Browse Items (27 total)

  • Tags: 103 Squadron
  • Type is exactly "Sound"

SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v210002.mp3
Allan Holmes’ uncle was Flight Sergeant Frank Norman Holmes (1577142 Royal Air Force) who flew operations as an air gunner with 103 and 582 Squadrons. He was killed 4 May 1944 on an operation to Didier.

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v170003.mp3
Ken joined the RAF in January 1942 and qualified as a flight engineer in July 1943 at RAF St Athans. He passed through a number of RAF stations before they were posted to RAF Elsham Wolds and flew operations as a flight engineer with 460, 12 and 103…

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AJacksonL[Date]-01.mp3
Les Jackson talks about a visit to RAF East Kirkby and remembers his crew and operations.

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PGrahamJ1701.jpg
Jimmy Graham was employed in a Reserved Occupation but volunteered with the RAF as potential aircrew. He began his training in Northern Ireland and was, eventually, qualified as an air gunner. He was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds. He took part in the…

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AWhymarkR171103.mp3
Robert Whymark’s father, John ‘Jack’ Whymark, took part in three tours of operations. Initially, Jack was trained as a mechanic and was posted to 17 Squadron at RAF Debden and RAF Martlesham Heath. He then volunteered for aircrew and trained as a…

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PThompsonS1601.jpg
Sam Thompson grew up in Northern Ireland and volunteered for the Air Force. After training he completed two tours as an air gunner with 103 and 9 Squadrons. He took part in operations against the Tirpitz and served in Germany after the war. He was on…

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Fred Spencer grew up in Bradford and was 14 when war was declared. He worked at a department store in Bradford and served in the Home Guard while awaiting his call up papers. He thought he would be going into the Army but found he had been called up…

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ARichGW180417.mp3
Gerald’s father, Wilfred, joined the Royal Air Force in January 1920 and stayed until around 1927, training as an aircraft fitter. He re-joined in June 1940 at RAF Cardington. In 1944, upon completion of training, he went to No. 1 Air Gunnery School…

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ARaceR160204.mp3
Raymond Race was born into a family working in the textile industry and joined the RAF in 1943, serving on the metropolitan communications squadron. He tells of his family’s military service: his father joined the Royal Field Artillery; his eldest…

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APeelE161018.mp3
Eric Peel worked in the Cotton Exchange in Liverpool before he volunteered for the RAF. He trained as an armourer and was, initially, posted to 56 Squadron at RAF Sutton Bridge where he worked on Hurricanes. He was then posted to 103 Squadron at…

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PNeilsonNS1604.jpg
Norman Neilson was an apprentice engineer at St Rollox Locomotive Works when he volunteered. He had originally wanted to join the Navy but joined the RAF because the only way he could be released from his position was to volunteer for aircrew. His…

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AJohnsonM160830.mp3
Mark Johnson reminisces about John Blair, his great-uncle. He discusses family life in rural Jamaica as a mixed-ethnicity person, highly respected by everyone. He was a qualified teacher, a lawyer, and a farmer. He reminisces about other Caribbeans…

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ADaviesE180525.mp3
Edward Davies (Sonny) joined the RAF aged 17 as a rear gunner. Having crewed up he joined 103 Squadron and flew on 50 operations. Sonny describes being in the rear turret and how close the crew were, so much that they sang to him on his birthday…

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ABirchallJW170816.mp3
James Burchill was in the ATC before volunteering for aircrew training. He expected to be deferred but was told he had been chosen for immediate service. On one operation he was injured and, by the time he was ready for operational duties again, he…

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PMellorG1501.jpg
Gordon Mellor successfully evaded capture, having baled out of his aircraft and landed in Germany. He walked for several days until he managed to make contact with the Belgian resistance and the Comete line, who began the process of guiding him home.…

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PMellorG1501.jpg
Gordon Mellor grew up in London and was hoping to become a quantity surveyor, when he was called up. He volunteered for the Air Force and trained as a navigator in Canada. On his return to the UK he and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron at Elsham…

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PMellorG1501.jpg
Gordon Mellor grew up in London and, being interested in aviation, he volunteered for the Air Force and trained as a navigator in Canada. On his return to the UK he and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds and his first operation…

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PMellorG1501.jpg
Gordon Mellor grew up in London and was interested in aviation. He volunteered for the Air Force and trained as a navigator in Canada. On his return to the UK he and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron. Returning from an operation they were attacked…

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AMarshallS150826.mp3
Syd Marshall grew up in Lincolnshire and was working as an engineering apprentice when he decided to volunteer for the RAF. Initially, he asked to train to be a pilot but when the basis of his apprenticeship became clear it was inevitable he would…

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ABowkerD151117.mp3
David Bowker joined the Air Force, originally training to be a wireless operator/air gunner but re-mustered as a pilot. He discusses rudder lock on early versions of Halifax. Jacqueline Bowker, his wife, discusses her life during the war and being…

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ABaileyLMM151006.mp3
Lillian Margaret Bailey volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and, after a brief time in RAF Balloon Command, was trained as a driver. She served at RAF Elsham Wolds driving aircrews out to their aircraft. She was known as Margaret as there…

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PBaileyJD1607.jpg
Derek was in the Air Training Corps before enlisting at 18. He was given deferred service, eventually reporting to the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground. He proceeded to Ludlow and an Initial Training Wing at Paignton. Derek was…

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ATaylorWH150710.mp3
William Taylor joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 as ground crew. He remustered as an air gunner and flew operations with 103 Squadron from RAF Elsham Wolds, flying Lancasters. His aircraft was attacked and shot down by a night fighter in July 1944.…

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AMawdsleyT150507.mp3
Ted grew up in Essex. Before the war, he worked for the Marconi Wireless and Telegraph Company. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and became an instrument mechanic. He was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds in 1942 and overseas the following year. After…

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AChapmanSCD171014.mp3
Susan Chapman talks about her father, Charles Reginald (Reg) Jaques. Reg Jaques grew up in County Durham and, to improve his prospects for employment, he studied by the light of the streetlight. He secured a job with a local authority in Shropshire.…

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