My dear Mrs. Burton: "I know you have waited so long for some news concerning the death of your son, Harlan. I was an officer on the ship which carried your son on the raid of November 3. I will try to tell you, to the best of my abilit y, what happened that day. Many things are still uncertain as I was unconscious for awhile. "In an aerial collision near Bremen, Germany, the ship was badly damaged and in an attempt to return to our base, the plane crashed near Wilhelmshaven, Germany. To the best of my knowledge, your son was unable to get out of the ship. The other three men who were killed were drowned in the North Sea, I believe. "I know your loss is irreplaceable and there can be no consolation from any source. "Your son was an excellent soldier and gunner and his work against the enemy was very important to us. Harlan was very well liked by all the officers and squadron. He had many enemy aircraft to his credit and destroyed one the day that he lost his life in the service of his country. "My sincerest sympathy to you and to Harlan's wife. "Very sincerely yours, "Lieut. Bradley E. Squires, Jr."