Browse Items (353 total)

  • Tags: crewing up

To war in a Stirling - the life and times of Flight Lieutenant Stanley Robert Grafton DFC RAFVR
Cover photograph of an airman with half brevet captioned 'Pilot Officer Stan Grafton during debrief at RAF Wratting Common, following the disastrous raid on Berlin on the night of 23/24 August 1943'. Chapter one covers enlistment and training…

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Arthur Mace's diary 8th January 1942 to 15th March 1944
A diary kept during Arthur's RAF service.
There is a second diary for 1943 only and its contents are identical to the first diary.
A third diary covers 1944.

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Transcript of conversation with David Fellowes
Discusses crew over photograph taken at RAF Hixon. Went on to describe flying and other activities while at OTU. Brief mention of attending gunnery school and other gunnery training. Recalls their Australian skipper getting permission for them to go…

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Conversation with Jim Lord and John Elliot
Transcript of conversation with Jim Lord (pilot) and his wireless operator Jack "Jock" Elliot. The recall crewing up and describe crew while at OTU. They mentions heavy conversion and talk about the comparison between Halifax and Lancaster aircraft.…

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Transcript of conversations with Jack Bromfield
Jack talks in detail about joining the RAF, initial induction and training as a wireless operator and air gunner. He crewed up with an otherwise Canadian crew (pilot, navigator, bomb aimer and air gunners) at OTU and describes some of them, as well…

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Dan Nash memoir
Born in 1916, Dan spent his early childhood in Kent with his grandmother before moving back to his parents in Fulham. He left school aged 16 to undertake a job with the Hudson's Bay Fur Company, where he met Joyce, his future wife. At the outbreak of…

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Memoirs of an Air Gunner
Ron Bedford volunteered for the Royal Air Force and was told he had the aptitude to be a pilot but re-mustered as an air gunner, to avoid waiting for call up. He reads the "Message of Welcome" letter he received in July 1942 from the Secretary of…

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Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Letter included with parcel of washing and explains why. Had tried to do some of his own washing but unsuccessful as camp water was too cold. Continues with chat about kit. Mentions he had a good crew, all Canadians with two commissioned officers.…

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Frank Dennis' memoir
In 1943 Frank completed an engineering apprenticeship and volunteered to join the Royal Air Force as a flight engineer. He completed basic training in London, where he witnessed the fatal crash of a C-47 and then went to Initial Training Wing at RAF…

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Harry Brabin memoir
Harry joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 25 June 1942 as a wireless operator/air gunner, receiving his initial training in Australia before going to Canada for trade training. He sailed on the SS Johan Van Barneve to San Francisco and recalls a…

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Last of the Tail Gun Charlies - Biography of Warrant Officer Ronald Carter's (1620578 Royal Air Force)
Ronald volunteered to join the Royal Air Force in November 1942, aged 17. After basic training, Ronald was selected for gunnery and wireless operator training, becoming a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. He was posted to RAF Waddington to form an…

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Bob Smith's Memoirs
Bob's memoirs from his early training until he became operational.

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A Tour of Operations with RAF Bomber Command No XV/15 Squadron Mildenhall - Third book of memoirs by Bob Smith
Covers his operational tour and bombing operations.

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Bob Smith's Memoirs - Book 2
Covers his training.

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Interview with Rex John Arnett
Rex was born in 1924 and grew up in Toronto, Canada. In 1942,aged 18, he joined the RCAF as aircrew. He initially started training as the second member of a Mosquito crew but was later changed to wireless operator/air gunner. Having completed his…

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Letter from Peter Lovegrove to his Aunt and Uncle
Catches up with news and his activities including completing training at Cranage and Cottesmore. Mentions sport and entertainment available. States he had only completed six operational trips due to difficulties crewing up. Includes original…

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Ivan Ure - The Years up to the Outbreak of the Second World War and How it Affected Me
A part autobiography of Ivan's pre-war life.

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Ivan Ure ... just ... Chapters in a Life .. and some History
A detailed autobiography by Ivan Ure.

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Henry Sturrock - Recollections of a Flight Engineer. Version One
The recollections of Henry Sturrock, of his time as a Flight Engineer flying in the Halifax with No 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield. He flew on 35 operations, his first on 12 September 1944 and his last on 2 March 1945. He also recounts his experience…

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Memories of an Airman by Charles Saunders
An account by Charles Saunders of his service in the RAF during the war. He served as a mid upper gunner flying in the Halifax with No 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington and carried out 18 operations. VE day ended his flying career and he was retrained…

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Bill Burnett's Biography (written by Lawrence Goodman)
A biography of Bill written by his flying colleague from Bomber Command. It covers his war and post-war activities.

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Teddy's Career in the RAFVR 9th September 1939 - 11th October 1941
A detailed account of Teddy's service in the RAFVR.

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Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father
Apologises for not writing as he had been moving. Writes that he had now got all his crew and they were getting to know each other. Not flying at the moment as they had ground school first. Says he had not received parcel and had to borrow warrant…

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H Jack Lazenby DFC
Harold Jack Lazenby's autobiography.

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The story of the loss of Stirling BK767 June 1943
An account of the loss of Stirling BK767 compiled by Peter Rhebergen. It includes interviews with one of the two survivors, correspondence with the widow of the other and discussions with other surviving Stirling aircrew. There are accounts of the…

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