Browse Items (51 total)

  • Contributor is exactly "Claire Campbell"

BRichardson20260210.pdf
Harry Richardson grew up in Bolton and North Wembley before beginning pilot training as war broke out. After qualifying, he flew his first tour of operations with 149 Squadron from RAF Mildenhall. He then became an instructor at 27 OTU, flying…

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SBraithwaiteP[Ser#-DoB]v1.pdf
Biographies of the men of Ryedale who died serving with the RAF. Research carried out by the Ryedale Family History Group.

It contains biographies of the following:

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AWiltshireLJ[Date]-02.mp3
Warrant Officer J Wiltshire flew as a Flight Engineer on Halifaxes with 640 Squadron. He was demobbed March 1947.

He describes training as a flight engineer, the nerves of his first flights, and the humour found in mishaps and banter. Life on base…

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BOwensROwensGv1.pdf
Glyn Owens joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1939 and trained as a pilot. Posted to 61 Squadron at RAF Hemswell in early 1941, he flew Hampdens on operational sorties as both navigator and pilot. Glyn’s first operation was an operation to…

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BGoldsworthyRGGoldsworthyRGv2.pdf
Dick Goldsworthy trained as a navigator and was posted to Ferry Command. In August 1942, he and his crew, Pilot “Cisco”, Wireless Operator Arthur, Rear Gunner Joe Gordon (Canadian), and two others delivered a Wellington to Palestine and was posted o…

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BFulleloveRFulleloveRv1.pdf
After winning his Observer’s brevet, Ron Fullelove moved from training Stirlings to clandestine low level Halifax sorties with 138 Squadron at Tempsford, dropping agents and arms across France, Belgium, Holland and Norway. He then transitioned to…

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PMellorS2501.jpg
Squadron Leader Stan Mellor joined the RAF in 1943, initially training as a wireless operator and air gunner before qualifying as a signaller. His early service saw him instructing on Dakotas before deploying to Burma, where he flew operations to…

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AEdwardsPB250206.mp3
Peter Edwards is the son of a Halton apprentice. His father was based at RAF Wittering as Senior Technical Officer during the war, but his mother moved with him and his brother to Lytham St Anne’s for the duration. American servicemen were frequent…

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ARogersEA240501.mp3
Elizabeth's earliest memories include the family’s Anderson shelter, later replaced by a Morrison shelter where she slept during air raids. She recalls the sound of planes overhead and the impact of nearby bombings, including shattered windows and…

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BMilsonGWMilsonGWv1.pdf
George Milson joined the RAF in September 1939. After receiving his wings, he was posted to No. 18 Squadron, flying night operations to Dunkirk, Duisburg, Wilhelmshaven, and later carrying out low level shipping sweeps and “Circus” operations over…

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BWestDJWestKJv1.pdf
Kenneth James West grew up in Birmingham. He enlisted in the RAF and trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. After postings across the UK, he joined 97 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. His Lancaster W4135 was shot down over Holland…

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BFaiersMCFaiersMCv1.pdf
Michael Carter Faiers joined the RAF in 1942 and served as a navigator with 419 Squadron RCAF at Middleton St George. After converting to Halifax at 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF Croft, he began operational flying with 419 Squadron, taking part in…

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BWhitehouseJWhitehouseJv1.pdf
Jack Whitehouse joined the RAF and trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner before joining 35 Squadron, Pathfinder Force, at Graveley, flying Halifax Mk II. His first operation was to a special target in northwest France and he was shot down during…

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Kenneth Percy Bellew Grantham describes the distinctive change in engine noise after take‑off, recalling how once the propellers synchronised the aircraft settled into rhythmic pulse. His duties centred on managing the Marconi 1154/1155 wireless set,…

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BChandlerRChandlerEBv1.pdf
A biography of Chan's life.
He flew 95 operations as Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Gunnery Leader and Cameraman with 49 and 617 Squadrons and survived nine days adrift in the North Sea. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and a rare Soviet…

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PBellC2501.jpg
Colin Bell spent eighteen months as a newly qualified pilot instructing trainees in America. He completed 50 operations as a pilot on Mosquitos on the Light Night Striking Force.
Colin talks of his entry interview into the RAF, his time at an…

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ASmallmanJ070730-0004.mp3
The interviewee speaks of her initial training RAF Catterick and some of the people she met there. She talks of meeting Roy, the man who would become her husband, at RAF Bruntingthorpe.
She tells of Roy’s progress through his training including…

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ASirmanN-BrelnorH041113-0004.mp3
Norman Sirman joined the RAF in 1941. He trained as an air frame mechanic and aircrew fitter in order to become a flight engineer. Norman was posted to 9 Squadron RAF Barney, in September 1943 and was part of the crew of Squadron Leader Ray…

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ABeechP010608-0001.jpg

Phyllis “Phyl” Beech joined the WAAF in March 1943, completing basic training before moving to London for meteorological instruction. After eight weeks learning to read cloud formations and wind patterns, she was posted to RAF Swinderby, a…

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APextonRD770930.mp3
Richard Dunning Pexton joined the RAF Reserve before the war, completing his early flying on biplanes before being called up in September 1939. He flew Gladiators and Hurricanes in France in May 1940, witnessing the collapse first‑hand, then returned…

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ADennisF090301a.mp3
Frank Dennis completed his engineering apprenticeship before he volunteered for the RAF as a flight engineer. While attending basic training he witnessed the crash of a Dakota which was a sobering reminder of the reality of what he was joining but…

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BOlenynEOlenynEv1.pdf
An autobiography of Eugeniusz Olenyn's life.
The first part of the memoir talks of the many trials Genek went through both in attempting to rejoin his Polish Air Force unit and, once the Germans overran the country, escape to England.
Ganek…

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PGreenwoodP2302.jpg
Peter Greenwood was born February 2, 1926, in Halifax, and grew up in the Yorkshire countryside, where his father ran a dairy business. He studied at Sowerby Bridge Grammar School with a particular interest in physics and chemistry. He was later…

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APriceA240327.mp3
Interview with Alistair Price about his father, Kenneth George Price. He was the station navigation officer on 35 Squadron at RAF Wyton. He flew 58 operations before he was shot down and became a prisoner of war.

Alistair Price is the son of…

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PSewerinS2409.jpg
Peter Sewerin remembers his father Stanislaw Sewerin. He escaped from Poland and fought in North Africa before transferring to the RAF and training as a pilot. He flew operations as a pilot with 300 Squadron. After the war, he flew as a pilot in…

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