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Interview with Colin Farr
Colin was born in Ilford in 1920 and, at the outbreak of war, was working in a London warehouse. Seeing the bomb damage around him he wanted to join the RAF and seek revenge, so he volunteered. Unfortunately, following an accident, he had a plaster…
Interview with Helga Wynne
Helga Wynne was born into a family of twelve in 1926 in Kiel, Germany. She describes her childhood and her father working as a shipbuilder in the dockyards. She left school at 14 and went to work on a farm. She fell through the hayloft opening,…
Interview with Harold James Warren. Two
When Harold left Canada, where he was testing aircraft, he returned to RAF Bicester in his maintenance role. With his experience of four-engine aircraft, he went as flight engineer to RAF Greenock, flying in Sunderlands to Canada and back. Their role…
Interview with Benny Goodman. Two
Benny Goodman grew up in London and hoped to become a pilot. He volunteered for the Air Force and was, originally, posted to RAF Abingdon as a ground gunner before beginning his flying training. After qualifying as a pilot in Canada, he became an…
Interview with Benny Goodman. One
Benny Goodman discusses some of his operations as a pilot with 617 Squadron. He discusses attacking the Tirpitz and the use of Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs, which required the Lancaster plane to be modified. On a flight against the U-boat pens in…
Interview with Alec Stuart Dixon
Alec Stuart Dixon volunteered for the Royal Air Force via the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. After training he flew Beauforts and Ansons, then trained as a Hudson pilot. He flew convoy escort operations and reconnaissance flights looking for…
Interview with William Bryan
William Bryan describes being hit by a German fighter and anti-aircraft fire while mine laying the Kiel Bay. The rest of the tour was reasonably quiet, consisting mainly of operations in the run-up of the Normandy campaign. He describes bombing…
Interview with Gavino Pala
Gavino Pala reminisces about his childhood in Sardinia, describing schooling and paramilitary training. He recalls the Alghero bombing on 17 May 1943, explaining how part of the population had left the city the day before and slept among olive trees,…
Bob Knights' Obituary
The obituary of Flight Lieutenant Bob Knights. It details his operations on the Tirpitz, his early life, his training in Florida, his time with 617 Squadron and his role with BOAC after the war until his retirement in 1976.
Brest docks
An vertical aerial photograph of Brest docks. Annotated 'S/M Shelters'.
Augsburg bombing
A letter from No 10 Downing Street to air officer commanding-in-chief, Bomber Command, complimenting the RAF on their success in bombing Augsburg.
Hedge-hop men honoured and VC for the leader
Details about the operation on the MAN u-boat engine factory in Augsburg and the decorations awarded to the crew members.
Bordeaux
Target photograph of Bordeaux. River Garonne running across bottom of photograph. Basins, docks, submarine pens, and industrial buildings clearly visible. Captioned '3°F', '5B', '1951 SKELL.11.8.44//8" 18000 [arrow] 010° 1635 BORDEAUX RD.D. 6X2000.…
Bordeaux
Target photograph of Bordeaux. Both banks of river Garonne with basins, docks submarine pens, and moored ships clearly visible. Industrial area with roads and railways visible. Captioned '3°F', '5B', '1918 SKELL.11.8.44//8" 17000 [arrow] 005° 1632…
Bordeaux
Target photograph of Bordeaux showing both banks of the River Garonne with submarine pens in docks. Northern districts are visible. Target area clear with no clouds. No bomb bursts seen. Captioned ‘3° F’, ‘5B’, ‘1918 SKELL. 11.8.44 // 8” 17000 [arrow…
Freiwillige vor für die U-boot-waffe!
Propaganda leaflet aimed at German-speaking population.
This document mimics recruitment material seeking volunteers for the U-Boat service. It is in interactive form and shows a seaman dropping into a watery grave. It quotes the average life…
This document mimics recruitment material seeking volunteers for the U-Boat service. It is in interactive form and shows a seaman dropping into a watery grave. It quotes the average life…
interview with Oliver Gomersal
Oliver went for selection to Cardington and joined the RAF in 1941 as an observer (navigator and bomb aimer). He was called up to the Aircrew Receiving Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground and sent to Aberystwyth. He was posted to the Elementary…
Capture of U852
First article attributed to Manchester Guardian, 18 October 1945, covers trial of five members of crew of U852 who were involved in firing on the survivors of a Greek ship Peleus. The second (non attributed) states that three officers were sentenced…
German submarine U852
Service history of U852 depth-charged by Royal Air Force aircraft of 8 and 621 Squadron, driven ashore and scuttled south east of Socotra. History of Heinz-Wilhelm Ech, the captain, and records vessels sunk by the submarine.
Narrative of attack by Wellington E/621 on 2nd May 1944
Account starts with crew names including Flight Sergeant Oliver Gomersal as navigator. Continues with front gunner seeing a wake which after following spotted a submarine. Detailed account of attack with depth charges and front gun and subsequent…
Oliver Gomersal's observer's and air gunner's flying log book
Observer's and air gunner's flying log book for Flight Lieutenant Oliver Gomersal from 17 September 1943 to 7 November 1944. He trained as a navigator in Great Britain and in South Africa and was stationed in East Africa and Yemen with 621 Squadron.…
Oliver Gomersal history
Life history of Oliver Gomersal. Includes training in South Africa as observer/navigator, training on Wellington and operations with Coastal Command, journey to East Africa with antisubmarine and search operations in the Indian Ocean. On return to…
Interview with Tom Sayer
Tom Sayer was accepted in to the Royal Air Force as an apprentice and began training as a pilot as soon as he was old enough. He trained in the United States and, on his return, he was detached to Coastal Command. He completed eight operations…
Tom Sayer's Royal Canadian Air Force pilot's flying log book. Book one
Royal Canadian Air Force pilot's flying log book for Sergeant Tom Sayer from 28 July 1941 to 17 December 1944. Detailing training and operations flown with Coastal Command and Bomber Command. After training in the United States and Canada he served…
Interview with Laurie Woods
Flying Officer Laurie Woods DFC was born in Deloraine, Tasmania, in 1922. He grew up in Tasmania, and at the age of 18, despite being in a reserved occupation, he volunteered for Air Crew in the Royal Australian Air Force. Initially training in…