Browse Items (148 total)

  • Tags: superstition

APillingW[Date]-01.mp3
W Pilling trained as a gunner before joining 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington. During a training flight he jumped out of a burning Whitley. While at his first squadron he flew with several crews and when he no longer flew with them they had a tendency…

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AWiltshireLJ[Date]-02.mp3
Warrant Officer J Wiltshire flew as a Flight Engineer on Halifaxes with 640 Squadron. He was demobbed March 1947.

He describes training as a flight engineer, the nerves of his first flights, and the humour found in mishaps and banter. Life on base…

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PChristieJO1814.jpg
Framed display with: a memorial cross on chain, air gunner brevet, Canada shoulder flash, DFC and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal 1939-45 medal ribbons, head and shoulders b/w portrait of James Christie, Medals including DFC, Air Crew Europe,…

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PChristieJO1810.jpg
Photograph of a small golden imp charm figure resting on a plate with text 'The Lincolnshire imp carried by members of 50 Squadron Royal Air Force'.

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PBellC2501.jpg
Colin Bell spent eighteen months as a newly qualified pilot instructing trainees in America. He completed 50 operations as a pilot on Mosquitos on the Light Night Striking Force.
Colin talks of his entry interview into the RAF, his time at an…

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YThomsonGB1572977v1.pdf
George Thomson’s prisoner of war diary in a wartime log supplied by the YMCA.
Describes being shot down and includes a day-by-day account of his life as a prisoner of war from 11 November 1944 to 25 May 1945. Includes descriptions of sports and…

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MThomsonGB1572977-240131-410001.jpg
Drawing of a penguin. On one image of wrapping text 'Text on reverse "Happy Landings"'.

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SClarkeBE18567619v10022.jpg
Events recorded the night Brian Clarke was shot down, as told to his brother by his parents.

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PBaileyEH19020003.jpg
A cream coloured model elephant, measuring approximately 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm. A piece of black string is tied around the model so that it could be hung up. Found in the wallet of Sergeant Eric Hargreaves.

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BNashDCMNashDCMv1.pdf
Born in 1916, Dan spent his early childhood in Kent with his grandmother before moving back to his parents in Fulham. He left school aged 16 to undertake a job with the Hudson's Bay Fur Company, where he met Joyce, his future wife. At the outbreak of…

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PPearceNL18030001.jpg
A maroon scarf with a note stating 'This scarf was worn on every bombing trip I ever did over Germany in the II world war. It was my lucky charm. It was also my pillow case in IVB POW camp. Bought for me by my mother before the war. Noel'.

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PNorthWA23010014.jpg
19 airmen arranged in three rows with stuffed toy mascot.

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PElyE19010001.jpg
A small stuffed toy rabbit wearing a green top and brown dungarees. It was the mascot of Squadron Leader R E Millichap.

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v170003.mp3
Ken joined the RAF in January 1942 and qualified as a flight engineer in July 1943 at RAF St Athans. He passed through a number of RAF stations before they were posted to RAF Elsham Wolds and flew operations as a flight engineer with 460, 12 and 103…

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PParkeRG2303.jpg
Ray Parke trained as a flight engineer. During one training flight, the pilot wanted to get back to base as soon as possible because he had a date but they were flying a Stirling. The pilot made an error on landing and the wheel stayed in the ditch…

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PFoskettW23020106.jpg
Eight airmen including Bill Foskett grouped at the tail of their B-17. Len Roose is holding their lucky horseshoe. On the reverse 'Ray Delisle (Waist Gun) Myself Ted Bonner (WOP) (Radar) (Waist Gun) Fred Barber (Engineer) Len Roose (Mid Upper) with…

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BFoskettPFoskettWv10003.pdf
The third chapter of Bill's wartime experiences. (The first two chapters used Bill's words but the third is written by an anonymous friend)

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SCampbellJK1065510v30004-0001.jpg
A newspaper cutting from 30th April 1943. An article and photograph shows two aircrew with a white elephant lucky charm.

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PClareD18010001.jpg
A brown cloth dog mascot, sat on his hind legs with brown glass eyes and a black button nose. He is wearing a red collar and a black felt beret style hat and has a wooden pipe in his mouth supported by his front paws.

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BGleedVAClareDv1.jpg
A summary of Derek's career in the Royal Air Force including an explanation why he he carried a rabbit foot mascot in his flying suit. Explains that his flying log books are held by the National War Museum in London. Describes Derek's disappointment…

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BCopemanGCopemanGv1.pdf
An operation undertaken to attack Wesseling, near Cologne. The aircraft suffered engine and fuel line damage and ditched in the North Sea. The crew survived the ditching and were rescued by a launch.

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MKeelingGW2217141-151002-01.pdf
A number of stories, recollections and events remembered by George, who was part of the ground crew on the squadron. It includes press coverage and a programme from an amateur dramatics production that George appeared in post-war. There is also a…

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PWigleyH19030006.jpg
A small brass coloured man with a big round moon-like head and tin helmet. He is holding a thumb up as if hitchhiking. A safety pin is attached to his helmet. A character which was painted on a 405 Squadron Wellington, supplemented by a note stating…

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MAnkersonR[Ser#-DoB]-180129-01.pdf
A detailed description of an operation to Mannheim on 19 May 1942. The author describes the preparation, the operation and their safe return to the UK.

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ABuxtonAG220823.mp3
Alan was born in Parramatta, Sydney, in Australia. After going to the Middle East with the army, he returned to Australia when Japan entered the war, and transferred to the RAF in November 1942. Alan was posted to Bradfield Park for training and…

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