RAF Ludford Magna

RAF Ludford Magna

Photograph showing runway caravan manned by three airmen one using Aldis lamp, captioned 'Green - Take off'.
Photograp of five individuals talking to a seated officer studying paperwork on his desk, caption 'Rum coffee & a fag while de-briefing'. Annotated K. Scot Nav 101 Squadron Ludford Magna De-brief.
Two small photographs of family group with Nissen hut end wall as background, captioned ' Mum, Dad & Pat & Pam '46'.
Small photograph of same family group plus WAAF, same WAAF perched on a post, sandy beach as background.
Small photograph of Keith standing in front of hedge.
Telegram stamped Signal section 17 Oct 1944 RAF Hixon, it is addressed to 177463 P/O Thompson Officers Mess and reads 'Congratulations on winning decoration. Love from all at home. Mother'.
Letter to Keith Thompson from Mike Garbett. On the letter are drawings of the DFC and DFM and printed description of the medals and ribbons and the award criteria.
Certificate recording Keith Thompson's commission and subsequent promotions.
Newspaper clipping 'Huddersfield WAAF marries DFC' shows bride and groom about to enter their car after the ceremony. further caption 'Flying Officer Kenneth David Corkill D.F.C. of the Isle of Man, and his bride Miss Mary Watson of Lockwood, Huddersfield, a member of the W.A.A.F. after their wedding at the Crossland Moor Parish church, Huddersfield yesterday.'

Seven b/w photographs, a letter, clipping and a telegram on an album page

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PThompsonKG15010069, PThompsonKG15010070, PThompsonKG15010071, PThompsonKG15010072, PThompsonKG15010073, PThompsonKG15010074

[black and white photograph of three airmen in the doorway of a runway caravan]
“GREEN – TAKE OFF”
[black and white photograph of family group standing outside of a Nissan Hut]
MUM, DAD & PAT & PAM ‘46
[black and white photograph of airman in uniform and woman and a girl outside of a Nissan Hut]
[black and white photograph of family group with a woman in WAAF uniform]
[black and white photograph of a group of airmen being de-briefed]
RUM, COFFEE & FAG WHILE DE-BRIEFING
[black and white photograph of woman in WAAF uniform sitting on a post in front of a sandy beach]
[black and white photograph of an airman standing in front of a hedge]
[page break]
[telegram]
MESSAGE FORM
R.A.F. Form 96
[ink stamp]
TO: 177463 P/O Thompson R. G. Officers Mess
Congratulations on winning Decoration
Love from all at home.
Mother.
[page break]
-2-
reunion in 1968. The new owner of his house could not have recall his from when I telephoned a few weeks Back. However, as I had never seen his log book or talked of 101 I never knew that Corkill was his skipper or that you were the nav!
From my records I can add extra details of the crew now:-
[picture of two medals]
PILOT: K.D. CORKILL. VR. DFC AWARDED c. 9/44
NAV: YOURSELF “ “ “ c. 11/44
F/E: E.A.F. COLE “ “ “ c 10/44
W/OP: C. MANSER “ DFM “ “
B/A: L. GUNDY (RCAF) DFC “ “
M/U: L.P. SWALES VR DFM “ “
L/G: E.G. WELSH “ “ “ “
SPECL/W/OP: P.N.D. SKINGLEY “ DFC “ c 11/44
Hope you have some photos from your 101 days? Shots of 101’s Lancs are particularly hard to come by due no doubt to the extra secruity [sic] and lack of film.
Will contact you soon. Are you still in the RAF? Yours sincerely
Mike Garbett
(M. GARBETT)
[two newspaper cuttings]
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
Awarded to officers and warrant officers of the R.A.F. and Dominion Air Forces for acts of exceptional valour, courage, or devoting to duty while flying in active operations against the enemy. The ribbon is one and a quarter inches wide and has alternate violet and white stripes, one-eighth of an inch wide, running at an angle of 45o downwards towards the wearer’s left. An heraldic description of the Cross, which is of silver, is “a Cross flory, terminated in the horizontal and base bars with bombs, the upper bar terminating with a rose, surmounted by another cross composed of aeroplane propellers charged in the centre with a roundel within a wreath of laurels a rose winged ensigned by an Imperial Crown, thereon the letters R.A.F. On the reverse side the Royal Cypher above the date 1918.”
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL
Awarded to N.C.O.’s and airmen of the R.A.F. and Dominion Air Forces for exceptional valour, courage, or devotion to duty while flying in active operations against the enemy. The design and colours of the ribbon are the same as those of the D.F.C., except that the diagonal stripes are one-sixteenth of an inch in width. The Medal, which is of silver and oval shaped, bears “Our Effigy on the obverse, and on the reverse, within a wreath of laurels, a representation of Athena Nike seated on an aeroplane, a hawk, rising from her right arm above the words, ‘For Courage.’ The whole ensigned by a bomb attached to the clasp and ribbon by two wings.”
PHONE [missing words]
8-2-68
[underlined] REF. 101 SQUADRON [/underlined]
Dear Keith Thompson,
Thank you for letter and I confirm Saturday February 17th for my visit: will arrive somewhere between 2 and 3 PM.
Trust you will have your log book and other material to hand for I will bring mine and we should have an interesting chat.
Have been through East Wretham before to look at 115 Squadron’s old base, so should find your place O.K Thanks for the map, which will help no end.
Look forward to meeting you.
Yours sincerely
Mike Garbett
M. GARBETT.
[underlined] PS [/underlined] Would like a copy of your 101 battle order. Can you get it xeroxed please? If not I will copy it by hand on the 17th!
[page break]
[identity card]
[inserted] 177463 [/inserted]
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT – [deleted] P/O [/deleted] [inserted] F/LT [/inserted] THOMPSON KEITH GRAHAME
Whose personal description, photograph and signature appear hereon, is serving in the RAF
Changes in rank or appointment to commissioned rank are to be indicated below. All entries must be made in ink by an officer. Signatures or initials are not required.
[heading] New Rank – Effective Date – Reference of official authority for change in rank and date of authority [/heading]
P/O – 26/5/44 – AIR MINISTRY
F/O – 26/11/44 – 27/12/45 LOND. GAZETTE
F/LT – 26/5/46 – 21/6/46 37619 LOND. GAZETTE.
[underlined] Personal description of holder [underlined]
Height 5’ 10” Build MED
Colour of Eyes GREEN Colour of hair RED
Date of birth 14-6-1923
[black and white head shot of F/Lt Thompson]
Signature of holder [signature]
Signature of Issuing Officer [signature]
Rank F/LT Date 17-5-44
CARD NO. 314967
[page break]
[newspaper cutting]
HUDDERSFIELD WAAF WEDS D.F.C.
[black and white photograph of Flt. Lt. Kenneth Corkhill and his bride, Mary Watson]
Flying Officer Kenneth David Corkill, D.F.C., of the Isle of Man, and his bride, Miss Mary Watson, of Lockwood Huddersfield, a member of the W.A.A.F. after their wedding at Crosland Moor Parish Church, Huddersfield, yesterday