Browse Items (83 total)
Sort by:
Anne Doward nee Tansley
Biography of Ernest Tansley's daughter Anne. Writes of background and family. Gives service history of her father including joining, training in England and the United States and eventual posting to 57 Squadron at RAF Scampton. Writes of her memories…
Souvenir piece of Lancaster
Piece of metal with note that this was a piece of Arthur Woolf's Lancaster retrieved from crash site during visit to a French family who helped him after he baled out.
Grace and Ken Rhodes - War History
A description of their time during the war, provided by their daughter. Her father joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in September 1940. He was captured by the Japanese in Singapore, 1942. He was released on 12 September 1945 and…
Story of the Brooch
Hand written story of the brooch by John Joseph Parker's daughter.
Interview with Rusty Waughman. Two
Russell (Rusty) Waughman was born in Shotley Bridge, County Durham. Due to serious poor health as a child, his education was interrupted. He describes his training with the Empire Training School in Canada. He was posted to 101 Squadron which was a…
Interview with Mary Ward. Two
Mary Ward joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1940. She served, briefly, at RAF Driffield but mostly at RAF Linton on Ouse. She trained as a cook before being moved to duties as a map officer, where she prepared maps for briefings and…
Interview with Thea Coleman
Thea Coleman was born in Holland in 1933. She experienced the invasion of her country and the increasing restrictions. Once when walking with her father, they were forced to stand and wait while prisoners were brought out of prison and executed which…
Interview with Rachel and John Gill
Rachel's father, Peter Hazeldene lived in Wales and joined the RAF when he saw a poster encouraging people to see the world from a different perspective. He trained as a wireless operator and, during training, suspected a couple of incidents of…
Interview with Frances Grundy
Frances Grundy was born in Dorking in 1942 whilst her father was serving as a pilot with the RAF. She describes her earliest memories of growing up during and post war and the special relationship she had with her father. After the war, her father…
Letters to Caterpillar Club form Dick Curnock
The first letter asks for his Caterpillar club pin and is dated 26/11/45. The second letter asks to purchase a gold pin, and is dated 23/1/47.
A fire service memoir
The memoir written by Fred during his time with the Auxiliary Fire Service at the age of 18. He observed a land mine parachuting to earth, landing on the fire service sub-station, killing 28 people. He persuaded his Station Officer that he wanted…
Interview with Ronald Needle
Ron Needle, from Birmingham, flew operations as a rear gunner on 106 Squadron Lancasters at Metheringham, including Norway, Dortmund Ems Canal and Munich. He was one of two survivors after his aircraft crashed in France. Ron was aided by local…
Interview with Bob Frost. One
Bob Frost recounts experiencing the London Blitz as a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force and trained at the Air Gunnery School at RAF Evanton, Scotland. He was then posted to the Operational Training Unit at…
George Toombs' memorabilia
George Toombs’ collection of memorabilia, including dog tags, flight engineer's brevet, sergeants stripes, Royal Air Force cap badge, one b/w photo of George Toombs in cadet uniform and a signed piece of parachute silk dated 1945.
This item was…
This item was…
Peter Hazeldene memoir
Peter's RAF service with 57 Squadron, along with details of his crew members is provided. Peter carried out 25 operations, since he had already completed a first tour of 30 operations. While he was on leave, his aircraft crashed and his crew died,…
Caterpillar club lapel badge
Caterpillar club badge with pin issued for parachuting to safety.
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.
Badge
Heart shaped badge with initials MJ, a mirror, the number 13, a step ladder and a black cat. Captioned 'The badge on the pocket of my Sidcot flying suit - I did not wear it on the night'.
Memoirs of Jim Cahir
Memoirs of Jim Cahir who served with 466 Squadron RAAF. He describes being shot down near Frankfurt on Main on the night of 20/21 December 1943 and, subsequently, being captured and imprisoned in Stalag IVB in Muhleberg, where he remained until the…
Autograph book. Two
An autograph book with pages of various colours. Inside the cover is written: "Please return to. 450052. Steve M. RAF station Abingdon Berks. 21-8-41.".
Many of the pages contain short poems, quotations or messages of good will and are signed and…
Many of the pages contain short poems, quotations or messages of good will and are signed and…
Autograph book. One
An autograph book with pages of various colours. The front cover depicts some hills, a deer and a cottage, with the words: "Frae Bonnie Scotland". Inside the cover is written: "450052. A.C.W/2 Stephens. M. Hillside, Countesswells, Aberdeenshire,…
Interview with Ron Harrison
Ron Harrison witnessed the bombing of Hull as a child. He describes what it was like to be a child exploring the bombed out areas of the city with his young friends. His father was a fireman and while he was attending fires in the dock area their…
Baby's cutlery set
A cardboard box from Jewellers Nickels & Sons enclosing a hallmarked silver baby's cutlery set comprising a spoon and a pusher. An accompanying note identifies it as a present to George Nixon's daughter from his fellow crew members. The card is…
Interview with Susan Chapman
Susan Chapman talks about her father, Charles Reginald (Reg) Jaques. Reg Jaques grew up in County Durham and, to improve his prospects for employment, he studied by the light of the streetlight. He secured a job with a local authority in Shropshire.…
Before I was in the RAF by Reg Payne
An account by Reg Payne of his wartime experiences. He spent two years as a Home Guard before he reached the age where he could join the RAF. He recalls the many operations he took part in and the RAF stations where he served. He met his future wife…
Norman Parrinder biography
Written by Norman's daughter, Suzannah Aston, the biography describes her mother and father meeting and marrying, and provides some recollections about his flying operations, including force landing in neutral territory. It continues with comments…