WWII ARCHIVE 400+ LOVE LETTERS US RAF PILOT & NEW YORK RED CROSS DONUT DOLLIE

Description

WWII ARCHIVE 400+ LOVE LETTERS US RAF PILOT & NEW YORK RED CROSS DONUT DOLLIE.  This lot is truly an archive - besides over 400 letters between Frank J. Reardon and Joan Banker and those of family and friends writing about their relationships during war, this lot includes newspaper clippings, patches worn by both of the veterans, hundreds of photos, military documents and mementos collected by Joan while she was volunteering over seas  She was a socialite from the New York area who volunteered to join the Red Cross and was stationed in London with the Clubmobile unit.  This unit provided coffee, donuts, cigarettes, gum and other scarce war items to soldiers.  A history of the 'donut dollies' can be found on line.  Frank J. Reardon (Rocky) was also from the New York area who became a pilot in the RAF who went to England but flew missions over Germany from the China - Burma - India theater.  I haven't read many of the letters, but one I have read is the letter Rocky writes home about meeting 'a wonderful girl'.  There are many telegrams - there's a telegram to Joan indicating he flew over where Joan was living in England and saw her in a purple dress - he finishes the telegram by saying how glad he will be to see her later on 'terra firma'.  There is an article written by a Stars and Stripes reporter who attended a presentation by Rocky to a group of soldiers where he describes his Halifax  being shot down by a German Fockes Wolfes over the African desert then safely crashes in the desert - near a French Foreign Legion Camp.  Related to this event there is a letter to Rocky's family informing them he is missing in action.  There is a grouping of press photos showing the queen reviewing some event with Red Cross personell present.  I haven't read enough letters to put those photos in context.  Another grouping apparently shows a royal funeral prosession, but there is no reference to the event.  From the regalia worn, I cannot determine the country - There's a photo of a man in the procession carrying a crown.  I'm guessing slavic origin. There's enough material here to write a book!  If there are any questions,  I'll do my best to answer.