Browse Items (4 total)

The memoir starts with early life and interest in aviation, including photographs of pre WW2 aircraft seen at Croydon airport. He recalls going to last open day at RAF Biggin Hill, and continues with an account of events of the lead up to, and start…

Introduction and reasons for writing. He recalls he was 12 when the war started. He mentions his introduction to popular music was the Skyrockets, a resident RAF dance band. The document includes a copy of a letter to Dr June Balshaw explaining why…

He reminisces about pre-war and early war days as a schoolboy in Lewisham, recalling events at the beginning of the war. Includes photographs of aircraft and naval ships. He continues with history of events through the war's early years including:…

Alan Mann was born in Lewisham, London and left school aged 14 to begin an engineering apprenticeship at RAF Kidbrooke and with de Havilland. He describes being bombed and what it was like in the workshops. After the war he had a career with de…