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Lancaster VN-F at RAF Skellingthorpe
In the foreground a large number of bombs on the ground with tails removed and placed alongside. Five armourers dressed in overalls and side caps surround the bombs; two crouching working on bombs and three carrying tails towards the bombs. Above…
Interview with Les Rutherford. Three
Les Rutherford joined the army and was in the 51st Highland Division which formed the rear-guard defence, allowing for the evacuation of Dunkirk. He escaped out to sea on a barn door and was picked up and taken to England by a French trawler. He…
Interview with Margaret Hourigan
Margaret Hourigan grew up in and around Nottingham. Despite holding Labour principles she volunteered for the WAAF’s as soon as War was declared and was called up in January 1940. Margaret served as a plotter in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, with…
Interview with Edward Allan McDonald. Two
Allan McDonald was born in Hull and watched Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus as a child. He worked as an apprentice electrician before joining the Air Force. He served as ground personnel in Northern Ireland until he passed the exams to become aircrew…
Interview with Keith Toule
Keith was five at the start of the war and lived in a farm adjoining the airfield at RAF Skellingthorpe. He describes the airfield and how the trees were cut down in the farm belt. The airfield was closed soon after the war, bought by the City…
Interview with Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray was a farm labourer in Aberdeenshire when he volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He trained to fly in Texas and completed 30 operations as a pilot with 61 Squadron. After leaving the RAF he worked for BOAC flying Yorks and VC10s.
Interview with Norman Goodfellow
Norman Goodfellow was born in Wakefield, in 1923. Before the war he worked as an apprentice engineer. Joining the RAF aged 17 he was offered the choice of pilot or navigator. Although Norman chose to be a navigator he, initially, trained as a pilot…
Interview with Robert Barnes. One
Robert Barnes was working in a Reserved Occupation and knew the only way he could join the RAF was to volunteer for aircrew. Before he volunteered he was also a member of the ARP and Home Guard. Robert trained as a flight engineer and was posted to…
Interview with Robert Barnes. Two
Robert Barnes, as flight engineer, had to deal with an emergency on one flight when, during the process of changing the fuel tanks, the aircraft went into a steep dive.
Interview with Frank Stanney
Frank Stanney was working on the land before he volunteered for the RAF. After training, he flew operations as a wireless operator with 61 Squadron. One day his pilot took off as a 20 year old and returned as a 21 year old, as it was his birthday…
Interview with Edward Robert McRae
Ted McRae volunteered for aircrew and trained as a gunner. He was usually in the mid-upper turret but would sometimes swap places with the rear gunner. On one trip, repatriating ex-prisoners of war, his aircraft crashed. He and the other gunner were…
Interview with William Geoghegan
Bill joined the Royal Australian Air Force from the army, going to Bradfield Park as an Initial Training School. He did a short course on Tiger Moths at Temora but because of his good performance in navigation exams, he was sent for navigation…
Bomber command operations
A summary of operations undertaken on the night of 20/21 March 1945. Details the part taken by 50 Squadron including pre take off routine, operations record, battle order, targets and casualties, including Lancaster ME441 W.
Reminiscence and memories of Mrs E J Bascombe
Flight Engineer Ron Jones 61 Squadron, killed in action 25 April 1944. Details of his early life and service career. Some information how he met his wife, then their brief marriage. Initially he was declared missing but on January 1945 he was…
Letter from Frank Hobbs to his daughter
![EHobbsFJStorerB[Date]-020001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/square_thumbnails/871/10031/EHobbsFJStorerB[Date]-020001.jpg "EHobbsFJStorerB[Date]-020001.jpg")
Apologises for not having written because he has been busy. Writes about bicycle parts he will bring home and what she would like for Christmas, How she is getting on at school and hopes she is helping mummy.
Letter from Frank Hobbs to his daughter
Wishes her happy birthday and apologises for no card. He has ordered her an air gunner brevet broach. Writes about her party and that mother should give eight kisses for eighth birthday.
Frank Mouritz's Royal Australian Air Force flying log book
A partial Royal Australian Air Force Flying log book for F A Mouritz. Covers (with gaps) the period from 27 September 1944 to 18 April 1945. He was stationed at RAF Skellingthorpe with 61 Squadron flying Lancasters. The log book details eight night…
Memoir Flight Lieutenant Gordon Cruickshank D.F.M. RAFRO
Memoir written in 1956 by Flight Lieutenant Cruickshank. It starts with his early childhood and family life. It includes his early time in RAF after enlisting in December 1938 with first job as balloon operator and then training as an air gunner;…
Interview with Eric Coling
Eric Coling’s father died when Eric was a child which left his mother to cope on her own, economically. Eric and his sister were sent to live in an orphanage but their mother was able to visit monthly. When Eric left the orphanage he began working…
Interview with Don Watson
Donald Watson joined the Royal Air Force in 1941, having previously worked in the print industry. After training he served as an armourer with 61 Squadron at RAF Skellingthorpe.
He wishes that the ground crew, without whom the aircrew could not…
He wishes that the ground crew, without whom the aircrew could not…
Telegram to Phillip Mathew's Father from Air Ministry
The telegram advises that his son is missing.
Leonard Green’s navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Navigator's air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book for Flight Sergeant Leonard Green, wireless operator, covering the period from 15 December 1942 to 20 January 1946. He was stationed at RAF Manby, RAF Wigtown, RAF Bitteswell, RAF…
John Casey's flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers
Navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers flying log book for Sergeant John Casey from 26 February 1944 to 8 October 1945. Detailing training schedule and operations flown. Served at 7 Air Gunnery School followed by training at 29…
Reg Freeth's South African Air Force observers or air gunners log book
South African Air Force observers or air gunners log book for Warrant Officer Reg Freeth, bomb aimer, covering the period from 7 February 1942 to 8 October 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations and Instructor duties. He was stationed at…
John Firth's navigator's, air bomber's and air gunner's flying log book
Navigator's, air bomber's and air gunner's flying log book for Sergeant John Firth from 31 March 1944 to 7 August 1944. Detailing training and operations flown. Served at RAF Wigsley, RAF Syerston, RAF Skellingthorpe. Aircraft flown were Stirling and…