Sunday, 4th April 1943

My Dear Mother & Father,

Two letters to acknowledge this week, one from you dated 28/2 and one from Dot dated 7/3.  I am very pleased to hear that everything is OK. at home, that is the main thing as far as I am concerned.  Burt & I are very well indeed, so there is no need for worry on our behalf. 

We have just had a week of rain but today dawned bright  & clear and remained so the whole time.  

How will you occupy your time after the war when POW committees cease to exist?  We are very thankful though for the good work you are doing; without the Red Cross life would not be worth living.

I am glad to hear that Dorothy  has temporarily change her mind about enlisting in the WAAF.  I am afraid the disadvantages out weigh the advantages. 

The news is good to hear lately so keep it up.  I hope you can understand this.  

Until next week my love and wishes.  Please remember me to the relations and Bill & Anne,

Your loving son,

Arthur.

During April 1943;

Over Germany... British Bomber Command aircraft drop 1300 tons of bombs on Kiel during a night raid. Over Britain... German aircraft drop mines in the Thames Estuary. In the Solomon Islands... In an effort to disrupt the American buildup, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto mounts an air offensive known as Operation I. The Japanese 11th Air Fleet, based on Rabaul, Kavieng and Buin is reinforced by pilots and aircraft of the carriersZuikaku, Shokaku, Junyo and Hiyo. This leaves the Imperial Navy with almost no trained pilots. The attacks begin with a raid against Guadalcanal and Tulagi by 180 planes in which a destroyer and two other vessels are sunk. In Tunisia... Axis forces are rapidly retreating from the Wadi Akarit Line. Patrols of the British 8th Army and the US 2nd Corps meet on the road toward Gafsa. In Germany... Hitler and Mussolini meet at Salzburg over the course of the next five days (April 7-11). Among other topics discussed, they decide they must continue to hold on in North Africa. Over the Solomon Islands... An aircraft carrying the Commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Yamamoto, is shot down by P-38 Lighting fighters over Bougainville. Yamamoto is killed. This action is the result the interception of a coded Japanese message announcing a visit by Yamamoto. The Japanese fail to deduce that their codes are insecure In Tunisia... A massive convoy of 100 transport aircraft leaves Sicily with supplies for the Axis forces. At least half the planes are shot down by Allied fighters.