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Lancaster and its bomb load
Lancaster 'N' with pilot at the controls looking out of the open cockpit window. At the nose are trolleys with bombs being prepared by seven armourers. Six aircrew wearing Mae Wests are standing behind the bomb trolley. A tractor and buildings are in…
Ground personnel in front of Nissen hut
A group of ground personnel, some kneeling, most standing, some dressed in fatigues but most in full uniform. Two are standing on a tractor. Behind is a Nissen hut. On the reverse '61 Sqdn Crew Don is in there Somewhere. 1944'
Interview with Harold Beech. One
Harold Beech was born in Middle Rasen, Lincolnshire. He was six when war was declared and saw the construction of many airfields near his home. As a schoolboy, he also watched aircraft being transported on the back of Queen Marys. The family housed a…
Interview with Don Watson
Donald Watson joined the Royal Air Force in 1941, having previously worked in the print industry. After training he served as an armourer with 61 Squadron at RAF Skellingthorpe.
He wishes that the ground crew, without whom the aircrew could not…
He wishes that the ground crew, without whom the aircrew could not…
Dennis Raettig's wartime memoir
Wartime memoir covering Dennis Raettig's training at Blackpool and his posting to 104 Squadron at RAF Driffield in August 1941. He describes his work on Wellington aircraft and recalls his time at RAF Driffield including deployment to RAF Pocklington…
Ten airmen with a tractor
Six airmen standing round and four sitting on a towing tractor. they are wearing battledress or tunic and three have side caps. At the rear a towing bar and in the background open ground, engine trestles and a line of trees. Dennis W Raettig front…
Interview with William Arthur Coulton
William Coulton was born in Derbyshire and worked as an errand boy for the Co-Op until he joined the Royal Air Force in 1943, aged 18. He trained as a flight mechanic and was posted to 115 Squadron at RAF Witchford where he worked on Lancasters. He…
Interview with Kenneth Shelton Green
Kenneth Green was born on the 17 January 1922 at Pleasley, near Mansfield and worked with the Carlton Auxillary Fire Service, before joining the Royal Air Force at the age of 20. Being unable to fly due to eye problems, he trained as an engineer and…
Interview with Vera Willis
Vera Willis volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force because she wanted to be a driver. Her driving career in the RAF involved driving driving aircrew to dispersal.This content is available as embedded video:
Interview with Alma Leedham
Alma Leedham grew up in London and worked for Hawker aircraft on the Hurricane at the start of the war. She later trained as a driver in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and served at RAF Scampton driving tractors taking bombs to the aircraft. Alma…
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…
Robin Anderson's memoir
A 58 page account in which Robert Anderson describes his training in Tasmania and Canada, and his tour of operations to targets in France and Germany with 106 Squadron.
WO Donald Keith Fraser
Memoir describing his life and service career in the RAF, listing 29 operations in which he participated, along with notes on specific operations, and recounting a brief history of the Lancaster.
Lancasters in the snow
Snowy landscape with five Lancasters on their dispersals, in the foreground tractor and bomb trolley with large bomb, armourers waiting to load.
Interview with Eric Peel
Eric Peel worked in the Cotton Exchange in Liverpool before he volunteered for the RAF. He trained as an armourer and was, initially, posted to 56 Squadron at RAF Sutton Bridge where he worked on Hurricanes. He was then posted to 103 Squadron at…
Interview with Frank Saunston
Frank Saunston joined the ATC in 1941 and the RAF in 1942. He worked as a transport driver at RAF Peplow and then as a forklift driver at RAF Methwold on the bomb dump. He describes his role and his duties and gives details regarding the bombs used.…
Bombs in bomb dump
A corporal wearing tunic and side cap on the right with another airman behind on a tractor. They are looking at a 12,000 lb and a 1000 lb bomb on trolleys in the centre of the image. There are other parts of bombs on the left and an earth bank behind…
Tallboy bomb and crane
A large bomb is being lifted by crane above a bomb trolley attached to a tractor. There are two men to the left, the rearmost holding one of the bomb's fins. A man stand to the right of the bomb with another sitting in the crane. Reported as labelled…
Twenty Lancasters
Article by Carl Ollson from the Illustrated magazine published on 25 March 1944. The article covers the preparations made by the station staff to prepare the aircraft and equipment for an operation. There is a large photograph of twenty Lancasters in…
Airmen, a tractor and a Mosquito
Eight airmen in a variety of uniform gathered round a tractor with RAF roundel on left front wheel arch. In the background a Mosquito. Noted as being '109 Squadron Wyton'. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Margaret Tyler on a tractor with a prisoner of war
Margaret Tyler (nee Pridmore) and Chris Musial drilling at Manor Farm, Pilton, Rutland.
Margaret Tyler on a tractor, binding
Margaret Tyler, nee Pridmore on a tractor, using binding machine.
Alma Leedham's memoir
Details of Alma's early life in London, joining the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force in 1941 and training as a driver. She relates experiences at RAF Scampton and then with 57 Squadron as a tractor driver, pulling bomb trolleys. Subsequently went to East…
Snowplough and gym
Photo 1 is a snow plough tractor. Behind are wooden huts.
Photo 2 is inside a gym with two badminton courts and a stage. On the wall are winged air gunner and observer crests.
Photo 2 is inside a gym with two badminton courts and a stage. On the wall are winged air gunner and observer crests.