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A Love Story by Grandad
Jim Allen describes his life during the period 1941 to 1997, including how he met his future wife and their intermittent courtship. The item includes several photographs, some annotated.
A Rather Strange Time
Terry Ford's wartime experiences written and read to Avon Talking Magazine for the Blind.
A retrospective - Bomber Command No 625 Squadron
The account opens with some details of 625 Squadron and an introduction, with reasons for writing. He recalls the beginning of the war when still at school and experiences before joining up. He describes activities with Air Training Corps and being…
Air-Forceful Cartoons
A booklet of war time cartoons. The second page contains names, addresses and signatures of colleagues.
Conversation with Cliff Hobbs
Cliff mentions that he had interviewed his pilot Peter Fotherby, looking for further information about some incidents. He describes volunteering for the RAF and training as an air gunner in Ansons. He was posted to the Middle East, trained and crewed…
Dr Maurice Brook Interview
Maurice grew up Rothwell in Yorkshire, joined the Air Training Corps, and then joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, after spending time with Cambridge University Air Squadron. He completed his pilot training in Canada before going to the…
Henry Wagner's life story. Part one
Henry's hand written memoirs, Part 1 covering his early life and time at university. It goes on to describe, in detail, his time in the RAF, training in South Africa, conversion to the Halifax and operations on 51 Squadron. It also covers his time…
I Flew with Nine Wing Commanders
The detailed and wide ranging story of Peter Baxter's service in the RAF from an Airframe Apprentice to Flight Engineer Leader.
Interview with a navigator from 101 Squadron
The interviewee was born in London and worked for some time as a clerk until joining the Royal Air Force. He did not like the idea of serving in the Army or in the Navy but - as a Londoner - he was keen to take part in the war, having experienced the…
Interview with Alan Payne
Alan Payne was born in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. He volunteered for aircrew with the Royal Air Force and, after initial training, was sent to South Africa where he trained as an observer. When he returned to the UK, he was allocated the role of bomb…
Interview with Allan Ernest Edwards
Allan joined the Royal Air Force in December 1942 as a flight engineer, having been a member of the Air Training Corps before the war. From Blackpool, he went to RAF St Athan for flight engineer training. His first squadron was at RAF Waterbeach,…
Interview with an Anonymous Interviewee (An00086)
This interviewee was working at Chatham dockyard before being accepted by the RAF as a mechanic. He then re-mustered as a flight engineer which fulfilled his hopes to be aircrew. While waiting for a place on the training course at St Athan he did…
Interview with Bill Spence
Bill Spence was born in Middlesborough. He abandoned his teacher training and joined the Royal Air Force in 1942, becoming a bomb aimer. He completed 36 operations during his time in Bomber Command. Bill tells of his experiences while training in…
Interview with Carla Griva
Carla Griva (b. 1935) describes different attitudes and various coping strategies of people inside a shelter in Turin: reciting the rosary, putting their hands over their ears to avoid listening, storytelling, and asking children to practice…
Interview with Charles Frederick Green
Charles Frederick Green was born in Peckham, London, in 1921. On leaving school, he began an apprenticeship with a printing company, acting part-time as a police courier, before becoming an Air Raid Precautions warden. He then volunteered for the…
Interview with Denis Kelly
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…
Interview with Derrick Stubbs
Derrick Stubbs joined the RAF aged 17, after lying about his age, having previously been told by the army recruiter that he was too young. After training at RAF Catfoss, Derrick was posted to Egypt and was attacked by U-boats on route. Derrick did…
Interview with Desmond Hawkins
Desmond Hawkins volunteered for the Royal Air Force and became a navigator. After training on Wellingtons and Manchesters, he flew Lancasters for 44 Squadron and completed a tour of operations. He was commissioned as flight lieutenant and, after the…
Interview with Don Browning. Two
Don Browning was posted to 463 Squadron at RAF Waddington. During one operation, two aircraft collided and Don lost friends who he had trained with. On an operation to Calais, the weather was very poor and the attack aborted but not all aircraft…
Interview with Donald McDonald
Because of his dislike of the army, Don enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He went to Somers Initial Flying Training School and became a pilot. At Elementary Flying Training School at Western Junction, Don flew Tiger Moths although he…
Interview with Ernest Cutts
Ernest Cutts was born in Mallee in Victoria and, at the age of 15, he passed the Commonwealth Public Service Exam, joining the Military Post Office as a civilian junior postal officer. Aged 18, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force and went…
Interview with Geoff Green
William Green was born in Kings Lynn in Norfolk and joined the Royal Air Force when he was 17 and a half at the outbreak of war, becoming a rear gunner on Lancasters and, eventually, rising to the rank of squadron leader.He tells about going on to…
Interview with George Royall
George volunteered to be a pilot but settled for Air Observer. He talks about his selection and training in London and then in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he enjoyed the theatre and how, at Brighton, illness separated him from the rest of the course.…
Interview with Harold James Richards
Harold Richards, from Lincoln, was working in the health industry before he volunteered for the RAF. After trying to be a pilot he trained as an observer. He was posted to 297 Squadron at RAF Stoney Cross from where he and his crew dropped supplies…
Interview with Harry Irons. Two
Harry was under age when he joined the RAF in 1940, after witnessing bombing in London. He went to Blackpool in August 1941 and became a rear gunner. Gunnery school for six weeks at RAF Manby followed, and Harry joined 9 Squadron at RAF Waddington.…