Browse Items (61 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "South Africa--Cape Town"

BSmithJSmithJv1-2.pdf
Wartime recollections of John (known to his friends as Jack) George Smith from Pinchbeck. He tells of life before the war, how he went on to volunteer for the RAF in August 1940 and describes his training as a wireless operator. The document includes…

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BSmithJSmithJv1.pdf
Second version. Covers life before the war and volunteering for the RAF in August 1940 and continues with an account of training as a wireless operator. The article includes radio school crest and photograph of a Battle aircraft. He describes his…

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BWittyARWittyARv1.pdf
History of wartime experiences of Ronald Witty. Starts with schooling and early employment in Hull, just before the war. Mentions German bombing of Hull and volunteering for the RAF. Describes training in London and Torquay before departing on a…

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430714.jpg
Writes from Cape Town apologising for missed mail and says that he will miss his weekend visits to the local family he frequented in his previous location. Hopes they are enjoying summer weather and asks for latest family news. Mentions his plans for…

EWittyARWitty[Fam]430723.jpg
Catches up with latest mail sent/received. Mentions that he has sent food parcels to them. Says he will hand onto photographs rather than risking losing them in the mail. Comments on his satisfactory financial situation.

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MLovattP1821369-190903-75.pdf
A detailed analysis of very early aircraft and their flying characteristics.

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SBakerDA19210428v20169-0003.jpg
Writes she had had no letter from him since 24 June. Comments on how long war might go on. Wonders how he is and what weather is like. Writes that they were having a nice holiday in Cape Town and catches up with family news and talks about their…

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PPaineGH1616.jpg
Geoff Paine attended High Wycombe Royal Grammar School and Falmouth Grammar School, joined Air Training Corps and volunteered for the Royal Air Force aged 18. Upon completion of initial training, he was posted to RAF Waltham (100 Squadron) then RAF…

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PAsshetonJJ1701.jpg
Jacqueline Assheton discusses her father's career in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force and his post war work establishing Safmarine shipping line, as well as his friendship with Jan Christiaan Smuts. Her father did not talk about his wartime…

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SWatsonC188489v1-1.pdf
A memoir written by Cliff Watson (divided into 20 chapters.) It covers his life events, from birth to his career in the RAF and beyond. It provides details of his family life in Yorkshire, before relocating to London. Having joined the RAF, he…

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SClydeSmithD39856v10011.pdf
Starts with joining on short service commission and covers, in great detail, his pilot training activities, including a crash landing during a cross country. After receiving his wings award, he moves to trials work, target towing and aircraft…

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EBoldyDABoldyAD[Date]-030001.jpg
Letter from Leading Aircraftsman David Boldy to his father, written whilst on the East London to Cape Town train. David provide details about leaving and being posted home.

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EBoldyDABoldyAD41XXXX-020001.jpg
Letter from David Boldy to his father about being on a new station. Describes the prospect of attending a gunnery leaders’ course. Enjoys working with his new crew. Misses South Africa and mentions two girl he met whilst there, Shirley (Cape Town)…

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EBoldyDABoldyAD410207.pdf
Letter from Leading Aircraftsman David Boldy to his father about waiting for a posting while at Wynberg Military Camp. He has now re-mustered to air gunner, and wants to apply for pilot. He has bought gifts from Oudtshoorn for his father, mother and…

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EBoldyDABoldyAD410316.pdf
Letter from Leading Aircraftsman David Boldy to his father about about his air gunner course at East London.

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EBoldyDABoldyAD410607.pdf
Letter from sergeant David Boldy to his father about leaving East London and CapeTown and his journey thus far. He was upset to leave his girlfriend Babe.

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EAlexanderDWAlexander[Fam][Date]-010001.jpg
A postcard sent by Denis on his arrival in South Africa. The image is of the mail boat that he sailed across in.

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PPaineGH16010052.jpg
Sketch map of Geoff's journey from Gwello in Southern Rhodesia to Liverpool between 6 and 26 October 1945.

LWilsonJ1486634v1.pdf
Observer's and air gunner's flying log book for J Wilson, covering the period from 12 July 1942 to 26 March 1945. Detailing his flying training, Operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Penrhos, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF…

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BDanielsHDaniesHv1.pdf
The memoir contains a summary of Daniels' flying career. He completed initial training at Torquay and his flying training at Bulawayo in South Africa, sailing out on the Reina Del Pacifico and returning on the Empress of Canada. As a navigator he…

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YWhymarkJP53481v2.pdf
Covering the period 7 April 1941 to 19 November 1941 when Jack was serving in the Middle East and North Africa. He describes his last night with his wife Eileen, preparations for the transfer, time spent in camp, sightseeing, films watched, receiving…

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ATurnerLA101115.mp3
Leslie Turner worked as a pattern maker at Longbridge before he volunteered for the Air Force. He trained as an observer in South Africa and flew 33 operations as a bomb aimer with 10 Squadron.

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PKentAW1701.jpg
Anthony Kent was born in Wood Green, London, and his family settled in Eltham. Tony started an apprenticeship with Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, at the start of the war and worked as an apprentice draughtsman for 18 months before volunteering for the RAF.…

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BMilesRJMilesRJv1.pdf
A detailed Biography of Reg's service and post service life.

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SBondS-BrownRv10004.pdf
Starts with recounting the Glen Miller incident when having aborted an attack on Sagen due to bad weather, they jettisoned bombs in specified area of North Sea. This area coincided with the track of Glen Millers aircraft and someone claimed it was…

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