Browse Items (487 total)

  • Tags: RAF Waddington

PProbynEA17010039.jpg
15 photographs taken during the unveiling of the memorial.
#1 and 2 are of the village sign outside the Skellingthorpe Village Hall.
#3 is a view of the memorial with the wreaths left at the ceremony.
#4 and 5 are the standards and attendees at…

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BWittyARWittyARv1.pdf
History of wartime experiences of Ronald Witty. Starts with schooling and early employment in Hull, just before the war. Mentions German bombing of Hull and volunteering for the RAF. Describes training in London and Torquay before departing on a…

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Complete history of the aircraft from 1942 to placement in RAF Museum. Delivered to 83 Squadron at RAF Scampton. Lists all flights with crews and provides details of operations and other sorties. First operation was on 8/9 July 1942. Was founder…

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ABruhnCK160430.mp3
Clarence Keith Bruhn's parents were of German descent. He grew up in Australia and joined the Royal Australian Air Force. After training, he flew operations as a navigator with 463 Squadron. On one operation his aircraft was hit by friendly fire from…

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AKellyDV151201.mp3
Denis joined the Royal Australian Air Force at 18 and married when he enlisted. He wanted to be a pilot but became a wireless operator/air gunner because he lacked depth perception. After Somers, Denis went to Victor Harbour. He then did a radio…

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AMottersheadF160430.mp3
Frank was called up for the Royal Australian Air Force and unsuccessfully trained as a pilot at Narromine. He was sent to the enrolment depot at Bradfield Park and underwent some training as a wireless operator. Frank went to Number 2 Wireless School…

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ASouthwellDE160424.mp3
Don Southwell grew up in Australia and worked for RKO Radio Pictures and as an Air Raid Precautions Warden, before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. After training in Australia and Canada, he flew nine operations as a navigator with 463 Squadron…

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PGoodwinWJ1701.jpg
Wal Goodwin grew up near Melbourne and was conscripted in the Australian Army but was discharged due to his father’s reserved occupation of farming. He later volunteered for the Australian Air Force and received his initial training of meteorology,…

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MHorryAH1332586-160818-010002.jpg
Two telegrams and a note awarding Arthur Horry the Distinguished Flying Medal.

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ARogersH150409.mp3
Hugh Rogers was a cameraman during the war and remembers filming the sinking of the Tirpitz in November 1944. He gives a vivid and detailed account of the operation, describing the briefing, the technical modifications to the aircraft and the…

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ABallF150826.mp3
Frederick Ball grew up in Yorkshire and trained as a motor mechanic, before joining the RAF in 1939. He completed two tours with 44 and 49 Squadrons, as a wireless operator flying from RAF Waddington and RAF Scampton.

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ALeatherdaleF151018.mp3
Frank was an aircraft spotter for the Local Defence Volunteers and volunteered to join the Royal Air Force as a pilot. He went to Calgary in Canada on the Empire Air Training Scheme, where he few Tiger Moths at the Elementary Training School. He…

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ATrappSV160405.mp3
Sylvia was born in Mansfield where her father was a miner and her mother had worked at Lawns Mills. She had two brothers and a sister. Sylvia was 15 when she left school to work at the hosiery mills and recalls the German manager being deported. She…

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EPellyAGBrooksWM421223-010001.jpg
Writes to tell Mrs Brooks about her husband's death as a result of a recent flying accident. States that it was absolutely instantaneous and that, as the crash had been from a low height, he would not have felt anything. Explains that he had been…

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BBaldwinERBaldwinERv10001.jpg
Covers early life in Australia and then training in Canada and England as an air gunner. Flew operations on Lancaster with 467 Squadron at RAF Waddington. Recounts details of operations to Walcheren Island. Continues with several other anecdotes…

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BBaldwinERBaldwinERv2.pdf
Recounts events that happen during his service career. Includes detailed account of first operation to Walcheren Island in daylight. Continues with account of engaging German fighters from mid upper turret on operation to Essen. Follows account of…

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EBaldwinER-GummersallTBaldwinER-GummersallTv1.pdf
Memoirs of Eric Baldwin and Tom Gummersall of 467 Squadron RAAF RAF Waddington. Eric Baldwin recounts several of his experiences as a mid upper gunner including flying in the wrong direction due to compass problems, parts falling off his aircraft on…

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SAllenDJ1880966v10008.jpg
From Officer Commanding 467 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force and base commander 53 Base Waddington congratulating Derrick Allen on immediate award of Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

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SSmithRW425992v10001-0002 copy.pdf
Covers his recruitment and training. Includes a list of RAAF recruits.

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SSmithRW425992v10002-0002 copy.pdf
Covers his training.

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MSmithRW425992-230825-02.pdf
Bob's memoirs from his early training until he became operational.

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PEvansE1602.jpg
Eric Evans was born in 1923 in Liverpool and was 16 years old when war broke out. He served in the Royal Air Force, serving with 463 RAAF Squadron, starting from the rank of sergeant and rising to a warrant officer on leaving the service, before…

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AHarrisNG160128.mp3
Neil Harris wanted to join the RAF because he was looking for an exciting life experience and an opportunity for further education. He started as a flight mechanic before training as a pilot. Neil remembers being trained in different locations across…

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PThorpJF1601.jpg
John Thorp was born and raised in Manchester where he attended North Manchester Grammar School. Aged 17 he joined the Home Guard and when he was 18 he volunteered for the RAF with thoughts of becoming a pilot. While waiting at RAF Heaton Park to…

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PTeasdaleA22020005.jpg
Audrey left school aged 14 and began work as a clerical assistant for a tailoring firm in Leeds, before moving into furniture sales. She was 23 when the war started and was conscripted on 15 December 1942, electing to join the Women's Auxiliary Air…

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