Browse Items (48 total)

  • Tags: 640 Squadron

AWiltshireLJ[Date]-02.mp3
Warrant Officer J Wiltshire flew as a Flight Engineer on Halifaxes with 640 Squadron. He was demobbed March 1947.

He describes training as a flight engineer, the nerves of his first flights, and the humour found in mishaps and banter. Life on base…

AGrayJ960613.mp3
Stationed at 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield Jim Gray recalled an occasion when having been briefed for an operation to Trappes airmen having a drink in Beverley heard the local townspeople talking openly about the operation. Since the operation was…

ACotterJDP180828.mp3
John was born in Hendon, London and his family fell on hard times in his early years. John and his brother, Paul, joined the RAF in 1941 as a pilot and wireless operator, respectively. After initial training at RAF Brize Norton, John was trained in…

AGoldbyJL171025.mp3
John Goldby was born in Kent but the family moved to London the year after. He was inspired to join the RAF when a schoolfriend joined and became a Spitfire pilot. John believes that it was a mid-air collision with a night fighter that led to his…

ATruemanKW970804.mp3
Ken Trueman trained as a navigator and flew operations with 640 Squadron from RAF Leconfield. While on operations they came under attack and the plane began to burn. The crew baled out except the pilot and rear gunner. Ken parachuted into a field…

Kenneth Percy Bellew Grantham describes the distinctive change in engine noise after take‑off, recalling how once the propellers synchronised the aircraft settled into rhythmic pulse. His duties centred on managing the Marconi 1154/1155 wireless set,…

ATruemanKW150921.mp3
Kenneth William Trueman volunteered for the RAF and was called up in 1941. After training in South Africa, he served as a navigator with 640 Squadron and speaks of his preference for the Gee navigation aid rather than H2S. His operations included…

AHydeON170830-01.mp3
Oluwole Hyde’s father was Adesanya Hyde, who served as a navigator with 640 Squadron. He was badly injured but continued to navigate the aeroplane on operation. It was only when they were over the UK that he accepted the morphine for the pain. After…

AKnowlesRA950911.mp3
R Knowles served with 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield. As bomb aimer he had to deal with at least two remaining hang ups in the bomb bay. When they missed a Group message telling them not to return to base but to divert due to fog they insisted on…

AHarveyRW950911.mp3
R Harvey trained as a gunner before being posted to RAF Lossiemouth to join an already established crew. While based at Leconfield he married and his wife moved close by. He was sure that the weather conditions were such that there would not be…

APillingW[Date]-01.mp3
W Pilling trained as a gunner before joining 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington. During a training flight he jumped out of a burning Whitley. While at his first squadron he flew with several crews and when he no longer flew with them they had a tendency…

SBondS-ColesAv10003.pdf
Transcription of interviews. Interviewer mentions a friend who was on 158 Squadron. Coles mentions that brother was a wireless operator, special operations, out in India. Talks about early ops to Lens and then to Stuttgart. Goes on with anecdotes of…

AHumphreysJT940513.mp3
J Humphreys trained as a wireless operator before being posted to 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield. In this recording he recounts being attacked and his aircraft being severely damaged. They managed to return to the UK flying only about fifty yards…

S102SqnRAF19170809v10005-0001.jpg
List of thirty-three operations with record of aircraft, take off and landing times and pilot.

PHarveyW1810.jpg
A vertical aerial photograph of Oostkapelle. Much detail is visible on the ground. It is captioned '2441 LCF 28-10-44//7" 4000 104 1149 Oostkapelle W19.Z. 1 HC 2000 In.7 ANM59DN. 4 MC 500DT. C24 secs. P/O Goodrum Z640'.

S102SqnRAF19170809v30004.jpg
Detailed operation order from group to 102, 77, 10, 158, 466, 640, 76, 78, 51 and 578 Squadrons with numbers of aircraft required. Target "Whitebait". Gives detailed instructions, routes, bomb loads, wave orders, fuel loads, window carriage, route…

ACraftRW960924.mp3
Richard Craft was navigator on 640 Squadron. He recalls briefing visiting American officers about RAF navigation. He took part in a thousand bomber operation to Duisburg. While over the target area he looked up through the astrodome and saw to his…

BSturrockHSturrockHv3.pdf
Will a flight engineer’s brevet on the first page. The recollections of Henry Sturrock of his time flying in the Halifax with No 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield. He flew his first operation on 12 September 1944 and his last on 2 March 1945, he flew…

NLawJH191026-06.jpg
A newspaper cutting of John's funeral.