Browse Items (94 total)

  • Tags: Navy, Army and Air Force Institute

PSmithJ1601.jpg
When war broke out, Jean was working in the Ministry of Aircraft Production. She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1942 and did two months’ training at Innsworth camp. Jean was posted to 27 Operational Training Unit at RAF Lichfield, as…

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EBaileyAWSellickD400201-0001.jpg
They have 18" of snow. He says the RAF has too many pilots. He needs a thumb-stall to prevent more damage to his thumb.

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YMaceHA1295485v1 1.pdf
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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PBunceFSG1609.jpg
Sid was working at a garage and a member of the local Air Training Corps when he volunteered for the Royal Air Force. At 18, he was kitted out at Padgate and trained as a flight mechanic on engines at Blackpool. Sid describes his 18-week training…

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ACoultonWA161020.mp3
William Coulton was born in Derbyshire and worked as an errand boy for the Co-Op until he joined the Royal Air Force in 1943, aged 18. He trained as a flight mechanic and was posted to 115 Squadron at RAF Witchford where he worked on Lancasters. He…

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PMabeyBC1605.jpg
Bernard Mabey was born in London and experienced the Blitz at first hand. He was a member of the Air Training Corps in 1941, before volunteering for the RAF. He trained as an air frame mechanic at RAF Locking. His first posting was RAF Marston Moor…

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ALambournJP170112.mp3
John Lambourn joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 17, after working at Stewart Turners with engines and pumps. He was classed as working in a reserved occupation, but joined the Air Training Corp whilst waiting to sign up for the Royal Air…

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ATownsleyH180314.mp3
Henry Townsley was born near Workington, left school aged 14 and started work as an apprentice vehicle fitter. After a spell as a junior engineer in the Merchant Navy, in April 1940 he volunteered for the RAF, rather than the Navy as he suffered from…

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WhittleG.jpg
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Whittle was born in London. After leaving school, at 14 he became an apprentice printer in the family business. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force on the outbreak of the Second World War and trained as a navigator and…

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MGeachDG1394781-160401-17.pdf
A book of lecture notes covering British, German, Italian and American fighter, Coastal, Army co-operation, bombers and dive bombers.
Notes on Hygiene, Water, Accommodation and conservancy in the field, Food, cookhouses and cooking, Law and…

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YGeachDG1394781v3.pdf
Second of David Geach's diaries, describing his training for aircrew at Kingstown, Heaton Park, Hastings and Harrogate until his embarkation to Canada on the Queen Mary. Covers the period from 20 June 1942 to 7 October 1942.

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YGeachDG1394781v5.pdf
Fifth and final diary kept by David Geach chronicling his time training and on operations. He writes about his return from Canada on the Queen Elizabeth then his training in England which began with arriving at the Posting Centre in Pannal Ash,…

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PdiPlacitoLH1701.jpg
Lawrence di Placito served as a second-class coxswain on the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches during the Second World War. Henry gives further details of his experiences in rescues, both successful and those with a tragic ending. He also tells of Ealing…

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BRookeRRookeRv1.pdf
Autobiography of his early years, mainly training in the USA. Also included is an extract from Eleanor Roosevelt's diary, dated September 24, 1942. This includes a thank you letter from RAF trainees who were treated to American hospitality by Mama…

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EBoxDCBoxI-CS[Date]-010001.jpg
He has no news but hopes his parents are well.

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EBoxDCBoxI-CS420925-0001.jpg
He has received a parcel from his parents. Weather is bad. Their accomodation is in tents and the weather is getting colder.

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EBoxDCBoxI-CS421010-0001.jpg
He writes he has been to a dance. He is about to send some laundry home. He writes about leave but his is not due yet.

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EBoxDCBoxI-CS430114-0001.jpg
Doug thanks his parents for their parcel. He met a family friend in the NAAFI. He writes about friends.

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S102SqnRAF19170809v20005-0011.jpg
An airman leaning on a counter with a mug of tea talking to a NAAFI serving lady. Above is a sign 'Tea Only'. On the reverse 'Is it Tea!!!'.

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BBlacklockGBBlacklockGBv1.pdf
Group Captain Blacklock writes of his life, from his youth to the award of his DFC by the King.

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SRAFIngham19410620v060001-Audio.mp3
Marion Clarke served as an mechanical transport driver during the Second World War, her main duties were on Bomber Command stations, primarily driving crew buses. She talks about the conditions she experienced, such as her accommodation, uniform,…

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SRAFIngham19410620v070001-Audio.mp3
Mieczyslaw Maryszczak was born in Bokyivka, Ukraine and served in the Polish Army and then the Polish Air Force. An early memory of the war is throwing bread to starving Russian prisoners who were being marched from Lviv to Podlesice. At 17 he was in…

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BCopemanGCopemanGv1.pdf
An operation undertaken to attack Wesseling, near Cologne. The aircraft suffered engine and fuel line damage and ditched in the North Sea. The crew survived the ditching and were rescued by a launch.

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BPayneGPayneGv1.pdf
Geoff Payne's autobiography divided into five chapters.

Chapter 1. Under Training. Covers the period between being assessed in Birmingham Geoff before setting off to London in August 1942 for training at Lords. Initial training was at RAF…

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BWhittleGGWhittleGGv1.pdf
A brief memoir of Geoffrey Whittle's wartime service. His training started in March 1942 in Scotland. One year later he converted to Wellingtons, then Lancasters at RAF Lindholme. He was then posted to RAF Ludford Magna. On his 15th operation over…

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