Browse Items (129 total)

  • Tags: military ethos

Account of operations - Pages numbered 2-4 and 29-31 - Peter Potter
He recounts his experiences when taking part in operations to various targets. He also talks about ground crew and the roles they performed.

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My life in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command (35 pages) - Thomas Page.
This is an extract from the author's autobiography, covering his service in the RAF. It tells of his early life and volunteering to join the RAF in January 1940. It details his career from initial training and mustering as an aircraft mechanic…

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My life in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command
Writes of early life and mentions beginning of the war and volunteering for the air force in January 1940. Continues with account of initial training and mustering as an airframe mechanic and subsequent technical training. Describes first posting to…

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Henry Wagner's life story. Part one
Hand written by Henry, Part 1 covers his early life and time at university. It goes on to cover in some detail his time in the RAF, his time training in South Africa conversion to the Halifax and operations on 51 Squadron. It also covers his time as…

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I Flew with Nine Wing Commanders
The detailed and wide ranging story of Peter Baxter's service in the RAF from an Airframe Apprentice to Flight Engineer Leader.

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Biography of Reg Miles
A detailed Biography of Reg' service and post service life.

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Interview with Jeff Mackay
Jeff Mackay was born in 1922 in Ballarat, Australia and was working as a cadet engineer. He joined the Army but decided to join the RAAF when the Japanese entered the war in 1941. After boarding a ship he trained as a navigator in Canada and then…

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Memories of WWII
Booklet produced as part of 'Their Past Your Future's series produced for the Heritage Lottery. This is based on Ken's memories of his training for and operations with Bomber Command and his post war service in the Royal Air Force, as described to a…

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Interview with David Fellowes. Two
David Fellowes tells of how he used to build model airplanes and fly them in the fields when he was a boy. The son of an engineer, he first joined the Air Training Corps and then volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the age of 17. David describes…

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Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother
Bill catches up with news, referring to someone who he hoped would answer Bill's question about how difficult it was to get into the Pathfinder Force. Urgently asks his mother to send down his bicycle by train. Borrowed one the other day and would…

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Interview with Ron Mayhill
Ron Mayhill was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He joined the Air Training Corp in 1941, automatically entered the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942, trained as a bomb aimer in Canada, and travelled on the Queen Mary to the UK in 1943. While flying…

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A miraculous escape from certain death in world war 2
An account of operation as Pathfinder against German naval and submarine base at Kiel when his aircraft was shot down by 'Schräge Musik' equipped night-fighter which cause the aircraft to break in two. Describes crew actions during bomb run and…

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Ops are on. Maximum effort
A memoir by Joe Harrison of his first operation in 1943. He describes the initial briefing, the events during the bombing run, the damage to their aircraft and his subsequent illness. Includes descriptions of the post-op analysis and good crew…

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Interview with Pauline Alexander
During the war, Pauline's siblings Bernard, Guy, Robert and Peter served in the air force and army, her mother volunteered for the Red Cross, and her father volunteered as an air raid warden. Inspired by her brothers, Pauline joined the Women’s…

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Interview with Bert Hammond. Two
Upon volunteering for aircrew, Bert Hammond completed basic training and formed a crew at 26 Operational Training Unit, RAF Wing. He joined 514 Squadron based at RAF Waterbeach and completed 30 operations, before instructing at RAF Manby. Despite…

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Letter from Air Commodore A.C.H. Sharpe to Leonard Cheshire
From Headquarters 54 Base Coningsby. Letter covering Group Captain Christie's letter concerning Squadron Leader Campbell and Flight Lieutenant Fleming.

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Letter from Group Captain D D Christie to Air Commodore Sharpe
Letter to Headquarters 54 base Coningsby. Infomation concerning Squadron Leader Campbell not able to return to operations and Flight Lieutenant Fleming already offered for Mosquito training

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Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Flying Officer A Hickman
An air gunner who has completed two tours. Requests advice on how to get back on operations.

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Letter from Leonard Cheshire to Air Commodore A C H Sharpe
To 54 Base Coningsby forwarding the names of two pilots who were anxious to return to operational duties on Mosquito. Squadron Leader C F Campbell DSO, DFC and Flight Lieutenant R T Fleming DFC. Includes operational history.

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Letter from Leonard Cheshire to Squadron Leader Noel Vincent
To Royal Australian Air Force liaison officer at Bomber Command. Writing that Flight Lieutenant D J Shannon desires to continue with operations and does not want to return to Australia. Mentions Shannon's wife is in Royal Air Force serving in same…

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Letter from Leonard Cheshire to Flying Officer R A Stult
States he would be pleased to have Stult there but he cannot affect postings. Suggest Stult put in an application for him and crew. He would need to come with his crew as it would be impossible to find him one there.

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Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Flying Officer F N Lawrence
Asks if Cheshire has vacancy for wireless operator on his squadron. Served under him at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and recent returned after evading on the continent.

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Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Flight Lieutenant H Goodwin
A Rhodesian flight engineer, he requests information on how to get posted to Cheshire's squadron. Previous tour on 78 Squadron and currently on 425 Squadron, which is becoming all French Canadian. Happy to drop rank but wished to remain with…

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Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Sergeant Thomas Joseph McLean DFM
States that Cheshire's previous wireless operator Flight Lieutenant Hill has suggested he write to Cheshire. Provides his history as air gunner with 102 Squadron in 1942 where he was credited with four aircraft destroyed one probable and two damaged.…

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From Andrew to Isabel's Aunts Mary and Margaret
Letter in which Andrew describes life on the squadron, including the comradeship of his crew and appreciation of Isabel. Includes envelope.

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