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Brief history of 1324224 (posthumous Warrant Officer) Peter Selwyn Courtney Thorne
Covers joining RAF and training initially as pilot in United Kingdom and the United States, then having failed due to poor eyesight re-mustered and trained as navigator in Canada. Flew anti-submarine patrols on Whitley then joined 102 Squadron. Lists…
Flight Sergeant Peter Thorne RAF by H J S Taylor
Starts with account of Thorne's aircraft being shot down. Follows account of Thorne's escape from prisoner of war camp, evading, recapture and death. Then relates his meeting and experiences during posting for training in the United States. Continues…
Letter from John Slater recording his wartime experiences, post war thoughts.
![ESlaterWJ[Recipient]R20060415.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/square_thumbnails/1482/57627/ESlaterWJ[Recipient]R20060415.jpg "ESlaterWJ[Recipient]R20060415.pdf")
Joined the RAF in February 1939 and was eventually selected for training as an air gunner. Writes of training and crewing up at OTU where he flew some operational leaflet and mining operations on Whitleys. Follows a time on Coastal Command and…
Newspaper cutting - shot down, escaped, awarded DFM
Attended investiture for Distinguished Flying Medal. Brought down in 1940 over Holland, reported missing and prisoner, escaped to England. Now has conducted many bombing operations.
Escape maps
1. Holland, Belgium, France and Germany (#2 and #3 combined).
2. France and Germany.
3. Holland Belgium, France and Germany.
4. A close up of the title page of #1.
5. Belgium, Germany and SE France
6. France (SE) , Germany (SW), Switzerland and…
2. France and Germany.
3. Holland Belgium, France and Germany.
4. A close up of the title page of #1.
5. Belgium, Germany and SE France
6. France (SE) , Germany (SW), Switzerland and…
Advice to the relative of a man who is missing
Description of the processes followed to trace missing men and determine whether they are prisoners of war.
Letter to Mr and Mrs Thomson from Mrs Spagatner
![E[Author][Fam]Thomson[Fam]450501-0001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/square_thumbnails/1157/51405/E[Author][Fam]Thomson[Fam]450501-0001.jpg "E[Author][Fam]Thomson[Fam]450501-0001.jpg")
Asking whether they had heard any news of George. Author mentions receiving news that her husband had escaped and other stories of prisoners being released by Americans as well as incident of other escapes and a diatribe against the Nazis.
List of Phrases
A list of useful phrases in French, Dutch, German and Spanish. The list was issued to assist aircrew evading if they were shot down on operations.
Gen's Story
An autobiography of Eugeniusz Olenyn's life.
The first part of the memoir talks of the many trials Genek went through both in attempting to rejoin his Polish Air Force unit and, once the Germans overran the country, escape to England.
Ganek…
The first part of the memoir talks of the many trials Genek went through both in attempting to rejoin his Polish Air Force unit and, once the Germans overran the country, escape to England.
Ganek…
Demonstration of the wooden horse prison escape
Eight members of the Chiselhurst and Sidcup branch of the Royal Air Forces Association and ex Flight Lieutenant Oliver Philpot demonstrate the escape from a German prisoner of war camp with a replica wooden vaulting horse. A description pasted to the…
Interview with Alastair Price
Interview with Alistair Price about his father, Kenneth George Price. He was the station navigation officer on 35 Squadron at RAF Wyton. He flew 58 operations before he was shot down and became a prisoner of war.
Alistair Price is the son of…
Alistair Price is the son of…
Further notes Ben Boothman
Ben's narrative after being taken prisoner of war after his aircraft was shot down.
Monotony is worst burden of men in Stalag Luft 3
A newspaper cutting with an article about life in prison of war camps.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Conversations with Norman Didwell
Transcript of discussions and includes information from a letter dated 21 April 1986. Norman Didwell was flight rigger on 99 Squadron at Mildenhall and Newmarket and then at Middle East staging posts, Transport Command RAF Waterbeach and Gatow…
Letter to Mrs Bratley from RAF records office
Confirms that her husband had arrived safely in Gibraltar. Two copies of same letter.
Citation for Distinguished Flying Cross for acting Flight Lieutenant Harold William Bratley
On second tour of operations had completed 45 sorties, 24 as Pathfinder. Describes his qualities and recounts his escape from interment after forced landing during his first tour and making his way back home.
Newspaper cutting - D.F.C for old Ludensian
Announces that his parents from Louth had received news that their son Flight Lieutenant Harold William Bratley had been awarded the DFC. Gives details of former employment. Mentions that on his first tour he and crew came down in occupied enemy…
H W Bratley - observer's and air gunner's flying log book
H W Batley’s Flying Log Book covering the period from 06 August 1940 to 20 February 1945 detailing his flying training and operations flown as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. The log book includes a long account of how he evaded after being shot down…
Map of Foret de Chatillon
A map annotated with the cemetery where the airmen are buried, the crash site of the aircraft and the site where Fred was taken by Barthuet and given to the Germans.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better…
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better…
You may be taken prisoner
A secret document with suggestions as to how to successfully escape.
Handle with Care
A description of life in prisoner of war camps told with cartoons, sketches and explanation. Pages 12 and 52 are annotated 'Ted was here', indicating Stalag Luft 6 at Heydekrug.
Interview with James Douglas Hudson
James Douglas Hudson followed a friend to join the RAF, trained as a navigator and was posted to 101 Squadron at RAF West Raynham. On his final operational flight with the squadron he ran out of fuel and crashed. He was taken prisoner by the Vichy…
Newspaper cutting - with our escaped war prisoners in Switzerland
Reports on several thousand British and Empire troops who had taken part in campaigns in Africa and Greece, were now billeted in Eastern Switzerland. Noted that many British troops were evaders who had escaped from prisoner of war camps. Explains…
Letter to Norman Mackie's father from RAF casualty branch
Informs him that his son had now arrived in Spain and would probably return home shortly.
Research notes
Notes on various topics including legation, activities while interned in Switzerland, various people, Red Cross, Swiss Air Force, rules of Geneva convention for escaping PoWs, as pertains to Switzerland. Continues with account of arrival at British…