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Interview with Geoffrey Whittle
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Whittle was born in London. After leaving school, at 14 he became an apprentice printer in the family business. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force on the outbreak of the Second World War and trained as a navigator and…
Interview with George Griffiths
![AGriffithsG[Date]-01.mp3](/application/views/scripts/images/fallback-audio.png "AGriffithsG[Date]-01.mp3")
George Griffiths recounts his service in the RAF from 1942, when he volunteered as a wireless operator. In June 1942, he was called up and completed his wireless operator training before being posted to Norfolk in February 1943. During this time, he…
Interview with Harry Rossiter
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…
Interview with Henry Morris
Henry Morris, (b. 1922 Royal Air Force) served as a wireless operator in the Marine Branch, Air Sea Rescue. He was, initially, sent to New York before being posted to 211 OTU RAF Oakes Field, Nassau as part of Costal Command. On returning to the…
Interview with Jack Cook
Jack Cook was born in Mexborough, left school aged 14 and went to work at a Gentlemen’s Outfitters. Aged 16 he worked on the footplate for LNER and at the age of 18 volunteered for aircrew and trained as a wireless operator/air gunner; he joined 100…
Interview with James Ferguson Latimer
James Ferguson Latimer was born in Edinburgh. His family emigrated to Canada when he was young but moved back to Scotland in 1939. He recalls witnessing a German U-boat torpedo a ship as they sailed back home. Latimer joined the air force and…
Interview with John Harry Waye
John Waye grew up in London. He was 10 years old when he was hospitalised with diphtheria. When he was discharged, he discovered his mother had died while he had been in hospital. John was working in the retail trade and was in the ATC before he…
Interview with Ken Done
Upon leaving Battersea Grammar School aged 14, he was employed at Chelsea Town Hall as a junior clerk. When the war started, he discovered he was in a reserved occupation and unable to enlist. However, suffering The Blitz was too much and after being…
Interview with Ken Done
Kenneth Done recalls his service in the RAF as a wireless operator in Air Sea Rescue. At school he joined the Cadet Corps, where he reached the rank of Company Sergeant Major. He applied for the RAF, hoping to be a fighter pilot but after being told…
Interview with Kenneth Stoker
Kenneth Stoker, (b. 1926), served in the RAF Marine Branch from March 1944. He was demobbed 1948. Ken was posted to Ceylon, India, and Burma, where he joined the Air Sea Rescue. His duties were to be available in the event that any aircrew needed…
Interview with Lawrence Henry di Placito. One
Lawrence di Placito served as a second-class coxswain on the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches during the Second World War. He was born in Chertsey and attended Egham grammar school where he was a member of the cadet force. Upon leaving school in 1936 he…
Interview with Lawrence Henry di Placito. Two
Lawrence di Placito served as a second-class coxswain on the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches during the Second World War. He gives further details of his experiences in rescues, both successful and those with a tragic ending. He also tells of Ealing…
Interview with Maurice Stoneman
Maurice Stoneman was posted to 57 Squadron at RAF East Kirkby as the flight engineer on Lancasters in 1943. He recalls that, on returning from operations, they used to fly around the Boston Stump and around Lincoln Cathedral before finally landing.…
Interview with Peter Morris
Peter Morris lived through the East End blitz. He joined the ATC as soon as it was established and applied to join the RAF as aircrew and was accepted for training as a navigator. While waiting for a course he was part of a group that was sent to…
Interview with Peter Olney
Peter Olney recounts his service in the RAF from October 1942 to November 1946. Due to his previous maritime experience, Peter was accepted as an AC2 for motorboat crew and in December 1942 was posted to RAF Carswell for marine craft training. After…
Interview with Rex Statham
Rex Statham was born in Luton. His father died in a motorbike accident when he was very young. Although Rex had been very keen to join the Navy, he volunteered for the RAF as a flight mechanic. When he realised that many trained mechanics were being…
Interview with Ronald Huntley
Ronald Huntley enlisted in the Royal Air Force as a flight mechanic, before volunteering to join Air Sea Rescue. Born in Edmonton, London, he represented his school in athletics at Crystal Palace and witnessed its destruction by fire in 1936. After…
Interview with Ronald Huntley
Ron Huntley recounts his service in the RAF from May 1941, when he joined as a flight mechanic. His path to joining the RAF was unconventional; being given the option between continuing to work nights in his government job or volunteering for the war…
Interview with Roy Briggs
Roy Briggs was born in Battersea, London. After leaving school he undertook an engineering apprenticeship with Benham and Sons, producing equipment for the war. He describes his life during the Blitz. When he joined the Royal Air Force he trained as…
Interview with Terry Lloyd
Terry Lloyd’s older brother was a wireless operator in Bomber Command and became a prisoner of war. Terry was also determined to join the RAF as aircrew. However, he was rejected due to his eyesight and served on Air Sea Rescue launches. Terry was…
Interview with Tony Adams
Tony Adams grew up in Australia and was studying accountancy when he was conscripted into the army at the age of 18. He later transferred to the Air Force, trained as a wireless operator and was sent overseas to the UK in June 1943. After training,…
Interview with Wally Lashbrook
Wally was born in February 1913, and joined the Royal Air Force in 1929 as an apprentice at RAF Halton and completed pilot training at RAF Prestwick. He flew many aircraft including Tiger Moths, Hendons and Halifaxes, and served with 51 Squadron and…
Interview with William James Stoneman
William James Stoneman ('Bill') was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds before Aircrew Reception Centre at RAF Cardington. He chose to become a rear gunner as he did not have to wait. Air gunnery training followed at RAF Bishops Court in Northern Ireland on…
Jim Hardy’s Royal Air Force Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book. Two
Jim Hardy’s Royal Air Force Flying Log Book from 4th January 1944 until 31st January 1945. Posted to 311 Ferry Training Unit as a wireless operator. In February 1944 operational posting to 40 Squadron in Italy where he became Signals…
John (Jack) Clyde's Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book
J Clyde’s RAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book from 26 August 1942 to 23 August 1945, detailing training, operations, instructional and other duties as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.
He was stationed at RAF Yatesbury (No. 2 Signals…
He was stationed at RAF Yatesbury (No. 2 Signals…