Browse Items (631 total)

  • Type is exactly "Text. Memoir"

BWilliamsonGRWilliamsonGRv10001.jpg
The memoir details the events of Sergeant George Reid Williamson following his bale out of his Lancaster, over Chateau-Thierry. After hiding in a wood for a few days, he met a local farmer who took him back to the farmhouse and provided him with…

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MCalvertRA1488619-151208-01.jpg
Biography of Roger Calvert, detailing his training as navigator in Canada and the United Kingdom, and his operational career flying Mosquito aircraft on night intruder operations. The account includes brief details of two significant events, losing…

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MBartlettA[Ser#-DoB]-150520-040001.jpg
The writer describes events during a mine laying operation, in a Stirling, to the Gironde River near Bordeaux. He relates how the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire which damaged the tail and an engine, as well as wounding the flight engineer. He…

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MBartlettA[Ser#-DoB]-150520-02.jpg
Anthony writes of an incident at an officers’ mess ball, which contrasts the attitude of peacetime station commander to those found on operational stations. He describes events surrounding a station ball at a training base in the Midlands, including…

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BArcherSWArcherSWv10001.jpg
Stanley Archer’s account of his training as one of the first flight engineers for Lancaster operations in 1942, having first attended an air gunnery course. He then transferred to 97 squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa. He tells about a daylight operation…

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BBriggsDWBriggDWv1.pdf
Don recalls his wartime service from 1939 to 1945, having joined as an apprentice at RAF Halton in September 1939. He was first posted to RAF Wittering as fitter engineer working on Wellington, Hampden and Manchester aircraft, followed by a tour at…

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BBriggsDWNealeWv1.pdf
Tribute to Squadron Leader William G Neal, Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross, Croix de Guerre, 1912-2001. It describes how Don Briggs met and was crewed with Bill Neal’s crew who, having completed one tour, had been selected for…

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BGrayHMGrayHMv1.pdf
Bertie Gray gives a detailed description of impressions, emotions and events leading up to and during his first trip in a Stirling aircraft. Includes descriptions of stalling, corkscrewing and flying on two engines.

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BBascombeEJBascombeEJv.pdf
RON: Flight Engineer Ron Jones (Betty's first husband) 61 Squadron, killed in action 25 April 1944. Details of his early life and service career, how they met and their brief marriage. Initially, he was declared missing but on January 1945 he was…

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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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MHawkinsD158602-151002-01.pdf
Account of the service history of Flight Lieutenant Des Hawkins with 44, 625 and 630 Squadrons, between 1941-1946.

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BTaylorWHTaylorWHv1.pdf
He describes how his aircraft was shot down on an operation to Revigny by an Me 110 night fighter, his bale out and capture. After being interrogated he became a prisoner of war. In February 1944, as the Russians advanced, he and his fellow…

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MCarrR[Ser#-DoB]-150527-01.pdf
Ron Carr's account of how he and his crew baled out over Switzerland after their aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire en route to Augsburg. He was arrested but eventually transported back to the UK via Paris, Madrid and Gibraltar.

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SAllenDJ1880966v10003.jpg
Derrick's account of being shot down 2/3 November 1944, after a successful attack on Dusseldorf, during which the Lancaster was severely damaged by a night fighter. He goes on to describe battle with FW 190 and and the order to abandon aircraft.…

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MSandersDS1869292-160314-07.pdf
Provides details of 22 operations where David Sanders flew as flight engineer. It includes all up weights, bomb loads, fuel loads, snags, numbers of aircraft, defences, remarks and number of aircraft missing on operations.

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SMarshallS1594781v10034.jpg
Three page history of RAF Elsham Wolds, covering its operations during WWI and WW2 with sketches and text by S Finn.

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BWardCWWardCWv1.pdf
Records Charles Ward's call up to the Army and early training. Having applied and been accepted to transfer to the Royal Air Force, all transfers were cancelled due to imminent operations. He describes, in detail, fighting in Tunisia, and explains…

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MThomasWH152984-150721-01.pdf
He describes his first interest in the RAF, in 1938, before joining the Air Defence Cadet Corps and, later in 1941, the Air Training Corps. Being called up by the RAF in February 1942, he proceeded through initial training and the Initial Training…

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MBooneRH1331310-150729-020003.jpg
Provides details of nine operations carried out between February and May 1943 from RAF Elvington on 77 Squadron, flying a Halifax. Targets include Cologne, Berlin and several in the Ruhr.

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MBooneRH1331310-150729-02.pdf
The notes were taken from the National Records Office, London and provide details of six operations carried out in a Halifax on 35 Squadron at RAF Graveley in May and early June 1943. Targets included Bochum, Essen, Wuppertal and Munster. States that…

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MOHaraHF655736-161121-05.pdf
Lambeth notebook with daily diary covering the journey from Iceland to Canada on HMS Ranpura, between 25 to 30 June 1941. There is also an account describing crossing from Greenock, Scotland to Iceland on ship Royal Ulsterman; stopover in Iceland;…

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BSpencerAHGSpencerAHGv1.pdf
Memoir of the life of Arthur Spencer. It includes details of childhood and growing up, tells of him joining the Royal Air Force and his training in the United States as a pilot and then navigator. This was followed by training in England and a…

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BWallerTWallerTv1.pdf
The memoir covers his early life, joining the RAF and training as an Armourer and his subsequent wartime career. He served on 138 Squadron at RAF Stradishall and describes its Special Operation Executive operations. He tells of his postings to RAF…

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YHughesAM417845v1.pdf
Describes the journey taken by foot and, eventually, train after the evacuation of the Bankau Stalag Luft 7 prisoner of war camp (18 January - 8 February 1945).

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YHughesAM417845v20001.jpg
Describes events following the German authorities' announcement that prisoners from a number of camps in the east would be moved to other areas of the Reich. Due to lack of transport, prisoners would be required to walk. Describes events at Stalag…

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