Dear Mrs. Scandiffio,

Before you receive this letter you will already have received confirmation from the air ministry of the very sad loss of your son in an accident with his aircraft on 15th July, 1944.

Your son's funeral took place at Jodhpur and the service was conducted by the Roman Catholic Chaplain, Father F. Gentiles. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and carried by airmen or equivalent rank, three volleys were fired and the last post was sounded at the end.

The grave number is R 10, and I hope to send you shortly photographs of the grave . You will wish to know that all war graves are taken care of by the Imperial War Graves Commission who will erect a temporary wooden cross pending the provision of a permanent memorial.

May I now express the great sympathy which all of us feel for you in the sad loss which you have sustained. As you are aware your son had been on this unit for a considerable time and he had made many friends on the unit. His loss is keenly felt by all the officers and men who knew him. He has been called away in the vigour of his youth, but his courage, gaiety of heart, and generosity will be a memory which all his friends will hold dear. It was in the course of his duties in the service of his country, which he always undertook with characteristic enthusiasm and thoroughness, that he met his death, but he will live on the minds of all who were privileged to know him. The deep sympathy of all officers and men is extended to you in this time of great loss.

I am sending this air letter in case my original letter is lost.

Yours sincerely

E. Bruce
Wing Commander, Commanding no. 21
Ferry Control R.A.F.