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Harold Batchelder's personal history
A summary listing key events in Harold Batchelder's life from his birth in April 1920 to his retirement in October 1985.
Page 30 Marjorie Rogers' diary
A telegram instructing Ken to report to Catterick on 20 June 1945.
On the same sheet is some text about Ken's time in Catterick after which he was on indefinite leave. He and Marjorie got married on 6 July 1945.
On the same sheet is some text about Ken's time in Catterick after which he was on indefinite leave. He and Marjorie got married on 6 July 1945.
Letter from Harold Batchelder to the adjutant, 102 Squadron
A report of an operation to Mannheim in Halifax W7677 on the night of 19 May 1942. Sergeant Batchelder describes damage to the aircraft's undercarriage accumulator and hydraulics caused by flak on the outward flight. On the return journey problems…
J Humphries audio memoir
J Humphreys trained as a wireless operator before being posted to 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield. In this recording he recounts being attacked and his aircraft being severely damaged. They managed to return to the UK flying only about fifty yards…
Interview with W Pilling
W Pilling trained as a gunner before joining 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington. During a training flight he jumped out of a burning Whitley. While at his first squadron he flew with several crews and when he no longer flew with them they had a tendency…
Interview with G V Korner
G Korner completed his training as a rear gunner and was posted to RAF Leconfield. As gunner he witnessed other aircraft above heading into their bombing run and their bombs just missing his aircraft. He also witnessed aircraft being shot down and on…
Interview with R W Harvey
R Harvey trained as a gunner before being posted to RAF Lossiemouth to join an already established crew. While based at Leconfield he married and his wife moved close by. He was sure that the weather conditions were such that there would not be…
Interview with Ken Trueman
Ken Trueman trained as a navigator and flew operations with 640 Squadron from RAF Leconfield. While on operations they came under attack and the plane began to burn. The crew baled out except the pilot and rear gunner. Ken parachuted into a field…
One day in May 1942 on a bomber station
Harold Batchfelder provides a detailed account of the preparation for a raid on Mannheim, events during the operation and his forced landing at RAF Horsham St Faith due to damage sustained during night fighter attack on the return journey. His crew…
Walls do have ears -apparently!
Harold Batchelder describes his interrogation at Dulag Luft. He reports being disillusioned and demoralised by the amount of information the Germans appeared to have about individuals and events. His interrogator claimed that the Germans received…
Biography of Harold Emory Batchelder
Harold Batchelder summarises his training and comments on differences between the RAF during the war and post-war.
Biography of Harold Emery Batchelder
A summary of Harold Batchelder's service with Bomber Command describing his training, operations as a pilot with 102 Squadron and capture after baling out on an operation to Essen on the night of 16 June 1942. Harold Batchelder was a prisoner of…
Albert Elson postings and aircraft flown
A list of the postings Elson was given when training, on operations and when instructing. Also a list of six aircraft types he flew in - Tiger Moth, Hawker Hart, Dakota, Folker, Stirling, Wellington. A small newspaper cutting is included, reporting…
Interview with Jim Gray
Stationed at 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield Jim Gray recalled an occasion when having been briefed for an operation to Trappes airmen having a drink in Beverley heard the local townspeople talking openly about the operation. Since the operation was…
Interview with R Knowles
R Knowles served with 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield. As bomb aimer he had to deal with at least two remaining hang ups in the bomb bay. When they missed a Group message telling them not to return to base but to divert due to fog they insisted on…
Interview with Ian Wilkie
Ian Wilkie served as a flight engineer on 158 Squadron before being posted to RAF Leconfield in January 1944. Paddy, the mid-upper gunner on his crew always said that shrapnel wouldn’t hurt them until he was hit by it. He was pulled from the turret…
Interview with J Wiltshire. Two
Warrant Officer J Wiltshire flew as a Flight Engineer on Halifaxes with 640 Squadron. He was demobbed March 1947.
He describes training as a flight engineer, the nerves of his first flights, and the humour found in mishaps and banter. Life on base…
He describes training as a flight engineer, the nerves of his first flights, and the humour found in mishaps and banter. Life on base…
Interview with J Wiltshire. One
J Wiltshire trained as a flight engineer. He joined his crew at RAF Riccall before being posted to RAF Leconfield. On one occasion a navigational error found the crew over enemy territory rather than Norfolk they had expected. However, they got home…
Leslie Silver's observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for L H Silver, flight engineer, covering the period from 2 February 1944 to 8 January 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and post war flying duties. He was stationed…
Brief history of 1324224 (posthumous Warrant Officer) Peter Selwyn Courtney Thorne
Covers joining RAF and training initially as pilot in United Kingdom and the United States, then having failed due to poor eyesight re-mustered and trained as navigator in Canada. Flew anti-submarine patrols on Whitley then joined 102 Squadron. Lists…
Flight Sergeant Peter Thorne RAF by H J S Taylor
Starts with account of Thorne's aircraft being shot down. Follows account of Thorne's escape from prisoner of war camp, evading, recapture and death. Then relates his meeting and experiences during posting for training in the United States. Continues…
Letter from John Slater recording his wartime experiences, post war thoughts.
![ESlaterWJ[Recipient]R20060415.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/square_thumbnails/1482/57627/ESlaterWJ[Recipient]R20060415.jpg "ESlaterWJ[Recipient]R20060415.pdf")
Joined the RAF in February 1939 and was eventually selected for training as an air gunner. Writes of training and crewing up at OTU where he flew some operational leaflet and mining operations on Whitleys. Follows a time on Coastal Command and…
Interview with Jacqui Whitehead
Jacqui Whitehead talks of how she has been involved with veterans, remembrance, and the Air Gunners Association over the last thirty years. She discusses stories of reconciliation, and how the Flightpath of Friendship and Reconciliation became a…
Letter to Mrs A North from RAF records branch
Informs her that her son Sergeant James North was missing, the aircraft in which he was radio operator failed to return on 25 April 1942.