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Lads of No3 class
A group of 16 trainee airmen in uniform and half caps. Seven are sitting with their arms folded and nine stand in a line behind. Tom is standing second left back row. The other 15 men have signed the cover which is also annotated 'lads of No3 class…
Tags: air gunner; aircrew; RAF Stormy Down; training
Group in uniform
A group of nine airmen in uniform. Seven standing in a line behind two men crouching on the ground. They are outside a wooden building with painted wings and 'X6' below a sign reading 'Pride & Empire' set above the doorway. Thomas is standing third…
Tags: training
Group of airmen
A group of 46 airmen in uniform, 45 wearing side caps and one with an officer's cap. The men are arranged in four rows on the pavement outside Springfield House with the number 13 above the door. Thomas is sitting, front row, seventh right, with his…
Tags: Asian heritage; training
Springfield House
A group of 46 airmen in uniform outside a terraced property. They are arranged in four rows and the property has the number 13 above the door. On reverse 'Blackpool Tom McMahon front row seventh from left'. [sic, Tom McMahon is seventh from right].
Tags: Asian heritage; training
Thomas McMahon in Sidcot suit
Full length portrait of Thomas McMahon in a Sidcot suit, flying boots and gloves. He is carrying a flying helmet and is standing outside a brick building with open windows. On reverse, 'Thomas McMahon'.
Tags: aircrew
To my old pal
Full length portrait of Thomas in uniform standing in front of a concrete brick building with down pipe. On the reverse 'To my old pal from his old pal, Tom' and ''Thomas McMahon'.
Tags: air gunner; aircrew
Ready to fly
Full length portrait of Thomas McMahon standing outside the wooden door of concrete block building. He is wearing sheepskin flying jacket and boots and is holding his flying helmet. On reverse, ‘Thomas McMahon' and 'To mum and pop, with lots of…
Tags: aircrew
Memoirs of an Air Gunner
'Ron Bedford volunteered for the Royal Air Force and was told he had the aptitude to be a pilot, but remustered as an air gunner to avoid waiting for call up. He reads the "Message of Welcome" letter he received in July 1942 from the Secretary of…
Tags: 620 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; briefing; crewing up; Heavy Conversion Unit; Horsa; Operational Training Unit; RAF Ashbourne; RAF Fairford; RAF Leicester East; RAF Stormy Down; RAF Woolfox Lodge; recruitment; Special Operations Executive; Stirling; training
Photomontage
Montage showing various members of Bratley family with caption 'Happy Christmas 2000'. Includes photograph of Harold in uniform at the bottom.
Letter to Mrs Bratley
Informs her of news that Vichy government had made a statement that a twin engine landed in France the last Saturday and the crew who had set fire to their aircraft had been interned.
Tags: forced landing; missing in action
Grainthorpe bride for Mablethorpe
Newspaper cutting with b/w photograph of wedding party for marriage of Harold Bratley to Miss Sally Borman.
Tags: love and romance
Man climbing into rear cockpit
A man wearing white flying suit and helmet climbing into the rear cockpit of an aircraft. A man with glasses already sitting in front cockpit.
Tags: aircrew
Harold Bratley
Head and shoulders portrait of an RAF officer wearing tunic with wireless operator brevet, medal ribbons including DFC, pathfinder badge, and peaked cap.
Path Finder badge award
Certifies that H W Bratley qualified for Path Finder force badge. Signed by Donald Bennett AOC Pathfinders.
Citation for Distinguished Flying Cross for acting Flight Lieutenant Harold William Bratley
On second tour of operations had completed 45 sorties, 24 as Pathfinder. Describes his qualities and recounts his escape from interment after forced landing during his first tour and making his way back home.
Newspaper cutting - D.F.C for old Ludensian
Announces that his parents from Louth had received news that their son Flight Lieutenant Harold William Bratley had been awarded the DFC. Gives details of former employment. Mentions that on his first tour he and crew came down in occupied enemy…
H W Bratley - personnel documents
List promotions to flight lieutenant and award of DFC. Award of Path Finder badge at 7 Squadron. Some pay details and postings.
Sergeant Blaydon
An airman wearing flying suit, helmet, harness and life preserver sitting in the entrance to cockpit inside an aircraft. On the reverse 'Sgt Blaydon ("BB"), 2cd W/Op)'.
Sergeant Goldingay
An airman wearing flying suit, parachute harness and flying helmet inside the fuselage of an aircraft. On the reverse 'Sgt Goldingay ("Goldy")(Observer).'
Description of operation
Relates experience of pilot trying to get control of their Wellington which had iced up. Writes of trying to get front gunner out of his turret and putting his torch inside his clothing as he would need it to signal for assistance. Once pilot got…
Tags: air gunner; aircrew; pilot; Wellington