Greene, Phillip McGill (Flying Officer, b.1912 - d.2005) and Greene, Nancy Marion

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 418405 Flying Officer Phillip McGill Greene, RAAF, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, 1941-1951, and his wife Nancy Marion Greene (nee Rapsy).

Collection consists of:

Wallet 1:
Folder 1: 4 x letters written by Greene to his then fiancée, Nancy, all dated March 1941. The letters concern the final stages of building their house in Albury prior to his enlistment in May 1942.
Folder 2: 31 x letters from Greene to his wife, spanning the period January to July 1943. The letters discuss his service flying around Australia, and assisting with the training of navigators, largely in Avro Ansons. Most of the flying is undertaken in country South Australia and Victoria. Also discussed is general family news, discussing living quarters, and thanking Nancy for her letters and cakes that she regularly sends.

Wallet 2:
Folder 1: 40 x letters, postcards and touristic ephemera from Greene to his wife, spanning the period August to December 1943. The letters discuss further training in Australia, leave at home in Melbourne, travel across the United States, leave in New York, and arrival in the United Kingdom.
Folder 2: 2 x letters and 1 x telegram from Greene to his wife, spanning the period 28 January to 24 February 1944. The letters discuss leave in Wales, responds to news of family and friends, and how much his misses Nancy.

Wallet 3:
Folder 1: 43 x airgraphs from Greene to his wife, spanning the period December 1943 to June 1944. The airgraphs discuss his arrival in the United Kingdom, training and classes, and how much his misses Nancy. The airgraph dated 10 June 1944 mentions Avro Lancaster G for George (now held in the Memorial's collection at RELAWM31788) and its movement to Australia, and telling Nancy to go and see it when she can.

Wallet 4:
Folder 1: 40 x airgraphs from Greene to his wife, spanning the period July to December 1944. The airgraphs largely discuss leisure time and time spent on leave in the United Kingdom. Much of the writing addresses family affairs and gives responses to Nancy’s correspondence. A further recurring subject is how much the pair misses each other.

Wallet 5:
Folder 1: 41 x letters and telegrams, and 1 x Christmas card spanning August to December 1944. The letters discuss leave in Edinburgh, time spent at different aerodromes around England, activities during leisure time including going to dances, and visiting acquaintances.
Folder 2: 49 x letters and 1 x (late) Christmas card from Greene to his wife, spanning the period January to June 1945. The letters discuss bombing missions of various key cities in Germany, including Cologne and Chemnitz, the countryside witnessed while flying – in particularly the greenery seen in France, dropping rations into the Netherlands, time spent on leave in Scotland, and victory celebrations.
Folder 3: 25 x telegrams from Greene to his wife, spanning the period January to June 1945. All contain very brief messages such as how he is, and how much his misses and loves her.

Wallet 6:
Folder 1: 33 x letters from Greene to his wife, spanning the period July to September 1945. Subjects discussed are: the end of the war, the continued extension of leave owing to difficulty finding a first-class officer’s berth on a ship returning to Australia, leave in Ireland, the monotony of passing time, how much he misses Nancy, and details of the voyage to Australia.
Folder 2: 1 x blue felt-covered flying logbook belonging to Greene, with his name and initials written on the cover. The logbook spans the period November 1942 to May 1945. It records flights across country South Australia and Victoria, then later bombing missions over enemy territories in Europe. He logs hours in a variety of aircraft including Fairey Battles, Avro Ansons, and Avro Lancasters.

Wallet 7:
Folder 1: 52 x letters and telegrams sent from Nancy to her husband spanning the period December 1943 to December 1944. The letters send her best wishes, news from home, replies to his enquiries about home-life, how much she misses him, planning their future, and how she is jealous of the other people that get to spend time with him while she is alone in Australia.
Folder 2: 60 x letters and telegrams sent from Nancy to her husband spanning the period January to May 1945. The letters send her best wishes, news from home, replies to his enquiries about home-life, how much she misses him, planning their future, excitement that the war appears to be coming to a close, and items such as cakes that she has sent him.
Folder 3: 15 x miscellaneous items including: 1 x postcard depicting the RMS Queen Mary; 2 x embarkation cards for Greene’s arrivals at Retford and Dublin; 1 x lettercard containing 6 views of London; 1 x photograph of “when the Queen [Mary] visited the unit”, dated 1 April 1944; 1 x Albury District Hospital list of items needed for going to hospital to give birth; 1 x “Royal Australian Air Force – A passport of Fellowship” card; 6 x undated letters from Greene to his family, and wife Nancy discussing training, family affairs, and time spent on leave both in Australia and the United Kingdom; and 2 x letters to Nancy from her young nephew Judy, dated 1951.

Wallet 8:
131 x airgraphs in a grey display folder, with each individual page displayed (most are more than one page), written from Nancy to her husband spanning the period December 1943 to February 1945. Airgraphs discuss life in Australia, largely consisting of news from friends and family, how much she misses him, and making plans for the future following his return.