Browse Items (42 total)

  • Contributor is exactly "Julie Tompkins"

APillingW[Date]-01.mp3
W Pilling trained as a gunner before joining 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington. During a training flight he jumped out of a burning Whitley. While at his first squadron he flew with several crews and when he no longer flew with them they had a tendency…

AKornerGV960820.mp3
G Korner completed his training as a rear gunner and was posted to RAF Leconfield. As gunner he witnessed other aircraft above heading into their bombing run and their bombs just missing his aircraft. He also witnessed aircraft being shot down and on…

AHarveyRW950911.mp3
R Harvey trained as a gunner before being posted to RAF Lossiemouth to join an already established crew. While based at Leconfield he married and his wife moved close by. He was sure that the weather conditions were such that there would not be…

ATruemanKW970804.mp3
Ken Trueman trained as a navigator and flew operations with 640 Squadron from RAF Leconfield. While on operations they came under attack and the plane began to burn. The crew baled out except the pilot and rear gunner. Ken parachuted into a field…

AGrayJ960613.mp3
Stationed at 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield Jim Gray recalled an occasion when having been briefed for an operation to Trappes airmen having a drink in Beverley heard the local townspeople talking openly about the operation. Since the operation was…

AWilkieI[Date]-01.mp3
Ian Wilkie served as a flight engineer on 158 Squadron before being posted to RAF Leconfield in January 1944. Paddy, the mid-upper gunner on his crew always said that shrapnel wouldn’t hurt them until he was hit by it. He was pulled from the turret…

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…

AWiltshireLJ[Date]-01.mp3
J Wiltshire trained as a flight engineer. He joined his crew at RAF Riccall before being posted to RAF Leconfield. On one occasion a navigational error found the crew over enemy territory rather than Norfolk they had expected. However, they got home…

AWilliamsR200505.mp3
Rosita Williams nee Semler grew up near Frankfurt during the Second World War. Her education was very disrupted by the war including her piano lessons when there were no local teachers. She was on a train when it was shot up by fighters. She was…

PWhiteheadJ2501.jpg
Jacqui Whitehead talks of how she has been involved with veterans, remembrance, and the Air Gunners Association over the last thirty years. She discusses stories of reconciliation, and how the Flightpath of Friendship and Reconciliation became a…

AEdwardsJA[Date]-010001.mp3
James Edwards trained initially as a pilot before training as a navigator. Part of his initial training was in South Africa. When he returned to the UK and completed his training he was posted to 49 Squadron at RAF Fiskerton.

ATweddleWD770915-0005.mp3
Doug Tweddle flew as a pilot with 9 Squadron based at RAF Bardney for his tour of operations. This part of his self-recorded interview covers the last days of the war and the changing face of the RAF in the post war years.

ATweddleWD770915-0004.mp3
Continuation of the self recorded report of Doug Tweddle about his experiences at 9 Squadron, RAF Bardney during the Second World War. Doug was awarded an DFC for being on all three attacks on the Tirpitz. However, that actual medal took four years…

ATweddleWD770915-0003.mp3
Doug Tweddle flew on the successful operation to sink the Tirpitz.

ATweddleWD770915-0002.mp3
Doug Tweddle was a pilot with 9 Squadron based at RAF Bardney. Here in his second part of his interview he talks about relationships at his home station. He describes meeting Ralph Cochrane on a flight. He talks about the ground crew who always knew…

ATweddleWD770915-0001.mp3
Doug Tweddle undertook the initial pilot training in South Africa. On return to the UK he attended Operational Training Unit at Upper Heyford where he selected his crew. After completing training the crew were posted to 9 Squadron at RAF Bardney.…

PLofthouseT1808.jpg
Tom Lofthouse initially began training as a wireless operator/air gunner in his native Australia before changing to air gunner. He was posted to 466 Squadron at RAF Leconfield for his operational flying. After his tour he was posted to 16 BDTU (Bomb…