deep regret that I must confirm our recent telegram informing you that your son, Flight Sergeant Edward Gordon Coke Richards, 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 air operations over Ludzkendorf, located twelve miles south, south west of Halle, Germany, on the night of March 14th and the early morning of March 15th, 1945.

The term "missing" is used only to indicate that his whereabouts is not immediately known and does not necessarily mean that your son has been killed or wounded. He may have landed in enemy territory and might be a Prisoner of War; and should you receive any card or letter from him please forward it at once to the Royal Canadian Air Force Casualties Officer, Air Force Headquarters, Ottawa. Enquiries have been made through the International Red Cross Committee and all other appropriate sources and I wish to assure you that any further information received will be communicated to you immediately.

Attached is a list of the members of the Royal Canadian Air Fore 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 the fact that he is reported missing but not disclosing the date, place or his unit.

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

Yours sincerely,

EM Beat
R.C.A.F. Casualty Officer,
for Chief of the Air Staff.