Ernest Probyn 1944 Diary
Title
Ernest Probyn 1944 Diary
Description
A diary kept by Ernest throughout 1944.
Creator
Date
1944
Temporal Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Language
Format
One printed book with handwritten annotations
Conforms To
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
YProbynEA1896412v1
Transcription
[blank page]
[page break]
[calendars for 1943, 1944 and 1945]
[page break]
[calendars for 1943, 1944 and 1945]
[page break]
From. Mum
To. Ernie
[page break]
ZODIAC DIARY 1944
This Diary is the property of
1896412. Sgt PROBYN.
[deleted] Nat. RegistNo. [/deleted] [inserted] 1250 [/inserted] No.
Address
Phone
In case of accident please communicate with
[page break]
PERSONAL MEMORANDA
F/LT. KEN BANKS.
MARCH 15.
DOREEN.
JUNE. 1ST
[page break]
[Weights and measures table]
[page break]
[Calendar notes detailing bank holidays etc. for 1944, and weather forecasting table]
[page break]
DEC., 1943 – JAN. 1944
1 JANUARY, 1944 SAT
Went to Swansea saw Dorreen [sic] Went for flip in Martinette [sic] in afternoon.
[page break]
JANUARY 2 SUN
SPENT DAY AT WORK, HAD PARACHUTE INSTRUCTION
3 MON
HAD A LETTER FROM DOREEN. WENT FOR TWO FLIGHTS IN ANSONS IN AFTERNOON. AIR TO SEA FIRING.
4 TUE
ANSWERED DOREENS LETTER. SPENT ALL DAY IN SCHOOL.
5 WED
WENT ON CIIVE CAMERA 2. K.G.1.o. & 1 K.G.2.
6 THU
DAY OFF WENT TO SWANSEA IN MORNING, SWIMING. [sic] WENT TO KIDWELLY IN EVENING
7 FRI
WENT TO LLANELLY IN EVENING MET DOREEN COMING OFF LEAVE.
8 SAT
School all day Spent evening in hut genning
[page break]
9 SUN
School all day.
10 MON
Turrets all day.
11 TUE
Exams to day.
12 WED
Day off. Went to Slash in evening “DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE”
13 THU
Weather bad. No flying. Cheesed off
14 FRI
89 flight passing out parade.
15 SAT
Flying to day Weather bad.
[page break]
16 SUN
School alday. [sic] Went to Kidwellay [sic] in evening
17 MON
Spent most of day on turrets & armaments.
18 TUE
Went to pictures in evening.
19 WED
Whole hut confined for being noisy.
20 THU
Had letter from home Went to pictures in evening D.
21 FRI
Flying today Went on three K.G.2.
22 SAT
Went to Swansea on pass, to Doreens [sic] home.
[page break]
23 SUN
Back at school. Pictures in evening D.
24 MON
Flying allday 3. flights
25 TUE
Camp cinema in evening with Doreen.
26 WED
Day off, went to Slash with Doreen in evening. Pictures at Regal.
27 THU
Intermediate exam today, passed O.K. Camp cinema with D.
28 FRI
Spent evening genning
29 SAT
Flying alday. [sic] Spent evening home.
[page break]
30 SUN
Went to kidwelly [sic] with Doreen in evening
31 MON
Rather a good day for the kitty. I lost 1/1.
1 FEBRUARY TUE
WENT OVER TO CAMP CINEMA IN EVENING WITH D.
2 WED
Day off.
4 FRI
Flying today W 1,200.rounds.
5 SAT
Flying alday. [sic] 1,200 rounds
[page break]
6 SUN
Flying alday [sic] 300 Went to a show at the camp cinema, with Doreen a very good show.
7 MON
Last day of genning up. Had aircraft & range exams
8 TUE
[underlined] Board [/underlined]?
9 WED
PASSING OUT SUPPER. WENT TO ODEON WITH DOREEN
10 THU
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA FOR LAST TIME WITH DOREEN.
11 FRI
PASSING OUT PARADE. [symbol] GLAD ITS OVER
12 SAT
SPENT LAST DAY WITH DOREEN. WENT TO SWANSEA IN AFTERNOON.
[page break]
13 SUN
ARRIVED HOME.
14 MON
WEATHER NONE TO [sic] GOOD TODAY
15 TUE
WENT TO RISBROUGH
17 THU
WENT TO SEE CHAPS DOWN AT FIRM
18 FRI
RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DONALD
[page break]
22 TUE
WENT TO PICTURES
24 THU
SAW “WHITE CAPTIVE” AT CARLTON.
25 FRI
HAD A LETTER FROM DONALD TODAY
[page break]
27 SUN
HAD RIDE TO KIMBLE HAD TEA AT AUNT LOUIES.
28 MON
WEATHER FINE BUT COLD. WENT FOR RIDE.
29 TUE
WENT TO WYCOMBE WALKED HOME. MY FEET.
1 MARCH WED
WENT TO PICTURES IN AYLESBURY.
2 THU
Planted a few rows of beans.
3 FRI
Planted shallots.
4 SAT
Went to Sanden to meet Donald “SAW FILM “ENDS THE DAY WELL.”
[page break]
5 SUN
Went for walks with Donald.
6 MON
Last day of leave. Went to Wycombe
7 TUE
Saw Donald for last time. Started of [sic] to Silverstone.
8 WED
Started to meet some of my mates.
9 THU
Got crewed up.
10 FRI
Bags of work.
11 SAT
Turrets. Giros. & Shadowgraphs.
[page break]
12 SUN
WENT TO NORTHAMPTON FOR EVENING. PAYED FOR FIRST TIME HERE
13 MON
ATTENDED TWO LECTURES TURRETS, GUNNERY & AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION
14 TUE
HAD LETTER FROM HOME. SCROUNGED OFF FROM P.T. IN AFTERNOON.
15 WED
GUNNERY, AIRCRAFT REC. SPOTLIGHT.
16 THU
HAD LETTER FROM HOME.
17 FRI
WENT TO NORTHAMPTON.
18 SAT
SPENT DAY AT WORK.
[page break]
19 SUN
SPENT DAY IN NORTHAMPTON.
20 MON
CHEESED OFF
21 TUE
CHEESED OFF
22 WED
AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION. SPOTLIGHT TRAINER. ARMAMENT.
23 THU
SPENT DAY WORKING FOR WORK AND BRICKS.
24 FRI
SKIPPED WORK. WENT TO NORTHAMPTON.
25 SAT
MOVED TO SATALITE DROME AT TOWESTON.
[page break]
26 SUN
STARTED WORK.
27 MON
DAY ON FLYING.
28 TUE
GUNNERY AND AIRCRAFT REC.
29 WED
FLYING.
30 THU
Bags of work today.
31 FRI
WENT ON CIRCUIT & BUMPS.
1 APRIL SAT
SCHOOL ALDAY [sic] WENT HOME AT NIGHT. ARRIVED HOME AT 1-30
[page break]
2 SUN
SPENT DAY AT HOME
3 MON
BAGS OF FLYING. CIRCUIT & BUMPS.
4 TUE
SCHOOL.
5 WED
WENT ON SOLO FLIGHTS WITH DANNY. TILL 8.00. AT NIGHT.
6 THU
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.
7 FRI
WENT FOR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT
8 SAT
SPENT DAY WAITING TO FLY.
[page break]
9 SUN
FLYING. FLEW OVER LONGWICK.
10 MON
FLYING.
11 TUE
Dads
DADS BIRTHDAY. SPENT DAY FLYING.
12 WED
WENT ON BOMBING TRIP.
13 THU
DAY OFF SPENT DAY AT HOME
14 FRI
WENT ON CINE. TRIP.
15 SAT
NOTHING DOING ALL DAY.
[page break]
16 SUN
FLYING ALDAY. [sic]
17 MON
NIGHT FLYING.
18 TUE
H.L.B. I HAD A BURST OIL PIPE IN THE TURRET
19 WED
NIGHT FLYING WEATHER BAD.
20 THU
COMBAT MANOUVERS. WITH DANNY.
21 FRI
AIR FIRING. AND NIGHT FLYING. HAD A PRANG TODAY.
22 SAT
[deleted] MOVED BACK [/deleted] NIGHT FLYING
[page break]
23 SUN
NIGHT FLYING MOVED BACK TO SILVERSTONE.
24 MON
NIGHT FLYING.
25 TUE
DAY CROSS COUNTRY
26 WED
DAY CROSS COUNTRY.
27 THU
DAY OFF. BUSY IN THE GARDEN
28 FRI
NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY. SPENT DAY IN BANBURY.
29 SAT
DAY CROSS COUNTRY. WENT TO CINEMA IN EVENING. SAW “ENDS THE DAY WELL” “FOR EVER & A DAY”
[page break]
30 SUN
NIGHT FLYING.
1 MAY MON
NIGHT FLYING.
2 TUE
WENT ONB DIVERTION [sic] RAID ON JERRY COAST.
3 WED
NOTHING DOING ALL DAY.
4 THU
WENT ON BOMBING TRIP.
5 FRI
SPENT DAY SLEEPING.
6 SAT
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA SAW “LIFE & DEATH OF CORNAEL [sic] BLIMP.”
[page break]
7 SUN
EXAMS TODAY.
8 MON
EXAMS AGAIN TODAY.
9 TUE
DAY OFF. CAME HOME.
10 WED
ARRIVED BACK AT CAMP ABOUT LUNCH TIME. FLYING AT NIGHT.
11 THU
SLEEP ALL DAY. NIGHT FLYING.
12 FRI
NOTHING DOING ALL DAY
13 SAT
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA SAW DEANNA DURBIN IN “HER’S TO HOLD”
[page break]
14 SUN
WENT ON CINE FLIGHTS FIRED 150 ft of FILM.
15 MON
GETTING PACKED READY FOR LEAVE.
16 TUE
RAINING ALL DAY. SPENT DAY IN HUT.
17 WED
STILL RAINING. SPENT ANOTHER DAY IN HUT.
18 THU
SPENT DAY PACKING WENT ON NIGHT. FLIGHT.
19 FRI
FINISHED WORK TODAY. ARRIVED HOME TEATIME
20 SAT
WENT TO LONDON.
[page break]
21 SUN
WAS BEST MAN AT POPS WEDDING. HAD GOOD TIME.
22 MON
ARRIVED HOME AT LUNCH TIME. SPENT EVENING OVERHAULING BIKE.
23 TUE
SPENT DAY IN GARDEN.
24 WED
SPENT DAY IN GARDEN.
25 THU
WENT TO SEE CHAPS AT THE MILL TODAY
26 FRI
WYCOMBE. PALACE. TO SEE. “£100 WINDOW.”
27 SAT
‘CARLTON’ RISBRO. TO SEE “CAVALCADE OF NAVY.” &
[page break]
28 SUN
SPENT MOST OF TODAY TAXING TO KEEP COOL. WENT TO HADDENHAM AERODROME
29 MON
WENT OUT FOR DAY.
30 TUE
CARLTON. RISBROGH [sic] TO SEE. JOE. E. BROWN IN. “CHATTER BOX”
31 WED
AYLESBURY. TO ODEON. TO SEE “AND THE ANGLES [sic] SING.”
1 JUNE THU
SPENT DAY IN GARDEN WENT OUT IN EVENING.
2 FRI
WENT TO WYCOMBE. SAW. TOMMY HANDLEY IN “TIME FLYS” AND SHERLOCK HOMES IN “SPIDER WOMAN.
3 SAT
CARLTON RISBRO.
[page break]
4 SUN
WENT TO WYCOMBE SAW ‘THE GLASS KEY’
5 MON
ARTHUR ASKEY IN ‘MISS LONDON LTD.’ AT CARLTON
6 TUE
STARTED OF [sic] FOR SCAMPTON.
7 WED
SPENT DAY IN LINCOLN.
8 THU
STARTED WORK.
9 FRI
[inserted] MUM [/inserted]
DAY OF P.T.
10 SAT
DAY OFF.
[page break]
11 SUN
WORK AGAIN. LECTURES.
12 MON
DAY OF P.T.
13 TUE
WENT TO LINCOLN. WITH ANDY SAW “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA”
14 WED
CAMP CINEMA TO SEE “NIGHT INVADER”
15 THU
WENT TO LINCOLN WITH TAFFY SAW “A GUY NAMED JOE.”
16 FRI
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA IN EVENING.
17 SAT
DAY OFF. SPENT IT IN LINCOLN.
[page break]
18 SUN
SCHOOL ALDAY. [sic] WENT FOR WALK IN EVENING.
19 MON
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA IN EVENING
20 TUE
LINCOLN THIS EVENING TO SEE “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
21 WED
DAY ON LECTURES.
22 THU
FREE DAY.
23 FRI
SPENT DAY IN LINCOLN WITH ANDY
24 SAT
SPEND DAY PACKING WENT TO PICTURES IN EVENING
[page break]
25 SUN
MOVED TO SWINDERBY.
26 MON
SPENT THE DAY ON LECTURES.
27 TUE
SCHOOL ALDAY. [sic]
28 WED
DAY ON GROUND TRAINING.
29 THU
LECTURES.
30 FRI
LECTURES.
1 JULY SAT
FIRST DAY ON FLYING
[page break]
2 SUN
FLEW FOR FIRST TIME IN STIRLING.
3 MON
Flew on fighter affil.
4 TUE
Flying day, but didn’t.
5 WED
Lecture day.
6 THU
More Lectures.
7 FRI
Still more lectures.
8 SAT
Early morning flying Went to Lincoln in evening
[page break]
9 SUN
Day in Lectures.
10 MON
Further day in lectures.
11 TUE
Two flights today.
12 WED
Another flying day.
13 THU
Lecture day.
14 FRI
Height exercise.
15 SAT
Day flying.
[page break]
16 SUN
Day flying.
17 MON
Lectures.
18 TUE
Day on lectures.
19 WED
Fighter affill.
20 THU
Went to Lincoln saw Waggsy. (?) Went to Savoy.
21 FRI
Fighter affill.
22 SAT
Night flying.
[page break]
23 SUN
Last day of lectures.
24 MON
Day spent trying to fly.
25 TUE
Night flying, but kite U.S.
26 WED
Night flying.
27 THU
Day off.
28 FRI
Went on divertion [sic] at night.
29 SAT
Spent today getting cleared. Saw Noel Cowards ‘This Happy Breed”
[page break]
30 SUN
Spent morning getting cleared. Started home dinner time
31 MON
Arrived home after spending night in London.
1 AUGUST TUE
Went down to firm this morning to see chaps. Found Scot was ill.
2 WED
Spent most of day in garden. Boy is it warm.
3 THU
Spent day in bed with a bad head.
4 FRI
Head a bit better still a bit muggy.
5 SAT
Pictures in evening. Saw ‘Batchelor Mother.’
[page break]
6 SUN
Went to Kimble & saw Aunt Louie & Frank.
7 MON
Went to fete in Village. Saw Gladys. Had some luck on ‘Aunt Sally’.
8 TUE
Back from leave moved to Syerston.
9 WED
Spent most of day in billets. Went to flicks in evening. Saw “Above suspiction.” [sic]
10 THU
Spent day in lectures.
11 FRI
Lecture day.
12 SAT
Day in lectures. Went to Nottingham in evening. “Higher & higher
[page break]
13 SUN
Exams. ?
14 MON
Passed Exams O.K.
15 TUE
Went to Nottingham with Bruce.
16 WED
Wrote to Gladys today.
17 THU
Went to Nottingham saw David Nivin [sic] in “The way ahead”
18 FRI
Saw Ensa show in camp.
19 SAT
Pay day received £12.
[page break]
20 SUN
Went out with Jack.
21 MON
Cheesed off
22 TUE
Moved to 61 Squad.
23 WED
Starting to settle in.
24 THU
Went on Night Cross Country
25 FRI
Raid on Koningsburg [sic]
26 SAT
Day spent in Lincoln.
[page break]
27 SUN
Fighter Affill
28 MON
H.L.B. Cheesed off
29 TUE
[underlined] Ditto [/underlined]!!!!!!?
30 WED
Dan had toothake [sic] missed a good trip
31 THU
Night Cross Country.
1 SEPTEMBER FRI
Air Sea Firing.
2 SAT
Usual day
[page break]
3 SUN
Daylight on Brest.
4 MON
Fighter affill.
5 TUE
Night flying
6 WED
Air-sea firing
7 THU
Pictures in Lincoln.
8 FRI
Busy day on D.I.s.
9 SAT
Stayed in camp packing for leave.
[page break]
10 SUN
Started leave today.
11 MON
Spent day in garden.
[circled 12] TUE
WAR SHOULD END.? But didn’t. !?!?
13 WED
Saw film in Aylesbury “The way ahead”
14 THU
Spent day in garden
15 FRI
Went to Wycombe. saw “Death stalks Sherlock Holmes.
16 SAT
Film at Aylesbury “Lifeboat”
[page break]
17 SUN
Went to Kimble.
18 MON
Saw Gladys this evening
19 TUE
Spent morning in garden back to camp in afternoon.
20 WED
Not a lot doing.
21 THU
[underlined] Cheesed off. [/underlined]
22 FRI
Spent afternoon in Lincoln with Bruce.
23 SAT
Raid on Dortmund-Emms [sic] Canal. Got shot up bad Bruce hit in legs.
[page break]
24 SUN
Spent day at Woodbridge crash drome
25 MON
N.F.T. got back to camp
26 TUE
High level bombing.
27 WED
Night attack on Karlsruhe.
28 THU
Night attack on Kaiserlautien. [sic] Attacked by two M.E. 410.s
29 FRI
Spent day in bed
30 SAT
Went on air-sea firing
[page break]
1 OCTOBER SUN
Clay pigeon shooting.
2 MON
Went to Lincoln Saw Betty Grable in “Pin up girl.
3 TUE
Low level cross country
7 SAT
Night raid on Bremen
[page break]
10 TUE
Daylight on Wilhelmshaven. Bags of flak.
14 SAT
Night raid on Brunswick.
[page break]
15 SUN
Started of [sic] home on leave arrived home at 9.00.
16 MON
Spent all morning in bed, collected bike pass station in afternoon.
17 TUE
Went to see the boys at the firm today saw Gladys in evening.
18 WED
Went to Aylesbury met Gladys from work & went to watch “Marie Curie”
19 THU
Carlton cinema with Gladys to see “Thousands Cheer”
20 FRI
Stopped at home most of the day.
21 SAT
Spent afternoon & evening in Wycombe with Gladys. “Song of B.”
[page break]
22 SUN
Went to Kimble. Saw Doug in evening.
23 MON
Rather bad weather today.
24 TUE
Spent last night of leave with Gladys.
25 WED
Back to old routine
26 THU
Spent day dodging work.
27 FRI
Went for trip today
28 SAT
Night attack on Bergen.
[page break]
29 SUN
Stayed in bed till 12.00 went out in evening.
30 MON
Spent Day in Nottingham.
31 TUE
Went to Lincoln with Pop.
1 NOVEMBER WED
DAY RAID ON HAMBURG IN THE RUHR. SHOT UP.
2 THU
NIGHT RAID ON DUSSELDORF
3 FRI
Day spent in hut.
4 SAT
NIGHT ATTACK ON DORTMUND-EMMS CANAL.
[page break]
5 SUN
Went to Lincoln saw “Tyson takes a trip.”
6 MON
Air test.
7 TUE
High level bombing.
8 WED
Not much doing today.
9 THU
Went to camp cinema in evening.
10 FRI
Rain, rain, & still more rain.
11 SAT
Night attack on Hamburg.
[page break]
12 SUN
Spent evening in Lincoln at the Savoy.
13 MON
High level bombing.
14 TUE
Air-Sea firing Dortmund-Ems Canal at Night.
15 WED
Went to Lincoln with Harry saw “White Cliffs of Dover.”
16 THU
Most of day spent in billet. Daylight on ‘[indecipherable word]’
17 FRI
Spent evening in camp.
18 SAT
Went to camp cinema saw “Destruction [indecipherable word]”.
[page break]
19 SUN
Lincoln in evening.
20 MON
Not much doing in camp today.
21 TUE
Fighter affill.
22 WED
Night raid on [indecipherable word]
23 THU
Went to camp cinema in evening
24 FRI
Rain, rain, rain & still more rain.
25 SAT
Same old routine.
[page break]
26 SUN
Night raid on Munich. Attacked by J.U.88.
27 MON
Spent day packing & getting paid
28 TUE
Started off on leave Saw “English without Tears” in Nottingham.
29 WED
Went to Aylesbury saw “the Purple Heart.”
30 THU
Saw Gladys this evening
1 DECEMBER FRI
Had an invitation to the H.G. stand down supper. Met a lot of my old pals.
2 SAT
Gladys & I went to Wycombe for the afternoon.
[page break]
3 SUN
Had Gladys round to tea today.
4 MON
Saw “Claudia” at the Carlton with Gladys this evening.
5 TUE
Had day at home.
6 WED
Last evening with Glad went to Aylesbury
[circled 7] THU
Back to Camp. Cheesed off
8 FRI
[underlined] DITTO. [/underlined]
9 SAT
“The Dodge” “DER TAG.” NIGHT RAID ON URFT DAN & MY 21ST BIRTHDAY.
[page break]
10 SUN
Drome fog bound.
11 MON
Weather still bad not able to fly.
12 TUE
Ditto
15 FRI
Went into Lincoln today did a spot of shopping.
16 SAT
Night raid on Munich quite a nice do.
[page break]
17 SUN
Night raid on Munich.
18 MON
Night raid on Galysnia.
19 TUE
Spent whole day in bed.
21 THU
Night raid on [underlined] Stetten [/underlined].
22 FRI
Landed at Dallochy
23 SAT
Still at [symbol]
[page break]
24 SUN
Back to Camp from Dallochy.
25 MON
Quite a good day Was invited out in the evening.
26 TUE
Spent day in camp
27 WED
Most of day spent in billet to [sic] cold to go out.
28 THU
Attack on shipping in Oslo Fjord.
29 FRI
Usual day in bed.
30 SAT
Opps Houffalize, in France
[page break]
31 SUN
Quiet day spent writing letters.
5 JANUARY 1945 FRI
19.8.44.
Case 594356 Cast 594357 Case 594358 Case 594359 Case 594360
[page break]
BROWNING – A/C. – SIGHT – TURRET – PYRO
40 – 30 – 60 – 40 – 30
32 – 22 – 36 – 20 – 21
65.5
DORE HARNESS. NO. 109.
G.16.
46. + 3.
BRUGE
COLINDALE 8154
[page break]
A.G. BARRELL
FFOULLYNGE. F/LT.
A.C.W. D. Peacock.
KEN
[series of numbers]
[page break]
DOREEN JUNE. 1st
[table of names and numbers]
[page break]
[calendars for 1943, 1944 and 1945]
[page break]
[calendars for 1943, 1944 and 1945]
[page break]
From. Mum
To. Ernie
[page break]
ZODIAC DIARY 1944
This Diary is the property of
1896412. Sgt PROBYN.
[deleted] Nat. RegistNo. [/deleted] [inserted] 1250 [/inserted] No.
Address
Phone
In case of accident please communicate with
[page break]
PERSONAL MEMORANDA
F/LT. KEN BANKS.
MARCH 15.
DOREEN.
JUNE. 1ST
[page break]
[Weights and measures table]
[page break]
[Calendar notes detailing bank holidays etc. for 1944, and weather forecasting table]
[page break]
DEC., 1943 – JAN. 1944
1 JANUARY, 1944 SAT
Went to Swansea saw Dorreen [sic] Went for flip in Martinette [sic] in afternoon.
[page break]
JANUARY 2 SUN
SPENT DAY AT WORK, HAD PARACHUTE INSTRUCTION
3 MON
HAD A LETTER FROM DOREEN. WENT FOR TWO FLIGHTS IN ANSONS IN AFTERNOON. AIR TO SEA FIRING.
4 TUE
ANSWERED DOREENS LETTER. SPENT ALL DAY IN SCHOOL.
5 WED
WENT ON CIIVE CAMERA 2. K.G.1.o. & 1 K.G.2.
6 THU
DAY OFF WENT TO SWANSEA IN MORNING, SWIMING. [sic] WENT TO KIDWELLY IN EVENING
7 FRI
WENT TO LLANELLY IN EVENING MET DOREEN COMING OFF LEAVE.
8 SAT
School all day Spent evening in hut genning
[page break]
9 SUN
School all day.
10 MON
Turrets all day.
11 TUE
Exams to day.
12 WED
Day off. Went to Slash in evening “DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE”
13 THU
Weather bad. No flying. Cheesed off
14 FRI
89 flight passing out parade.
15 SAT
Flying to day Weather bad.
[page break]
16 SUN
School alday. [sic] Went to Kidwellay [sic] in evening
17 MON
Spent most of day on turrets & armaments.
18 TUE
Went to pictures in evening.
19 WED
Whole hut confined for being noisy.
20 THU
Had letter from home Went to pictures in evening D.
21 FRI
Flying today Went on three K.G.2.
22 SAT
Went to Swansea on pass, to Doreens [sic] home.
[page break]
23 SUN
Back at school. Pictures in evening D.
24 MON
Flying allday 3. flights
25 TUE
Camp cinema in evening with Doreen.
26 WED
Day off, went to Slash with Doreen in evening. Pictures at Regal.
27 THU
Intermediate exam today, passed O.K. Camp cinema with D.
28 FRI
Spent evening genning
29 SAT
Flying alday. [sic] Spent evening home.
[page break]
30 SUN
Went to kidwelly [sic] with Doreen in evening
31 MON
Rather a good day for the kitty. I lost 1/1.
1 FEBRUARY TUE
WENT OVER TO CAMP CINEMA IN EVENING WITH D.
2 WED
Day off.
4 FRI
Flying today W 1,200.rounds.
5 SAT
Flying alday. [sic] 1,200 rounds
[page break]
6 SUN
Flying alday [sic] 300 Went to a show at the camp cinema, with Doreen a very good show.
7 MON
Last day of genning up. Had aircraft & range exams
8 TUE
[underlined] Board [/underlined]?
9 WED
PASSING OUT SUPPER. WENT TO ODEON WITH DOREEN
10 THU
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA FOR LAST TIME WITH DOREEN.
11 FRI
PASSING OUT PARADE. [symbol] GLAD ITS OVER
12 SAT
SPENT LAST DAY WITH DOREEN. WENT TO SWANSEA IN AFTERNOON.
[page break]
13 SUN
ARRIVED HOME.
14 MON
WEATHER NONE TO [sic] GOOD TODAY
15 TUE
WENT TO RISBROUGH
17 THU
WENT TO SEE CHAPS DOWN AT FIRM
18 FRI
RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DONALD
[page break]
22 TUE
WENT TO PICTURES
24 THU
SAW “WHITE CAPTIVE” AT CARLTON.
25 FRI
HAD A LETTER FROM DONALD TODAY
[page break]
27 SUN
HAD RIDE TO KIMBLE HAD TEA AT AUNT LOUIES.
28 MON
WEATHER FINE BUT COLD. WENT FOR RIDE.
29 TUE
WENT TO WYCOMBE WALKED HOME. MY FEET.
1 MARCH WED
WENT TO PICTURES IN AYLESBURY.
2 THU
Planted a few rows of beans.
3 FRI
Planted shallots.
4 SAT
Went to Sanden to meet Donald “SAW FILM “ENDS THE DAY WELL.”
[page break]
5 SUN
Went for walks with Donald.
6 MON
Last day of leave. Went to Wycombe
7 TUE
Saw Donald for last time. Started of [sic] to Silverstone.
8 WED
Started to meet some of my mates.
9 THU
Got crewed up.
10 FRI
Bags of work.
11 SAT
Turrets. Giros. & Shadowgraphs.
[page break]
12 SUN
WENT TO NORTHAMPTON FOR EVENING. PAYED FOR FIRST TIME HERE
13 MON
ATTENDED TWO LECTURES TURRETS, GUNNERY & AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION
14 TUE
HAD LETTER FROM HOME. SCROUNGED OFF FROM P.T. IN AFTERNOON.
15 WED
GUNNERY, AIRCRAFT REC. SPOTLIGHT.
16 THU
HAD LETTER FROM HOME.
17 FRI
WENT TO NORTHAMPTON.
18 SAT
SPENT DAY AT WORK.
[page break]
19 SUN
SPENT DAY IN NORTHAMPTON.
20 MON
CHEESED OFF
21 TUE
CHEESED OFF
22 WED
AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION. SPOTLIGHT TRAINER. ARMAMENT.
23 THU
SPENT DAY WORKING FOR WORK AND BRICKS.
24 FRI
SKIPPED WORK. WENT TO NORTHAMPTON.
25 SAT
MOVED TO SATALITE DROME AT TOWESTON.
[page break]
26 SUN
STARTED WORK.
27 MON
DAY ON FLYING.
28 TUE
GUNNERY AND AIRCRAFT REC.
29 WED
FLYING.
30 THU
Bags of work today.
31 FRI
WENT ON CIRCUIT & BUMPS.
1 APRIL SAT
SCHOOL ALDAY [sic] WENT HOME AT NIGHT. ARRIVED HOME AT 1-30
[page break]
2 SUN
SPENT DAY AT HOME
3 MON
BAGS OF FLYING. CIRCUIT & BUMPS.
4 TUE
SCHOOL.
5 WED
WENT ON SOLO FLIGHTS WITH DANNY. TILL 8.00. AT NIGHT.
6 THU
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.
7 FRI
WENT FOR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT
8 SAT
SPENT DAY WAITING TO FLY.
[page break]
9 SUN
FLYING. FLEW OVER LONGWICK.
10 MON
FLYING.
11 TUE
Dads
DADS BIRTHDAY. SPENT DAY FLYING.
12 WED
WENT ON BOMBING TRIP.
13 THU
DAY OFF SPENT DAY AT HOME
14 FRI
WENT ON CINE. TRIP.
15 SAT
NOTHING DOING ALL DAY.
[page break]
16 SUN
FLYING ALDAY. [sic]
17 MON
NIGHT FLYING.
18 TUE
H.L.B. I HAD A BURST OIL PIPE IN THE TURRET
19 WED
NIGHT FLYING WEATHER BAD.
20 THU
COMBAT MANOUVERS. WITH DANNY.
21 FRI
AIR FIRING. AND NIGHT FLYING. HAD A PRANG TODAY.
22 SAT
[deleted] MOVED BACK [/deleted] NIGHT FLYING
[page break]
23 SUN
NIGHT FLYING MOVED BACK TO SILVERSTONE.
24 MON
NIGHT FLYING.
25 TUE
DAY CROSS COUNTRY
26 WED
DAY CROSS COUNTRY.
27 THU
DAY OFF. BUSY IN THE GARDEN
28 FRI
NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY. SPENT DAY IN BANBURY.
29 SAT
DAY CROSS COUNTRY. WENT TO CINEMA IN EVENING. SAW “ENDS THE DAY WELL” “FOR EVER & A DAY”
[page break]
30 SUN
NIGHT FLYING.
1 MAY MON
NIGHT FLYING.
2 TUE
WENT ONB DIVERTION [sic] RAID ON JERRY COAST.
3 WED
NOTHING DOING ALL DAY.
4 THU
WENT ON BOMBING TRIP.
5 FRI
SPENT DAY SLEEPING.
6 SAT
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA SAW “LIFE & DEATH OF CORNAEL [sic] BLIMP.”
[page break]
7 SUN
EXAMS TODAY.
8 MON
EXAMS AGAIN TODAY.
9 TUE
DAY OFF. CAME HOME.
10 WED
ARRIVED BACK AT CAMP ABOUT LUNCH TIME. FLYING AT NIGHT.
11 THU
SLEEP ALL DAY. NIGHT FLYING.
12 FRI
NOTHING DOING ALL DAY
13 SAT
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA SAW DEANNA DURBIN IN “HER’S TO HOLD”
[page break]
14 SUN
WENT ON CINE FLIGHTS FIRED 150 ft of FILM.
15 MON
GETTING PACKED READY FOR LEAVE.
16 TUE
RAINING ALL DAY. SPENT DAY IN HUT.
17 WED
STILL RAINING. SPENT ANOTHER DAY IN HUT.
18 THU
SPENT DAY PACKING WENT ON NIGHT. FLIGHT.
19 FRI
FINISHED WORK TODAY. ARRIVED HOME TEATIME
20 SAT
WENT TO LONDON.
[page break]
21 SUN
WAS BEST MAN AT POPS WEDDING. HAD GOOD TIME.
22 MON
ARRIVED HOME AT LUNCH TIME. SPENT EVENING OVERHAULING BIKE.
23 TUE
SPENT DAY IN GARDEN.
24 WED
SPENT DAY IN GARDEN.
25 THU
WENT TO SEE CHAPS AT THE MILL TODAY
26 FRI
WYCOMBE. PALACE. TO SEE. “£100 WINDOW.”
27 SAT
‘CARLTON’ RISBRO. TO SEE “CAVALCADE OF NAVY.” &
[page break]
28 SUN
SPENT MOST OF TODAY TAXING TO KEEP COOL. WENT TO HADDENHAM AERODROME
29 MON
WENT OUT FOR DAY.
30 TUE
CARLTON. RISBROGH [sic] TO SEE. JOE. E. BROWN IN. “CHATTER BOX”
31 WED
AYLESBURY. TO ODEON. TO SEE “AND THE ANGLES [sic] SING.”
1 JUNE THU
SPENT DAY IN GARDEN WENT OUT IN EVENING.
2 FRI
WENT TO WYCOMBE. SAW. TOMMY HANDLEY IN “TIME FLYS” AND SHERLOCK HOMES IN “SPIDER WOMAN.
3 SAT
CARLTON RISBRO.
[page break]
4 SUN
WENT TO WYCOMBE SAW ‘THE GLASS KEY’
5 MON
ARTHUR ASKEY IN ‘MISS LONDON LTD.’ AT CARLTON
6 TUE
STARTED OF [sic] FOR SCAMPTON.
7 WED
SPENT DAY IN LINCOLN.
8 THU
STARTED WORK.
9 FRI
[inserted] MUM [/inserted]
DAY OF P.T.
10 SAT
DAY OFF.
[page break]
11 SUN
WORK AGAIN. LECTURES.
12 MON
DAY OF P.T.
13 TUE
WENT TO LINCOLN. WITH ANDY SAW “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA”
14 WED
CAMP CINEMA TO SEE “NIGHT INVADER”
15 THU
WENT TO LINCOLN WITH TAFFY SAW “A GUY NAMED JOE.”
16 FRI
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA IN EVENING.
17 SAT
DAY OFF. SPENT IT IN LINCOLN.
[page break]
18 SUN
SCHOOL ALDAY. [sic] WENT FOR WALK IN EVENING.
19 MON
WENT TO CAMP CINEMA IN EVENING
20 TUE
LINCOLN THIS EVENING TO SEE “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
21 WED
DAY ON LECTURES.
22 THU
FREE DAY.
23 FRI
SPENT DAY IN LINCOLN WITH ANDY
24 SAT
SPEND DAY PACKING WENT TO PICTURES IN EVENING
[page break]
25 SUN
MOVED TO SWINDERBY.
26 MON
SPENT THE DAY ON LECTURES.
27 TUE
SCHOOL ALDAY. [sic]
28 WED
DAY ON GROUND TRAINING.
29 THU
LECTURES.
30 FRI
LECTURES.
1 JULY SAT
FIRST DAY ON FLYING
[page break]
2 SUN
FLEW FOR FIRST TIME IN STIRLING.
3 MON
Flew on fighter affil.
4 TUE
Flying day, but didn’t.
5 WED
Lecture day.
6 THU
More Lectures.
7 FRI
Still more lectures.
8 SAT
Early morning flying Went to Lincoln in evening
[page break]
9 SUN
Day in Lectures.
10 MON
Further day in lectures.
11 TUE
Two flights today.
12 WED
Another flying day.
13 THU
Lecture day.
14 FRI
Height exercise.
15 SAT
Day flying.
[page break]
16 SUN
Day flying.
17 MON
Lectures.
18 TUE
Day on lectures.
19 WED
Fighter affill.
20 THU
Went to Lincoln saw Waggsy. (?) Went to Savoy.
21 FRI
Fighter affill.
22 SAT
Night flying.
[page break]
23 SUN
Last day of lectures.
24 MON
Day spent trying to fly.
25 TUE
Night flying, but kite U.S.
26 WED
Night flying.
27 THU
Day off.
28 FRI
Went on divertion [sic] at night.
29 SAT
Spent today getting cleared. Saw Noel Cowards ‘This Happy Breed”
[page break]
30 SUN
Spent morning getting cleared. Started home dinner time
31 MON
Arrived home after spending night in London.
1 AUGUST TUE
Went down to firm this morning to see chaps. Found Scot was ill.
2 WED
Spent most of day in garden. Boy is it warm.
3 THU
Spent day in bed with a bad head.
4 FRI
Head a bit better still a bit muggy.
5 SAT
Pictures in evening. Saw ‘Batchelor Mother.’
[page break]
6 SUN
Went to Kimble & saw Aunt Louie & Frank.
7 MON
Went to fete in Village. Saw Gladys. Had some luck on ‘Aunt Sally’.
8 TUE
Back from leave moved to Syerston.
9 WED
Spent most of day in billets. Went to flicks in evening. Saw “Above suspiction.” [sic]
10 THU
Spent day in lectures.
11 FRI
Lecture day.
12 SAT
Day in lectures. Went to Nottingham in evening. “Higher & higher
[page break]
13 SUN
Exams. ?
14 MON
Passed Exams O.K.
15 TUE
Went to Nottingham with Bruce.
16 WED
Wrote to Gladys today.
17 THU
Went to Nottingham saw David Nivin [sic] in “The way ahead”
18 FRI
Saw Ensa show in camp.
19 SAT
Pay day received £12.
[page break]
20 SUN
Went out with Jack.
21 MON
Cheesed off
22 TUE
Moved to 61 Squad.
23 WED
Starting to settle in.
24 THU
Went on Night Cross Country
25 FRI
Raid on Koningsburg [sic]
26 SAT
Day spent in Lincoln.
[page break]
27 SUN
Fighter Affill
28 MON
H.L.B. Cheesed off
29 TUE
[underlined] Ditto [/underlined]!!!!!!?
30 WED
Dan had toothake [sic] missed a good trip
31 THU
Night Cross Country.
1 SEPTEMBER FRI
Air Sea Firing.
2 SAT
Usual day
[page break]
3 SUN
Daylight on Brest.
4 MON
Fighter affill.
5 TUE
Night flying
6 WED
Air-sea firing
7 THU
Pictures in Lincoln.
8 FRI
Busy day on D.I.s.
9 SAT
Stayed in camp packing for leave.
[page break]
10 SUN
Started leave today.
11 MON
Spent day in garden.
[circled 12] TUE
WAR SHOULD END.? But didn’t. !?!?
13 WED
Saw film in Aylesbury “The way ahead”
14 THU
Spent day in garden
15 FRI
Went to Wycombe. saw “Death stalks Sherlock Holmes.
16 SAT
Film at Aylesbury “Lifeboat”
[page break]
17 SUN
Went to Kimble.
18 MON
Saw Gladys this evening
19 TUE
Spent morning in garden back to camp in afternoon.
20 WED
Not a lot doing.
21 THU
[underlined] Cheesed off. [/underlined]
22 FRI
Spent afternoon in Lincoln with Bruce.
23 SAT
Raid on Dortmund-Emms [sic] Canal. Got shot up bad Bruce hit in legs.
[page break]
24 SUN
Spent day at Woodbridge crash drome
25 MON
N.F.T. got back to camp
26 TUE
High level bombing.
27 WED
Night attack on Karlsruhe.
28 THU
Night attack on Kaiserlautien. [sic] Attacked by two M.E. 410.s
29 FRI
Spent day in bed
30 SAT
Went on air-sea firing
[page break]
1 OCTOBER SUN
Clay pigeon shooting.
2 MON
Went to Lincoln Saw Betty Grable in “Pin up girl.
3 TUE
Low level cross country
7 SAT
Night raid on Bremen
[page break]
10 TUE
Daylight on Wilhelmshaven. Bags of flak.
14 SAT
Night raid on Brunswick.
[page break]
15 SUN
Started of [sic] home on leave arrived home at 9.00.
16 MON
Spent all morning in bed, collected bike pass station in afternoon.
17 TUE
Went to see the boys at the firm today saw Gladys in evening.
18 WED
Went to Aylesbury met Gladys from work & went to watch “Marie Curie”
19 THU
Carlton cinema with Gladys to see “Thousands Cheer”
20 FRI
Stopped at home most of the day.
21 SAT
Spent afternoon & evening in Wycombe with Gladys. “Song of B.”
[page break]
22 SUN
Went to Kimble. Saw Doug in evening.
23 MON
Rather bad weather today.
24 TUE
Spent last night of leave with Gladys.
25 WED
Back to old routine
26 THU
Spent day dodging work.
27 FRI
Went for trip today
28 SAT
Night attack on Bergen.
[page break]
29 SUN
Stayed in bed till 12.00 went out in evening.
30 MON
Spent Day in Nottingham.
31 TUE
Went to Lincoln with Pop.
1 NOVEMBER WED
DAY RAID ON HAMBURG IN THE RUHR. SHOT UP.
2 THU
NIGHT RAID ON DUSSELDORF
3 FRI
Day spent in hut.
4 SAT
NIGHT ATTACK ON DORTMUND-EMMS CANAL.
[page break]
5 SUN
Went to Lincoln saw “Tyson takes a trip.”
6 MON
Air test.
7 TUE
High level bombing.
8 WED
Not much doing today.
9 THU
Went to camp cinema in evening.
10 FRI
Rain, rain, & still more rain.
11 SAT
Night attack on Hamburg.
[page break]
12 SUN
Spent evening in Lincoln at the Savoy.
13 MON
High level bombing.
14 TUE
Air-Sea firing Dortmund-Ems Canal at Night.
15 WED
Went to Lincoln with Harry saw “White Cliffs of Dover.”
16 THU
Most of day spent in billet. Daylight on ‘[indecipherable word]’
17 FRI
Spent evening in camp.
18 SAT
Went to camp cinema saw “Destruction [indecipherable word]”.
[page break]
19 SUN
Lincoln in evening.
20 MON
Not much doing in camp today.
21 TUE
Fighter affill.
22 WED
Night raid on [indecipherable word]
23 THU
Went to camp cinema in evening
24 FRI
Rain, rain, rain & still more rain.
25 SAT
Same old routine.
[page break]
26 SUN
Night raid on Munich. Attacked by J.U.88.
27 MON
Spent day packing & getting paid
28 TUE
Started off on leave Saw “English without Tears” in Nottingham.
29 WED
Went to Aylesbury saw “the Purple Heart.”
30 THU
Saw Gladys this evening
1 DECEMBER FRI
Had an invitation to the H.G. stand down supper. Met a lot of my old pals.
2 SAT
Gladys & I went to Wycombe for the afternoon.
[page break]
3 SUN
Had Gladys round to tea today.
4 MON
Saw “Claudia” at the Carlton with Gladys this evening.
5 TUE
Had day at home.
6 WED
Last evening with Glad went to Aylesbury
[circled 7] THU
Back to Camp. Cheesed off
8 FRI
[underlined] DITTO. [/underlined]
9 SAT
“The Dodge” “DER TAG.” NIGHT RAID ON URFT DAN & MY 21ST BIRTHDAY.
[page break]
10 SUN
Drome fog bound.
11 MON
Weather still bad not able to fly.
12 TUE
Ditto
15 FRI
Went into Lincoln today did a spot of shopping.
16 SAT
Night raid on Munich quite a nice do.
[page break]
17 SUN
Night raid on Munich.
18 MON
Night raid on Galysnia.
19 TUE
Spent whole day in bed.
21 THU
Night raid on [underlined] Stetten [/underlined].
22 FRI
Landed at Dallochy
23 SAT
Still at [symbol]
[page break]
24 SUN
Back to Camp from Dallochy.
25 MON
Quite a good day Was invited out in the evening.
26 TUE
Spent day in camp
27 WED
Most of day spent in billet to [sic] cold to go out.
28 THU
Attack on shipping in Oslo Fjord.
29 FRI
Usual day in bed.
30 SAT
Opps Houffalize, in France
[page break]
31 SUN
Quiet day spent writing letters.
5 JANUARY 1945 FRI
19.8.44.
Case 594356 Cast 594357 Case 594358 Case 594359 Case 594360
[page break]
BROWNING – A/C. – SIGHT – TURRET – PYRO
40 – 30 – 60 – 40 – 30
32 – 22 – 36 – 20 – 21
65.5
DORE HARNESS. NO. 109.
G.16.
46. + 3.
BRUGE
COLINDALE 8154
[page break]
A.G. BARRELL
FFOULLYNGE. F/LT.
A.C.W. D. Peacock.
KEN
[series of numbers]
[page break]
DOREEN JUNE. 1st
[table of names and numbers]
Collection
Citation
Ernest Probyn, “Ernest Probyn 1944 Diary,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 19, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/33176.
Item Relations
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