Gives overall assessment and then detailed list of damage to E-boat pens, oil tanks, fuel storage, warehouses, huts, vessels, cranes, port facilities, public buildings, arsenal, other buildings in the town including the casino.
First operation to Montluçon 15 September 1943. Briefed as easy trip with little opposition. Arrived early and waited for Pathfinders, bombed from 8000 ft. Wing Commander Smith missing from operation reported hit by bombs. Operation 2, Mondane 16…
Hard back notebook with hand written and drawn notes and diagrams compiled when he was at No 2 A.G.S. at R.A.F. Dalcross in 1943. Twenty nine pages containing the theory behind gunnery, ammunition and the turret.
Flight Sergeant wireless operator on 58 Squadron at RAF Linton-on-Ouze flying Whitley III. First operation to Ruhr to drop leaflets and crash landed in France on the way back. Other operations were convoy patrol and bombing in France, Netherlands,…
Prisoner of war diary of Les Rutherford, captured the 20 December 1943 and then detained at Stalag Luft 3 (Belaria). It consists mostly of sketches and cartoons but also information on camp life, photographs and German newspaper cuttings. The diary…
An undated letter from Harry Brooks at RAF Waddington to his wife. He writes about her short visit and hopes to be home for Christmas. He mentions the possibility of his wife having to go into hospital and tells an anecdote of something that happened…
Alan writes during his training at Torquay. He had just heard about the bombing of Coventry, where his family lived. He has arranged leave to visit his family. His course has finished and he has been made Guard Commander.
Catches up with family news. Writes of life at RAF on Initial Training Wing at RAF Aberystwyth. Tells her what scores he got in tests, how much he’s earning and how leave is looking more unlikely. He also tells her about being interviewed by the…
Letter written over several days. Initially expecting to have his flying test the next day and be able to return for leave soon after, but this is changed following snow. He and six others are unable to take their tests in time and remain at the…
Writes about mail and catches up with family news. Mentions a photograph of all the South Africans of Schubin [sic] (XXIB) and plans to send it. Writes about friend in camp receiving letters and photographs as well as other gossip. Mentions planned…
Reports arrival of mail and notes all sent up to 4 February apart from one had now arrived. Glad his letters had also gotten to them. Writes about books he is reading. Mentions correspondence with family of Eric Pickles a navy man in the camp.…
Catches up with mail received and notes two of sequence have still not arrived. Pleased that they now have his letters written up to the end of January. Writes that there was no need now to send parcels as regular Red Cross parcels were now arriving.…
Acknowledges receipt of their latest letters and mentions sending them a able and expecting their next one. No news of note but writes about the weather. Contemplates life in England and mentions catching a tarantula. Comments he has spent as much…
Catches up on mail received and tells them not to worry about him spending all his allowance on mail, there was little else to spend it on anyway. Mentions stamps applied by authorities not him and does not know why cost varies. Writes that the…
Incomplete letter telling his wife about going to see one film and hoping to go and see 'Gone with the Wind'. He goes on to say he is enclosing £5 cheque for her to buy a coat. Concludes both sending love to her and daughter.
Sent via the air ministry. Writes that she had had no letter from him that day and then goes on to describe her activities and that she was missing him.
Starts with apologies and arrangements for upcoming events. Mentions no operations since Bremen but is now doing supply drops in the Netherlands. States he has done 13 2/3 operations but missed his crews last three due to illness. Talks of taking a…
Number 121-28. Still no mail or food parcels. No chance to practise violin and therefore bored. Good weather and suntan. Reports on health and flies. Mentions war news getting better and optimism abounds but not him. Still worried over new weapons.…
Number 172-29. Delighted to get two letters from her and thrilled to hear of birthday gift although he states he is not a virtuoso on the violin. Red cross violin has not arrived but German one has been repaired. Catches up with family friends news…
Number 31. Reports no new mail received. Mentions parcels that have arrived. Writes of reading about agriculture and plans for future and where and in what sort of house they might live. Encourages her to approach an estate agent. Mentions weather,…
Number 32. Notes letters received. States he has no objects belonging to his pilot (Floyd) and that he also tried to get recognition of his gallantry without success. Catches up with news. Writes he is fully occupied but has not stated his…
Number 106(49). Reports arrival of two of her letters and that she will not hear from him for a while as they leave the next day. Mentions music exams he taken. Says he will keep up his violin, his study of agriculture and Dutch. He writes that he is…
Number 51. Describes conditions in new camp. Mentions they no longer cook their own food therefore little distraction from monotony. Mentions difficulties in continuing with his violin. States that mail will be slow for a few weeks, comments…