Browse Items (389 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Leicestershire"

AAn00202-150907.mp3
The interviewee was born in London and worked for some time as a clerk until joining the Royal Air Force. He did not like the idea of serving in the Army or in the Navy but - as a Londoner - he was keen to take part in the war, having experienced the…

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AKirkDJB151130.mp3
Dennis Kirk was born in Barkston 1920, and lived on a farm near Plungar. He recalls when the war started, the War Executive Committee told farmers what to produce; he also talks about the Land Army. Being in a reserved occupation, he joined the Home…

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PEvansE1602.jpg
Eric Evans was born in 1923 in Liverpool and was 16 years old when war broke out. He served in the Royal Air Force, serving with 463 RAAF Squadron, starting from the rank of sergeant and rising to a warrant officer on leaving the service, before…

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AFraserDK161104.mp3
Donald Fraser grew up in Fifeshire, and worked in forestry until he volunteered into the RAF in 1942, aged 18. He trained as a flight engineer and completed a tour of operations with 101 Squadron. He recalls operations to Berlin; being hit by…

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AFroudJ160509.mp3
James Froud wanted to be a pilot. He was interviewed in London and called up to Lord’s Cricket Ground. Having twice failed navigation examinations, he was re-mustered and sent to RAF Eastchurch for a gunnery course. From there, he went to RAF…

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AGregoryN150724.mp3
Having volunteered for aircrew in 1941 in York, Norman came into active service in 1942. He flew Tiger Moths at RAF Ansty and was recommended for multi-engine aircraft. After RAF Heaton Park, he went to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He spent six months…

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AMarlowR160422.mp3
Ronald Marlow went to Middleton Council School, then worked at Forgrove Engineering. He joined the Air Training Corps before volunteering for the Royal Air Force training in London at St John's Wood. He became an air gunner and flew Wellingtons,…

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AMaywoodRM151109.mp3
Dick was born in Peterborough and volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1941. He was called up to Lord’s Cricket Ground in 1942. Dick went to No. 6 Initial Training Wing at RAF Aberystwyth. He then went to RAF Desford, flying Tiger Moths and was…

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AMcDonaldEA150713.mp3
Allan McDonald was born in Hull and worked as an apprentice electrician before joining the Air Force. He passed the exams to become aircrew and trained as an air gunner. During training, his aircraft crash landed and he was soaked in petrol. He flew…

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ATinsleyR150604.mp3
Dick was from a farming background and joined the Royal Air Force in 1944. After going to RAF Bedford, he was sent to Lord’s Cricket Ground. Those passing as a pilot went to a flying school near Coventry to be assessed for pilot training on a Tiger…

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BBaileyJDBaileyJDv1.pdf
Bill Bailey's wartime memoirs detailing enlistment, training in UK and Canada and details of each of 31 operations in Bomber Command. After completion of his tour he was transferred to RAF Lossiemouth to train Free French aircrew, after which he was…

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MBaileyJD1583184-161207-020001.jpg
Cadet's Flight log of Bill Bailey issued by City of Leicester Wing, Air Training Corps. It records one flight in a Tiger Moth on 30 May 1942, duration 10 minutes.

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PBaileyJD1603.jpg
A group of airmen standing at ease on parade. Bill Bailey is in the front most line, third from the left. Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.

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LVipondR3040603v1.pdf
Navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers flying log book for Richard Vipond, covering the period from 29 May 1944 to 18 November 1953. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and post war duties with 514,…

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AMcDonaldEA150918.mp3
Allan McDonald was born in Hull and watched Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus as a child. He worked as an apprentice electrician before joining the Air Force. He served as ground personnel in Northern Ireland until he passed the exams to become aircrew…

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MMcDonaldEA1076160-150914-01.pdf
Consisting of three parts: The first part gives an eye witness account of an aircraft crash and its aftermath. The second part describes the 'Skilling Follies', an aircrew who completed 25 operations from RAF Skellingthorpe. The third part…

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AMasonAE181023.mp3
Bert Mason was born in Germany and worked in light engineering and driving ambulances before joining the RAF in 1942. He started training as a navigator then joined a crew and became an air gunner on 195 Squadron at RAF Wratting Common. He tells of…

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BPayneRPayneRv2.pdf
An account by Reg Payne of his wartime experiences. He spent two years as a Home Guard before he reached the age where he could join the RAF. He recalls the many operations he took part in and the RAF stations where he served. He met his future wife…

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LMathersRW55201v1.pdf
Pilots flying log book for Ronald Mathers covering the period from 8 May 1942 to 30 September 1944. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Sywell, RAF De Winton, RAF Swift Current, RAF…

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BPayneRBallFv1.jpg
Reg writes of the funeral of Sergeant Frederick Charles Ball (1921 - 1944, 1161312 Royal Air Force) in Leicester, attended by four of the crew, including (Sir) Michael Beetham. He tells of the effect it has on his personal life and decisions.

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LStevensP[Ser#-DoB]v1.pdf
Pilots flying log book for Peter Stevens, covering the period from 6 June 1940 to 7 September 1941 when he was taken prisoner of war and then from 26 July 1945 to 22 January 1947 and from 28 September 1952 to 19 September 1953. Detailing his flying…

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PDaviesRS1801.jpg
In spring 1940, Ronald Davies joined the RAF to train as a pilot. Following initial training, he was posted to America but was dismissed after crashing a Cessna. Following Pearl Harbour, he trained as a navigator in Port Albert, Canada, but upon…

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AFrostEH171110.mp3
Edward ‘Ted’ Frost volunteered for the RAF and began training to be a pilot. Initially he was posted to RAF Hendon where he flew agents to the occupied territories, in Lysanders. He was then posted to 61 Squadron at RAF Syerston. He was offered the…

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AHambrookHJ180109.mp3
Harry Hambrook was born in Hackney and when he left school he became an office boy. He volunteered for the RAF and became an air gunner. He was posted to 3 Air Gunnery School in RAF Stranraer for gunnery training flying in Ansons. From there he…

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LHudsonJD173116v1.pdf
Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for Douglas Hudson, navigator, covering the period from 15 May 1943 to 20 July 1945. It states, ‘original log book lost on operations 27 August 1940’. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and…

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