Browse Items (95 total)

  • Tags: RAF Torquay

MGarlandVA3030098-211110-010001.jpg
Brief history of 429 Squadron (RCAF). Follows outline of Victor Garland wartime history including time in air training corps, training on Halifax, operations on 429 Squadron. Mentions some incidents while training and on operations. Mentions…

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MBatchelderHE1262838-190626-010001.jpg
A summary listing key events in Harold Batchelder's life from his birth in April 1920 to his retirement in October 1985.

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PSilverLH1801.jpg
A group of 52 airmen. On the reverse 'ITW squadron (Air training crew) Torquay April 1943'.

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PHopgoodJV19010017.jpg
Three airmen wearing tunics and shorts carrying towels walking down a street. John Hopgood in centre. Submitted with caption 'JVH early training Torquay 1940'.

Additional information about this item was kindly provide by the donor.

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PHopgoodJV19010011.jpg
Full length image of an airman wearing tunic and side cap, standing in front of a balustrade with sea cliffs in the background. Submitted with caption ' John training Torquay 1940'.

Additional information about this item kindly provided by the…

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PAlexanderDW24010005.jpg
A group of trainee airmen arranged in four rows. Some of the men have signed their names.
A second copy has Denis circled, named and service number annotated.

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PBarrJ24020005.jpg
50 trainee airmen arranged in four rows.

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BBarrJBarrJv2.pdf
A biography of Jamie's time in the RAF.

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PHawkesRW17010006.jpg
12 photographs from an album.
#1 a group of trainees arranged in four rows, captioned ' 'C' flight ISQD 13 ITW Torquay (1943)'
#2 is a head and shoulders portrait of Robert Wilfred Hawkes with a trainees cap.
#3 is three trainee airmen standing…

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PDoughtyJC1808.jpg
Course photograph of a large group of airmen wearing flying suits sitting and standing in four rows. A officer wearing tunic and peaked cap and a corporal with side cap sit centre of front row. In the background trees.

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PDoughtyJC1807.jpg
Course photograph of a large group of airmen wearing tunics and side caps sitting and standing in four rows, Two officers sit in centre of front row. Names are captioned below and James Doughty is sitting front row first on the right.

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PDoughtyJC1806.jpg
Course photograph of a large group of airmen wearing tunics and side caps sitting and standing in five rows. In the background trees and building. James Doughty is sitting front row 4th from the right. Additional information concerning this item was…

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SJenkinsonPR1826262v10018.jpg
Full face portrait of an officer wearing tunic with pilot's brevet and peaked cap. Captioned with details and that he was pilot of Peter Jenkinson's Lancaster shot down 28 January 1945 all crew killed.
Two notes giving biographic details and record…

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PLeadbetterJ16040005.jpg
Ten airmen arranged in two rows on the beach. They are dressed for physical training. On the reverse 'Torquay 1942'.

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PPettyD1605.jpg
Two trainee airmen standing in front of a low stone wall. Behind is a palm tree.

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PPettyD1604.jpg
Photo 1 is a trainee Doug Petty sitting on a low stone wall, captioned 'No 21 Initial Training Wing Torquay 1943'.
Photo 2 is a head and shoulders portrait of Doug Petty with a pipe in his mouth, captioned 'Newly commissioned Pilot Officer 1944'.

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PPettyD1603.jpg
Photo 1 is two trainee airmen standing beside a low wall, behind are palm trees. It is captioned 'Torquay 1943'.
Photo 2 is a head and shoulders portrait of an airman in a khaki top, captioned 'Leeming 1944'.
Photos 3 and 4 are two different groups…

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PThompsonKG15010007.jpg
Page, annotated 'Initial Training Wing Oct - '41 - Jan '42'.
Colour postcard, captioned 'Torquay Riviera', annotated 'Our Church for Sunday parades', 'Messing and billets in long white building'.
Postcard captioned 'The Harbour and Vane Hill',…

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BWalkerSDenmanEAv10001.jpg
Gives account of early life and some details of wartime service as a Lancaster bomb aimer in Bomber Command. Includes some mention of training and operations. Continues with account of life after the war up until his death in 2018. Includes an…

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SBondS-GraftonSv10002.pdf
Cover photograph of an airman with half brevet captioned 'Pilot Officer Stan Grafton during debrief at RAF Wratting Common, following the disastrous raid on Berlin on the night of 23/24 August 1943'. Chapter one covers enlistment and training…

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BWilsonRCWilsonRCv1.pdf
Reg summarises Bomber Command's role in the war then details his personal experiences from training days. He covers, in detail, the navigational techniques he used, and describes the operation he was on when he was shot down.

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BHopgoodPMHopgoodPDv1.pdf
The detailed biography begins with government measures at the start of National Service. Philip Hopgood volunteered and enlisted at Padgate, Warrington. He was classified as medically Grade 1. Initial training was at RAF Regent's Park (Lord's Cricket…

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PHarrisJ1901.jpg
Jack Harris was born in Gillingham, Kent. Aged 16, he undertook employment as a clerk in the intelligence department of the Air Ministry. He describes the brief evacuation of his department to Harrow in 1939 and receiving permission to leave his…

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PYeomanHT1601.jpg
Harold Yeoman volunteered for the RAF hoping to become an air gunner and was surprised to find he would be trained as a pilot. He describes a crash landing in a Wellington, returning from an operation to Cherbourg, and being sent to Essen twice…

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WhitworthJ.jpg
John Leslie Whitworth was born in Sutton Coldfield. He signed up for the Royal Air Force in 1940, finally being called up for service in 1941, before starting his training at the Initial Training Wing in Torquay, followed by more training at RAF…

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