So today we go back to February, 1944. I mentioned in a recent blog, Hethersett's efforts to buy a tank to help in the war effort and how it just fell short - by almost £20,000.
One of those involved in fundraising was Duncan Pigg who still lives in the village at the age of 94. Duncan recently passed on a number of artefacts for the village archives and among them was a letter to him from the Air Ministry from the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair.
"You are now an airman and I am glad to welcome you into the Royal Air Force.
To have been selected for air force training is a great distinction. The Royal Air Force demands a high standard of physical fitness and alertness from its flying crews. Relatively few attain that standard and I congratulate you on passing the stringent tests.
You are, of course, impatient to begin and you naturally ask, 'when do I start?'. Your order on the waiting list is determined by your age, date of attestation, and so on; and you may be sure that you will not be overlooked when your turn comes.
While waiting, go on with your present job, or if you are not in employment, get a job - if possible one which helps us on war effort.
You will want to know why you, who are so eager, should have to wait at all. I will tell you.
The Royal Air Force is a highly organised service. In the first line are trained and experienced crews whose stirring deeds and dauntless courage daily arouse the admiration of the world. Behind those men and ready to give them immediate support are the newly-trained crews fresh from the schools. In your turn, you and other accepted candidates stand ready to fill the schools. Unless we had a good reserve of young men, like you, on which to draw, time might be lost at a critical moment and the vital flow of reinforcements would be broken.
I hope this explanation will help you to understand. The waiting period should not be a waste of time. There is much that you can do. You are very fit now or you would not have been chosen. See that you keep fit. Work hard and live temperately. Learn all you can in your spare time about the things you must know if you are to be efficient later on in the air. The more knowledge you gain now the easier it will be when you come to do your training.
In wishing you success in the Service of your choice, I would add this. The honour of the Royal Air Force is in your hands. Our country's safety and the final overthrow of the powers of evil depend upon you and your comrades. You will be given the best aircraft and armament that the factories of Britain and America can produce. Learn to use them well.
Good luck to you."