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Interview with David Bowker
David Bowker joined the Air Force, originally training to be a wireless operator/air gunner but re-mustered as a pilot. He discusses rudder lock on early versions of Halifax. Jacqueline Bowker, his wife, discusses her life during the war and being…
Interview with Anne Morgan Rose Harcombe
Anne Morgan Rose Harcombe was born in London in 1938 and was evacuated, with her mother, at the start of the war to live with her mother’s family in South Wales
Interview with Anthony Edward Mason
Anthony Edward Mason grew up in the area around RAF Waddington and was aged seven when the Second World War commenced. He recalls some of the war time activities there, such as aircraft taking off at night and coming in to land in the morning. Tony…
Interview with Dennis Brader
Dennis was twelve at the commencement of the Second Word War. He does not recall any air raid drills while at school. Dennis had a variety of occupations after leaving school, aged fourteen, before obtaining a job at RAF Wickenby as a groundsman.…
Interview with Les Stedman
Les joined the RAF in 1938 and was posted to RAF Eastchurch to learn his trade as an armourer. Once qualified he worked with the Fairey Battle and Bristol Beaufort, among others. Subsequently, he worked with Meteors, Hawker Hunters and the…
interview with Annie Mary Blood
Annie (Mary) Blood served as a WAAF and was based at 12 Group stationed at RAF Kirton in Lindsey, where she was a permanent staff member, at the end of 1942. She was a junior NCO in charge of the airmen’s mess, and her duties included running rotas,…
Interview with Richard Moore
Leading Aircraftsman Richard Moore joined up aged 18 and completed his basic training in Lincolnshire. He served as ground crew at RAF Locking, RAF Squires Gate and RAF Wickenby, working on several types of aircraft. He was able to take the controls…
Interview with George William Taplin
Leading Aircraftsman George William Taplin, (b. 1922, 1650535 Royal Air Force), joined the RAF in 1941 and trained as an armourer at RAF Credenhill, qualifying as an LAC, with a grade of 82.5%. He served with 349 Belgian Squadron and 88, 342 and 226…
Interview with Kenneth Edgar Neve
Before the outbreak of war, Ken Neve (b.1925) served as the captain's runner with the Home Guard, under his father who was the captain. Ken joined the Fleet Air Arm, which he chose as he wanted to work with both ships and aircraft. After training to…
Interview with Bernard Bell
Bernard can remember seeing much of the bomber action with the aircraft almost turning the sky black as they all left to participate in the ops over Occupied Europe. Bernard recounts how the RAF personnel were made welcome and well respected in…
Interview with George Arthur Bell
George Arthur Bell, (b. 1925), grew up in Lincolnshire. George lived around Boston at the beginning of the war. After leaving school he worked with his father as a builder, which George states was a ‘sort of reserved occupation’. George tells of the…
Interview with Christopher Francis Allison
Christoper Franciss Allison, born 1925, (3007708, Royal Air Force) answers questions from school children about what it was like to fly in a Lancaster. He served as a flight engineer on 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington and was demobbed after two…
Interview with Peter Scoley
Peter spent most of his life in and around farming near RAF Metheringham, which he witnessed being built but not whilst operational, and RAF Waddington after the family was moved in 1943, due to the RAF requiring farmland. He was away at school in…
Interview with Kenneth Ivan Duddell
Ken joined the RAF in January 1942 and qualified as a flight engineer in July 1943 at RAF St Athans. He passed through a number of RAF stations before they were posted to RAF Elsham Wolds and flew operations as a flight engineer with 460, 12 and 103…
Interview with Cliff Thorpe and Roy Smith
Cliff Thorpe and Roy Smith grew up in the village of Elsham while RAF Elsham Wolds was operational.
interview with John Tomlinson
John Tomlinson lived in Elsham Wolds at the time when the airfield was operational.
Interview with Allan Holmes
Allan Holmes’ uncle was Flight Sergeant Frank Norman Holmes (1577142 Royal Air Force) who flew operations as an air gunner with 103 and 582 Squadrons. He was killed 4 May 1944 on an operation to Didier.
Interview with Kathleen (Katy) Reid
Kathleen Reid worked in a reserved occupation but wanted to join the RAF as a WAAF. She was, initially, trained as a telephonist but re-mustered to flight control. Duty meant staying all night in the tower to guide flights home. Then they would…
Interview with Reginald John Herring
Reg Herring was living in London with his father and elder brother at the start of the war. His father built a shelter that collapsed after a heavy rainfall. Reg was evacuated to Sizewell and then to near Birmingham. After the war Reg returned to…
Interview with Colin Cole
Colin Cole took part in the attack that sunk the Tirpitz. He describes how the aircraft was adapted for the operation and flew via RAF Lossiemouth. Colin disposed of the Upkeep 'bouncing bombs' as part of his service with the RAF. They were…
Interview with Wilf Keyte
Wilf Keyte joined the RAF in 1937 and was based with maintenance units. He was posted to RAF Scampton and RAF Henlow where he worked with the Queen Bee missile unit. He was then posted in charge of stores to the Orkneys and then RAF Swinderby. Wilf…
Interview with Les Rutherford
Les Rutherford was called up for the Army just short of his 21st birthday. He was in France at the time of Dunkirk and made it to the beach of St Valery where they were under constant bombardment. He and another soldier found a door and used it to…
Interview with James Douglas Hudson
James Douglas Hudson followed a friend to join the RAF, trained as a navigator and was posted to 101 Squadron at RAF West Raynham. On his final operational flight with the squadron he ran out of fuel and crashed. He was taken prisoner by the Vichy…
Interview with Ernest Groeger
Ernie Groeger volunteered for the RAF in 1940 while working at a textile firm. He undertook training to be an armourer and was posted to 97 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa. Over time he developed ill health and he was discharged from the RAF on health…