Browse Items (372 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "Manitoba"

PWoodC1603.jpg
Seven airmen holding a spoof Stalag 12 sign at Royal Canadian Air Force
Rivers, Manitoba Canada. Colin Wood is third from left.

Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.

ALarmerLO151112.mp3
Lawrence Larmer was born in Australia in 1920. On leaving school he went to work on the Beaufort aircraft in the Department of Aircraft Production. He was called up in 1942 and volunteered for the Royal Australian Air Force to avoid the army. His…

PPennLE1701.jpg
Laurie was a bank clerk in Australia before enlisting in September 1941 at Bradfield Park. He proceeded to Narromine for elementary flying training and eventually to Canada where he was posted to the Service Flying Training School at Dauphin. He…

ATaylorGH160831.mp3
Gerald (Gerry) was part of the Air Training Corps and Officers’ Training Corps before the war. He volunteered for aircrew in 1942, was interviewed in Oxford and was put on deferred service. Gerry was accepted as an air observer. He was called up in…

PWildR1602.jpg
Ralph was conscripted into the army but wanted to join the air force. He eventually became an instrument repairer and trained at RAF Cranwell. When war started, he volunteered for aircrew but was not transferred for some time. Briefly in 242…

PWoodC1601.jpg
Colin Wood grew up in Sheffield and worked as a plumber until he volunteered for the RAF. He trained in Canada and flew operations as a navigator with 106 Squadron from RAF Metheringham. On arrival at the station, his pilot and three others made…

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…

LLarmerLO430037v1.pdf
Royal Australian Air Force flying log book for Laurence Larmer covering the period from 7 April 1943 to 3 August 1945. Detailing flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAAF Benalla, RCAF Dauphin, RAF Fair Oaks, RAF Banff, RAF…

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…

ABeechingJB180118.mp3
John Beeching was born in London and joined the RAF in 1941, although his initial training was in Canada. After several escapades John joined 169 Squadron as a night fighter pilot and worked in electronic counter-measures, as well as training crews…

PChubbWF1814.jpg
Bill Chubb had several challenges in his early life, including the death of his father when Bill was 12. After various jobs, he joined the RAF as a flight engineer. He became part of a Canadian crew, despite some objection! Bill tells many tales of…

AFreemanR180312.mp3
Ralph Freeman volunteered for the RAF in 1942. He began initial training in March 1943 and, in October, was posted to Manitoba where he qualified as a pilot after training on Cornells and Ansons. Upon returning to Great Britain, Freeman was…

YMadgettHR1330340v2.pdf
Daily entries for most of year 1941, First half of year entries cover events in England before joining Royal Air Force. Entry for May includes call up papers and travel to Stratford on Avon. June move to Scarborough. August to Wilmslow, sea journey…

AMarriottMW170824.mp3
Having been interested in aircraft through the Air Training Corps, Maurice joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 and went to RAF Cardington. In July 1943 he went to the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground, followed by 17 Initial Training…

PWilkinsNE1704.jpg
Norman Wilkins was born in West Norwood. At the age of 14 he joined the Air Training Corps and became a member of Brighton and Hove Air Cadets 176 Squadron. He then joined the University Air Squadron at Oxford, with fees being paid by the Royal Air…

AWilliamsRS180115.mp3
Roland Spencer Williams was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Wanting to get involved in the war he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942. After initial training in New Zealand, as an air gunner, he sailed on the SS Nieuw Amsterdam to San…

AWyldeHJ161218.mp3
Herbert James Wylde was working in local government in Glasgow before he volunteered for aircrew training with the RAF. He started pilot training and had gone solo when he was sent to Canada to continue training. While there, he began training as a…

MCattyMA164193-180822-070001.jpg
A Graduation Banquet for Course 75 given in honour of the 32nd graduating class of the Virden Flying Training School, Manitoba, Canada.

LCattyMA164193v1.pdf
Royal Canadian Air Force pilots flying log book one for Martin Catty, covering the period from 5 October 1942 to 24 June 1943, detailing his flying training. He was stationed at RCAF Virden and RCAF Brandon. Aircraft flown were Tiger Moth and Crane.

LCattyMA164193v2.pdf
Royal Canadian Air Force flying log book for aircrew other than pilot for M A Catty, covering the period from 15 October 1943 to 21 September 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and post war flying duties. He was stationed at RCAF…

YHolmesWC176554v1.pdf
Describes, in detail, crossing the Atlantic to Canada and journey to Bowden, Alberta and then on to Estevan, Saskatchewan. Daily account of activities, flying and life in Canada, Concludes with journey back across Canada