Browse Items (29 total)

  • Contributor is exactly "Hugh Donnelly"

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Tom Marchant had always wanted to fly and joined the RAF, aged 18, as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner but was re-mustered as Flight Engineer after his initial postings to RAF Burtonwood, Warrington and RAF Squires Gate Airfield, Blackpool. He…

AGoodfellowN151106.mp3
Norman Goodfellow was born in Wakefield, in 1923. Before the war he worked as an apprentice engineer. Joining the RAF aged 17 he was offered the choice of pilot or navigator. Although Norman chose to be a navigator he, initially, trained as a pilot…

AGoldstrawBJ160827.mp3
Basil Goldstraw was classed as medically unfit for aircrew and, following training as a fitter, he was posted to 75 Squadron at RAF Mepal. He discusses aspects of his work as a fitter, being bombed, and life on and off the station. He was posted to…

ABirkbyB150729.mp3
Bessie Birkby grew up in Sheffield and volunteered for the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force in 1942. She initially worked in Balloon Command in Scotland and then trained to be a driver in North Wales. She was then posted to 625 Squadron at RAF Binbrook…

AAngusK160608.mp3
Kenneth Angus lived in Hull, and was 12 when war was declared. He discusses life on a farm, after being evacuated, the bombing of Hull and his brother Harry Angus, who was killed flying as a wireless operator/air gunner with 44 Squadron from RAF…

ABarfootWE151208.mp3
Bill Barfoot was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. On joining the Air Force, he trained as a wireless operator but re-mustered as aircrew. He trained as a navigator in South Africa, and flew operations with 296 Squadron, supplying the French and Norwegian…

RAF Swinderby was a Bomber Command station located in Lincolnshire, 8 miles (13 kms) south-west of Lincoln. See all Archive items | See all wartime losses | Explore nearby It opened in August 1940 as part of 1 Groupwhen it was home to 300 Squadron…

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Oliver went for selection to Cardington and joined the RAF in 1941 as an observer (navigator and bomb aimer). He was called up to the Aircrew Receiving Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground and sent to Aberystwyth. He was posted to the Elementary…

AFirthJB160706.mp3
John was called up aged 18 and went to Padgate. He comleted a flight mechanics course at RAF Locking, followed by a Maintenance Unit at RAF Colerne. He was posted to a flight engineers’ course at RAF St Athan. John joined up with his crew at RAF…

RAF Woodhall Spa was a Bomber Command station located in Lincolnshire, immediately south of the town of the same name. See all Archive items | See all wartime losses | Explore nearbyThe station opened in February 1942 in 5 Group. It was initially…

RAF Wigsley was a Bomber Command station located in Nottinghamshire, 8 miles (13 kms) west of Lincoln. See all Archive items | See all wartime losses | Explore nearbyIt opened in February 1942. 455 Squadron of 5 Group briefly operated Hampdens from…

RAF Waddington was a Bomber Command station located in Lincolnshire, 3 miles (5 kms) south of Lincoln. See all Archive items | See all wartime losses | Explore nearbyIt originally opened in 1916 and subsequently reopened in March 1937. By September…

RAF Syerston was a Bomber Command Station located in Nottinghamshire, 7 miles (11 kms) south-west of Newark-on-Trent.See all Archive items | See all wartime losses | Explore nearby It opened in December 1940 originally as part of 1 Group. 304…

RAF Scampton was a Bomber Command station located in Lincolnshire 6 miles (10 kms) north of Lincoln. See all Archive items | See all wartime losses | Explore nearbyIt originally opened in 1916 and re-opened in 1936. By September 1939 RAF Scampton…

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Sydney Grimes grew up near Southend and joined the RAF as a wireless operator in 1940. He flew a total of 41 operations - 24 with 106 Squadron and 17 with 617 Squadron. He then served on 9 Squadron at RAF Bardney for 2 months and, subsequently, with…

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Squadron Leader Geoffrey Whittle was born in London. After leaving school, at 14 he became an apprentice printer in the family business. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force on the outbreak of the Second World War and trained as a navigator and…

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Eric Varney completed 28 operations as a mid upper gunner with 207 Squadron from RAF Spilsby. After the war Eric worked as a bus driver, coal miner, long distance lorry driver and coal merchant.

ATaylorWH150710.mp3
William Taylor joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 as ground crew. He remustered as an air gunner and flew operations with 103 Squadron from RAF Elsham Wolds, flying Lancasters. His Aircraft was attacked and shot down by a night fighter in July 1944.…

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Lawrence Larmer was born in Australia in 1920. On leaving school he went to work on the Beaufort aircraft in the Department of Aircraft Production. He was called up in 1942 and volunteered for the Royal Australian Air Force to avoid the army. His…

AHeatonSM160322.mp3
Michael Heaton grew up in Worcester and was a member of the Air Training Corps. He worked in a bank before joining the Royal Air Force and training as a navigator in Canada. He completed 22 operations as a navigator with 50 Squadron from RAF…

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George Cromarty joined the Royal Air Force as an AC2 and served as ground personnel before training as an air gunner. He flew operations as the rear gunner with 630 Squadron from RAF East Kirby. He discusses what operations and life on a station were…

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John Cox grew up in Lincolnshire and worked in banking before he joined the Royal Air Force. After training as a pilot in the United States, he served as an instructor for almost three years. He flew 20 operations as a pilot with 626 Squadron, from…

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John was a founding member and corporal at his local Air Training Corps. He would cycle to local airfields to get a flight in different aircraft. He volunteered for the RAF in 1942 and was, finally, called up to Lord’s Cricket Ground in November…

ABirchM150811.mp3
This interview was carried out when Dr Birch was 91 years old and she describes her experiences of the German bombing raids and her medical training in London.
Dr Birch was born near London in 1924. Her father had served in the Royal Flying Corps…

ABatemanJT160802.mp3
James volunteered for aircrew in June 1942, aged 17, purely for the adventure as he was looking for something exciting. He trained in Canada as a navigator and, after a wonderful leave in New York,returned to England for advanced flying training. On…
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