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Show 'Buddy' Reveals Details Of Death of Lieut. Garth Cottam In July The first real news that Mr. and Mrs. James Cottam have received regarding their son Garth's death, other than the brief message from the Army that he was "missing in action", was received this week in a letter written by Lieutenant Lieuten-ant Garth's buddy in Australia. Following is the letter which was sent them after the Army lifted its stringent censorship: September 23. 1942 i Mr. James F. Cottam, Veyo, Utah Dear Mr. Cottam: At an earlier date, you were informed that your son. Garth, is missing in action. I deeply regret re-gret that due to stringent censorship cen-sorship regulations, we have not been able to write you in more detail of his disappearance before be-fore this time. On July 23rd. Garth was flying with his squadron on a mission over the Buna Bay area in New Guinea. Bad weather was encountered en-countered over the area to be attacked, at-tacked, but he went on through leading his clement after others had turned bark. He was seen to dive into the low clouds and fog preparatory to his attack. Shortly afterwards, he called to his wingman that they would 'have to return, as the weather was too thick for operations. No ! further reports were received from Garth, and he was not seen I a;ain. We are led to believe that 1 he crashed due to the nil visibil-liiy visibil-liiy while trying to press an at-! at-! tnck a:.i:r..t the enemy. G.u-:-. v. a one of my closest fritT.'U. and I kn;;w now 8t:.in'--i he was to ail of you in his family. fam-ily. Your loss, if indeed, he L lost, is a croat one. as is the loss to our country and to r,;-ua.iron. r,;-ua.iron. Your son .served the (Continued on pae eight) Garth Cottaro (Continued from first page) squadron willingly and aggres-ively. aggres-ively. both in the air and at his duties on the ground. Never, since being with him, have I known him to shirk any assignment assign-ment given him. His character was above all reproach; his love of home and country boundless, j In fighting for the latter, he has i probably given his life serving ! bravely and unsparingly as always.. al-ways.. Garth's personal effects will be sent to you as soon as military! channels "will allow. It was his; wish that his wings be given to' his mother, should any mishap befall him. i You may well be proud of your son and the work he has done for his country. With all sym-: pathy to you and credit to Garth, , I am i Sincerely yours, Phillip K. Shriver, Asst. Adj. 40th Fighter Squadron, APO 922 San Francisco, Calif. |