Browse Items (974 total)

  • Tags: crash

ABrewsterDG160617.mp3
David was born in 1931 in Sutton on Sea and recalls living in a spartan house with no toilet, lit by gas lights and with a water pump in the garden and his father keeping pigs to augment their income. His family ancestors had sailed to America in the…

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PEmlynJonesA1601.jpg
Alun Emlyn-Jones (known as Grem among his RAF colleagues) was raised in Cardiff and attended boarding schools in Oxfordshire. He was working at an office supplies manufacturer when he volunteered to serve in Bomber Command, hoping to avoid being…

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PSpenceWD1601.jpg
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…

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PTomlinR1503.jpg
Ron Tomlin grew up in Birmingham and was an apprentice carpenter before working in a munitions factory. He volunteered for the Air Force aged 18 and, after training, flew operations as a bomb aimer with 10 Squadron. His aircraft was forced to ditch…

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AStathamR160627.mp3
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…

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EBaileyAWSellickD410915-0001.jpg
Two of his colleagues died in a crash, that night. He has leave planned in a few days and is coming home. A party has been arranged by his in-laws.

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PBiscoeAE19010026.jpg
Photo 1 and 2 are of the front of an Anson that hit a telegraph pole.
Photo 3, 4, 5 and 6 are Ansons that have been damaged in a severe storm.

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EKnappAWGrayDA[Date]-010001.jpg
His fellow crew member hopes that he becomes operational again.

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YMaceHA1295485v1 1.pdf
A diary kept during Arthur's RAF service.
There is a second diary for 1943 only and its contents are identical to the first diary. A third diary covers 1944.

Year 1942
The diary describes tedium and excitement of training through 1942. He…

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LLaneEO402057v1.pdf
Royal Australian Air Force flying log book for Ernest 'Cappy' Olaf Lane covering the period 30 April 1940 to 15 October 1944 detailing his training and operations flown. Cappy flew 51 operations, 18 as second pilot to Sergeant Lewis, Sergeant…

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SKaneWB19210816v10015-0001.jpg
Gives account of hearing crash and exploding ammunition. Goes on to describe scene with damage to buildings. No one was hurt on the ground. Comments on recovery of crew bodies. Mentions that aircraft was Lancaster from 100 Squadron Waltham (Grimsby)…

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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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BCarrollBHRobinsonHGMv1.jpg
Harry's daughter, Beverly describes her difficulties in hearing the facts of her father's final operation. She met the only survivor of the crash, pilot, Geoff Davies which, in turn, gave Geoff peace.

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EGreyWHGrayDA440515.pdf
Don Gray is Junior and Bill Grey, Senior. He has news of 460 Squadron. Their latest aircraft was wrecked after an engineer selected the undercarriage up. They wrecked their new aircraft after an aborted raid on Hasselt. Fortunately the bombs did not…

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BLanningWPalmerRAMv1.pdf
The story of an attack by Pathfinders of 35,105,109 and 582 Squadrons 23 December 1944. Tribute to Robert Palmer and 30 comrades who died with him. It contains; history of Battle of the Bulge; description of Oboe system; list of aircraft and crews…

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BSharrockRSharockRv1.pdf
Bob's memoirs in the RAF. He details his training, starting at Lords cricket ground then RAF Torquay, before Technical training at RAF St Athan, where he met Dorothy. In March 1944 he was posted to RAF Dishforth where his aircraft crashed and he…

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BSharrockRSharockRv2.pdf
Bob Sharrock's life story, from childhood until he joined the RAF. He recalls his training and postings to various RAF stations throughout his service. After the war he continued at RAF Credenhill then RAF Kinloss as a flight mechanic. He returned…

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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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SSmithRW425992v10004-0002 copy.pdf
Describes his service after completing his tour and the journey back to Australia.

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

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EBarnardECarrollBH930216.jpg
Beverly, Harry's daughter, is thanked for providing information about Lancaster PA984. She is put in contact with Roy Bradley, a pilot who, like Harry, was shot down in the Haute Marne area.

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ERasmussenBSlaterS760424.pdf
A communication from Borge Rasmussen (a former member of the Danish Resistance) to Stan Slater, researching escaped airmen and requesting any further information. He recalls the events, following the crash of Stan's aircraft, including the deaths of…

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MFaircloughT1077120-220817-12.pdf
A booklet containing various documents including a certificate expressing thanks to Frederik Christian Oscar Körvel for the help provided to evading combatants. Personal accounts of the events following the crash of a mine-laying Lancaster including…

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MWalleyBS1062112-180127-15.jpg
A poem about the life and love of Brian Walley as he approaches his 100th birthday.

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