Browse Items (137 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Bedfordshire"

PWildesJE180829.jpg
Jim was born in July 1923 in Burton on Trent and was the eldest of six children. His father served in the First World War. When Jim left school aged 14, he joined the Boys Brigade which had a Royal Air Force section and he had the chance to fly in…

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ACarringtonJ170207.mp3
Jane Carrington joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1942 at the age of 18 because it sounded more exciting than the Army or Navy and she like the colour of the uniform. She served as a cook, and volunteered to join the band as a drummer. She…

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AMulhallJE160823.mp3
James was born in Gorton, attended Catholic schools, and became an apprentice plumber. In November 1942 he joined the Royal Air Force and trained as a mechanic at RAF St Athan before being posted to RAF Henlow to assemble Hurricanes. He then went…

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AMorrisH17XXXX-01.mp3
Henry Morris, (b. 1922 Royal Air Force) served as a wireless operator in the Marine Branch, Air Sea Rescue. He was, initially, sent to New York before being posted to 211 OTU RAF Oakes Field, Nassau as part of Costal Command. On returning to the…

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SBondS-KartzHv10008.MP3
The interview starts with S Bond explaining the purpose of the interview is research for a book on the 'Wimpey'. Harry then described his joining civil air guard and then volunteering for the RAF. He, initially hoped to be a pilot, but medical…

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AHodgsonH170723.mp3
Harry Hodgson was ground crew during the war. He was based with 10 Squadron, working on Halifax Bombers at RAF Melbourne. Harry said it was a very busy time patching up the holes from both anti-aircraft fire and bullets on the Halifax. He remembers…

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ACammishHS180501.mp3
Harrison Cammish was born in Scarborough in 1923 and, when he was 14, he became an apprentice carpenter and joiner. When war broke out, he joined the Air Training Corps, and the Home Guard, who gave him a rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition. At the…

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AGardnerHS171101.mp3
During the final months of World War 2, Harold Gardner was a navigator on 106 Squadron based at RAF Metheringham. Known throughout his RAF career as Stan, he was born in Brighton. In 1937 aged 14, his father arranged employment for him with the…

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ARichGW180417.mp3
Gerald’s father, Wilfred, joined the Royal Air Force in January 1920 and stayed until around 1927, training as an aircraft fitter. He re-joined in June 1940 at RAF Cardington. In 1944, upon completion of training, he went to No. 1 Air Gunnery School…

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PSpencerGC1901.jpg
Geoffrey Spencer grew up in Birmingham and worked with his father in tool making, carrying out fire watching as a youngster. He joined the Air Force in August 1943, aged 18. After training, he served as a flight mechanic and fitter with 49 Squadron…

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AMartinFJK180309.mp3
Keith Martin was working for an agricultural machinery merchants in Shrewsbury when the war started. This was classed as a reserved occupation but when he was nearly 20, he decided to volunteer for the Royal Air Force in April 1942 and was selected…

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ABowmanFA181121.mp3
Frederick Bowman was born in Sydney in 1924. He was a member of the Air Training Corps, and when he was 18 he joined the Air Force. He went to Kingaroy for basic training, and did his wireless course at Maryborough, and Evans Head for bombing and…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v280003.mp3
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…

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PHorshamES1602.jpg
Eric Horsham was born in East London in 1923 and, after lkeaving school aged 14 he was a messenger at the Royal Ordnance Factory before working for the railways. In 1937 he joined the Air Training Corps and learned about aircraft maintenance. On his…

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AAdamsCB170802.mp3
Cyril was born in London in 1921, lived in Battersea with his relatives and met his wife in 1940 while working at Harrods. His family were killed by a bomb after he joined up. Cyril enlisted at RAF Cardington in 1941 and trained to be a fitter, then…

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PMooreWT1506.jpg
After spending time in the Air Defence Cadet Corps, Bill Moore joined the Royal Air Force, qualifying as an observer. He tells of his family history in wartime and his transatlantic trip, landing in New York before heading to Canada for his training.…

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PMooreWT1508.jpg
William Moore was born in Dunoon, Scotland in August 1924 and joined the Royal Air Force after spending some time in the Air Cadet Defence Corps and in the Air Training Corps. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 and completed his…

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SBondS-SharpGv10001-.pdf
Extracts from Guy Sharp’s Pilots Flying Log Book from 16th December 1940 until 31st July 1942. Initial training at 15 Elementary Flying Training School, 14 Service Flying Training School and then 20 Operational Training Unit. Operational postings to…

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LMackieGA855966v2.pdf
Pilots flying log book two, for George Alexander Mackie, covering the period from 24 September 1943 to 17 February 1946. Detailing his instructor duties, operations flown and post war flying with 46 squadron. He was stationed at RAF Waterbeach, RAF…

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LMackieGA855966v1.pdf
Pilots flying log book one, for George Alexander Mackie, covering the period from 17 September 1940 to 30 September 1942. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Meir, RAF Cranfield, RAF…

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BNorthGJNorthGJv2.pdf
A day by day account consisting of three parts. Part one covers his being shot down on 21 February 1945, his capture and journey to prisoner of war camp arriving 15 March 1945 including an mention that his train was bombed by Marauders. Part two…

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BNorthGJNorthGJv1.pdf
A day by day account consisting of three parts. Part one covers his being shot down on 21 February 1945, his capture and journey to prisoner of war camp arriving 15 March 1945 including an mention that his train was bombed by Marauders. Part two…

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SHorryM[Ser#-DoB]v10008-0003-0001.jpg
RAF Form 543 issued to Frank Horry. It contains details of his service record.

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BDennisFDennisFv1.pdf
In 1943 Frank completed an engineering apprenticeship and volunteered to join the Royal Air Force as a flight engineer. He completed basic training in London, where he witnessed the fatal crash of a C-47 and then went to Initial Training Wing at RAF…

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SBakerDA19210428v20033-0001.jpg
Forty-nine airmen wearing tunic and side caps, sitting and standing in four rows. In the background a brick building with two windows. On the reverse 'P/O Baker, Cranfield, FTC, Advanced Flying Training Unit, flying Oxford trainers'.

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