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Interview with John Cuthbert
John wanted to be a wireless operator/air gunner, having both air and radio knowledge, so volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He went to RAF Cardington and completed initial training but re-mustered as an air gunner as the radio schools were full.…
Interview with Roy Eric Davidson
Roy was born in Lincoln in 1933 and was six years old when war broke out. He left school at the age of 15 and went to work for Lincoln City Council in the Pension department before being called up for National Service in 1951, doing basic training at…
Six airmen in front of a Wellington
Six airmen, one wearing tunic, the others in shirt sleeves standing in line in front of a Wellington. There is a further man looking out of the port cockpit window. The front of the aircraft and part of the port engine are visible. In the background…
Wellington HA-A parked on grass
Front quarter view of Wellington parked on grass with taxiway in background.
Denis Clyde-Smith in cockpit
Denis Clyde-Smith wearing flying helmet in an aircraft cockpit.
Interview with Ronald Davis
Ron volunteered for the Royal Air Force aged 18. Due to poor eyesight, he was unsuitable for aircrew and became an airframe fitter. After assessment at RAF Cardington, he went to Bournemouth for drilling and firearms training. He was posted to RAF…
Six men sitting round tea tables
Six men some sitting in wicker armchairs around two tables on a grass lawn. Table have cups, saucers and tea/coffee pots.
Men are wearing short sleeve tropical shirts and shorts. Some have visible Royal Air Force rank tabs.
Men are wearing short sleeve tropical shirts and shorts. Some have visible Royal Air Force rank tabs.
Interview with Sidney Lawrence Davis
Laurie Davis trained as a wireless operator and, initially, went to RAF Silverstone where crews were formed. Because of his bright red hair, he was then known as ‘Red’. The crew worked on Wellingtons for a few weeks and then Stirlings at RAF…
Interview with John De Hoop
John De Hoop was evacuated to Sussex at the start of the war but returned to London in early 1940. He joined the Home Guard before joining the Air Training Corps and went to radio school in RAF Yatesbury in Wiltshire, where he experienced flying in a…
Eight men standing in front of a Halifax
A line of men, four wearing uniform with shorts, two wearing uniform with long trousers and two in civilian suits standing in front of a Halifax. The aircraft has 'Sarie Marais' painted on lower nose. The aircraft is standing on a concrete pan with…
Denis Clyde-Smith
Head and shoulders portrait of Denis Clyde-Smith wearing jacket and tie.
Interview with Robert Norman William Didwell
Interview has intermittent noise and is available only at the International Bomber Command Centre / University of Lincoln.
Wedding of air gunner
Full length portrait of a man wearing tunic with air gunner brevet walking on a path arm in arm with his bride wearing wedding dress and holding bouquet of flowers. In the background an arched doorway.
Interview with Alec Stuart Dixon
Alec Stuart Dixon volunteered for the Royal Air Force via the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. After training he flew Beauforts and Ansons, then trained as a Hudson pilot. He flew convoy escort operations and reconnaissance flights looking for…
Denis Clyde-Smith
Head and shoulders portrait of Denis Clyde-Smith wearing peaked cap and tunic with pilots brevet and Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.
Interview with Ronald George Doble
Ron Doble grew up in London and joined the Air Training Corps and the fire watchers, when war was declared. He volunteered for the Air Force when he was 18 and trained as an air gunner. He talks about the conditions in his turret and the mishaps he…
Interview with George Dunn
George was born at Whitstable and was 17 when war was declared. He joined the local Defence Volunteers, which became the Home Guard. When he reached 18 he volunteered for air crew. He was interviewed at Chatham and sat an exam and selection board to…
Interview with George Dunn
George Dunn DFC joined the Royal Air Force in June 1941 and, initially, trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, before training in Canada as a Pilot. He flew aircraft such as Avro Ansons and Airspeed Oxford. He tells of his experiences as ‘second…
Denis Clyde-Smith wedding
Denis Clyde-Smith wearing tunic with pilots brevet and medal ribbon arm in arm with his wife. Wife is wearing wedding dress and carrying bouquet of flowers. The path is flanked by onlookers and an honour guard is visible behind them. In the…
Halifax parked on pan outside terminal buildings
Halifax parked on concrete pan surrounded by onlookers. In the background airport buildings.
Zola
Original cartoon drawing of woman with swirling dress used as basis of nose art for Denis Clyde-Smith's Lancaster. Annotated 'With love to the crew and ground crew of the Zola bomber from Zola'.
Denis Clyde-Smith certificate for award of Distinguished Service Order
Signed by King George, formal certificate of award for Distinguished Service Order to Denis-Clyde Smith Distinguished Flying Cross on 9 Squadron on 9 February 1943.
Halifax bomber tour
Newspaper article about Halifax on tour of Rhodesia and South Africa via Bulawayo, Ndola, Nairobi, Khartoum, Cairo and Rome. Mentions demonstration flights in South Africa and that the aircraft was commanded by Squadron Leader Clyde-Smith…
Denis Clyde-Smith
Head and shoulders portrait of Squadron Leader Denis Clyde-Smith wearing peaked cap and tropical tunic with pilots brevet and ribbons for Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross.
Turin, 9 Squadron, 18/19 November 1942
Commemorative picture of Lancaster for attack on Turin. In a circle at the top a Lancaster on the ground with engines running. Underneath a box with caption 'Turin, 9 Squadron, 18/19 November 1942'. At the bottom a box with crew names 'S/Ldr…