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Bill Freeman's Service Career

A detailed account of Bill's time in the RAF, starting with drill at Lords, training at Bridlington and Bridgnorth then RAF Stormy Down. He passed the course and after seven days leave reported to Hixon for crewing up. He discusses training and his…

Tags: 1 Group; 1662 HCU; 300 Squadron; 5 Group; 550 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bomb aimer; bombing; Bombing of Mailly-le-Camp (3/4 May 1944); bombing of the Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944); briefing; Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; entertainment; flight engineer; George Cross; ground crew; Halifax; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; mess; military living conditions; military service conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; Mosquito; navigator; Nissen hut; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Operational Training Unit; Pathfinders; pilot; RAF Binbrook; RAF Blyton; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Bridlington; RAF Elsham Wolds; RAF Faldingworth; RAF Hemswell; RAF Hixon; RAF North Killingholme; RAF Stormy Down; searchlight; Stalin, Joseph (1878-1953); tactical support for Normandy troops; target indicator; training; Wellington; Window; wireless operator

Interview with Geoff Packham

Geoff’s father had been in the Royal Flying Corps and Geoff joined the Royal Air Force at RAF Cardington. He was posted to various stations before going to Halifax in Canada to train as a pilot on Tiger Moths and then Oxfords.
On his return, Geoff…