Browse Items (11 total)
- Collection: 640 Squadron Collection
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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…
Tags: 102 Squadron; 1652 HCU; 640 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; bomb struck; bombing; Fw 190; ground personnel; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; lack of moral fibre; Operational Training Unit; RAF Leconfield; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Pocklington; superstition; training; Whitley; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
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…
Tags: 640 Squadron; aircrew; bale out; evading; navigator; RAF Leconfield; Resistance; shot down
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…
Tags: 640 Squadron; aircrew; bomb aimer; RAF Leconfield
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…
Tags: 640 Squadron; aircrew; flight engineer; RAF Leconfield
R W Craft's audio memoir
Richard Craft was navigator on 640 Squadron. He recalls briefing visiting American officers about RAF navigation. He took part in a thousand bomber operation to Duisburg. While over the target area he looked up through the astrodome and saw to his…
