Browse Items (184 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Somerset"

BWierTWierTv1.pdf
In a series of "flashbacks" the author starts with commentary on family in Poland and names recorded on visits to Poland. Continues with account of early life, school and life in Poland before the war. He mentions his first operation on 300 Squadron…

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BMayBJMayBJv10001.jpg
Ben May's life and service as a flight engineer on 420 Squadron flying Halifax from January 1945. He describes life before volunteering for aircrew and being called up for the RAF in February 1944. He provides a short description of training and…

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BRogersDGortonRAv1.pdf
A summary of Tom's early life, marriage and service career. Includes a description of his aircraft being shot down over Wetten, with photographs of his caterpillar badge and postcard to his wife confirming he was a prisoner of war and his…

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SClydeSmithD39856v10004.jpg
Top left - shows Lancaster with Zola nose art and crew standing in front. Account of permission to use artwork for nose art and mention of operations.
Top right - Taunton officer wins DFC. Awarded to Squadron Leader Denis Clyde-Smith. Citation…

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LRichardsonF146443v2.1.pdf
Pilots flying log book 2 for F J Richardson, covering the period from 3 March 1943 to 8 October 1945. Detailing his operations flown, flying training and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Langar, RAF Ossington, RAF Church Broughton, RAF…

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PThomasAF20010003.jpg
Family of Arthur Thomas. The two boys are sons of Charles and Emily Thomas.

LDunnGC149315v1.pdf
Pilot's flying log book one, for George C Dunn, covering the period from 11 January 1942 to 30 July 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RCAF Caron, RCAF Weyburn, RAF Chipping Norton, RAF…

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PThomasAF20020045.jpg
Photo 1 is a postcard of Glastonbury Abbey.
Photo 2 is a street view of the George and Pilgrims Inn.
Photo 3 and 5 are Glastonbury Abbey.
Photo 4 is a postcard of the ancient well in the crypt of Glastonbury abbey.
Photo 6 is a postcard of the…

BRhodesG-KPayneAv1.pdf
A description of their time during the war, provided by their daughter. Her father joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in September 1940. He was captured by the Japanese in Singapore, 1942. He was released on 12 September 1945 and…

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EMansellEJMansellN421017-0001.jpg
The telegram wishes happy returns. It is annotated 'Telling us he had been recommended for a commission'. There is a post-it note with 'Join up. 17 Oct 1942. [indecipherable] birthday?'.

PThomasAF20010027.jpg
Photo 1 is a group of mostly men arranged outside the Ship hotel, Banwell. It includes his uncle, Ted. Dated early 1920s.
Photo 2 is a group of children in a classroom. Arthur is standing on the left. Dated possibly 1933.

PThomasAF20010029.jpg
The two photographs are the same. They are of a group of women and two men, identified as possibly a Harvest Festival in the 1930s. The group includes Arthur's mother, front row, first on left.

MWarrenHJ619608-160425-02.pdf
Form 407, RAF Large Note Book, belonging to Harold Warren, and consisting of 90 pages of notes and drawings relative to his training.

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BBrabinHWBrabinHWv1.pdf
Harry joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 25 June 1942 as a wireless operator/air gunner, receiving his initial training in Australia before going to Canada for trade training. He sailed on the SS Johan Van Barneve to San Francisco and recalls a…

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AAtkinsonA150623.mp3
Arthur Atkinson was born in Lancaster, and worked in the local Co-Op until he joined the Royal Air Force. He trained as a wireless operator and served at RAF Ringway before being posted to RAF Coningsby and, later, RAF Skellingthorpe with 61…

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AYeandleBA181229.mp3
After leaving school, Bertram Yeandle joined the RAF apprentice scheme and trained as an engine fitter at RAF Halton. After completing his apprenticeship at RAF Cosford, he was posted to 148 Squadron, RAF Harwell, where he serviced Wellingtons. In…

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PBainH1602.jpg
Bettie was born in Wakefield. The family moved to Doncaster when she was 11 and, aged 21, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service. While in Doncaster she helped at the YMCA café as part of the war effort and that is where she met and married…

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ABrettD150522.mp3
Dennis was born in 1924 and joined the Royal Air Force in November 1942. He trained as a flight mechanic, airframe, at RAF Locking and was responsible for the whole of the aircraft, apart from the engines and the guns. Dennis explained the emergency…

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AMatthewsEH151013.mp3
Ted developed an interest in flying after experiencing Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus, and volunteered for aircrew. He went to the Air Crew Reception Centre at St John’s Wood, followed by RAF Newquay on the Initial Training Wing. Ted proceeded to RAF…

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ATylerEA171208.mp3
Elizabeth Anne Tyler talks about her family’s farmland, its history and when it was purchased by the Air Force for the construction of RAF North Luffenham. She mentions various episodes of wartime life around Edith Weston, as reported by family…

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PHarrisonEW1903.jpg
Eric William Harrison joined the RAF in 1943 and trained as a flight engineer at RAF Locking, RAF St Athan, and RAF Chedburgh. He flew Stirlings and recollects that they were a terrifying aircraft compared to Lancasters. Harrison formed a crew at the…

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PHarrisJ1901.jpg
Jack Harris resumes describing his post-war career in the Royal Air Force. In October 1955, he became the commanding officer of 542 Squadron, a special duties squadron responsible for sampling radioactive fallout produced by American and Soviet atom…

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ACulkinJ170913.mp3
Jean Culkin grew up in Sunderland and worked as a tea girl and then a typist in a reserved occupation. She discusses her life and her wedding to her husband, John George Mackel Culkin who was an apprentice at RAF Halton before becoming a fitter…

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PGreenJ1901.jpg
John Green was born on the 22 September 1921 in Penge, South East London. He registered for the Royal Air Force to prevent being called up by the Army and was drafted in 1942. He was posted to the Isle of Man, where he volunteered as a drogue…

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ABrandonJP180302.mp3
June Brandon was born in India, returning to England when her father died. She joined the WAAF and went into the Photographic Section, loading cameras on Spitfires then carrying out development of the films. She served at several RAF stations,…

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