Enright, Edwin George (Sergeant, b.1912-d.1941)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 402960 Sergeant Edwin George 'Eddie' Enright, 72 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, 1940-1941.

Wallet 1 of 2 – Consists of two folders of letters from Sergeant Enright to his family.

Folder 1 contains 15 letters from Sergeant Enright to his family, dated between c November 1940 and 29 July 1941. They cover the period of Sergeant Enright’s enlistment, training in Australia and Canada, and embarkation for the United Kingdom. In his letters, Sergeant Enright writes of being called up to the RAAF, vaccinations, flying training, the sea voyage to Canada via New Zealand, travelling though Canada to the fighter pilot training camp, life in camp, going to Toronto on leave, training routines, going to the pictures, doing a “heights test”, night flying, qualifying as a pilot, his impressions of Halifax, the sea voyage to Iceland, and poor living conditions and rations.

Folder 2 contains 15 letters from Sergeant Enright to his family, dated between 25 August and 30 November 1941. They cover the period of Sergeant Enright’s arrival in England, operational training in Wales, and service with 72 Squadron. In his letters, Sergeant Enright talks of living conditions in England, being sent to a Spitfire station, further training, hazards and near-accidents while flying, rationing, leave in London, being posted to 72 Squadron, his first crash, doing patrols and sweeps between England and France, life at the aerodrome, foggy weather, losing fellow pilots in aircraft accidents, air raids, a dogfight against three enemy aircraft above France, and his ambitions to be awarded a Distinguished Flying Medal.

Wallet 2 of 2 – Consists of typed transcript of letters of Sergeant Enright. The transcript also includes a short biography of Sergeant Enright, and copies of newspaper clippings and correspondence relating to Sergeant Enright’s death.

Sergeant Edwin George “Eddie” Enright enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 11 November 1940. He trained as a fighter pilot Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Sergeant Enright then went on to pilot Spitfire aircraft as part of 72 Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. With this squadron, he participated in patrols and sweeps of England and France. On 8 December 1941, Sergeant Enright was on an operational sweep over Northern France when he engaged with enemy aircraft and was killed in action. He is commemorated at Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom.