Browse Items (64 total)
Sort by:
Halifax
Side view of a Halifax parked on dispersal. A tractor is nearby.
Halifax under Service
A Halifax with several ground crew at work on and around it. Information supplied with the collection states 'CH10434 - Working on a Halifax 23 Jun 43'
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 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…
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.…
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 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 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 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…
Ken Campbell
Four photographs of Ken.
#1 and 2 Ken is sitting on a per bench, captioned 'Ramsey IOM August 1942 On the pier'.
#3 Ken is sitting on a promenade fence, captioned 'Ramsey IOM August 1942 On the Promenade'.
#4 Ken is sitting on a Fordson tractor,…
#1 and 2 Ken is sitting on a per bench, captioned 'Ramsey IOM August 1942 On the pier'.
#3 Ken is sitting on a promenade fence, captioned 'Ramsey IOM August 1942 On the Promenade'.
#4 Ken is sitting on a Fordson tractor,…
Lancaster
Port side view of a Lancaster on dispersal. A tractor is also visible, as is some nose art on the aircraft..
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…
Lancaster at Wigsley 1943
A Lancaster being refuelled. There is a man driving a tractor and a trolley has oxygen bottles. Captioned 'Lancaster Wigsley 1943'.
Lancaster Bombing Up
Nine ground crew and six aircrew under the nose of Lancaster 'N'. The ground crew are working on bombs on bomb trolleys. The aircrew are dressed in flying kit. On the reverse stamped 'Daily Sketch Copyright', 'Graphic Photo Union' and handwritten…
Lancaster Bombing Up
Front/port view of a Lancaster being loaded with bombs., watched by the aircrew.
Lancaster maintenance
Three views of Lancaster under maintenance. Photo 1 has an engine trestle at the nose. In front is a tractor with a bomb trolley carrying incendiaries. Photo 2 has several engine access frames under the engines and a long stepladder at the nose. A…
Lancaster Paintings
Two paintings of a Lancaster from an album. In the first, by David Shepherd, the Lancaster is being readied for an operation with bombs being loaded and a fuelling truck waiting. In the second three Lancasters are taxying for take off.
Lancaster tail
The tail of a Lancaster being towed by a tractor. Also assisting is an airman on a bicycle. It has squadron code 'AR' and 'DV296'. This aircraft crashed at Teltow, Berlin December 1943 with the loss of all crew.
Lancasters at RAF Swinderby
Eight Lancasters of 50 Squadron on the ground at Swinderby on dispersals and taxiways. Also visible is a petrol bowser, tractor and small lorry.
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.
Lancasters parked in snow
A row of five Lancaster parked with snow on the ground. A tractor on the left with bomb on trolley.
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.
Maurice Stimpson and Crew
Maurice and eight crew members, including ground crew. They are sat on a tractor in front of a Lancaster. On the reverse '2 Groundcrew from L Harold, Johny, Joe, Robinson, Roy, Bill, Maurice.'