Foreword written by Vicki Sorensen
My father, Frank Sorensen, immigrated to Canada from Roskilde, Denmark with his family in August 1939. He volunteered in the Royal Canadian Air Force in March 1941 and trained to become a Spitfire fighter pilot. He was shot down while serving with RAF 232 Squadron, over Tunisia, in North Africa on April 11, 1943 and became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft III. He was an active participant in the tunnel digging operations that was later known as The Great Escape.
After my father’s death February 5th, 2010, when he was 87, I came into possession of letters written by him to his parents during the war that they had saved and given back to him. Along with the letters were numerous photos and service record documents. There were 174 letters in total which start from C.O.T.C., 1940, #1 Manning Depot, #3 Initial Flying Training School, #2 Elementary Flying Training School, #11 Service Flying Training School; all in Canada in 1941 to #17 A.F.U. (Advanced Flying Unit) and #53 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit) in England in 1942. Then, his service from 1942 in RCAF 403 Squadron, in England, transferring to RAF 232 Squadron in Scotland, then to North Africa. Numerous letters are from 1943 and 1944 from Stalag Luft III, and then a handful from 1945. There were only two short letters from the long march from Sagan to Lubeck – one in March letting his parents know he was still all right, and one in May when they had just been liberated.
November 11, 1944
Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
Dear Mother & Dad & Co.;
Yesterday I received my June parcel with all the chocolate. — two lines censored with black marker — The socks were lovely. Mother’s handiwork I guess. Mother’s September 22 came today. Wonder why. Dad hasn’t told me whether my uniforms are ok or not for I could trade for one here if I had lost them. I am sending all my mail to Canada now so you should be getting 4 cards and 3 letters a month.
Love Frank
November 24, 1944
Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
Dear Mother & Dad & Company;
I wrote a card to IE yesterday. The first one this month. Don’t find much to write about these days. Had five letters from Jean last week which is the best little handful I’ve had for a long time. Not much mail these days. A couple of gramophones have come in recently but none has arrived for me yet. Am looking forward to my September parcel. Still on half parcels. Thank goodness. Hope it lasts. Mother’s last letter was September 22nd. Yesterday we were all kept busy grinding biscuits into flour and today Russ (temporary cook) baked a sizeable cake. The last one no doubt. I should have written this letter earlier in the month, but every day I put it off hoping for a different mood with a more interesting letter as a result but, my writing isn’t too hot these days hope you can read it. Should practice a bit of writing I guess. — four words censored with pencil — Talking about exercise don’t get around much anymore. Feeling fine.
Love to all,
Frank
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Flight Lieutenant Frank Sorensen 