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Bill Chubb’s flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners, flight engineers
Flying log book for Bill Chubb, flight engineer covering the period from 12 September 1944 to 2 May 1945. Detailing his flying and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF St Athan, RAF Topcliffe (1659 HCU) and RAF East Moor (432 Sqn). Aircraft…
The Kriegie August 1988
The News Sheet of the RAF ex-POW Association. Inside are articles about reunions and attendances, the annual dinner at Henlow, Massed Bands Spectacular, request for information about the POW camp newspaper - Daily Recco, the 1997 Remembrance Day…
Interview with Douglas Arthur Smith
Douglas Smith grew up in Bressingham, Norfolk. He joined the Royal Air Force in October 1940, at the age of 19, and trained as a wireless operator. He joined a crew on Wellingtons at No 10 Operational Training Unit, RAF Abingdon, before converting to…
David Philip Storey's operations
A memoir of David Storey's service from 27 May 1943 to April 1944. He describes the 32 operations he completed as a navigator on Halifaxes including details of incidents and aircraft losses.
This item was provided, in digital form, by a…
This item was provided, in digital form, by a…
Ronald Bailey's flying log book
Flying log book for Ronald Bailey, flight engineer, covering the period from 5 May 1944 to 26 October 1946. Detailing his flying training operations flown and post war flying. He was stationed at RAF Wombelton, RAF Tholthorpe, RAF Lissett, RAF…
Interview with Rex Statham
Rex Statham was born in Luton. His father died in a motorbike accident when he was very young. Although Rex had been very keen to join the Navy, he volunteered for the RAF as a flight mechanic. When he realised that many trained mechanics were being…
Interview with Colin Hynd
Colin Hynd joined the RAF in November 1943. Upon completing initial training, he was posted to RAF St Athan, where he trained as a flight engineer. He struggled to bond with his first crew, so instead worked as an instructor, before joining a…
Interview with John David Pennington Cotter
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…
Interview with Jack Alexander Cook
Being in a reserved occupation at the outbreak of war, Jack eventually volunteered for the Royal Air Force, although, it would take the majority of the war before he joined. Having finally been called up for Bomber Command in 1944, Jack trained as a…
Interview with William Frederick Chubb
Bill Chubb had several challenges in his early life, including the death of his father when Bill was 12. After various jobs, he joined the RAF as a flight engineer. He became part of a Canadian crew, despite some objection! Bill tells many tales of…
Interview with Douglas Robinson
Douglas was in the Local Defence Volunteers before joining the Royal Air Force as a pilot. After RAF Babbacombe, he did initial training at RAF Scarborough and then in Rhodesia. Initial flight training in Harare on Tiger Moths was followed by service…
Interview with Bluey Mottershead
Bluey was born on a farm in Shropshire. His best friend, from his youth, joined the Royal Air Force as aircrew and was killed at RAF Honington when a German aircraft bombed the station. A desire for revenge made him enlist for flying duties in…
Interview with Len McNamara
Len McNamara was born in Bristol in 1924. While working as an apprentice plumber, he joined the Air Training Corps and volunteered for aircrew. He discusses his initial training at various stations, the gunnery course he passed with merit and…
Interview with Derek Jones
Bomb aimer Frank Jones wrote notes decades ago regarding his service in Bomber Command with 158 Squadron. His son, Derek reads his father’s story, which includes his early life, enlisting into the RAF and training in navigation at No. 43 Air Gunners…
Interview with Tom Coles
Tom Coles was born in Watford and signed up for the Royal Air Force at the age of 18. He went to Canada for training, a period saddened by the loss of his sister who was in the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force. Tom flew Manchesters, then went to 158…
Dennis Raettig's wartime memoir
Wartime memoir covering Dennis Raettig's training at Blackpool and his posting to 104 Squadron at RAF Driffield in August 1941. He describes his work on Wellington aircraft and recalls his time at RAF Driffield including deployment to RAF Pocklington…
Interview with Harry Irons. One
Harry Irons left a tailoring apprenticeship to join the Royal Air Force and trained as a wireless operator but became an air-gunner. He describes the uniform he wore and the unreliability of heated suits. He tells of the invention of scarecrows which…
Interview with David Leicester
David was called up in August 1941 and went to the Initial Training School at Victor Harbor. Elementary Flying Training School followed, and he was posted to Parafield, flying Tiger Moths. He then went to the Service Flying Training School at Point…
Interview with Harry Irons. Two
Harry was under age when he joined the RAF in 1940, after witnessing bombing in London. He went to Blackpool in August 1941 and became a rear gunner. Gunnery school for six weeks at RAF Manby followed, and Harry joined 9 Squadron at RAF Waddington.…