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Lancaster bomb bay
A view of the bomb bay of a Lancaster in which is loaded 12 incendiary containers and one 4000lb high capacity bomb. On the reverse is written: 'PLEASE RETURN'.
Lancaster and fuel bowser
Front quarter view of a Lancaster with fuel bowser in front. There is a man on top of the bowser and a group of men under aircraft's nose. Incendiary cannisters await loading.
Koblenz, flight engineer and Lancaster
Three photographs from an album.
Photo 1 is a target photograph of a night attack on Koblenz. All detail is obscured by target indicators and incendiaries.
Photo 2 is Terry's flight engineer seen from the bomb aimer's position.
Photo 3 is a…
Photo 1 is a target photograph of a night attack on Koblenz. All detail is obscured by target indicators and incendiaries.
Photo 2 is Terry's flight engineer seen from the bomb aimer's position.
Photo 3 is a…
Koblenz and Homberg
Photo 1 is a vertical aerial photograph of Koblenz. The river can be seen and falling sticks of incendiaries.
Photo 2 is a vertical aerial photograph of Homberg. The image is very clear with only a few explosions hiding the detail.
Photo 2 is a vertical aerial photograph of Homberg. The image is very clear with only a few explosions hiding the detail.
Keith Thompson's diary from July 1943 to January 1944
Keith Thompson was a sergeant navigator under training at the start of this period at 28 OTU at RAF Castle Donington, then on to a holding unit for a month. After that on to 1662 CU at RAF Blyton flying the Lancaster, until 7 November when he was…
John Joseph Parker's service
A handwritten note by John Joseph Parker's daughter briefly outlining his service as a Flying Officer.
J Leadbetter’s flying log book aircrew other than pilot
Bomb Aimers flying log book for J Leadbetter covering the period from 25 October 1943 to 14 May 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. Also details of targets and bomb loads. He was stationed at RCAF Picton (31 B&GS), RCAF Portage…
Interview with Wolfgang Jähnichen
Wolfgang Jähnichen recalls being a five-year-old boy in Dresden at the time of the 13th February 1945 bombing. He gives a vivid account of the attack and recounts various episodes: the time spent with his mother in the cellar used as air raid…
Interview with Vera Willis
Vera Willis nee Tomlinson volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force because she wanted to be a driver. Her driving career in the RAF involved driving long distances as well as driving aircrew to dispersal. Some crew gave her letters for…
Interview with Tito Samorè
Tito Samorè recalls wartime memories in Milan, when he was a member of the Balilla youth organisation. He remembers the outbreak of war and its announcement on the radio. Tito describes the first bombing of Milan in 1940, stressing how easy it was…
Interview with Thomas Jordan
Thomas Jordan was born and raised in Hornsea, East Yorkshire, learning to fly privately at Hedon Aerodrome (RAF Hull) and joined the RAF wanting to be a pilot. However, after failing the eyesight requirements, he trained as an armourer, dealing with…
Interview with Sydney Smith
Sydney’s father died when she was a baby. Her mother remarried and had another daughter and son. The son became groundcrew in the Royal Air Force. Sydney lived a few miles from London and attended Byron Court School in Wembley. She was five when war…
Interview with Sidney Bunce
Sid was working at a garage and a member of the local Air Training Corps when he volunteered for the Royal Air Force. At 18, he was kitted out at Padgate and trained as a flight mechanic on engines at Blackpool. Sid describes his 18-week training…
Interview with Sheena Staves
During the war Sheena lived in Cottingham, a village close to Hull. She lived with her mother and father (who was a fire watcher and had fought in the Far East in the First World War). She had two elder brothers, one in the Navy and one in the Royal…
Interview with Rosetta Gobetti
Rosetta Gobetti (b. 1930) describes the bombing of a marsh near Isola della Scala, describing it as, probably, target mis-identification. She recalls a more severe bombing which destroyed many houses and killed 28 people. She gives a short…
Interview with Romualdo Siccardi
Romualdo Siccardi (b. 1926) remembers the bombing of the Borgo San Paolo gas holder in Turin, November 1942, when he was 16. He mentions, briefly, makeshift shelters in basements deemed tantamount to death traps and gives a detailed account of the…
Interview with Rinaldo Sarani
Rinaldo Sarani tells of the bombings of Pavia describing widespread damage at Borgo Ticino and people being extricated from rubble. He stresses the importance of bridges: Ponte della Ferrovia, Ponte Vecchio, Ponte dell’Impero, Ponte della Becca, and…
Interview with Richard Suchenwirth
Richard Suchenwirth recalls his wartime memories as a Flakhelfer in Pasing, a district of Munich. He tells of his father who was the author of three books on the Luftwaffe, the founder of the Austrian Nazi Party, a political orator and initial…
Interview with Rhona Hay
Rhona Hay was a very young child during the war and lived with her mother while her father was away serving in the RAF. Her brother was also in the RAF and was killed during a training accident. She recalls the acceptance of the bombing as part of…
Interview with Philip Bates
Philip volunteered for the Royal Air Force in May 1940. After a short time in Blackpool, he was posted to RAF Cosford where he volunteered for training as a flight mechanic and then fitter. At 86 Squadron, Coastal Command, flying Beauford torpedo…