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Interview with Joseph Henry Cook
Having completed school and moved on to work at 20th Century Fox Films, Joe worked as a fire watcher at the beginning of the war, before joining the Royal Air Force. He states that he did so because he always wanted to fly and did not want to join…
Interview with Iris Done
Between leaving school and getting married, Iris worked for London County Council. After her marriage she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She reported to RAF Bridgnorth in June 1942 to be sworn in. After that, she went to RAF Morecambe where…
Interview with Ken Fawcett
Ken Fawcett worked for the Post Office and served in the Home Guard for two and a half years, having signed up at 16. He joined the Royal Air Force at Lord's Cricket Ground in September 1943. He initially requested pilot training but, realising the…
Interview with Charles Flint
Charles Flint was in the Auxiliary Fire Service in London before joining the RAF. He volunteered and began training as a wireless operator. Part of his training took place at RAF Bishops Court in Northern Ireland, where he was advised not to go out…
Interview with Fred Hooker. Two
Fred Hooker was a mid-upper gunner on 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington, where he flew three operations before being shot down. Born in Hartley Wintney in 1924, Fred’s first experience of the RAF was visiting RAF Odiham as a member of the Air Training…
Interview with William Hough
Bill Hough came from a farming background, went to a local grammar school in Northwich and was a member of the Air Training Corps. He joined the RAF in 1943 and describes his initial training at RAF Bridgnorth. This was followed by continuation…
Interview with Alexander Lamb. Two
Alexander Lamb left school in Edinburgh and became a messenger for the War Department. He then took a clerical post with the Department before reaching the age to volunteer for the RAF. He trained as an air gunner and was posted to RAF Mildenhall…
Service History of Benny Goodman
Benny recalls his RAF career, including recruitment and initial training, both in the UK and Canada. He provides details of the 30 operations he went on.
Malcolm Staves, 207 Squadron Veteran
Malcolm Staves recalls his life prior to and including his enlistment in 1942. He describes his training, being assigned to 207 Squadron at RAF Spilsby and talks about some of his colleagues, with whom he was reunited 70 years later. He talks about…
Malcolm Staves' Post Office Savings Bank Book
Issued at RAF Bridgnorth to Malcolm Staves on 31 May 1943, it covers his deposits and withdrawals until 21 June 1945.
Interview with Ken Marshall
Ken Marshall, grew up in Barton on Humber and enrolled with the ATC before joining the University Air Squadron at Durham University. On one occasion he saw an aircraft on fire at RAF Elsham Wolds and, although the crew was rescued, it was a reminder…
Interview with Frederick Joseph Keith Martin
Keith Martin was working for an agricultural machinery merchants in Shrewsbury when the war started. This was classed as a reserved occupation but when he was nearly 20, he decided to volunteer for the Royal Air Force in April 1942 and was selected…
Interview with Harold Mercer
Harold Mercer worked as a milkman before being called up in April 1942. He served in the RAF, initially as a transport driver and then trained to become an air gunner. He was sent to RAF Weston-super-Mare, where he played in the military band, before…
Interview with Taff Owen
Aneurin ‘Taff’ Owen was born neat Dolgellau, near Penmaenpool in Wales, and joined the Royal Air Force in 1942, aged 18. Taff was a farmer’s son and, as such, was put into a reserved occupation, so some of the areas of the Royal Air Force were not…
Interview with Betty Repton
Betty (nee Jackson) worked in a library in Macclesfield before the war. When the war began, she went to Manchester to volunteer for the Air Force and trained as a telephonist. She did a course at Sheffield General Post Office before being posted to…
Malcolm Staves Diary
Copy of a day by day diary kept by Malcolm Staves from 26th April 1943 to 6th January 1945. Covers training, lectures, gardening and cleaning tasks. Also covers his social life and home leave.
Interview with Dennis Swains
In 1936, Dennis went to Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham, where an Air Training Corps was formed. Aged 17, he got a job with the North British and Mercantile Insurance company. He visited RAF Halton with the Air Training Corps each Sunday,…
Interview with Fred Tiller
Fred was too young to get in the Royal Air Force, so he joined the Air Training Corps where they did aircraft recognition and visited various camps. He joined in 1943/44 and went to Lord’s Cricket Ground where he was evaluated to become an air…
Interview with Kenneth White
Kenneth White trained as an air gunner. He was not sent to an Operational Training Unit but was sent straight to a squadron at RAF Oulton. He flew in B-17s with a special operator on board. On one occasion, during an air test, there was a fire on…
If you can't take a joke...
A detailed account of Ken Thomas's life from his early years at school, through his ground crew technical training and his aircrew training, operational tour, short post war service and his civilian career. He revised the account in 2005.
Jeff Brown's flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners, flight engineers
Flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners, flight engineers for Jeff Brown, air gunner, covering the period from 18 August 1944 to 31 December 1951. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and post war flying. He was stationed…
Two stories and a letter by Ted Neale
Ted Neale's account of travelling by boat and train to South Africa and training undertaken in various locations in Africa. The item includes a letter written in later years requesting a disability pension due to loss of hearing.
Form for purchasing handkerchiefs
An uncompleted form authorising the bearer to purchase handkerchiefs.
Interview with Donald Raymond Harris
Donald was born in Acton, London. He stayed at school until he was 14 and then worked as a tea boy/general help for O. C. Summers, a firm that laid gas mains in Slough. When that job ended, he worked for another ganger in Shepherds Bush. Soon…
Arthur Pearce's air gunners flying log book
Air gunners' flying log book for A T Pearce, covering the period from 2 December 1943 to 25 November 1946. It details his flying training, operations flown and post war flying. Arthur Pearce was stationed at: RAF Bishops Court, RAF Seighford, RAF…