Browse Items (667 total)

  • Type is exactly "Text. Memoir"

SBondS-GwilliamAv10028.pdf
Transcript of interview with Les Francis, who flew as a Mosquito navigator with Alan Gwilliam in the Far East. He covers his training and posting to India and, eventually, Burma. He relates flying experience in Burma on 47 Squadron. He provides…

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MBarraletAF85233-210609-08.pdf
Stories about camp life, escape tunnels, sports, food, the gunner who fell to earth without a parachute and survived, the food exchange and amateur dramatics.

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MNealeETH1395951-150731-096.jpg
A commemorative poster with a map of Southern Europe and North Africa which includes a list of relevant operational locations along with details.

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SGillK1438901v20020.pdf
Biography of Arthur Alexander Gill and memories of his cousin Kenneth Gill. Writes of working in the same firm as Kenneth Gill before the war. Too young to join forces, he was employed in Blackburn aircraft stores. Was called up in December 1944.…

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MShattockGF1317240-180311-10.jpg
An excerpt from a letter to Geoff Shattock from Flight Lieutenant AC Wallace, his navigator, describing an operation to Rostock on the 20 April when the gunner, in a fellow Stirling, opened fire on them, injuring Geoff and damaging the aircraft.

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BChristisonAChristisonAv1.pdf
He and his crew members baled out after running out of fuel in cloudy conditions and with navigational equipment failure. He landed near Montigny, in France and, after help from a farmer, met up with his crew at Donnemarle. They were flown back from…

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MClaytonA19021012-190403-01.pdf
Albert Edward Clayton autobiographical notes, containing his family history, training and subsequent employment in telecommunications pre war, during the war, and post war.

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MEdwardsAE2202190-161024-02.pdf
Lists 42 operations with dates, targets, aircraft, fuel, bomb loads, times and accounts of sortie for each one.

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BSmithJSmithJv1-2.pdf
Wartime recollections of John (known to his friends as Jack) George Smith from Pinchbeck. He tells of life before the war, how he went on to volunteer for the RAF in August 1940 and describes his training as a wireless operator. The document includes…

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BSmithJSmithJv1.pdf
Second version. Covers life before the war and volunteering for the RAF in August 1940 and continues with an account of training as a wireless operator. The article includes radio school crest and photograph of a Battle aircraft. He describes his…

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MJoslinAL200926-211123-010001.jpg
Memoir of a flight engineer, covering training and operations through 1944. The narrative provides details of bomb loads, specific events experienced by the crew and details of German night fighter tactics.

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BLeedhamALeedhamAv10001.jpg
Details of Alma's early life in London, joining the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force in 1941 and training as a driver. She relates experiences at RAF Scampton and then with 57 Squadron as a tractor driver, pulling bomb trolleys. Subsequently went to East…

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SDexterKI127249v10012.jpg
Squadron Leader A N Banks, Station Intelligence officer at RAF Foulsham, notes that the station was engaged on special duties with two squadrons, one of Halifax and the other Mosquito. He recalls an event in April 1944 when a Halifax collided with a…

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BHollisANHollisANv1.pdf
Arthur's memoirs from his early life throughout his RAF career. He also tells of his post-war career and activities.

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BWittyARWittyARv1.pdf
History of wartime experiences of Ronald Witty. Starts with schooling and early employment in Hull, just before the war. Mentions German bombing of Hull and volunteering for the RAF. Describes training in London and Torquay before departing on a…

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SBondS-RichardsonAv10010.pdf
Alan gives details of service: 201 Squadron; 38 & 148 Squadron Wellington air gunner; 211 Squadron Blenheim Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; 35 Squadron Lancaster flight engineer; and 120 Squadron Lancaster and Shackleton pilot. He tells of first…

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PCollerAS17010001.jpg
A page of a scrapbook with photographs and hand written annotations.

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BWoolfASWoolfASv1.pdf
The book contains a head and shoulders portrait of Arthur Woolf wearing uniform tunic with half brevet, medal ribbons and peaked cap. It also contains badges for Bomber Command, 5 Group and 630 Squadron. The account covers the period from him joining…

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BGambleATGambleATv1.pdf
Part 1. Covers the period from Alan Gamble's years as a schoolboy in Worthing in the late 1930's, up to joining the RAF in 1943, where he trained, before moving to RAF Fairford in 1944. He flew 29 bombing and mine laying sorties over Germany and…

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BYatesYates1501.pdf
The memoir covers Sergeant Officer A Yates' time as a prisoner of war from September 1942 to April 1945. He was initially imprisoned in Stalag VIIIB in Upper Silesia, he was evacuated with 30,000 others to escape the advancing Russian Army. He and a…

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MDawsonSR142531-160516-01.pdf
The notebook (consisting of 53 pages) contains written accounts of 32 operations to targets in Germany, Italy and France, between June and November 1943 as well as a list of his crew. Accounts include bomb loads and descriptions of operations…

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MSaundersA[DoB]-171003-01.pdf
A document written as a Summer Project whilst Aidan was at school. She discusses their early years after her grandparents got married in London. During the war the family moved to Wales for safety. After the war John, (possibly her brother), became…

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MLovattP1821369-190903-75.pdf
A detailed analysis of very early aircraft and their flying characteristics.

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MEdgarAG172180-180704-01.pdf
The memoirs were recorded in 1980 at a reunion at Sudbrooke. He starts by describing crewing up at RAF Silverstone. His first operation was a second 'dickie' (an observer) to Konisberg. On his third trip his bomb aimer opened his chute on the ground…

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BMannAMannAv3.pdf
He reminisces about pre-war and early war days as a schoolboy in Lewisham, recalling events at the beginning of the war. Includes photographs of aircraft and naval ships. He continues with history of events through the war's early years including:…

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