Browse Items (698 total)

  • Contributor is exactly "Julie Williams "

AJenningsD050704-0004.mp3
While on operations with 5 Squadron Doug Jenning and his crew were forced to abandon their burning aircraft. The pilot died in the aircraft. Doug and the flight engineer separately evaded capture and returned to the UK. Doug went on to further…

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…

AMajorC[Date]-01.mp3
Recording of a conversation between Colin and Stuart [his son] relating to him missing his Squadron transfer to the Far East and his time Malaya. Colin Major describes extending his leave without permission and finding himself stranded with his…

ABookerSA241007.mp3
Stanley Albert Booker grew up in Chatham in a military environment surrounded with the sort of military paraphernalia he and his young friends found fascinating. He volunteered for the RAF at the earliest opportunity. He trained as a wireless…

AMonaghanJ240819.mp3
John Monaghan was born in Blackpool but grew up in the Manchester area. He played coronet in the Home Guard Band. He volunteered for the RAF and trained as a wireless operator. He was posted to 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington. Amongst his operations…

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…

SBondS-VandervordDv10014.MP3
David Vandervord explains that, as a Wellington second pilot, he never actually handled the aircraft on operations. He mentions leaflet dropping. He, initially, joined the civil air guard and started pilot training but this was interrupted by the…

SBondS-SpodenPv10016.MP3
Invited to discuss the tactics of 100 Group and their effect on German night-fighter operations, Peter describes the older Kammhuber line system of ground controlled intercepts. He also talks of different kinds of 100 Group jamming and spoofing and…

SBondS-SharpGv10010.MP3
Guy starts with some comments on his training at RAF Cranfield and RAF Lossiemouth, August 1940, before joining 9 Squadron at RAF Honington in November 1940 as a Wellington co-pilot. He recalls making a mistake on his first operation to Mannheim. He…

AMuhlTG19770430-0002.mp3
Arthur Harris speaks about the reduction of frontline soldiers available to the Germany army, due to the redirection of men to anti-aircraft defences and repairs to the German armament industry, as a result of bombing by the RAF and the 8th USAAF. He…

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…

SBondS-RichardsonAv10015.MP3
Alan Richardson begins half way through a story of an aircraft losing wings flying through the Needles. S Bond then tells a couple of stories about crew who ditched a Wellington and an air gunner taken off ops. Alan finishes with some comment on log…

SBondS-RichardsonAv10014.MP3
Jock begins the interview with joining up and first flying on 201 Squadron, with Flying Boats from Sullom Voe. He then, briefly, covers training as wireless operator/air gunner. He was posted to 38 Squadron on Wellingtons in July 1940 at RAF Marham…

ABarnesWallis19770924-0004.mp3
Following the playing of the Dambusters' March, are speeches from the 90th birthday celebration for Sir Barnes Wallis at the Thatcher’s Hotel in Leatherhead, Surrey. These include an introduction by Sir Arthur Harris, a message from Queen Elizabeth…

SBondS-LippiardRv10004.MP3
Ray talks a little of pre-war activities before joining 15 Squadron, including Battles at RAF Abingdon and being deployed to France in 1939, which is where he was when war broke out. He describes an airfield being attacked by Ju 87. On returning to…

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…

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…

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…

PSkepperRL2401.jpg
Richard Skepper was born in Sevenoaks and volunteered for the RAF. He served as a flight mechanic on 7 Squadron at RAF Oakington.

Richard Spepper was born in Kent. His ambition was to be a tank driver but his mother escorted him to the RAF…

SBondS-LancasterJv10017.MP3
Jo talks about aircraft he liked and those he did not. He did not like Oxford and Halifax and was uncomplimentary about B-17 and B-24. He recalls an incident of accidentally feathering two engines on B-24. Jo loved the Wellington Mk 3; he liked…