Browse Items (289 total)

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PBubbGJ16010131.jpg
Six page document courtesy of the late Allen White - 44 Squadron Historian. Reproduces narratives from three 44 Squadron crews involved in the operation. Overall the operation lost 37 crews from 120 launched against Wesseling oil refinery near…

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MEdwardsAE2202190-161024-02.pdf
Lists 42 operations with dates, targets, aircraft, fuel, bomb loads, times and accounts of sortie for each one.

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MJoslinAL200926-211123-010001.jpg
Memoir of a flight engineer, covering training and operations through 1944. The narrative provides details of bomb loads, specific events experienced by the crew and details of German night fighter tactics.

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SDexterKI127249v10012.jpg
Squadron Leader A N Banks, Station Intelligence officer at RAF Foulsham, notes that the station was engaged on special duties with two squadrons, one of Halifax and the other Mosquito. He recalls an event in April 1944 when a Halifax collided with a…

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SDexterKI127249v10013.jpg
Letter from Squadron Leader Arthur NM Banks to acquaintance Paul concerning an incident where at RAF Foulsham where a Halifax landed on top of a Mosquito. Aircraft were from 192 Squadron conducting special operations. Halifax windowed in front of…

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BGambleATGambleATv1.pdf
Part 1. Covers the period from Alan Gamble's years as a schoolboy in Worthing in the late 1930's, up to joining the RAF in 1943, where he trained, before moving to RAF Fairford in 1944. He flew 29 bombing and mine laying sorties over Germany and…

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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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AHughesWH151021.mp3
Harry Hughes volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1940 and trained in America, where he was washed out as a pilot and then retrained as a navigator in Canada, flying Ansons and Wellingtons. In 1942, he converted to Halifaxes and flew operations…

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ARossiterHC150913.mp3
Harry Rossiter grew up in East London but his family moved to Essex, which gave Harry a “ringside view” of the Battle of Britain. He volunteered as a bicycle messenger and tried to join the Royal Navy as a telegraphist. He was encouraged to join the…

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PBencinaA1601.jpg
Angelo Bencina recalls wartime memories in Monfalcone: a cave being modified as a shelter; the descent of bright red and white target indicators at night; a bomb which narrowly missed him but did not explode; Window radio countermeasures being…

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BBarffAColingEFv1.pdf
Time in the RAF including selection as an observer, enrolment at Lord's Cricket Ground, navigational dead reckoning and meteorology training in Eastbourne and Paignton. Time spent on navigational sorties in Grahamstown, South Africa in Ansons and…

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ATolleyF150702.mp3
Frank Tolley was born in 1921 in Tipton and left school at 14, to work as a grocery errand boy. He joined the Royal Air Force at 19 as a ground gunner, and was in at the inception of the Royal Air Force Regiment. After 18 months he volunteered to…

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AMotterheadN150719.mp3
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…

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PPackhamG1610.jpg
Geoff’s father had been in the Royal Flying Corps and Geoff joined the Royal Air Force at RAF Cardington. He was posted to various stations before going to Halifax in Canada to train as a pilot on Tiger Moths and then Oxfords. On his return, Geoff…

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MLeeAJP1320246-180714-02.pdf
Arthur John Pugh Lee's memoir of the Battle of Berlin, of being shot down and becoming a prisoner of war. He discusses his role in the de-Nazification trial of Robert Stauch, the Burgomaster of Katzenelnbogen.

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BSpencerAHGSpencerAHGv1.pdf
Memoir of the life of Arthur Spencer. It includes details of childhood and growing up, tells of him joining the Royal Air Force and his training in the United States as a pilot and then navigator. This was followed by training in England and a…

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APorteousB161102.mp3
Flight Sergeant Bob Porteous grew up in Australia and, after spending time in the bush, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force. After training and spending time in the United States, he travelled to Scotland on the Queen Mary. He flew operations as…

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BFreemanWFreemanWv1.pdf
A detailed account of Bill's time in the RAF, starting with drill at Lords, training at RAF Bridlington and RAF Bridgnorth then RAF Stormy Down. He passed the course and, on return from leave, reported to RAF Hixon for crewing up. He describes…

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SSmithRW425992v10003-0002 copy.pdf
Covers his operational tour and bombing operations.

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SSmithRW425992v20002-0001.jpg
Calculations, observations and a chart used for an operation to Chalons-sur-Marne Railway Yards.

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SSmithRW425992v20007-0001.jpg
Calculations, observations and a chart used for an operation to Eindhoven.

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SSmithRW425992v20017-0001.jpg
Calculations, observations and chart for an operation to Duisburg.
There is a second set of calculations.

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SSmithRW425992v20024-0001.jpg
Calculations, observations and chart for an operation to Cologne.

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ABatesP151009.mp3
Philip volunteered for the Royal Air Force in May 1940. After a short time in Blackpool, he was posted to RAF Cosford where he volunteered for training as a flight mechanic and then fitter. At 86 Squadron, Coastal Command, flying Beauford torpedo…

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AAbbottsC151015.mp3
Cyril Abbotts volunteered for the Royal Air Force while he was an engineering apprentice with W T Avery at Smethwick. After his reception and basic training at Lord’s Cricket Ground, he trained as a pilot at RAF Bowden and Moose Jaw in Canada. On his…

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