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No 617 Squadron and the operation to breach the dams
Album page with three clippings, one from from The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post dated Tuesday May 18 1943 showing a number of Lancasters over a city, captioned '617 Lancs'. One summarising the news from around November 1944, including the sinking…
Bob Knights' Obituary
The obituary of Flight Lieutenant Bob Knights. It details his operations on the Tirpitz, his early life, his training in Florida, his time with 617 Squadron and his role with BOAC after the war until his retirement in 1976.
Ernie Twells' Obituary and letter from the King
Ernie Twells' obituary detailing his life before, during and after the war.
A letter from the King awarding Ernie Twells his Distinguished Flying Cross.
A letter from the King awarding Ernie Twells his Distinguished Flying Cross.
Tirpitz capsized
The Tirpitz is capsized, floating in a Norwegian fjord. On the reverse
'Battleship Tirpitz
Tirpitz 15 June 1945'.
'Battleship Tirpitz
Tirpitz 15 June 1945'.
Ernie Twells and airmen
A group of 29 airmen and one woman, arranged in three rows. The front row is seated cross legged on the grass. The second row is kneeling and the third row is standing. Behind is a caravan and a hedge. Captioned 'Ernie Twells Back Row 2nd from…
Tirpitz
Picture 1 Captioned 'Battleship Tirpitz, both photos'.
On the reverse
'Battleship Tirpitz
Walter Hugin
46 Do-Huckarde
Servahust sh. 19'
Picture 2 Captioned 'Signatures of Survivors on back of each photo'.
On the reverse
'Battleship Tirpitz
Walter Hugin
46 Do-Huckarde
Servahust sh. 19'
Picture 2 Captioned 'Signatures of Survivors on back of each photo'.
Bob Knights' target photograph of the Tirpitz
A vertical aerial photograph much obscured by cloud, smoke and explosions. Captioned '671 LOS. 29.10.44 14000 330 07.52 TIRPITZ B1 1x12000 C.31 Secs F/Lt KNIGHTS 0.617'.
The Tirpitz firing its guns, taken from onboard the vessel.
The Tirpitz firing its guns, taken from onboard the vessel.
Munich and of the Tirpitz
A vertical target photograph of Munich being bombed. Much of the detail is obscured by anti-aircraft fire. Captioned '66 WS. 24/25.4.44 // NT8” 18500 [arrow] 026 0145 Munich.RD. A 6RS. 6JCL 29 SECS F/O KNIGHTS A 617.'
A target photograph of the…
A target photograph of the…
Ernie Twells and airmen
Ernie Twells and five airmen colleagues before he became aircrew. Captioned 'Ernie Twells 2nd from right'. On the reverse the names and addresses of four of the other men.
Bob Knights and seven crew wearing flying gear standing in front of…
Bob Knights and seven crew wearing flying gear standing in front of…
Lancasters at Yagodnik
A view from a Lancaster of other Lancasters on the ground. On the reverse 'Lancasters at Yagodnik'.
Engine change on Lancaster PB415
Taken from inside a Lancaster, looking to the starboard side from the rear door. An engine is on a crane with several ground crew working on it. On the reverse 'Archangel (Yagodnik) 17.9.44 Engine Change on PB415'.
Ernie Twells on a Lancaster engine
Ernie Twells is climbing on the starboard outer engine of Lancaster PB414. The view is from the inside the aircraft. On the reverse is 'PB414 Yagodnik'.
Starboard engines, Lancaster
The two starboard engines of a Lancaster viewed from inside the aircraft. In the background are two more Lancasters, On the reverse 'PB415 Yagodnik'.
Airmen and Lancasters at at Archangel Yagodnik USSR
Flight Lieutenant Knights and crew. Ernie Twells is third from right, standing in front of a Lancaster. Flight Lieutenant Knights is third from the left.
The two starboard engines of a Lancaster viewed from inside the aircraft. In the background…
The two starboard engines of a Lancaster viewed from inside the aircraft. In the background…
Rupert the bear mascot
A black corduroy teddy bear with a red bow tie and red paws. Rupert was made for his daughter from material left over from making a coat; but it became Ernie Twells' lucky charm. The bear accompanied him on 65 operations with 617 and 619 Squadrons,…
Battleship Tirpitz ornament
Small ornament made of rock taken from the fjord near Tromso where the Tirpitz was sunk. The rock base has a small wooden plaque, a small anchor and chain and a second rock with a black and orange shield. Captioned 'The Battleship Tirpitz'.
Tirpitz memento
A small piece of rock taken from the fjord where the Tirpitz was sunk. It is mounted on a wooden block.
Piece of wooden deck from the Tirpitz
Piece of wooden decking recovered from the Tirpitz.
Newspaper cutting - was Bomber Harris justified
Supportive article about the work of Bomber Command with particular mention of support for the Normandy Campaign, attacks on V-weapons as well as other strategic and operational targets. Concludes with questioning why Harris was passed over.
W G Uprichard - An Account of my Experiences in the RAF during my Long Service of 41 Years
Details of W G Uprichard's time in the RAF.
W D Tweddle. Tape Two
![ATweddleWD[Date]-020004.mp3](/application/views/scripts/images/fallback-audio.png "ATweddleWD[Date]-020004.mp3")
Doug Tweddle was awarded an immediate DFC because he flew on all three operations to attack the Tirpitz. This was delivered to him at his home four years later. While attempting an emergency landing at RAF Waddington he was told that because he was…
W D Tweddle. Tape One
Doug Tweddle undertook his initial pilot training in South Africa. On return to the UK, he attended Operational Training Unit at Upper Heyford where he selected his crew. The crew were then posted to 9 Squadron at RAF Bardney. Doug was the only…
Hampdens, Wimpeys and Barbed Wire
Bomber Command wartime memoirs 1939-45 by Ted Allison. He completed 35 bomber operations as wireless operator/air gunner 1941-43, which he described as being looked down upon. The introduction describes his role as a Wop/Ag and how they're replaced…
Interview with Syd Grimes
Sydney Grimes grew up near Southend and joined the RAF as a wireless operator in 1940. He flew a total of 41 operations - 24 with 106 Squadron and 17 with 617 Squadron. He then served on 9 Squadron at RAF Bardney for 2 months and, subsequently, with…
Interview with Margaret Horry
Margaret Horry was born in Spalding. She remembers aircraft taking off to take part in operations, and retells wartime stories of her relatives. Her husband, Arthur, served in Bomber Command as a bomb aimer and his brother, Frank, was also in Bomber…