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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…
Rows of airmen
A group of 48 airmen in uniform, 46 wearing side caps and 2 with officer caps. They are arranged in four rows on grass with a terrace of residential buildings with chimneys beyond. Thomas is second right in the third row from the front. On reverse,…
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…
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…
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].
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'.
Young airman
Half portrait of Thomas in his uniform and half cap. On reverse is a stamp reading 'Portrait BB Promenade Blackpool Phone 2188 No.4893' and 'Thomas McMahon'.
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'.
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…
Charles Hilder's observers and air gunners flying log book
C A Hilder’s RCAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book from 17 February 1943 to 24 March 1944, detailing training and operations as a Bomb Aimer. He was stationed at RCAF Station Lethbridge (No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School), RCAF…
Letter from Air Ministry to Charles Hilder's wife
Letter from the Casualty Branch of the Air Ministry expressing regret that Charles Hilder is missing as the result of air operations on the night of '24th/25th March, 1944'. States that Sergeant Hilder was flying as an air bomber in a Lancaster…
Letter from British Red Cross Society to Charles Hilder's wife
Letter requesting details of Charles Hilder's rank, service number and date when he was officially reported missing. Explains that the time taken for news of missing airmen to become available varies from a few weeks to several months, depending…
Memoirs of an Air Gunner
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'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…
Michael Peel interview. Two
Michael Peel was posted to 44 Squadron based at RAF Dunholme Lodge. On one operation at midnight his crew wished him a happy birthday. It was his twenty first birthday. On another occasion they found they still had a bomb in the bomb bay and the…
Photos
Labelled 'Photos' and 'Tom' an envelope containing images of Tom and his service life.
Letter from MOD medal office
Covers awards enclosed and states that they represent the full outstanding medal entitlement. If he had not received a medal he had expected, it was because the qualifying criteria were not met.
Poem written on post card by Harold
Six verse poem about six man crew flying operations. Annotated 'written by Harold during flight to Cologne'.
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 from RAF records office
Confirms that her husband had arrived safely in Gibraltar. Two copies of same letter.
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.
Award of Path Finder badge
Letter informing H W Bratley that he was qualified for award of Path Finder badge.
Letter to Mrs H W Bratley from RAF records office
Confirms that her husband was missing believed interned in occupied France. Mentioned that his aircraft was believed to have force landed owing to engine failure.
Man between two woman
A man wearing jacket and check jumper sitting on a bench between two women. Houses and buildings in the background.
Telegram
From Harold Bratley announcing he was safe and well.
Telegram to Mrs Bratley
Informs her that her husband was now safe.