Browse Items (616 total)
- Contributor is exactly "Julie Williams"
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Interview with Peter Greenwood
Peter Greenwood was born February 2, 1926, in Halifax, and grew up in the Yorkshire countryside, where his father ran a dairy business. He studied at Sowerby Bridge Grammar School with a particular interest in physics and chemistry. He was later…
Interview with Alastair Price
Interview with Alistair Price about his father, Kenneth George Price. He was the station navigation officer on 35 Squadron at RAF Wyton. He flew 58 operations before he was shot down and became a prisoner of war.
Alistair Price is the son of…
Alistair Price is the son of…
Interview with Peter Sewerin
Peter Sewerin remembers his father Stanislaw Sewerin. He escaped from Poland and fought in North Africa before transferring to the RAF and training as a pilot. He flew operations as a pilot with 300 Squadron. After the war, he flew as a pilot in…
Interview with Richard Leslie Skepper
Richard Skepper was born in Sevenoaks and volunteered of the RAF. He served as a flight mechanic on 7 Squadron at RAF Oakington.
Richard Spepper was born in Kent. His ambition was to be a tank driver but his mother escorted him to the RAF…
Richard Spepper was born in Kent. His ambition was to be a tank driver but his mother escorted him to the RAF…
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 re-mustered 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 21st birthday. On another occasion, they found they still had a bomb in the bomb bay and, as the Flying Control did not…
Interview with Dr James Hendrie Burt. Two
During his time as medical officer at RAF Waddington, James Burt was responsible for inspecting sanitation and food hygiene, as well as general medicine. On one occasion he also had to travel to RAF Tangmere to investigate the death of a member of…
Interview with Dr James Hendrie Burt. One
James Burt conducted his medical training St Andrew’s University in Scotland. Although he and his friends had tried to join a Service during the war, their training was a Reserved Occupation and, not only were they refused but they were strictly…
Michael Peel interview. One
Michael Peel was with the university squadron before volunteering for the RAF. He wanted to be a navigator but was encouraged to train as a pilot. He went to Canada to train in Harvards and Tiger Moths. In conversation with his son he discusses his…
Interview with Charles Meacock
Charles responded to a newspaper article for motorboat crew and joined the Royal Air Force in July 1941. He was, eventually, called up to RAF Cardington and kitted out at Penarth, with an Initial Training Wing at Weston-super-Mare. From Great…
Interview with Terry Lloyd
Terry Lloyd’s older brother was a wireless operator in Bomber Command and became a prisoner of war. Terry was also determined to join the RAF as aircrew. However, he was rejected due to his eyesight and served on Air Sea Rescue launches. Terry was…
Interview with Eric Haynes
Eric Haynes recalls his service in the RAF as a coxswain in Air Sea Rescue. He enlisted on 4 September 1939 as a photographer; however, when he was mustered in January 1940, he was told there were no photography spaces. He entered service as RAF…
Interview with George Griffiths
George Griffiths recounts his service in the RAF from 1942, when he volunteered as a Wireless Operator. In June 1942, he was called up and completed his Wireless Operator training before being posted to Norfolk in February 1943. During this time, he…
Interview with Ken Done
Kenneth Done recalls his service in the RAF as a Wireless Operator in Air Sea Rescue. During school, he joined the Cadet Corps, where he reached the rank of Company Sergeant Major. He applied for the RAF, hoping to be a Fighter Pilot but after being…
Interview with Bill Bilton
William (Bill) Bilton recounts his 6 years of service in the RAF Marine Section, from 1940-1946. During his time in Air Sea Rescue, he served in the UK and Europe, assisting RAF operations from the waters. At his first posting in Dover, William was…
Interview with Bertie Salvage
Bertie Salvage joined the RAF as an apprentice in 1939 and, initially, began his technical training at RAF Cranwell before training was transferred to RAF Halton and also shortened because of the start of the Second World War. Bertie was present when…
Interview with Dougie Marsh
Doug Marsh was the son of a Royal Navy officer and, as a child, frequently moved around between Kent and Lincolnshire. When his father retired from the Navy his parents bought a fish and chip shop in Grimsby but shortages meant that the business…
Interview with Terry Hodson
Terry Hodson was conscripted to the RAF towards the end of the Second World War. He started in the airfield construction team doing work as and when needed. He was involved in preparing the area in London for the Victory Parade. He left the RAF…
Interview with John Bell
John Bell completed a tour as a bomb aimer with 619 Squadron. The crew decided they would like to continue flying and, so, volunteered to join 617 Squadron. They were interviewed by Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire and accepted on to the squadron.…
Interview with Stan Waite
Stan Waite worked on one of the farms in Scampton in the pre-war years. He stopped his farming job to help with airfield construction when he found out he could earn more in one day than he earned in a week farming. He watched the first planes…
Interview with John Langston
John Langston flew operations as a navigator with 630, 189 and 617 Squadrons.
Interview with Nelson Nix
Nelson Nix grew up during the war. His father kept the village shop and was also a special constable and member of the Observer Corps, which later became the Royal Observer Corps. The post had access to the Darkie sets which were used to guide…
Interview with Bob Panton
Bob Panton was a child during the war. One day as his father was coming towards their house Bob saw three Dornier 17 come into view. Then out of the sun came six Spitfires and a battle started in front of him. Bob saw the Dorniers shot down and,…
Interview with Charles Avey
Charles Avey volunteered for the RAF with his friend, who was fanatical about the RAF. Charles trained as a gunner and his friend was posted to the Air Ministry. On one training flight the crew were suddenly concerned at the sight ahead which looked…