Airman's love letters sold for £2,100

An unremarkable brown leather suitcase which lay undiscovered in a Norwich loft for years has revealed the amazing life story of a Norwich-based Battle of Britain pilot who was shot down and killed during the second world war.

An unremarkable brown leather suitcase which lay undiscovered in a Norwich loft for years has revealed the amazing life story of a Norwich-based Battle of Britain pilot who was shot down and killed during the second world war.

The remarkable collection, which includes moving letters from Flight Sergeant Eric Arthur Redfern to his sweetheart and eventual wife Joan Preston, medals, and photographs, will be auctioned in Norwich yesterday for £2,100 - exceeding the estimate of £1,500 to £2,000

The letters, which are dated between 1937 and 1941, document the couple's blossoming love affair as well as the brave pilot's life as the trials of life experienced by a second world war airman.

Also included in the auction lot are letters from the Air Ministry notifying Joan, who lived in Constitution Hill, that he was missing in action, and the confirmation of his death - which came five years later - and burial in a military cemetery by the Germans.

Other letters found in the suitcase were from his friends and family to Joan, who later remarried with the blessing and gratitude of Flt/Sgt Redfern's family.

Alison Young, who represents Blyth & Co Auctioneers and Valuers based in Lothian Street, Norwich, said: “To find letters with someone's life and love story and what happened to them after they died complete with medals is very rare and very moving.”

Flt/Sgt Redfern flew Hurricanes with 232, 242 and 607 Squadrons and was stationed at various bases including Martlesham Heath, Suffolk under the command of Wing Commander Douglas Bader.

He lived in Branksome Road, Norwich with his parents Arthur and Mary Redfern. The first card in the collection on February 23 1937 was from Eric to Miss Preston at her Norwich home accepting her kind invitation to her birthday party March 6.

The early letters are written to her when he was on holiday on the South Coast and further follow from various postings throughout the UK. The couple were married in 1941.

On August 22 1941 Joan received a letter from the Air Ministry to inform her that Flt/Sgt Eric Redfern was missing but they could not confirm if he was dead.

It was not until December 30 1946 that the Air Ministry (Casualty Branch) sent a letter to inform which gave her the news she had been dreading. It stated that information obtained from German documents disclosed that a Hurricane Aircraft was shot down as the result of an air battle and crashed near Le Touquet at 8pm, 17 August 1941. Owing to the nature of the crash the identity of the pilot was not established and his remains were buried as unknown on the August 19 1941 in the Military Cemetery at Le Touquet.

But the aircraft was identified as that which had been flown by Sgt Redfern and “leaves no doubt that the unknown grave referred to likewise relates to him” Flt/Sgt Eric Redfern was 27 when he died.

The auction takes place at Blyth & Co Auctioneers, Lothian Street, off Dereham Road, Norwich at 10am. Phone bids and enquiries are welcome on 01603 667984 or to find out about how to bid online log onto www.blyths.com