1
25
731
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1246/16776/MNealeETH1395951-150731-096.1.jpg
9acaf92c3b098433ec6d5f9c53c08321
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Neale, Ted
E T H Neale
Description
An account of the resource
123 items. The collection concerns Edward Thomas Henry Neale (b. 1922, 1395951 Royal Air Force) who served as a navigator with 37 Squadron in North Africa, the Middle East and Italy. The collection contains his training notebooks from South Africa as well as propaganda leaflets dropped by the allies in the Mediterranean theatre.
The collection also contains a photograph album, navigation logs and target photographs.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Alison Neale and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-07-31
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Neale, ETH
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[crest] 205 GROUP ROYAL AIR FORCE [crest]
Albania, Jugoslavia, Bulgaria, Syria, Iraq, Rhodes, Crete, Piraeus, Corinth, Leros, Daba, Capuzzo, Fuka, Halfaya, El Adem, Martuba, Tobruk, Benghazi, Tripoli, Mareth, Gabes, Cape Bon, Tunis
[map]
Palermo, Pantellaria, Syracuse, Messina, Salerno, Anzio, Viterbo, Guilianova, Verona, Turin, Pisa, Leghorn, Trieste, Milan, Sofia, Budapest, Steyr, Valence, Munich, Fiume, Bucharest, Ploesti, Danube
In the 1939 – 1945 World War
205 Group provided the only mobile force of heavy night bombers in the Mediterranean theatre. During the North African and Italian campaigns the Wellingtons, Halifaxes and Liberators of the Group, operating as a tactical force, attacked communications and concentrations of Rommel’s Africa Korps and of the Italian armies during their advance to the Quattara Depression, the Battle of El Alamein and during their retreat until their final capitulation in Tunisia. Without respite they operated against Kesselring’s army during the invasions of Sicily, Italy and the South of France. As a strategical force their targets – ports, airfields, marshalling yards, oil refineries and factories-ranged over the Mediterranean area and Europe. Aid was given to patriots in France, supplies and arms’ were dropped to Partizans in the Balkans and to the patriots in Warsaw. The Danube was mined persistently.
Shining courage is the epitaph of those who died.
We will remember them.
JUNE 1940 MAY 1945
[indecipherable word] A.B. Rud
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
205 Group Royal Air Force
Description
An account of the resource
A commemorative poster with a map of Southern Europe and North Africa. Around the outside is a list of locations where operations were carried out. There is a paragraph with details of the operations.
Creator
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205 Group Royal Air Force
Format
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One printed sheet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MNealeETH1395951-150731-096
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Albania
Austria
Austria--Steyr
Bulgaria
Bulgaria--Sofia
Croatia
Croatia--Rijeka
Danube River
France
France--Valence (Drôme)
Germany
Germany--Munich
Greece
Greece--Corinth Canal
Greece--Crete
Greece--Piraeus
Greece--Rhodes (Island)
Hungary
Hungary--Budapest
Iraq
Italy
Italy--Anzio
Italy--Giulianova
Italy--Livorno
Italy--Messina
Italy--Milan
Italy--Palermo
Italy--Pantelleria Island
Italy--Pisa
Italy--Salerno
Italy--Syracuse
Italy--Trieste
Italy--Turin
Italy--Verona
Italy--Viterbo
Libya
Libya--Banghāzī
Libya--Martuba
Libya--Tobruk
Libya--Tripoli
North Africa
Romania
Romania--Bucharest
Romania--Ploiești
Syria
Tunisia
Tunisia--Mareth Line
Tunisia--Qābis
Tunisia--Sharīk Peninsula
Tunisia--Tunis
Egypt--Fukah
Greece--Leros (Municipality)
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
bombing
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1246/16342/MNealeETH1395951-150731-001.1.pdf
c68c78b4641f3fb707627f4904d1483e
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Neale, Ted
E T H Neale
Description
An account of the resource
123 items. The collection concerns Edward Thomas Henry Neale (b. 1922, 1395951 Royal Air Force) who served as a navigator with 37 Squadron in North Africa, the Middle East and Italy. The collection contains his training notebooks from South Africa as well as propaganda leaflets dropped by the allies in the Mediterranean theatre.
The collection also contains a photograph album, navigation logs and target photographs.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Alison Neale and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-07-31
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Neale, ETH
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
No. 4
Vol. 3
JANUARY
1944
6d
[42 AIR SCHOOL Logo]
‘N SPRING VOORUIT.
Registered at the G.P.O. as a Newspaper.
The Woodpecker
[page break]
[page header – THE WOODPECKER JANUARY 1944]
[advertisement]
[page break]
[missing word] Woodpecker
[missing words] SCHOOL, SOUTH AFRICA
Vol. III. No. 4. JANUARY, 1944, Price 6d.
Contents: PAGE
More Work Before the War Ends ! – 3-4
Max Boost’s New Year’s Honours List ! – 5-8
Nineteen Minutes Air Time for “42” ! – 9
Jock Good Goes and Does It ! – 11-13
Thanks for the Memory – 15
Wood Peckings by the Editor – 16-19
Joe’s Journal – 21-24
What Others Say – 25-27
Could R.A.F. Help the S.A. Theatre ? – 28-30
100% Parade Sees Colleagues Honoured – 31
37 Promotions – 7 Weddings – 3 Births ! – 33-35
New 42 Air School Dramatic Production – 37
42’s N.S.C. Effort Gains Radio Fame ! – 39
Eager N.M.C. Boys Are With 8th Army – 41
December a Bad Month for Cricket – 42-43
About Ourselves – 44
[advertisement]
[page break]
1944-?
Churchill Predicts “Most Costly” Year
“The campaign of 1944 in Europe will be the most sev[missing letters] and, for the Western Allies, the most costly in lives of any [missing word] have yet fought. We must all brace ourselves for that task [missing word] strain every nerve for its successful accomplishment. . . .
“This is no time for relaxation or soft thoughts of the joys of peace and victory. Hitler still has 400 divisions under his command or control. He has a party police force which give him a grip on the agonised and regimented people of Germany incomparably stronger than anything which was at the disposal of the late Kaiser. . . .
“1944 will see the greatest sacrifice of life by the British and American armies, and battles far larger and more costly than Waterloo of Gettysburg will be fought . . . . sorrow will come to many homes in the United Kingdom and throughout the Great Republic of the United States.”
WINSTON CHURCHILL,
9th November, 1943.
[symbol]
Smuts Believes “Victory Probable”
“We have reached what I think are the final stages of this war. The year 1944 will, in all human probability, see the end of the greatest war in history. There will be very heavy fighting – have no illusions about that. I know you are not daunted by the prospect of the immense labours which will be necessary for victory. The end may be the hardest of the whole long pull.”
JAN CHRISTIAAN SMUTS,
8th December, 1943.
[page break]
[underlined] EDITORIAL – [/underlined]
More Work Before The War Ends !
[italics] “The Woodpecker” is not very often a serious bird, but at times like the beginning of a New Year – and what may be a momentous year – it does no harm to break away from the familiar “Woodpecker” styles typified by Joe Soap, P/O Boost and L.G.G. ! [/italics]
[inserted] THE INGENIOUS ERK !
Airplane repair work at the front sometimes involves the necessity for a good deal of ingenuity, as a propeller maintenance man reported recently.
He told of travelling to a marsh in North Africa to look after a plane. “We took the propeller off, using a gasoline drum as a bench,” he said “To straighten the blade we backed a truck over the bent portion; a wooden pattern was made to check it. Then the plane was towed to an open field and the patched-up propeller flew it back to a depot for complete repairs.” [/inserted]
WHILE we are fully justified in taking hope from the words of that most eminent statesman of our times, Field Marshal J.C. Smuts, who believes that “in all human probability” the war will end in 1944, we must, at the same time agree with Mr. Winston Churchill that “this is no time for relaxation or soft thoughts of the joys of peace and victory.”
[italics] In short, the war may be over before 1945 dawns, but it is not over – yet. [/italics]
It is obvious that the war is not over to those in bomb scarred Britain, to those returning to the battered cities of Kiev and Kharkov, to those chased from their Far East plantations and business houses by the Japanese, to those who still suffer in the occupied countries. It is not so obvious in South Africa. The petrol ration has been steady for a year, certain classes of motor tyres can now be re-treaded, the Black Out in Port Elizabeth has been lifted, at Christmastide we wined and dined on as lavish a scale as before the war – even silk stockings can be bought in the shops again! Abyssinia is a memory, the Hun has been driven from African soil, he is now fighting for his life halfway up the Italian peninsula. The war is indeed far away from Port Elizabeth – but only geographically.
The victories for the United Nations in Europe, in Asia, in the Pacific will depend in the great plan of things as much on the men and women of 42 Air School as on those working in the front lines. There are going to be more air
WHO IS JOE SOAP?
[page break]
[letter missing]echanics from South Africa drafted to the front line, but some will have to stay behind.
For those who remain, the work is going to be harder.
We can hear the man in the workshop saying, “It’s the poor old air mechanic again. Whenever there is a can to be carried, whistle up an air mechanic.” To a great extent that has been true – not because his work hasn’t been appreciated. But because it has never been properly recognised. It’s not always interesting being just one of those men in the workshop – an aircraft plumber, an erk – call him what you will. But everyone from the C.G.S. downwards knows that if it wasn’t for the air mechanic there wouldn’t even be a humble Anson in the air.
And they do know that the biggest raid over Berlin and those devastating attacks on Italy would not have been possible had it not been for the air mechanic. You’ve got to have a serviceable machine before even thinking about instructors or pupils. You’ve got to have training schools to get front line pilots. To have a training school, you’ve got to have aircraft. To have aircraft – well-serviced aircraft, which are the kind we are concerned with – you have to have that backbone, that too often forgotten backbone of the Air Force – the air mechanic.
The air mechanic may not be glamorised or much talked of, but in higher places he’s not forgotten.
Did You Miss Your “Woodpecker”
A lot of people had a big moan last month – they found they were too late to buy their Christmas “Woodpeckers.” It isn’t a new complaint – it happens pretty well every issue – but while the organisers of “The Woodpecker” can’t do much about it, you readers can.
Paper restrictions prevent us from publishing more “Woodpeckers” each month. Of the total printed –
50% are sold on permanent staff pay parade,
10% on pupils’ pay parade,
20% go to the various messes for officers and other personnel who do not attend pay parades,
10% are sold in town for the benefit of non-42 service people and for interested civilians, and
10% are posted to official libraries and to regular subscribers.
It is believed that this distribution is as fair as possible. However, if you can’t get your copy on pay parade and if your mess has sold out every time, why not call at “Q” Stores, deposit a few shillings (6/- for a year of [sic] 3/- for six months) and have your copy sent to you each month? It will be delivered to you on the station, and if you are posted will be forwarded on to you without fail every month. It’s the only way to be sure.
THE “WOODPECKER” NEVER SLEEPS!
[page break]
[underlined] AMONG THE OFFICERS – [/underlined]
Max Boost’s New Year’s Honours List!
PILOT Officer Max Boost – for fifteen months chronicler for the Officers’ Mess – is graciously pleased to award the following High Distinctions to Deserving Colleagues:-
F/O Nicky Carter: N.S.C. (and bar).
Lt. Hi-di-hi Webb: Protector of the Most Sacred Bull.
F/O “Smithy” Smith: Order of the Lost Bicycle.
Lt. Ann du Toit: The Most Revealing Order of the Garter (or Modern Counterpart).
F/O Johnny Plowman: The Maltese Cross (with Irrepressible Citation).
Capt. Dave Miller: The Inconstancy Medal (for social activities in Port Elizabeth).
P/O Whatcha-Chums Fletcher: The Outstanding Gallantry Medal (for constant courage in the face of his mother-inlaw [sic]).
S/Ldr. “Matt” Matthews: The Order of the Unbelievable Shorts.
P/O Ivor Edwards: The Horned Order of the Ram.
F/Lt. Bill Harper: The Maintenance Metal (for distinguished work in locating the supercharger on a Cheetah engine).
All Staff Pilots: The Supreme Order of the Permanent Finger.
P/O Eric Baker: Companionship of the Invisible Moustache.
F/Lt. “Bushy” Parks: Bar (without medals).
[photograph]
BUT – [underlined] SOME [/underlined] OF THEM SLEEP IN CAMP, SURELY!
SEND IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
[page break]
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[page break]
[italics] I’ve never heard the tale before
From colleague, quack or man of lore,
A tale so quaint and yet so true –
And explanation I’ll leave with you.
Some years ago, Bill Harper said,
My bloody big toe forced me to bed,
With pain so great you can’t conceive,
And such no doctor could relieve.
My life was bitter, hard t’endure
Until sweet day, I found my cure,
‘Tis just to carry, free from mud,
Where’re you go, a little spud. [/italics]
[photograph]
MUST GET THIS LEMON SQUEEZER FIXED OR HARPER WILL BE ON MY TRACK!
Cupid has become as rife in the mess of late as the inventive and creative spirit of Matthews & Harper, architects, builders, interior decorators and general furnishers.
Lieutenants Retief and Birkett have both taken the Awful Step, and by announcing his engagement to Miss Daphne Hunt, of Port Elizabeth, P/O John Dovey stands on the first rung of the ladder.
MILITARY term explained –
Adjutant: Derived from Latin word meaning “to help.” No one can explain this derivation. Not at his best unless he has two telephones. Uses them for telling people that someone else is dealing with the matter. It is recorded that there was once an adjutant who knew where his O.C. was and what he was doing. This occurred in 1742. Can always be depended upon to quote a routine order that prevents you from getting what you feel sure you are entitled to.
(And don’t blame Max Boost for that either, Cop; it came in a circular from Fortress!)
[italics] Tordoff took the “Pecker’s” tip,
No longer gives us all the pip;
Now we warn another flyer,
You’re being watched, young Dickie Dyer. [/italics]
FAR too many parties over Christmas to say something about all of them.
Searching over the pieces of toilet paper he commonly uses for a notebook, Max Boost discovered the following odd notes, and as the House Warming Party in the Mess was an unusual “do,” they are repeated for the sake of history.
Guests received by Mrs. Ann Stapleton and W/Cdr. Tommy Tucker (in absence on duty of the C.O.) . . . . Jackie Malley pinching a fellow F/Lt’s girl
WHERE WAS YOUR PAL LAST NIGHT?
[page break]
friend to give a tango exhibition. . . . Even Fletch and Beavy “among those present,” cheering up their rare appearance at a mess social by consuming lots of beer. . . . Fletch watching the legs, Beavy the bare backs. . . . “Transport” Kauffman grumbling because he had no champagne for Bushy Parks to borrow. . . . Dave Miller very quiet for a change. . . . Ann du Toit bouncing (What a lovely word – Ed.!) from twig to twig. . . . Connie Hopkins hanging out of the window – but looking at the moon, she says, not the result of excess lemos. . . . Elaine Kellaway looking all wrong in frills and fluffies. . . . Nick Carter seen to dance once, rest of time ogling his band. . . . Doc Lawrence in amazing spirits, in several senses. . . . Lt. Smith popping in and out – “for a walk,” he said – with different partners. . . . Bonzo Bond was – as usual. . . . Large numbers of wives and girl friends, also other people’s wives and other people’s girl friends. . . . Lt. Lucy introducing some new talent to the mess. . . . Killian’s moustache wilting visibly towards the end of the evening. . . . Bill Harper and Partner not on speaking terms, after Bill’s collapse on the dance floor. . . .
BEAVY
[italics] He’s only small, and somewhat shy,
With eye so blue as summer sky,
So full of light and dancing love
Of man’s own gift from God above. [/italics]
[sketch]
THIS IS YOUR MAGAZINE
[page break]
9
[underlined] BROADCASTS HOME – [/underlined]
Nineteen Minutes Air Time For “42”!
[italics] No. 42 Air School is to have nineteen minutes of broadcast time all to itself on B.B.C. home wavelengths, to enable R.A.F. personnel on the unit to send messages to their wives, parents and friends in the United Kingdom. This is a direct result of negotiations originated by “The Woodpecker” in August last year.
[inserted] B.B.C. PROGRAMMES FOR S.A.
Depending on the range of the radio set being used, B.B.C. programmes from London can now be heard in South Africa for eighteen hours a day – i.e., right round the clock except for the period 01.00 to 07.00 hours.
The General Overseas Service is audible from 07.00 to 10.00 and from 15.00 to 01.00 hours; the African services from 13.50 to 13.45 [sic] and 18.30 to 23.59 hours; and various European programmes from 13.30 to 16.30, 18.30 to 19.15, and almost continuously from 22.00 to 00.45 hours. [/inserted]
ON a census of station personnel, individual qualifications to broadcast were considered, and the names of three officers and 22 N.C.O.s and airmen (and messages they will broadcast) were submitted for approval before Christmas. Although at the time of going to Press, the messages have not yet been recorded, it is expected that this will take place at Grahamstown today, 28.1.44. After recording, the messages will be re-broadcast. That the B.B.C., London, requested “a special message programme from the R.A.F., Port Elizabeth” to last nineteen minutes is revealed in a letter from the S.A.B.C. Controller of Programmes, Johannesburg.
An earlier letter from Assistant Director of Publicity at the B.B.C., London, stressed the “entirely sympathetic” attitude of the Corporation towards broadcasts by service personnel. “The B.B.C.,” it was added, “would like to be able to give time on the air to everybody who asks; unfortunately, the time that can be devoted to message programmes in the Home Service is limited.”
No. 42 Air School may, therefore, be considered fortunate in obtaining this programme to itself.
The School’s broadcast will be one of many from the Union. During the past year, the B.B.C., in collaboration with the S.A.B.C., has arranged two programmes of two-way conversations between airmen in South Africa and their wives and relatives in Great Britain, and two programmes for the men of all services in St. Dunstan’s, South Africa.
(It is hoped that an account of how the recordings were made will appear in next month’s “Woodpecker.” – Ed.).
[page break]
10
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[page break]
11
[underlined] L.G.G.’s DESPATCH – [/underlined]
Jock Good Goes And Does It!
[italics] Even Boat Talk took second place in No. 3 Squadron – and goodness knows, that’s saying something! – against the excitement of Flight Sergeant Jock Good’s wedding to Miss Molly Joan Gouws in December, at Russell Road Methodist Church. [/italics]
THE bridegroom was supported by F/Sgt. L.G. Gaze, as best man (the supported part of it must not be taken literally), and the groomsman (not to be confused with horses, as that oaf Joe Soap will most probably imagine) was Sgt. Richmond, of Oxford Section; truly a No. 3 Squadron wedding. The most worried person during the whole of the ceremony was Richie. He was positively white with fright. Anyway, the whole ceremony went off without a hitch, all replies were made without falter on the part of the bride and bridegroom except that Jock seemed rather keen to get out of the church at the cessation of the service. He left the others standing, so at one point it looked as if it was three separate weddings in progress. Still no one worries at a wedding over small things like that. It all helps to enhance the proceedings and give one very happy memories to look back on in later years.
The wedding reception was held at the home of the bride at Walmer, where everyone turned up to offer congrats to the happy couple. Amongst those present were Mrs. F.S. Stapleton, wife of the Officer Commanding No. 42 Air School, whose presence and kindly interest were greatly appreciated by all, F/O J.H. Smith, O.C. No. 3 Squadron, F/Lt. Levitt then O.C. “B” Flight, “Hi de Hi Webb, and a host of other Well Known Personalities, not forgetting of course “There’s a thing” Joe Pountain and the Tarmac Terror, Sid Dewey,
ARE YOU A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT?
[page break]
12
who had had his instructions from the bridegroom previously reference camp beds (shades of Paddy’s wedding!).
The reception went with a swing, speeches were made, S/Sgt. Zeeman, of the N.M.C., excelling himself with his speech which was most entertaining and witty, reference being made to the boys in blue pinching all the nice South African girls. And he was not far wrong either, looking round the gathering present. Refreshments were on a lavish scale and enjoyed by the guests until midnight!
Jack [sic] and his bride left for their honeymoon at 5.45 p.m., the Zuurberg Hotel being their destination. This was finally reached after a burst radiator and a change of cars at the twenty-fifth milestone. Anyway they reached their destination at 9.45 p.m., complete with tennis rackets (this last remark being very subtle). Jock did not take his tennis togs. So ended a perfect day, and now Jock catches the Walmer bus with unfailing regularity at “Pack up,” and the Sqaudron Office now forward Mrs. Good a duty list for the ensuing week. This overcomes all doubt as to where Jock actually is.
ANOTHER big celebration was the occasion of the Airmen’s “DO” in the Toc H, the party in celebration of the pending departure of No. 28 Draft. From all reports, a good time was had by all. Joe seemed a little disappointed that he was unable to get a hearing in the stage. Still there will be many more occasions before all the Draft eventually leave, (This is not boat gen, only surmise. – Ed.).
ANOTHER departure that should be mentioned is that of F/Lt. Lionel Levitt, “E” Flight. He threw a terrific party in the form of a Braaivleis, which members of the Squadron attended. Who are the Squadron going to blame for late take offs now? In his place we welcome Capt. Sterley, D.F.C., who has also interested himself in the Brighter Office movement in his new Section, and has already condemned the colour scheme of the Pilot’s Room. The colour at present being rose, on first glances it somewhat resembles a ladies’ boudoir!
A PILLAR of Lovers’ Lane has left the Squadron – Cpl. Ginger Williams. He is now trashing in Queenstown. We hope he is not leaving the car doors open there when he has finished using the interior.
At the time of writing one has to walk very warily at night from the Squash Counts to the Sergeants’ Mess Lines. It is the most embarrassing hundred
[inserted] MEMORY!
“From that first moment that we heard the bells of the Campanile ringing out across the waters towards our ship we felt we reached a destination and a marking point in life,” wrote Hakim In the “Woodpecker” of Oct. 1941. “The approach to land revealing the trams and buses, the skyscrapers and the busy trade of Port Elizabeth, was a revelation, and the welcome we were accorded seven thousand miles from all that we held dear was as unexpected as a miracle. The welcome, the hospitality and the assential cordiality of it all cannot be described in mere words. In less than twenty-four hours we knew we were at home.” [/inserted]
“WOODPECKER” BOX – SERGEANTS’ MESS
[page break]
13
yards in the whole Unit. One feels an interloper, carefully negotiating shadowy figures locked in each others’ embrace. In fact it was remarked by a comrade that if perchance you happen to collide with anyone, you stand a good chance of being kissed.
L.A.C. DOCKERILL is now the proud owner of a baby daughter. The Squadron offer their congratulations to him on his new acquisition.
Wally Tate was a visitor recently to P.E. He informed us that he was on his embarkation leave. (Is this duff gen from Oudtshoorn?).
Joe Pountain is again in the news in view of his very amusing sketch the other Sunday night, entitled “The Plague of London” or “Bring out your Dead.” The part was excellently done, caused great amusement and was appreciated by the majority of us. Some took exception probably thinking poor old Joe was referring to them. Joe was ably assisted by the Sergeants’ Mess “Werewolves.”
The Squadron understands that Bread-for-All Tippet has destroyed his patent formula now. Its departure was missed over the festive season.
“42 IN THE LIMELIGHT”
“Somehow or other,” wrote a local newspaper, “members of 42 Air School are keeping themselves in the limelight. We don’t mean by way of marriages and engagements – although, heaven knows, there are plenty of them – but by working for useful efforts for their fellows.”
This was a reference to the Garden Fete at Walmer, held in December in aid of Christmas Cheer for the air forces Up North. It was a great success, both socially and financially.
The garden fete in the afternoon – at which the Air Force and Maritime Bands “shattered Walmer’s usual suburban charm with a well balanced programme” (to quote a correspondent) – was followed at night by a combined band concert and dance.
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Thanks For The Memory . . .
Thanks for the memory
Of sweet Pretoria nights,
Of guards at Roberts Heights,
Of spring in all its glory,
Of Jo’burg and its lights –
How lovely it was.
Thanks for the memory
Of Martini’s sweet and dry,
Of Girls we left to cry,
Of long weekends and parting friends,
Who left us high and dry –
How lovely it was.
Thanks for the memory
Of brawls in P.E. bars,
Of O.B. battle scars,
Of burning lips and dreams of ships
And drives in people’s cars –
How lovely it was.
Thanks for the memory
Of Gold mines on the Rand,
Of bathing belles and sand,
Of getting burnt and wish you weren’t
But never getting tanned –
How lovely it was.
Thanks for the memory
Of ladies we have met,
Of sessions in the “wet,”
Of lager ache, and Chateau shakes
And duff reports from “Met” –
How lovely it was.
Thanks for the memory
Of girls who have a flat,
Of welcome on the mat,
Of evenings we have spent there
Just doing this and that –
How lovely it was.
At the first cup man drinks wine; at the second cup wine drinks wine; at the third cup wine drinks man. – Oriental proverb.
SEND A “WOODPECKER.” HOME
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Wood Peckings. . . . . . . by The Editor
OUT of a position of vagueness, there at last dawns some indication of the war service medals which will not be granted to personnel of the Royal Air Force who have served for three years in the vital but non-operational Joint Air Training Scheme of South Africa. The words “will not be granted” are chosen deliberately.
It was obvious, of course, that the Africa Star would not come the way of those who had seen service only in the Union, and now the terms of a British Army Council Institution (circulated recently in South Africa by S.A.P.A. – Reuter) made it clear that no 1939-43 Stars will be coming this way either. This Star – to be granted to most who were not actually in the North African campaign – will be granted to all officers and other ranks of the United Kingdom and Colonial Forces, Nursing Officers, officers and other ranks of the A.T.S., and V.A.D. officers and members who, between September 3, 1939, and December 31, 1943, aggregated at least six months’ service in operational commands in Iraq, Syria, Persia, Madagascar, Sicily and Italy. Time spent as a Prisoner of War up to December, 1943, counts, and men with six months’ sea-going duty in dangerous waters, which include the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans are also eligible.
That leaves out the R.A.F. in South Africa, and, indeed, the R.A.F. – thousands and thousands of them – who have been doing a “binding,” unglamorous job for years in the Training Commands of Rhodesia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Why not recognise those who have involuntarily had war service without the thrills and the satisfactions of operations by introducing a Training Service Medal? This could be granted to personnel who served in peaceful conditions admittedly, but with few grumbles away from their wives and families and homes, so that thousands of their comrades could become efficient pilots, navigators, bombers and gunners to man the 1,000 bomber raids on enemy territory. It would be some indication that they are not the forgotten men.
At the time of going to Press, no clarification has been made as to whether the R.A.F. attached to the U.D.F. prior to May, 1943, will be entitled to wear the ribbon of the South African Service Medal.
In fact, so far the R.A.F. in South Africa isn’t doing at all well!
WHILE on the subject of medals, the award for bravery in the air of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal to an ex-pupil of No. 42 Air School (reported in the November “Woodpecker”) caused a certain amount of controversy, led by those who contended that the C.G.M. was a purely Naval medal. In the early days of the war that was true, and one of the many booklets devoted to medals and decorations, and published in 1939, stated that the C.G.M. could be won “for acts of conspicuous gallantry in action with the enemy, and is open to N.C.O.s and men of the Royal Marines as well as Petty Officers and men of the Royal Navy.”
During 1942, however, there was a general pooling by the three British services of medals normally reserved for themselves.
For example, the C.G.M. – previously a Naval award only – can now be won
ARE YOU BEING WATCHED?
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by warrant officers, N.C.O.s and men of the R.A.F. and also by Army men on flying duties, none of whom are eligible for the D.S.O. (which is only awarded to commissioned officers). The C.G.M. takes precedence over the D.F.M., in the same way as the D.S.O. is superior to the D.F.C. When awarded to Naval personnel, the C.G.M. has a white ribbon with dark blue marginal stripes. When awarded to airmen and the Army, the ribbon will be light blue with dark blue marginal stripes.
Similarly, for acts of gallantry on the ground, personnel of the R.A.F. may receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal, formally only an Army award. The D.F.C., A.F.C., D.F.M. AND A.F.M. – previously confined to the flying services – are now also available for Army personnel engaged on flying duties, as glider pilots or observers.
“CHURCHILL this evening suggested war-end in 1943 or 1944 – hell!”
I don’t remember writing those remarkable words, but they appear in my diary on the date 26th December, 1941 – over two years ago, a few months after leaving the U.K., when a quick peace and a quick rolling on of the boat were foremost thoughts in mind. It is only keeping a diary that makes it possible for us to look back on our one-time re-actions. In those days of 1941 the idea of war till 1944 was frightful; it has turned out a reality. Churchill, indeed, appears to rival H.G. Wells as a prophet!
And talking of prophets, a quick browse through English newspapers published in 1942 produce a few items of interesting reading. In 1942, for instance, Old Moore’s well known Almanack (according to the “Daily Mirror”) forecast an Allied victory in 1943! Then there was the man who told a Welsh Conscientious Objectors’ Tribunal in 1942 that by his scientific discoveries he could end the war in six months. He swore that if the tribunal did not take him seriously, he would take up work for the enemy, who would, he declared, be able to invade England in 1943.
The tribunal certainly didn’t take him seriously! Neither did his threats come to anything! There are lots of predictions and lots of threats – particularly Hitler’s – that never came true. We can laugh at them now.
SELF-PRAISE, it is said, is no recommendation, but when comments on “The Woodpecker” appear in one of the world’s leading newspaper and magazine trade periodicals – “World’s Press News” – they are worth repeating. In a short article dealing with South Africa’s service periodicals – they now number fourteen – “The Woodpecker” received its own special mention as “a neat 48-page publication, pocket size, packed with personal quips, current gossip, good photographs and some fine articles.”
Editorial staff was still blushing when a letter arrived from Arthur J. Heighway, Managing Director and Editor of “World’s Press News,” with the remarks: “Congratulations on the merit of ‘The Woodpecker.’ It is a bright little number, which I am sure is read with much interest by all your boys.”
Thanks to Mr. Heighway, a copy of “The Woodpecker” now lies in the Library of the British Press Club!
WE WANT CANDID CAMERA SHOTS
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gotten during this great festival when “Good Christian Men Rejoice.” The rather prosaic camp life changes for a while and everybody becomes filled with good cheer even if it is of the “Castle” variety. Senior officers whom we have viewed with fear over the past twelve months, descend from their thrones to mix with the most inconspicuous of A/C2’s.
We do believe that these occasional relaxations of discipline and the comradeship that exists between officers and men does more to help the war effort than any propaganda. For a spell the serious problem of war is forgotten whilst we all relax for four whole days preparatory to working even harder for the great cause after the “break.”
[underlined] WOODBROOK – [/underlined]
B.O.N.
[underlined] THE BOMB-AIMERS’, OBSERVERS’ AND NAVIGATORS’ UNION [/underlined]
During the past year, 48 Air School has had many reasons to be grateful to the people of East London. The hospitality and the kindness, which pupils and permanent staff have received in East London homes, have given us memories which we shall carry away with us wherever we may go, when the time comes to say “adieu.” . . . . On your behalf, “B.O.N.” takes this opportunity of voicing a sincere “thank you” to the many good civilian friends of the station. . . . The good spirit of the station is reflected in the excellent relationship that exists between East Londoners and 48 Air School.
[underlined] HEANY, S. RHODESIAN – [/underlined]
THE NEW AFRAF
The RHODESIAS’ FIRST SERVICE NEWSPAPER
Heany Messing Officer declared that this year’s Christmas pudding is probably one of the biggest ever made in the Colony. It weighed over 600-lbs. when stirring was in progress; also mixed are £5 worth of tickeys [sic]. Thirty six bottles of brandy, 36 bottles of rum, and 450 eggs were amongst the ingredients that were well mixed together.
Below is a full list of everything that went in:
Flour . . . 75-lbs.
Breadcrumbs . . . 75-lbs.
Suet . . . 75-lbs.
Sugar . . . 75-lbs.
Eggs . . . 450
Currants . . . 75-lbs.
Sultanas . . . 75-lbs.
Raisins . . . 38-lbs.
Mixed Spice . . . 5-lbs.
Almonds . . . 7-lbs.
Brandy . . . 36 bottles
Rum . . . 36 bottles
Twelve W.A.A.F. Promotions
No fewer than 12 W.A.A.F. promotions have been promulgated recently, one new sergeant and ten new corporals.
Promoted to Sergeant are Corporal Ethel Harrington and Corporal Phyllis Anderson, while the new Corporals are Airwomen L. Hicken, A.S. van Wyk, D.M. Robinson, N. Bestwetherick, G. Dargie, J.M. Chiles, I.Y.M. Holmes, J.H. Norris, E.J. Botha and E.J. Eales.
Two Goldfishes!
The story will be told in next month’s “Woodpecker” of how an officer and an airman, now at 42 Air School, became eligible – by saving their lives in dinghies – for the Goldfish Badge.
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[underlined] EDITOR’S WOOD PECKINGS – [/underlined]
All of which really makes us quite famous!
DO you remember how Milner Park’s “Fledgling” chewed us up some months ago, criticised our sense of humour and said (among other things) that the essay on The Cow, which appeared in the August “Woodpecker” was a hoary old joke, anyway?
Remember, too, how we inferred lack of humour in “Fledgling” and retorted that editors of “The Port Elizabeth Advertiser” and Waterkloof’s “Tale Spin” had both thought this same essay on The Cow funny enough ot [sic] print?
Latest is that Thornhill’s “Slip-stream” has also published this “grand epic!”
So more and more people agree with our sense of humour, “Fledgling!”
VEREENIGING’S magazine “Clamp,” has gone all cynical – at the expense of women. Here are some of the things it says:-
Which is more important to man, his trousers or his wife? His trousers – he can go lots of places without his wife.
A girl with cotton stockings never sees a mouse.
Some evening gowns are fitting and proper. Others are just fitting.
The downfall of man is often the result of the upkeep of woman.
A wife is one who stands by you in trouble you would never have had if you had not married her.
A modern girl learns a lot on her mother’s knee, but she learns a lot more on her bot friend’s.
Many a girl has gotten herself into trouble through obeying the boyological urge.
There is no man so bad that woman cannot make him worse.
A SOLDIER passed through a South African port on his way to other spheres during this war. His name was John Drolle, of the R.W.A.F.F.
“I see a new nation,” he wrote after his visit, “which will eventually become the mother of all African countries, and the key to all African civilisation and culture. For surely this country has taken its place beside the others who are fighting for freedom. Surely its very youth cannot deny it a prosperous future.”
Those are words worth bearing in mind.
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EDITED by JOE SOAP
Joe’s Journal
[sketch]
SUPPLEMENT TO “THE WOODPECKER”
“WOODPECKER” PUBLISHES OWN RIVAL!
WHAT You’ve Been Waiting For
THIS is something unique in journalism, something you’ve been waiting for. “The Woodpecker” is doing what probably no journal has ever done before – publishing a rival newspaper within its own pages!
There are several reasons for it. Joe Soap’s gossip – feature of “The Pecker” for fifteen months – needed revitalising; so “Joe’s Journal” is a new format. For as long as Joe has been writing for “The ‘Pecker,” there have been those who could not send copies back to their homes because of what he had said about them; so “Joe’s Journal” will now be published on the centre pages each month, pages which can easily be removed without spoiling the rest of the magazine! “The Woodpecker” can go home minus “Joe’s Journal!”
Then there is this question of the Editor and his Staff – “protected personnel” they have called because they always intrigued to leave out the juiciest bits about themselves! Now Joe is given a free hand to publish what he likes in his “Journal,” even about “The Woodpecker” officials.
“Joe’s Journal” is a free and independent paper. It will say what it likes about anybody, may even criticise “The Woodpecker” itself.
The identity of Joe Soap will continue to be as great a secret as ever, but he will get around in a way that will amaze you. He will creep among officers, N.C.O.s, airmen and W.A.A.F.s, just as he always has done. He wants help, though, and contributions for “Joe’s Journal” will be considered from anyone who wants to send them in. They may be addressed to “Joe’s Journal” or to Joe Soap, at “Q” Stores, or may be put in “Woodpecker” boxes round the camp.
Remember, the Editor of “The Woodpecker” doesn’t edit “Joe’s Journal,” it’s Joe’s affair and his alone. Now get cracking and push in all the most gossipy and the most spicy gen you can.
Joe looks forward to it!
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JOE ATTENDS CORPORALS’ GUEST NIGHT!
“Sweeney Chapman Blew In”
ONCE again Joe Soap slipped into a Corporals’ Club Guest Night in December, just to see that everything was running smoothly. To his satisfaction he found the usual crowds gathered together to enjoy the informal occasion in spite of the weather being so hot.
This time the band was in attendance, rendering all the latest numbers . . . Titch tinkling away on the ivory keys. . . George Britton nursing his beloved saxophone. . . Mush Williams, feeling the heat a bit too much for him, rid himself of his jacket. . . Sweeney Chapman blew in after a satisfactory weekend leave and joined the dancers. . . Lofty Pitt complaining that his tonsils were sore, but didn’t seem to make any difference to his swallowing. . . A/W Smith left her patients at the hospital to join the party and do a spot of singing for us. . . Tutt was there complete with well trimmed moustache. . . Alice complaining that her mosquito bites kept worrying her. . . B. . . accompanied by a merry widow. . . George Mallyon’s very hearty laugh – must have been a good one George. . . Frank Bird, accompanied by his very charming wife but dancing quite a lot with someone else. . . could it be dance lessons you were giving , Margaret? . . . incidentally, Joyce and Sweeney seemed to make a “go” of it on the dance floor. . . Bradley too, seemed to feel the heat, as witness the patches of water on the back of his shirt. . . Todd doing his best to sell a few tickets for the Corporals’ Club Sweep. . . once again the tempting savouries and refreshments provided by the mess and O’Dell proving himself a very efficient bar man. . . altogether a very jolly evening.
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[italics] Scenes in the Corporals’ Club at Christmas: photos by Corporal W.J. Bint, of Photographic Section. [/italics]
OFFER TO S.A/C.O
Certain W.A.A.F.s on the unit are debating whether S/Ldr. Matthews will exchange his beautiful shorts for a split skirt.
Interviewed on the subject, the S/Ldr. Showed his usual reticience [sic]. “The W.A.A.F.s and I will have to get together,” was his comment.
W.A.A.F. UNDERWEAR BRIBE?
Joe Soap is telephone snooping as well, these days. Picked up a ‘phone the other night to overhear an S.P. offering a telephone operator a set of underwear.
Either the tel. op. boobed or Paddy shouldn’t make offers like that by ‘phone.
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BUTCH LEONARD “GOES ALL SOFT”
Heat or Girl Friend?
It was noticed at the Sergeants’ Mess Draw Night that Butch Leonard, overcome by the heat (?), failed to pay the necessary attention to his girl friend, who came all the way from Durban for the occasion.
Consequently Saturday night found Butch walking out of camp with a large bunch of flowers taken from the “T” Stores garden.
It is now wondered whether or not she accepted his peace offering.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER
“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” – Winston Churchill, May 13th, 1940.
We have nothing to offer ourselves but to get “blood” hot in the sun at Humewood, to “toil” to get a deck chair, to “tear” ourselves away from our work to get to Humewood and to “sweet” trying to get a seat on the tram. We shall never give in.
It is rumoured that Sgt. Burlton – who recently staggered the Orderly Room by smoking a cigarette! – is soon to take a P.T. course in the old Y.M.C.A.
Joe wants to know why F/Sgt. Taffy Davies wishes to apply for a (com)passionate posting to No. 4 Squadron. Has he heard the bells ringing?
Did you convince yourself about Chinese maidens on Christmas night, Chalky, or did you just go to dance?
Stevens Road seems to be popular with the “E” Flight twins and a certain rigger these days. Is it the hill or Sheila getting you down, Stevie?
[cartoon]
It is stated officially that the drawing on the W.A.A.F. page last month was not intended to portray Mrs. Walsh at the salute.
Congratulations to Sgt. Granny Thompson on his “promotion” to Group Captain at the Walmer Garden Fete last month. (It is denied that the C.O. will soon take up an appointment in Pay Accounts).
Then there was the W.A.A.F. who wondered what was this “ultra violation” she had to have at the camp hospital.
FISHY STURGEON
F/Sgt. Sturgeon – a weird sort of bloke,
Always ready to tell a good joke,
A feller who rarely feels energetic.
And when annoyed (wow!) makes blokes regret it,
For his man hour sheet the boys are all timed,
And there’s no slacking now, with that in their mind,
But the boys always wangle time off for tea,
And he’s not such a bad feller I’m sure you’ll agree.
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[underlined] “JOE’S JOURNAL” – [italics](Continued)[/italics] [/underlined]
We were sorry to hear that Smudge suffered a severe cigarette burn at a recent Corporals’ Club evening. Well, you would dance with one shoe off.
Joe often wonders if F/Lt. Stonehouse ever sings “In my Solitude.”
Why did a certain wireless operator go walking among the bushes after the Corporals’ Club party? Was it to see whether his better half would be bitten by mosquitos.
Who was it at the Sergeants’ Mess Dance sought admiration from the fair sex about his moustache? Is he looking for Sudden fame?
Joe believes Policeman George had a good time after a recent Corporals’ Club guest night, especially when he was kissed goodnight by Alice. We are watching for further developments, George.
Why did I take that drink of gin Cried Harold of the Sergeants’ Mess. Judging by the “head” I had next day I should have taken less!
Who is Sgt. “Joe Smith” alias the “Little Romeo”? Could it be he who Wings his way out of camp each night on an early bus?
Who is the officer who has discovered that 25 Group has been removed to Humewood?
I hear a boat come sailing
Across the wintry sea.
It takes not “28” to Blighty,
But instead to the dusty M.E.
We notice Eddie Tyas surpassed himself on Old Year’s Night by trying to drown the orchestra with his crooning.
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What Others Say. . . .
[underlined] GEORGE – [/underlined]
DUFF-GEN
The war has gone on for over four years, and inevitable war-weariness and staleness is setting in, especially so and understandably so amongst those who have had the far from glamorous task of training people all the time. We are all of us perhaps at times inclined to take it out of each other and to be intolerant of each other’s shortcomings. We are having to combat the disease of apathy, which is just what Master Adolph and the nasty little Yellow Men are counting on. How about a big “chase away the Blues-cum-Pull-finger” movement, chaps!!
The Union of South Africa has a motto which translates as “Unity is Strength.” One can think of very few better mottoes. It is a simple truth, but one to think deeply on.
[underlined] BROOKLYN – [/underlined]
“THE ERK”
The word co-operative in South Africa is generally associated with the wealthy wine, wool and sugar companies controlled by rich land owners. It is beyond the imagination of the average airman on the Brooklyn bus to think of owning shares of one of these co-operative companies. Yet “The Erk” takes this opportunity of bringing to the notice of each Erk and Erkulass the existence on this station of such a co-operative movement.
It is a “Co-op” on wheels known to all and sundry as Fitt’s Folly and Fitt’s Folly will pay a dividend to every member living on the station.
Recently the airmen on this station volunteered a 2/- a month Messing Fee to be used for improving rations. Fitt’s Folly will pay the Mess a further two shillings a month per man, thus doubling the amount of money available for the improvements.
As it is the intention of the organisers not to compete with the Y.M.C.A., a better quality product is offered for sale, yet all cakes are sold at cost – the profit coming from a trade discount allowed.
In the past, buying anything was a one way affair. We paid are money and that was the end of it. Our new “Co-op” shop by giving back the profit it makes to the Erks has made everyone a virtual shareholding member. We don’t know who originated the idea – the popular name may provide a clue. But who ever it was deserves a “hats-off” for this successful social station experiment.
[underlined] THORNHILL, S. RHODESIA – [/underlined]
Slipstream
For many this is the third Christmas in Rhodesia; for others it is their first. Indeed so many new faces are to be seen on the camps these days that we wonder how we have survived that exodus month by month. Yet surveying life from a broad angle we can say that we have enjoyed ourselves in the Colony and, although Christmas out here is not quite like the one at Home, we do have good times.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of Christmas is the spirit of goodwill that it fosters. So many enmities are for-
SEND US NEWS OF EX-GOONS
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[underlined] “WOODPECKER” SPECIAL – [/underlined]
Could R.A.F. Help The S.A. Theatre?
[inserted] By
J.M. TEMPLETON
peacetime journalist, now a Cadet Navigator at No. 42 Air School; former drama and film critic of a London suburban weekly newspaper, Scenario Editor of a London Film company and stage aspirant with London’s Old Vic., Sadler’s Wells and “Q” Theatre companies. [/inserted]
[italics] The belief that members of the Royal Air Force – with their background and experience of British and London drama – could provide a stimulus for the Theatre in South Africa is expressed in the article that follows – regarded as one of the most outstanding serious contributions ever published in “The Woodpecker.”
Other views are expressed worthy of consideration by leaders of the South African Theatre. [/italics]
WHEN I came to the Union at the beginning of last year (writes Templeton) , actress Marie Ney – who made a “hit” in “The Lake,” Whitehall Theatre, London, about 1932-33 – was tearfully giving up the ghost of the South African Theatre at a convention of Amateur Drama Clubs in Benoni.
This fine stage player, who left a promising career in London’s West End to try and shake some life into drama in this country, declared that although South Africa could produce men and women willing to disport themselves on a stage she couldn’t produce the people to organise their successful appearance.
The drama critic of a Durban newspaper told me very much the same story. Amateur shows, he said, were so badly produced and staged the public just wouldn’t support them.
At East London I heard another side. The stage-minded there told me the public simply couldn’t understand the Art of the Theatre.
These views, to my mind are all significantly interesting.
It seems unbelievable that simple fisherfolk of the Scottish Highlands, who have never seen a railway-engine, can be more drama-conscious than South African townspeople who have sampled, often in less than a lifetime, the very essense [sic] of drama, the whole gamut of emotions attending the growth of a civilisation.
Drama is only the appreciation of life. To appreciate you must experience. Why is it, then, that the simple Scots folk mentioned should have, at least once to my knowledge, carried off the supreme award of the British Drama League, the largest organisation of its kind in the world, while critics bemoan the fact that South Africans with their infinitely wider experience are blind, deaf and, indeed, dead to the appeal of the Theatre?
The answer is, I think, that in British drama started as, and largely still remains, a family affair. Commercially, the Theatre, like sport, depends upon amateur interest, which is built up into a national force from small, scattered beginnings.
[inserted] GWEN FFRANGCON-DAVIES SAYS –
“I believe that the time will come in the not too distant future when the South African Theatre will take a jump forward, from the professional point of view,” Miss Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, the well known actress, said at a public function in Johannesburg nearly two years ago. She praised the amateur theatre, but added: “There will only be a theatre worthy of South African audiences if it can be run by people who are going to direct their whole life to it.” [/inserted]
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In South Africa, the Theatre was painted on to public life as a veneer of someone else’s civilisation. (The old “Diamond Studded” Opera House at Kimberley was outstanding evidence of that.) There was no foundation in the bones of the country. The Theatre just came, and was kept on as spurious proof that South Africa actually was civilised. Exactly the same thing happened in Egypt, where Cairo’s fine old Royal Opera was kept on by the Government to show foreigners that the Egyptians were progressive.
But Egypt has awakened to the realisation that without a consciousness of its own drama no people can ever work together as a nation. Egypt has only been taught that lesson during this war, and she has been taught it by her “visitors” – the refugees of Europe and the armed forces of the United Nations.
If South Africa had had some sort of elementary family theatre and could have developed it, through the years of her struggle, so that it came to be a permanent basis of the country’s culture, much more would have been achieved as regards drawing together the English and Afrikaans speaking communities. The popularity of dialect plays in the American Barn Theatre movement and of Gaelic (Irish and Scottish) in the British Drama League contests shows that to be a legitimate assumption.
But it is certainly not too late for South Africa to do something about it. There are two things that ought to be done.
The first is to encourage plays, particularly one-act plays, with a South African theme and setting. It is regrettable that most of the short plays, and all of the long, put on by amateurs in this country are well-tried “throw-outs” from London. What the Union needs in her barn halls, town auditoriums and city theatres is a healthy percentage of the real life stuff of this country. There are plenty of “arty” folk here who could deliver the goods once they rid themselves of the delusion that shop-soiled London, Paris and New York transplanted in Capetown or Johannesburg is the right diet for a 20th century South African palate.
Secondly, and in conjunction with the first, more use should be made of the visitors to the Union and of the traditions and ideas which they have brought with them.
These things can be used to bring out the finer shades of South African culture just as the Americans have succeeded in bringing out hidden facets of their national life by utilising their abundant European influences. (American University students are now producing the first indications of progress in the medium of the one-act play which we have had in fifty years.)
In the London Professional Theatre, war-gained refugee talent from the
[italics] (Continued on page 30) [/italics]
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Could R.A.F. Help the S.A. Theatre?
[italics] (Continued) [/italics]
drama centres of all Europe has laid the foundation of an even wider theatrical scope for post-war development. Even in Cairo, that mummified institution, the Egyptian Theatre, has been prised out of its sarcophagus, dusted, dressed up and presented to a public that has never been so large or so appreciative. Not the least part in this was played by members of the R.A.F., who founded Cairo Little Theatre and staged shows in which airmen performed alongside Egyptians, Syrians, Greeks, French and Russians. Three years of war in the Middle East has brought drama to that most uncultured of all classes of any nation – the Egyptian Fellahim. Not only is he now learning, through the stage, something of his own national traditions, he is able to slap his thighs in palm fibre edifices in Suez, Ismailia, Port Said, Luxor and Assuan at Arabic versions of “Charlie’s Aunt” and “The Ghost Train.”
Anyone who knew Egypt before the war will tell you that is impossible, but, co-operation with visitors has achieved the impossible in Egypt. Why not in South Africa, a more closely allied civilisation, where the numbers of R.A.F. and others from overseas is as great, as widely distributed, and far more happily mixed with the people of the country?
The standard of co-operation achieved by the R.A.F. and W.A.A.F. in 42 Air School’s recent production of “Dangerous Corner” gives just a little indication, but sufficient, of the practicability of the scheme and of the advantages all can gain by it.
Mary had a little dress,
Dainty, chic and airy.
It didn’t show the dirt a bit,
But gosh! How it showed Mary.
– (“Slipstream”).
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[underlined] CERTIFICATES OF GOOD SERVICE – [/underlined]
100% Parade Sees Colleagues Honoured
AN indirect tribute has been paid to the work of No. 42 Air School as a whole by the award of Certificates of Good Service – the non-operational “mention in despatches” – to four commissioned officers, a warrant officer and six N.C.O.s of the Roal [sic] Air Force, who between them represent practically every section of the school.
These certificates – one of which is reproduced on this page – were presented by the Commanding Officer, Group Captain F.S. Stapleton, D.S.O., D.F.C., at a special 100% parade early in the New Year.
The recipients were:
Squadron Leader D.E.R. Matthews.
Flight Lieutenant L.S. Levitt.
Flight Lieutenant W. Harper.
Flying Officer R.A.W. Carter.
Warrant Officer W. Gregory.
Flight Sergeant J. Good.
Flight Sergeant G. Wing.
Sergeant W. Bowtell.
Sergeant E. Bray.
Sergeant V.R. Groves.
Corporal G. Lawson.
[good service certificate]
F/Lt. Levitt was not present at the parade, having travelled on posting to another unit on the previous day.
42 AIR SCHOOL’S FOURTH D.F.C.
News of the fourth Distinguished Flying Cross to be awarded to ex-pupils of No. 42 Air School has been received in Port Elizabeth. The latest award of this medal goes to Flying Officer W.B. Gaunt, who was on No. 3 Observer Course, in the comparatively early days of the school.
Eight medals for gallantry have been awarded to ex-pupils – four D.F.C.s, one G.C., one C.G.M. and two D.F.M.s.
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[underlined] PERSONNEL PROWLINGS – [/underlined]
37 Promotions – 7 Weddings – 3 Births!
[italics] Two new pilot officers, three flight sergeants, a staff sergeant, eleven sergeants and twenty corporals go to make promotions the Big Thing of the six weeks since the last “Woodpecker” was published. [/italics]
TO Pilot Officer: Sgt. D. Lumsden and Sgt. H. Green.
To Flight Sergeant: Sgts. G.H. Hartnoll, A.F. Collier and C.F. Davies.
To Staff Sergeant: Sgt. H.V.C. Maybery.
To Sergeant: Cpls. A. Knee, A.N. Beckman, D.G.L. Coley, J.G.A. Day, G. Chapman, H.J. Pitt, J. Sankey, S. Thompson, R. Bell, J. Hunter and J. Sullivan.
To Corporals: L.A.C.s L.W. Dale, W. Jackson, W. Moss, L.A. Daw, J.W. Brooks, R. Harrison, R. Wordingham, J.R. Guiver, A.C. Bell, A.R. Mills, C.W. Stones, T.G. Wood, F. Rex, N. McRoberts, L.L. Worley, L.L. Brown, G.C. Sayer, J. Noal and in the S.A.A.F., A/M.s J.G.P. van Zyl and C. Seaman.
[inserted] 9th and 10th R.A.F. – W.A.A.F. WEDDINGS
Ceremonies in December and January brought the number of R.A.F. – W.A.A.F. weddings in P.E. up to ten in twenty-two months, or roughly one every two months!
Cpl. C. Morgan married Miss Thelma Leonie Aspeling, of 42 Air School W.A.A.F., at St. Mary’s, Port Elizabeth, in December; and three weeks ago Cpl. Jock Morrison, of the Bombing Range, was married to D.A.S. W.A.A.F., Miss Rayna Morrick, at Victoria Park Baptist Church, P.E.
Other R.A.F. – W.A.A.F. weddings are thought to be pending! [/inserted]
THERE have, of course, been the usual Good Conduct Stripes for those with three years’ unsullied service; they go to a sergeant, four corporals, eleven L.A.S.s, two A.C.1.s and am A.C.2 of the permanent staff, and to three corporals and three L.A.C.s among the pupils.
THE Personnel Prowler tripped up in the December issue, when it was reported that there had been a slight drop in the wedding average for R.A.F. personnel. News has been slow in getting around, however, and weddings which took place as long ago as October are among the five below. Congratulations go to:
WHO IS P/O MAX BOOST?
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F/Sgt. Jock Good, who married Miss Molly Joan Gouws, at Port Elizabeth Methodist Church (L.G.G. reports this wedding elsewhere in this issue);
Sgt. H.G. Hart, who married Miss Freda Williams, at the Church of St. Columbia, P.E.;
Cpl. F. Bird, who married Miss Joyce Gray, at the New Law Courts, P.E.;
L.A.C. C.H. Minards, who married Miss Irene de Vries, at St. Mary’s Church, P.E.; and
L.A.C. W. Moran, who married Miss Julia Mary Hirst, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, P.E.
Two R.A.F.-W.A.A.F. weddings are reported in the panel on previous page.
Congratulations, too, to three happy fathers on the unit – to L.A.C. and Mrs. E. Dockerill on the birth of a daughter, Lorraine; to P/O (L.A.C. Cadet at the time) J.D. Adams and Mrs. Adams on the birth of a son, at Liverpool; and to L.A.C. H.F. Russell, whose wife, in Harrow, Middlesex, has also had a son.
[inserted] A.C.M.’s GREETINGS
Air Chief Marshal Sir W. Sholto-Douglas, K.C.B., M.C., D.F.C., Air Officer Commanding in Chief, R.A.F., Middle East Command, extends his good wishes for the New Year to all members of the R.A.F., S.A.A.F., W.A.A.F. and Allied Air Forces in the Union and South West Africa (states the D.G.A.F. in an official notice). [/inserted]
[cartoon]
[underlined] FAMOUS LAST WORDS [/underlined]
More Staff Changes
Barely a month goes by without staff changes, owing to postings and other service exigencies. The departure of P/O B.E.P. Smith to Durban left the Advertising side free, and this is now being handled by P/O E.T. Baker. Assistant circulation expert, Cpl. Sheila Grant, has gone to Port Alfred and is succeeded by A/W G. Roux.
GET YOUR NAME IN PRINT
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37
New 42 Air School Dramatic Production
Plans are being made for a new 42 Air School dramatic production to follow the success of “Dangerous Corner.” Emlyn Williams’ “Night Must Fall” has been chosen, but at the time of going to Press, casting is not complete.
After their Y.M.C.A. success, the pioneer dramatists who put on “Dangerous Corner” went to even greater heights. The 42 Air School show was followed by “one night stands” at Driftsands Air Station and at the Port Elizabeth Opera House.
Referring to it as a “courageous performance,” the “Port Elizabeth Advertiser” had some easy criticism to make about the Opera House production. “In the first act,” said this newspaper, “there appears to be lack of confidence among the players, some of whom seemed afraid of their own voices. But these faults were remedied during the second and third acts, and the play went on to a successful climax.
“It is to be hoped,” it was added, “that further efforts by these players will be made.”
Work is the best cure for all the maladies and miseries that ever beset mankind. – [italics] Carlyle [/italics].
Military Bands again aid Red Cross
On Saturday, December 11th, the Air Force Military Band, the P.E. Maritime Band and the Driftsands Corps of Drums officially opened the Humewood Summer Season with a route march, Retreat Ceremony and a concert. The proceeds, totalling £30 13s. 7d., were handed over to the Red Cross Society.
He tried it on the sofa,
He tried it on the chair,
He tried it on the window sill,
And couldn’t do it there.
He tried it in the garden –
And, oh how she did laugh,
To see how many times
He tried to take her photograph.
– (“SLIPSTREAM”).
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39
[underlined] REPORT FROM U.K. – [/underlined]
[missing numbers]’s” N.S.C. Effort Gains Radio Fame!
[italics] It is now well known on the unit – for a great many letters from the United Kingdom mentioned the fact – that No. 42 Air School’s National Savings Certificate effort received wireless publicity over British Broadcasting Corporation home wavelengths during November. [/italics]
THE achievement of raising £5,000 in nine months was mentioned by Cyril Watling in one of his weekly South African newsletters, and it is surprising evidence of how many listen to Watling’s newsletters – probably for the reason that they have husbands, sons or boy friends serving in the Union – that so many relatives should have written about it.
“We were listening to the news about South Africa,” wrote one mother, “and were quite surprised to hear the announcer say that the lads of 42 Air School had surpassed all records for savings.” Another mother’s comment was, “We heard news of your air school on the wireless in the news from South Africa – about the splendid effort of your savings scheme,” while F/Lt. A.L. Roberts, ex-42 Air School (now in U.K.) also reported hearing the radio “mention.”
Then came the explanation.
The wife of one of the R.A.F. officers at 42 Air School had sent a copy of the September “Woodpecker” to Cyril Watling, hoping he would be able to use influence in arranging broadcasts to the United Kingdom by R.A.F. men in the Union. While the question of broadcasts was out of his province, Mr. Watling replied to this officer’s wife, he was interested in “The Woodpecker” and proposed to mention 42 Air School’s N.S.C. record in his next broadcast.
He did so!
“Are you troubled with improper thoughts?”
“No, I rather enjoy them.”
“WOODPECKER” BOX – CORPORALS’ CLUB
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40
42 AIR SCHOOL MILITARY GALA
(UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE E.P.A.S.A.)
By kind permission of O.C. 42 Air School, Group Captain F.S. Stapleton, D.S.O., [missing letters]
to be held in
ST.GEORGE’S SWIMMING BATHS
At 2.30 p.m. on
SATURDAY, 29th JANUARY, 1944
Programme of Events:
1. Two Widths, Girls, 12 years and under.
2. Two widths, Boys, 12 years and under.
3. 100 YARDS, GIRLS UNDER 18. E.P. BREASTSTROKE CHAMPIONSHIP.
4. 100 YARDS, BOYS UNDER 16. E.P. FREE STYLE CHAMPIONSHIP.
5. 50 Yards, Men’s Dash (Services only).
6. 50 Yards, Ladies’ Dash (Services only).
7. Men’s Open Diving – Two Compulsory, One Optional. Compulsory Dives: 1. Standing Dack [sic] Dive, “A” position Low Board; 2, Running Header Dive, “B” position 3-Metre Board.
8. 50 Yards, Girls, 16 years and under.
9. 50 Yards, Boys, 16 years and under.
10. 200 Yards, Men’s Inter-Services Team Race (4 per Team).
11. 133 1/3 Yards, Ladies’ Inter-Services Team Race (4 per Team).
12. Life-Saving Race (Men). Swim 20 yards, recover brick from bottom and return to start by first method of rescue.
13. Life-Saving Race (Ladies). Swim 20 yards, recover brick from bottom and return to start by first method of rescue.
14. 50 Yards, 42 Air School Pupils only.
15. 50 Yards, Officers’ Dash.
16. Rubber Dinghy Demonstration.
17. DINGHY DERBY FOR THE AIR FORCE FLOATING TROPHY.
18. Ladies’ Open Diving. Dives as per Event No. 7.
19. 42 Air School Pupils’ Inter-Course Team Race (4 per Team).
20. 42 AIR SCHOOL INTER-SECTION TEA RACE (Two Widths ench [sic]).
21. Water Polo – 42 Air School vs. The Rest.
ADMITTANCE:
Reserved Seats – 2/6
Unreserved – 1/6
Services (Other Ranks) – 1/-
Children and Competitors – 6d.
[italics] Book at Smokers’ Stores, Main Street, or St. George’s Swimming Bath. [/italics]
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41
[underlined][missing letter]EMEMBER – [/underlined]
Eager N.M.C. Boys Are With 8th Army
[italics] “Why will European service men not sit next to natives in the buses?”
“Does this colour discrimination prevail on the battlefield, too?” [/italics]
BOTH these queries were raised by correspondents in last month’s “Woodpecker.” It is a coincidence that a few days after the last issue was published a British Broadcasting Corporation Newsletter arrived, describing how men from Basutoland have rendered great service to the Allied armies. How highly their fighting qualities are valued by the Eighth Army was illustrated by Major Nathan in a B.B.C. short wave talk. His points are worth remembering.
One of the first messages the Eighth Army sent after it had obtained a footing in Sicily, he said, was to the Middle East, and it said: “Please send us our Basutos,” “Our” referred to Basuto members of the Auxiliary Corps whose splendid work helped the Eighth to keep up its historic advance from Alamein to Tunis. Several companies of the Basutos crossed the Mediterranean and did excellent work on Sicilian lines of communication. Originally there had been no intention of sending them out of Africa. But their enthusiasm and eagerness, together with the urging of the Eighth Army, were too strong.
Sergeant Mpete, from one of the Basuto units, said the men were anxious to get back to active service. “We belong to the Eighth Army,” he insisted, “we were bombed with them, we enjoyed the same rations, we laughed at the same jokes, we were blown up by the same mines.” The sergeant said they liked being soldiers. They didn’t want to fly and had no liking for the sea, they thought it “best to be a soldier on the ground.”
He gave an interesting example of their transactions with the Arabs in the desert. “Funny thing was they would not come near us to sell their eggs. When they knew we were Basutos they were afraid and ran off. We had to put our money on a stone and then go away. After a while, the Arabs crept up and took the money, leaving eggs in exchange.”
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42
[underlined] AIR SCHOOL SPORT – [/underlined]
December A Bad Month for Cricket
[italics] The Christmas break, personnel on leave and rival fest[missing letters]tions in Port Elizabeth were among the factors resulting in less sporting activity on the station during December. [/italics]
TWO representative games on consecutive week-ends did not allow many Cricket League fixtures to be fulfilled. Only five matches were played during the month, four of which were City League games. Air School only registered one win (which unfortunately breaks our unbeaten record), due to the teams being badly weakened by our best players for Fortress on the 4th and 16th, and on the 18th attending a wedding!
Lt. Miller, Lt. Penver, Cpl. Lyall, Cpl. Alborough, Cpl. Barnes and A/M Goetch are to be congratulated on their selection for the Fortress Team against Cicilians on 4.12.43. Lt. Miller had the further distinction of captaining the side while Cpl. Lyall was the best Fortress bowler by obtaining 6 wickets, and Lt. Penver proved the best bat, obtaining 39 runs.
Against East London Fortress the following week-end we only had two representatives in the Port Elizabeth Fortress Team, Cpl. Lyall and A/M Scheckle, our two bowlers, neither of whom came off.
Following were the scores of the five matches played during December: -
19 A.N. “A” (83) beat 19 A.N. “B” (79) BY 14 runs (Station).
42 A.S. “A” (123) lost to Port Elizabeth (132) by 3 wickets (City.
42 A.S. “B” (78) lost to Heavy Battery (88 for 7) by 10 runs (City.
42 A.S. “A” (115) lost to H.M.S. Goodhope (126 for 6) by 4 wickets (City).
42 A.S. “B” (86 for 6) beat Fortress Signals (39) by 4 wkts. and 42 runs (City).
TENNIS INTEREST MAINTAINED
INTEREST in tennis was more than maintained, three league League [sic] matches (one Women’s and two Men’s) having been played. This activity for the month ended in a very successful and most enjoyable Mixed Doubles Tournament on the 19th, staged by Fortress on the 6th Heavy Battery Courts, Humewood.
42 Air School entered nine couples. Altogether 36 entries were received, which necessitated four sections. Members from this Station won three of the four Sections. Cpl. McDonaugh and Mrs. Cook won the “A” Section, while Lt. Smith and Mrs. Searle won the “C” Section, with Lt. Bands and Sgt. Tonks winning “D” Section.
In the semi-finals Cpl. McDonaugh and Mrs. Cook beat Lt. Bands and Sgt. Tonks 6-5, while Lt. Smith and Mrs. Searle were beaten 6-5 by a Fortress couple, after very evidently being the best couple on view.
JOE SOAP IS WATCHING YOU
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43
[underlined] By Lt. F.J. HORN [/underlined]
The finals proved to be the most exciting of the whole day. During the first four games, recurrent deuces were experienced and extraordinarily enough, all four were won by Cpl. McDonaugh and Mrs. Cook. They also won the fifth which gave them a 5-0 lead. The Fortress couple won the sixth game and all the rest, doing the almost impossible to win by 6 games to 5 and to win the Tournament. Cpl. McDonaugh played a magnificent game and was well backed up by his partner until the sixth game, when she became so tired that she could hardly return a ball, allowing the Fortress couple to snatch a sensational win.
The results of the three League games played during December were:-
42 Air School (91 games) beat Driftsands (74 games) by 17 games.
42 Air School (112 games) beat M.T.T.S. (53 games) by 59 games.
42 Air School (W.A.A.F.s) (49 games) lost to Signals (50 games) by 1 game.
SWIMMING GALA TRAINING
PRACTICE in the St. George’s Bath takes place regularly every Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The various Sections are trying out their swimmers to get their teams into shape for the big 42 Air School Swimming Gala, taking place on the 29th January. Competition for the Station Team Cup is going to be very keen, and the champions, 4 Squadron will have to look to their laurels if they want to remain the Station Champions.
[inserted] ATHLETICS TOURNEY IN FEBRUARY?
“I am told,” writes the Sports Editor of “B.O.N.”, No. 48 Air School’s magazine, “that there will be a triangular – Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London – Inter Fortress athletic meeting in the coming year – probably in February.”
Comment on this report by Lt. F.J. Horn, 42 Air School Sports Officer, early in January, was: “It is not authentic yet. The meeting is still in its embryo stages.” [/inserted]
GOLF CHALLENGE
A GOLF CHALLENGE against us by Fortress was played off on the Humewood Course on Wednesday, 1.12.43. Each team fielded 12 players, and in a four-ball contest, Fortress beat us 4-2.
On the 18th a Fortress team of 20 players played against Walmer Club on the Walmer Course. Seven 42 Air School players were included in the Fortress Team.
GOONS – SEND IN YOUR GEN
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44
ABOUT OURSE[missing letters]
ALL literary matter in “The Woodpecker” is copy [missing words] without permission of the Editor or unless due [missing letters]wledgemen[missing letter]
Contributions are invited from all serving men and women of 4 [missing words] –sands Air Station and from members of the W.A.A.F., C.P.S., S.A.W.A., [missing words] –isations in Port Elizabeth. As far as possible an endeavour will be [missing words] –scripts, if requested, but the Editor cannot be responsible for [missing words] mislaid. Contributions should be original and unpublished and [missing words] name, rank and number of the contributor, not necessarily for publication [missing words] written, or better still typed, on one side of the paper and should rar[missing words]
“The Woodpecker” is published at sixpence monthly and any profits [missing words] to Regimental Funds.
THE STAFF
President: Group Captain F.S. Stapleton, D.S.O., D.F.C., R.A.F.
Editor: Flight Lieutenant G.L. Hindley, R.A.F.V.R.
Correspondents (in this issue): S/Ldr. J.L. Lawrence, R.A.F.V.R.; Lt. F.J. Horn, S.A.A.F.; F/Sgt. L.G. Gaze, R.A.F.; Sgt. E. Tonks, W.A.A.F.; Cpl. A.W. Linger-Harris, R.A.F.V.R.; L.A.C. J.M. Templeton, R.A.F.V.R.; L.A.C. D.C. Campbell, R.A.F.V.R.; Miss N. Perry, S.A.W.A.S., and others.
Artists (in this issue): Lt. M.B. Brady, S.A.A.F. (ex 42 A.S.), Cpl. J. Bell, R.A.F., and others.
Photographs: Cpl. W.J. Bint, R.A.F.V.R., and other sources.
Advertising: Pilot Officer E.T. Baker, R.A.F.V.R.
Circulation: Flight Lieutent [sic] R.C. Parks, R.A.F., and Airwoman G. Roux, W.A.A.F.
Treasurer: Flying Officer R.B. Beavington, R.A.F.V.R.
BACK NUMBERS
COPIES of “The Woodpecker” contained in Volumes I and II – i.e. from October 1941 to September 1942 and from Nov./Dec. 1942 to September 1943 – may be obtained from “Q” Stores, price 3d. each, with the exception of the following, stocks of which are completely exhausted: Nov./Dec. 1942, January 1943.
In Volume III, copies of the October, November and December, 1943, issues are still available at the usual price of 6d.
THE demand for “The Woodpecker” is so great that regular readers are strongly advised to make sure of their copies by forwarding order and remittance to the Editor, “The Woodpecker,” No. 42 Air School, Port Elizabeth.
THE FEBRUARY “WOODPECKER”
The February ”Woodpecker” will be published in four weeks’ time – on Friday 25.2.44.
All copy, drawings,photographs, suggestions, etc. should be in the hands of the Editor (available in “Q” Stores) or put in “Woodpecker” Boxes by Wednesday, 9.2.44, to ensure inclusion.
“Woodpecker” Boxes are to be found at the Main Guard Room, opposite the Station Notice Board and in the Sergeants’ Mess.
Correspondents not at the Air School are advised to post copy to reach the Editor by 9.2.44.
Only copy of a particularly urgent nature should be submitted after that date.
[page break]
[advertisement]
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[advertisement]
[missing word] by the Air Force Station, Port Elizabeth, and printed by E.H. Walton & Co., Ltd., 1 Baakens Street, Port Elizabeth.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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The Woodpecker
Description
An account of the resource
42 Air School magazine, January 1944.
Creator
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42 Air School
Date
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1944-01
Format
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26 printed sheets
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
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MNealeETH1395951-150731-001
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
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South Africa
South Africa--Makhanda
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IBCC Digital Archive
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
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Steve Baldwin
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1246/16419/MNealeETH1395951-150731-082.1.pdf
6f3c3513cfbe5ddc27d52c7fc726ac23
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Neale, Ted
E T H Neale
Description
An account of the resource
123 items. The collection concerns Edward Thomas Henry Neale (b. 1922, 1395951 Royal Air Force) who served as a navigator with 37 Squadron in North Africa, the Middle East and Italy. The collection contains his training notebooks from South Africa as well as propaganda leaflets dropped by the allies in the Mediterranean theatre.
The collection also contains a photograph album, navigation logs and target photographs.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Alison Neale and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2015-07-31
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Neale, ETH
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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[missing letters]e Woodpec[missing letters]
42 AIR SCHOOL, SOUTH AFRICA
Vol. III. No. 5. FEBRUARY, 1944.
Contents:
S.A. [missing word] Training Over 16,000 Flyers! – [missing Page No.]
Well – Cheerio, Hey! – [missing Page No.]
Should “42” Have Post-War Associations? [missing Page No.]
What Is This Thing – A Coon? – [missing Page No.]
Flying Hours Are Second Highest Ever – [missing Page No.]
Dinghies Saved Their Lives – [missing Page No.]
Wood Pickings by the Edito[missing letter] [missing Page No.]
Joe’s Journal – [missing Page No.]
What Others Say – [missing Page No.]
Ten Sons and Three Daughters – [missing Page No.]
Messages Recorded for Broadcast to U.K. – [missing Page No.]
Bandsmen Are Not On The Scrounge! – [missing Page No.]
42 Air School Swimming Gala – [missing Page No.]
Sport – [missing Page No.]
About Ourselves – [missing Page No.]
[advertisement]
[page break]
[page header – THE WOODPECKER FEBRUARY, 1944]
[cartoon]
[page break]
[underlined] GOOD SHOW – [/underlined]
S.A. Has Trained Over 16,000 Flyers!
[italics] The fact that the South African Joint Air Training Scheme has produced more than 16,000 members of aircrews – pilots, navigators, bombers and air gunners – in its three years of life has been revealed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, K.C.B., M.C., D.F.C., in an article in the Air Force magazine “Wings.” [/italics]
[inserted] “FOR WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA”
The King’s New Year Honours List awards for work in the South African Joint Air Training Scheme included the names of personnel in the South African Air Force, the S.A. Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and the Royal Air Force.
The awards for the S.A.A.F. were one C.B., two C.B.E.s, six O.B.E.s, five M.B.E.s (a W.A.A.F. officer among them), and seventeen A.F.C.s.
Awards to the R.A.F.: one C.B., one O.B.E., one M.B.E., twelve A.F.C.s and one A.F.M.
None of these distinctions came to 42 Air School. [/inserted]
‘THE WOODPECKER’ makes no apologies for reprinting extracts from the recent special Empire Issue of “Wings” because it is good that we should know these things. It is good to know that South Africa alone has trained enough flyers – of the R.A.F., S.A.A.F. and Allied Air Forces – to man thousands and thousands of machines. It is good to know that we at 42 Air School have contributed our fair share to that total.
IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT WE ARE – WITHOUT ANY DOUBT WHATEVER – HELPING TO WIN THE BATTLE OF TRAINING.
It is an unexciting battle to the average erk. It is without glamour. It is even misunderstood by some misguided folk who wonder why we aren’t “Up North.” But it is a battle which is being directed by some of the finest brains of the Air Forces of the United Nations – and the finest brains are only directed to the most important jobs. Too often do we forget what a vital part the Battle of Training is playing in the Battles of Berlin, of Italy, of Poland. How often do we feel as we spruce ourselves up to go into town (on nights when there is no flying), that there is something wrong in fighting a war this way? The smaller we are, the more insignificant our job, the less we imagine we are doing for the war effort.
But it is pure imagination. The job in South Africa is important, desperately important – a job someone had to do, a job for which we were privileged to be chosen.
WHO IS JOE SOAP?
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We may think our part is small, but in the vast org[missing letters][missing words] Nations militarism our views don’t count. But time and time [missing words] utterances do mean something have praised what we are doing [missing words] examining what other people – important people – think of us.
His Majesty the King has seen fit to make no fewer than 47 awards in the New Year Honours List, ranging from important Orders to an A.F.M., for work done by personnel in the Air Training Schmee [sic] in South Africa. Not one of these awards was won solely by the person receiving it; all the receipients [sic] will readily admit that they owe a debt to the people who helped them, to the clerks, the mechanics, the storekeepers, to the men who dished out meat and gravy in the cookhouses. These awards are an indirect tribute to all.
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[underlined] NO MEDALS FOR TRAINING COMMAND [/underlined]
Again and again, great leaders have praised the training scheme. Mr. Winston Churchill calls it “the aerodrome of democracy,” Field Marshal Smuts has extolled the South African training organisation in many of his speeches.
Capt. The Rt. Hon. H.H. Balfour (British Under Secretary of State for Air) referred during his visit to South Africa last year to “the extreme value” of training. If we did not win the constant, ceaseless, sometimes dull, but always vital battle in training, we could win no other battle in the air, he said.
That sort of view is expressed so often by men whose opinions count that we cannot possibly ignore it.
In his article in “Wings,” Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto-Douglas referred to the S.A. Scheme as “a most creditable offering to the main war effort,” and the comment of our own Director of Air Training in this country, Air Vice Marshal M.B. Frew is: “True it is today that the Battle of Europe is being won on the training fields of the Empire.”
Do we in South Africa, or our colleagues on training jobs in Rhodesia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Newfoundland and the U.S.A., need any more encouragement than that? We shouldn’t.
Meanwhile we must carry on our work, for the faster we work the sooner the air will be filled to capacity with well-crewed aircraft, the sooner the cities of Germany and Japan will be in ruins, the sooner the war will be over.
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. – [italics] Emerson, 1852. [/italics]
ANY IDEAS? THEN SEE THE EDITOR
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[underlined] [letter missing]HEIR “BOAT” HAS COME – [/underlined]
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[italics] Clear breaks with the earliest days of No. 42 Air School have occurred with the departure for the United Kingdom of many of those who arrived with the original R.A.F. Draft in 1941.
The breaks have occurred in batches – the first some little time ago, when remarkable scenes were witnessed on Port Elizabeth railway station, as the first part of the long journey began [/italics]
MANY of these R.A.F. men, who had been in the city for three years, left behind them wives, fiancées and girl friends. One young South African W.A.A.F. saw her R.A.F. husband go less than three weeks after their wedding, and joining the brides in their tears were many others. Even some of the W.A.A.F.’s had tears in their eyes as they left the platform!
It is no exaggeration to say that several hundred people waved goodbye to this first contingent, colleagues from the school and civilian friends from the city. The Military Band was in attendance and made the occasion all the more impressive with music of Home and “Auld Lang Syne,” probably played more sincerely than ever before, as the train moved out of the station. That toughest of old birds, Tubby Gregory, was visibly moved!
S/Ldr. D.E.R. Matthews was among the many officers on the platform – interesting because he was the only R.A.F. officer in Port Elizabeth to welcome the draft on their arrival, three years before, and now he was able to see some of them off again.
Eddie Tyas decided to go with the lads at the last moment, and was with difficulty persuaded to get off the train, Taffy Williams struggled through the crown to get the band to play “Men of Harlech” and was then passed into the train by a bodyguard of matelots, Norman Hewitt couldn’t resist taking a nominal roll to make sure everyone was there, even rumoured that the Adjutant had a copy of the M.D.C. in his pocket just in case. . . .
For those on the train and those on the platform, it was a farewell that will long be remembered as among the saddest in a service career, where there is always a “goodbe” [sic] to say to someone.
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[underlined] SUGGESTION – [/underlined]
Should “42” Have Post-War Association?
[italics] Should No. 42 Air School have its post-war Association, a “get-together-once-a-year” club for those who wish to recall old times and old friends when peace comes round again? This suggestion has been made by a senior N.C.O. on the unit and is presented to the station as a proposition. [/italics]
THE Commanding Officer approves of such an organisation if the officials can be found to run it, and if a number of minor difficulties can be overcome.
Suggestions are:
Membership for all who served at 42 Air School at any time and who wish to keep up old associations – open, of course, to R.A.F., S.A.A.F., W.A.A.F. and any other military personnel.
Annual dinners or meetings each year in both South Africa and England, each branch having its own officials but keeping in close touch.
“The Woodpecker” to be maintained as the Association magazine.
An appeal is made to any who are interested to send in names and/or suggestions to The Editor. Above all, people are required who are prepared to act as officials.
Work is the best cure for all the maladies and miseries that ever beset mankind. – [italics] Carlyle. [/italics]
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[underlined] GOONERY GRIFF – [/underlined]
What Is This Thing – A Goon?
(By One of Them)
RETURNING from a cheesing trip to Knysna the other day, I folded up my prefabricated log and sank back in the W/Op’s easy chair to get a Q.D.M. on Grahamstown. Before dosing off I got Billy Cotton’s Band coming over well from the B.B.C., and was vaguely interested to hear a dance number called
“The Goon Song,” finale-ed by Cotton’s homely Thameside drawl telling me, “Now you know what a goon is!” Must have been too tired to catch the gen, but my dictionary says:
[italics] “GOON, one upon whom the cultural advantages of civilisation make little impression. From Gonad (Greek – gonê, germ), meaning a reproductive gland in rudimentary state, and Gnu, a ruminant quadruped, member of the order of herbiverous, hoofed mammels that chew the cud as the camel, goat, ox. Indigenous to South Africa.” [/italics]
So now we ALL know what a goon is.
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MY CAMP STOOGE reports from the Goonery on a number of speeches made there during the past week. These are condensed as follow: – Navgoon Manser believes no woman can resist the combination of good looks and bad thoughts. (Possibly why they call him “Manser the Metro-mancer”). Hyde, 25 A.N.’s “military analyst,” who has been studying Stalin’s tactics on the Eastern Front, states war in Europe will end August this year. Navgoon Felix, voicing politics from Palestine, says “Let’s have the American.” (Okay, Heinz, they’re yours). Bombgoon Brockfield, dealing with food shortage in Europe: “I know just the W/O Cook to send them.”
WHERE WAS YOUR PAL LAST NIGHT?
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“THE SERVICE COOKS overseas show they can not only take [missing words] as well.” – (Ida Lupino in “Mail Call”).
HEARD IN THE Airmen’s Tank – “What’s the difference between a Bombgoon and a Baboon?”
“I don’t know.”
“Neither do I.”
Next please!
“What’s the difference between a Navgoon and a Baboon?”
“A Baboon can get there without a W/Op.”
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HIGHSPOT performances of the month. Goon badges of merit go to:
(1) The 25 A.B. quintette who rocked the Sports Office by turning in an all-time record of 72 secs. for the 300 yards Fitness Canter.
(2) Bombgoon “Vector” Jones for discovering a wind of Nil m.p.h. which blew from 270 degrees.
(3) Navgoon Judson for the alteration of Course to maintain Course which brought him to Kirkwood dead on E.T.A.
(4) Bombgoon Appleyard for his introduction of the “Canadian Red on Red” technique to service bombing.
WITH Admiral Benbow at sea again for a few days, we cull this titbit from his C.E.B. gen book. Commenting on goon misspellings, the examiners burst into rhyme thus: –
[italics] Some pupils make us weary
With their “Very” pistols – Verey
That’s the spelling aye approved
And “pidgeon” wants the “d” removed. [/italics]
HOMEWARD BOUND. Goons catching the boat – this is the latest gen from Blighty apropos things to take back. Food situation greatly improved, but meat still short. Tinned meats (other than bully) appreciated. Good idea take economic meats like tinned chicken breasts (boneless), lobster, mutton, which go [sic] long way and are unobtainable in U.K. Tinned fruit scarce, too, but jams in good supply. Cigs in Blighty cost 2/4 per 20, so stock up with the[missing letter]. Wines; spirits prohibitive (sherry, pre-war cooking brand, costs 45/- bott[missing letters]
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Housewives short of drapery nick-nacks – “poppers” (fasteners for dresses), hooks and eyes, etc. Warning re silk stockings: see size large enough, ensure quality will stand up to U.K. climate. Watches, high-priced, scarce, at home, would make welcome gifts. Clothing (pyjamas, sports shirts, bathing trunks) require coupons which you don’t get as an N.C.O.
NORTHWARD BOUND. Mentioning names, there’s a business-minded goon loose who is bringing out a “Goon’s Guide to the Orient.” This tasteful little booklet purports to show how goons can quickly acquire knowledge of the Arabic tongue which will “open the portals of the mysterious East and reduce the complex problems of bizarre civilisations to the simplicity of a Mercator’s chart.” Every page abounds with phrases like “How do you do, baby?” (Enta kweiss bint); “Come over here” (Tala henna); “You’re a smashing bit of stuff” (Enta kweiss kateer bint); “How much?” (Kam feloose). Seems there’s more in Mercator’s chart than meets the eye.
BLACK MARKET for very new goons. Protect yourself against officialdom by investing in the following. Supplies strictly limited.
FOUNTAIN CAP BADGE. Ideal for parades. Your scruffy cap badge will be the target for the inspecting officer. When he bends to get a good look at it you squeeze a rubber bulb and he gets a spray of red ink all over his best blue.
JOKE BEER BOTTLE. Here’s the jest the S.W.O. will fall for. Send him a bottle on his birthday. Looks and tastes like Castle Lager but contains concentrated dose of camphorated oil and prune juice.
SOAP VEGETABLES. Try this on the Orderly Officer. Put one of the life-like vegetables on your lunch-plate and get him to taste it. Then watch the N.C.O. i/c Cookhouse drop in the can.
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[underlined] No. 3 SQUADRON – [/underlined]
Flying Hours Are Second Highest Ever!
[italics] L.G.G. refers to many things in his monthly article – to departures and arrivals, broadcasting, sporting activities and trade test boards. But from his copy we pick out a few words which are the most important of all:
“On the working side, No. 3 Squadron put up a record number of flying hours in January – the second highest ever recorded on the unit, and in February we hope to surpass this.”
Here is the remainder of his article: [/italics]
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A new arrival signs the U.T.1’s
JANUARY was an eventful month for the Squadron. More and more of our comrades have gone on their way home again, and we are constantly waiting for F/Sgt. Hewitt to publish further lists of lucky people. He always seems a bit reluctant to do so, and in case, hates to admit that he never has any “boat gen.” Anyway, we wish our old friends a safe trip home and assure them that they are not forgotten. So Jock Good, Cpl. Foy, Clp. Waterfield, Cpl. Youde, Cpl. Godfrey, don’t forget to send us the latest griff from home when you get there, and perhaps the Editor will allow a small space headed “Hints for Airmen on reaching their Native Land.” We shall need them when we eventually get there; what with the price of beer, fags, etc., we shall all be lost.
Everyone in the Squadron must admit they had truly a wonderful send-off, and I think the majority of the credit must go to Sgt. Thompson and his Band for their fine turn-out. Sgt. Thompson thought he had let himself in for many similar farewells, but the next batch to go saw him on the train and not with the baton!
THE Squadron were a little annoyed at the reference in a local paper to the noise made by “our” aircraft, but I think the writer was answered very aptly by a number of correspondents and no further reference is needed from us on the subject.
THIS IS YOUR MAGAZINE
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SPORTING activities saw us badly left behind in the swimmin[missing words] lack of training though, as the three teams put in quite a lo[missing words] hours; hence the keenness! The football teams are shortly to star[missing words] their paces. Collins, our goalkeeper of last season, will be missed [missing words] is now in No. 4 Squadron, but will be replaced very ably by A/[missing words] We would like to warn other Squadrons that we have definitely got some pro’s this year, and no flannel like last year, when a certain Squadron on hearing these rumours proceeded to do a spot of “Internal Posting” (the Cups are on view by day or night). Anyway all the Squadron are looking forward to the soccer season starting again, as it seems the only sport to which the Squadron give 100% support. Tubby Gregory’s voice will be sadly missed on the touch-line at all matches and for his assistance to the teams last season.
WE WELCOME some new faces to the Squadron this month. F/Sgt. Benecke who is now in charge of Anson Section, arrived from “up North” and has proved himself a worthy “type.” F/Sgt. Pomery-Ward, who has taken over the Oxford side of the Squadron, also from “up North,” is at present on a Senior N.C.O.s Course. We hope to see him again on the termination of his sojourn at Lyttelton. Air/Sgt. Lay also joins the Oxford Section; very worthy “type,” observed trashing almost the first night he was here at a local hop.
DURING the month a number of the Squadron were allowed to broadcast home.
The picking of names was done by the O.C. and in a very fair manner. Airmen who were expecting to proceed to the United Kingdom and new arrivals to the country under one year’s service in the Union were not allowed to participate, giving the people with two to two-and-a-half years’ service in the Union the priority.
THE RESULTS of the last trade test are out and we are pleased to see an appreciable number of new L.A.C.s, far too many in fact to record their names here. Most of the new wearers of the “Props” are new arrivals within the last nine months.
ONE MORE polite inquiry before we finish. Who does all the work in No. 4 Squadron when they arrange a shooting match?
Bishop Wilkins prophesied that the time would come when gentlemen, when going on a journey, would call for their wings as regularly as they call for their boots. – [italics] Maria Edgeworth, 1802. [/italics]
SEND A “WOODPECKER” HOME
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[underlined] MEN AMONG US – [/underlined]
Dinghies Saved Their Lives! [drawing]
[italics] The stories of how an officer and an airman now stationed at 42 Air School saved their lives by taking to rubber dinghies – one in the Mediterranean, the other in the Indian Ocean – have become known by the granting of membership of the Goldfish Club to Flying Officer Jack Liversidge and Cpl. Robert Harris, both of the Royal Air Force. [/italics]
THE Goldfish Club – for those who escape death by the use of an emergency dinghy – is on a per with the other two exclusive organisations, the Caterpillar Club, for those who save their lives by parachute, and the Order of the Boot, for those who walk back to base after having to abandon their aircraft in the Western Desert.
F/O Liversidge is entitled to the Order of the Boot as well as the Goldfish Badge (illustrated above), which is wore under the lapel of the tunic.
In January last year he was returning to base from a raid on Tripoli when his aircraft was forced into the Mediterranean about eighty miles from Malta. Through a rough night, from midnight until six o’clock in the morning, he and other members of the crew kept themselves afloat in a dinghy. They were picked up by an R.A.F. motor launch and were landed at Malta about fourteen hours after going into the sea.
Cpl. Harris and companions with him are believed to be the first to have received the Goldfish Badge by taking to dinghies off the South African coast.
Harris was the wireless operator in an aircraft which was forced on to the sea off East London in November, 1942. Badly injured when the machine struck the water – he broke his neck, a leg and a hand! – he has no idea how he managed to get away from the aircraft. His first memory was finding himself some twenty yards away, being helped into the dinghy by his three companions.
“We were in the dinghy for about an hour,” Harris told “The Woodpecker” recently, “and were then picked up by a destroyer and landed at a South African port.”
Despite his severe injuries, Harris, who has been at 42 Air School som[missing letter] fifteen months, has quite recovered from his injuries and is attached to “[missing letters] Flight Signals section.
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Wood Peckings . . . . . . . by The Editor
RECENT references in “The Woodpecker” to medals for R.A.F. people in South Africa have met with criticism. “Wearing the S.A. Medal would show we’d been away from the war.” “What difference does it make?” and “Rather have the Boat” are typical of overheard comments.
So “The Woodpecker” closes the discussion – until official decision is arrived at – with the following quotation from Veldschoen’s S.A.A.F. News of the Month in Waterkloof’s “Tale Spin”:
“We notice that even the South African Home Front will be privileged under the latest regulations (by the award of the South African Service Medal). This privilege,” he continues, “is indeed a great encouragement to those less fortunate than their brothers in the firing line, and it makes us realise that our efforts are and have been appreciated.
“But what of our friends in the R.A.F.? Why have they been left out? Surely their work, in this country and at home, justifies the granting of the same decoration as we South Africans?
“We can but hope that this sorry state of affairs will soon be remedied.”
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So there it is.
DISCUSSION rages in Brooklyn’s “Erk” on the eternal subject, “Are parades really necessary?”
Ball was opened by a correspondent with the comment: “What encouragement is it to overtime workers to see the number of working hours wasted . . . . on a parade whose object is obscure?”
Commanding Officer Lt.-Col. J.A.B. Sandenbergh’s reply was that “the personnel of this station are primarily soldiers and secondly artisans, and the parades are not undertaken for the fun of it, but because in the experience of military forces and military organisations throughout the thousands of armies in every nation on the face of the globe, parades have been found to be an essential adjunct to military efficiency.”
An anonymous Erk took up the cudgels in the January issue and challenged the C.O.’s opinion that Air Force personnel are “primarily soldiers, secondly artisans.”
WE WANT AFRIKAANS ARTICLES AS WELL
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“It should be admitted,” was his contention, “that for all round efficiency in the use of air power, the artisan must be left to carry on the work for which he has been trained. That is, the artisan is first and foremost an artisan – not part time soldier-cum-labourer. Every man-hour wasted here means a slackening off in the number of aircrews trained and a corresponding lessening of our air blitz. . . . So, as the Prime Minister of England would have us, “Let us gird up our loins, and to the fight” – and not to the parade ground.”
What a tribute it is to the broad-minded tolerance of the modern service that C.O. and Erk are able to cross swords in public print on such a controversial topic.
THE intelligentsia of “42” still don’t appear able to make up their minds to promote a Debating Society. At Witbank, their debating organisation is discussing all the subjects which are most popular in barrack room melees.
At a meeting at the end of last year, for instance, a majority of 20-6 decided that swing music was degenerate. This month the society planned to discuss the propositions that birth control increases immortality and that post-war reconstruction will be impossible with Socialism.
Those are all subjects which are discussed privately time and time again on this unit; why shouldn‘t we have a debating society so that the whole camp may be enlightened?
Debating Societies can be extremely beneficial by radiating to many the views and opinions of the few. There is little doubt that they are a popular diversion in Prisoner of War camps; in fact, Cyril Watling, in one of his broadcasts over B.B.C. wavelengths revealed how debates with a post-war value were held by men who had banded themselves together as a farmers’ association in an Italian P.O.W. camp.
The members of this group are men of Tobruk – Springboks captured there and now in German hands in Northern Italy. The members hold regular meetings and lectures are given by agricultural experts. That the discussions are serious is shown by one of the resolutions which was sent home to South Africa. It was a request for more railways to serve the farming areas of the Union, accompanied by an
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“WOODPECKER” BOX – CORPORALS’ CLUB
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[underlined] EDITOR’S WOOD PECKINGS – (Continued) [/underlined]
enquiry as to when income tax is likely to be reduced!
EVERY now and then “chain letters” come into the news. They are disparaged, cursed and ridiculed – yet they still thrive. A correspondent in the “Eastern Province Herald” took up the same old line recently, while an editorial in Heany’s “Afraf” also deplored “these childish chain letters,” which are “foolish at any time, criminal in war time.
“A more effective method of wasting time, paper and money would be hard to find,” says “Afraf’s” leader writer. “In fact, we condemn it as an excellent war effort – for Germany.”
Chain letters assume two forms. One is that by which good luck is supposed to result from making copies and forwarding anonymously to a specified number of friends. The other is the one in which you send 6d. to the person at the top of the list, put your own name at the bottom and send off a number of copies to credulous acquaintances.
A new one arrived in “The Woodpecker” office this month, though, which would really appear to have its possibilities! It read:
“Dear Old Friend, – This chain was started in Reno in the hope of bringing happiness to tired husbands. Unlike most chains, this one requires no money. Simply send a copy of this letter to five male friends, then bundle up your wife and send her to the fellow whose name appears at the top of the list. When your name works to the top you will, in return, receive 15,176 gorgeous girls. Have faith. Do not break the chain. One man broke it and got his wife back again!”
Anyone want to try it?
OFTEN asked question when “Air Commodore” Winston Churchill appears on the news reels is whether he is really entitled to wear R.A.F. wings. Technically – in that he has not worked through the arduous series of courses required – he is not entitled to wear them, but no one will doubt his moral entitlement.
He was granted honorary wings in April last year, “out of kindness,” as he himself described it.
“Kindness brevets” must be a very unusual award. It would be interesting to know how many others have the distinction.
Genius is one part inspiration,
Three parts perspiration. – [italics] American saying. [/italics]
What anyone bears willingly he bears easily. – [italics] Latin Proverb. [/italics]
Here’s to the Girl with the Golden Shoes,
Eats my dinner, drinks my booze,
Then goes home to mother to snooze,
Stingy!
(“RAFRICANA”).
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[inserted] EDITED by JOE SOAP [/inserted]
Joe’s Journal
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SUPPLEMENT TO “THE WOODPECKER”
WHO IS “GRANNY KILLER” FLIGHT LIEUT?
“Not Me” Say Those Interviewed
“THEY are saying,” writes a correspondent to “Joe’s Journal,” “that one of our brand new Flight Lieutenants earned the name of ‘Granny Killer’ after being seen four Saturdays in succession leading charming local matron up bioscope steps.”
In thirst for gen, Joe sent out Ace Reporter to interview likely Flight Lieuts. on the station.
Bell and Boxhall Twins hotly denied complicity. “We may get up to some mischief,” said Ding-Dong, “but not grannies. Try one of the trashing types.”
So we tried “Woodpecker” Hindley. He would hardly talk. “Mothers maybe, but grannies no,” was only comment, which made us wonder a bit; then on to Bushy Parks, who was so busy with unexpected flow of free beer that he couldn’t spare time.
Gardner, Malley and Cummings greeted query with cold stares. “You know our wives are in town,” they hissed. “What chance do we get.”
Only other we could think of was officer-goon Gandy, but then he’s a busy pupil. It couldn’t possibly be him. . . .
THESE CORPORALS!
Who was the W/Op Corporal who put a colleague on a charge, looked round fiercely and commented: “Now you see what happens to people who cross my path?”
The boys want to know why Joan no longer relies on the runner to trapse round goon classrooms?
WHAT IS THIS BUSINESS?
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YOU’LL FIND OUT?
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GOONS FIND HAPPINESS AT HUMEWOOD!
“Frisking in Sand”
SOCIAL informer writes from Humewood: Everybody happy in the Valley, including Bombgoons Brockfield, Hooper, Irving, Kelsey, Archibald and Berry . . . . Navgoons Judson, Smee and Bellew frisking in the sand with a widow and two little ‘uns . . . . Selwyn buying ice cones for three cuties . . . . “Gaffer” Rothney ton teaching Rhona to swim . . . . listening to the band . . . . Andy Ander-Bombgoon Reilley, in pink shorts, the envy of feminine eyes.
From the Hotel Front: Mr. G . . . n seen creasing pants in Market Square after bout with Al Kohol. Unidentified sergeant on reconnaissance in popular lounge, pelting “ladies” (Line!) with grapes.
“Beer for Fitness” says the goons’ favourite swimming teacher, who practises what she preaches, even if she does have to be rescued by Mr. B., from a fate as bad as the Merchant Navy.
WIFE SAYS “NO!”
Who is the Corporal Armourer who is not allowed to play in the Station Military Band, because “his wife will not let him”?
Joe wonders if his wife will let him do Fire Piquet!
Shook Joe rigid when someone pointed out that Lt. Hi-de-hi was turning his charms to the hospital and the swimming baths these days. Solves the transport problem when her car Gows [sic] so well, doesn’t it?
Report of an Air Mechanic in the Cookhouse who told an L.A.C. to report to him at 08.00 hours – at the Doubell [sic].
It is understood that an officer in the Armament Section invests so much in National Savings Certificates that he can’t even afford to pay for the erks’ tea which he consumes.
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THE SINGING LAFFERTY
It is understood that at a recent braaivleis in town, Sgt. Bill Lafferty tried to sing, with the result that the fire went out and the guests went in.
Try again, Bing.
We heard that F/Sgt. Sturgeon played third triangle with the Station Band at “Good Hope” the other week. Has it anything to do with the lusty quart of free beer he was seen quaffing with the band later in the afternoon?
Eddie Tyas getting athletic these days; seen dashing up and down the length (or is it width) of the swimming baths, and now we hear he has challenged a member of the fair sex to a set of singles at tennis.
Hear entomologist Leslie Berry has added some fine new specimens to his collection. The boys in T.43 say he walked into his bunk one night and they were sitting up in bed for him.
What about that concert airmen in the “Tank” have been talking about for a year now? Rehearsals take place every night, so turns should be up to scratch. Paddy Jackson sings “Ireland for the Irish,” Tex talks about virgin chicken, George Glass trots out own version of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and Bradley adds intellectual touch – “Abide With Me.”
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H.Q. CLERKS TAKE CUTIES RAMBLING!
Waiting for Next Season
OLD SPORT of rambling being revived through Headquarters Orderly Room campaign.
Ramblers Liston, Hewitt, Davies and Burlton – majority H.Q. clerk types – have admitted Sargie Pearl to “42” Rambling Club, together with a dozen other cuties.
Successful outing was had (plus a jolly good time by all) at the Willows recently.
Do we watch D.R.O.s for next sesh?
NAUGHTY, ANNE!
“Anne due Toit, imported from 42, did a short fling with the head of flying affairs – head of the stationery flying put on his number one approach – and a de Reuck number one approach is something.” – Extract from Kowie’s “Drogue.”
Suggest that the authorities at the next swimming gala have a race stipulating “arms – breast-stroke, legs – crawl kick.” Joe knows a Sergeant who would enter.
Flap in Training Wing Orderly Room caused by W.A.A.F. Sgt. who corrected stencil with “Aubert’s Almond and Honey Cream” (elegant preparation for hands, arms and face), then tried to remove with Mlle Elizabeth Arden’s latest in nail polish.
What Flight Sergeant’s wife always collects hubby from passing out “do’s” at 9.30 . . . . just in case?
We’ve heard of some ways of getting well organised with the fair sex, but F/Sgt. Bailiff takes the palm this month. Threw girl’s dog in the sea when she wasn’t looking, went in fully clothed, rescued it, applied artificial respiration and Bob’s your uncle as well as his.
Sam West still waiting on that boat. Someone give him the griff; they’ve stopped building boats. The future lies in the air.
Heard about the electrician who went up to Kassonga on leave, worked three days on the house lighting and then decided to remuster?
In last month’s issue, F/Sgt. Gaze described Joe Soap as an “oaf”. In his plodding manner Joe looked up the definition in the dictionary – “an idiot; simpleton; clumsy, awkward fellow; lout.” Well, Joe wonders if it is a case of the ‘kettle calling the pot black’ – no one knows Joe but we all know Chiefie Gaze. Anyway, he might have pressed his slacks before taking part in a wedding photograph.
It is rumoured that one living-out storebasher in “T” stores stayed behind and worked late until 16.45 one day in January. What’s the matter Stead; stocktaking electric sparks?
EVEN CHILDREN NOW!
There’s a story that’s supposed to be true of a Port Elizabeth youngster of four. Told that the gentleman who would be visiting Mommie that evening was Sergeant . . . . . ., he remarked: “But he’s not a gentleman, he’s a ‘R.A.F.’”
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JEFFCOCK AWARDED “ORDER OF THE BOOT”!
Now King of Drogue Towers
FOR magnificent prunery in the air, L.A.C. Jeffcock receives Joe Soap’s Order of the Boot.
Having left behind bits and pieces to release final drogue after gunnery flight, Jeffcock appeals to pilot.
“Throw out your boot,” was advice of exasperated driver, who probably didn’t know what else to suggest anyway.
So Jeffcock did.
Only trouble is that he’s still searching bush for one item of foot apparel!
ANOTHER ‘T’ STORES WEDDING?
It is rumoured that wedding bells will soon be ringing for another R.A.F. type in “T” Stores.
Long runs the “Fox,” but he is caught at last – or is it just another case of failure to crack the “atom”?
Joe’s monthly award goes to Capt. Richardson for initiative, courage and devotion to duty in trying to locate a “grating, foot, wood” deficient on his inventory.
What’s cooking? Many an erk is seen hanging over the kitchen door at the Camp Hospital. What are the boys hungry for Lofty?
Have you heard of the newly arrived ACH/GD who, when in town, BELLOWS that he is a pupil air-gunner on a course?
Jenny Lee’s advice to medical orderlies on the eve of their wedding: “You only need take your carpet slippers, in case of a fire.”
Famous saying – Paddy Sharkey: “The only course I went on was a race-course.”
Joe wonders why a W.A.A.F. cook was posted from the Camp Hospital to Air Records Office – early morning tea?
“COULD I BORROW MY WIFE?”
It is worth going back to Old Year’s Night to recall that Cyril (of the River of Jordan) was enjoying himself at midnight kissing a fair damsel, when a Captain tapped him gently on the shoulder and asked, “Do you mind if I have my wife when you’ve quite finished with her?”
Is it fear of Joe that compels Sgt. Williamson to hide “The Woodpecker” Box under the bar counter, or is it because the Sergeants’ Mess has lost its one-time sense of humour? However, nothing stops Joe getting his (or her as the case may be) gen. There is the 4 Squadron F/Sgt. who, after trying to ram a petrol bowser, said, “I have ridden a bicycle since I was a schoolboy and this is the first accident I have had.” The Sergeants’ Mess has some queer Wallers.
Much pushing and grunting as he gets on the tram,
It’s no one important – just Wordingham.
It is rumoured that, in early anticipation of the realisation of his two ambitions, F/Sgt. Wing has purchased a ship’s life-belt, emblazoned with “galloping-horses.”
Who was the one-time armourer at Cape Town, now a goon at 42, who was overheard to say, “I am sure one of the Joe Soaps is a woman.”
Joe wonders why he is so emphatic?
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What Others Say . . . .
[underlined] WOODBROOK – [/underlined]
B.O.N.
THE BOMB-AIMERS’, OBSERVERS’ AND NAVIGATORS’ UNION
ONCE again we’ve done it. This time it’s the RA.F. Benevolent Fund. The figures recently issued from Pretoria show that 48 Air School easily leads all other air schools. The purpose of this Fund is to aid any member of the R.A.F. who finds himself – or herself – in financial difficulties beyond his (or her) control. Needless to say, the Fund does a grand job of work. We asked the Accounts Section whether all R.A.F. personnel on the station contribute to this worthy cause, and their answer was that only 80 per cent do at present.
Come on you odd 20. Let’s make this a 100 per cent effort. The standard contribution for airmen is only one-eighth of a day’s pay each quarter – and you won’t miss that.
[italics] [Proportion of contributions at 42 Air School is 67 per cent. Any of the remainder can fill up the appropriate form in Accounts Section. – EDITOR, “WOODPECKER”] [/italics]
[underlined] WATERKLOOF – [/underlined]
TALE-SPIN
[underlined] Official Journal of 23 Air School, Waterkloof, Protoria [/underlined]
WATERKLOOF has long been the premier S.F.T.S. of South Africa. The few must maintain the record of the many. That record is very imposing. The accident rate for the past four months, for instance, has been exceptionally good and, in the analysis of accidents for S.F.T.S.’s against flying hours, Waterkloof’s position has been:
July . . . 2nd
August . . . 2nd
October . . . 1st
September . . . 1st
This reflects great credit upon both Flying and Maintenance Wings and it is essential that the Number One position be maintained, whatever the difficulties that lie ahead.
[underlined] MILNER PARK – [/underlined]
“THE FLEDGLING”
FOR the benefit of the “newies,” the Efficiency Competition is held monthly and every Flight in the Unit competes.
To judge which is the best flight the following procedure is adopted.
100 marks are given to each flight and deductions are made from this as follows:
5 marks for each day’s absence,
3 marks for each “On report,”
2 marks for each “Sick,”
1 mark for each “Excused duty.”
Behaviour, progress and interest in workshops also determine which flights are to be considered.
This month Flight 29 of Wing 2 are to be congratulated on winning the Efficiency Shield for November with the very excellent total of 99%, with Flight 36 of Wing 3 second.
[underlined] HEANY, S. RHODESIA – [/underlined]
THE NEW AFRAF
The RHODESIAS’ FIRST SERVICE NEWSPAPER
THE United Nations are marching forward on all fronts and it appears to many that it may not be too long before the lights of Europe do go up again, though much hard work and danger lie ahead. Yet we must be prepared for that time, and it is up to us to learn to demarcate between the rational and irrational, to disentangle
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one want from another, to realise when we are seeking the satisfaction of hungry emotions and when pursuing rationally the means to a conscious end. We should develop an elementary introspection and ask, “What do I really want?” the test of our democracy will be the way in which we are all ready to accept civic responsibilities by playing our part in the electoral machinery and exerting an enlightened public opinion on matters concerned with our Government.
[underlined] THORNHILL, S. RHODESIA – [/underlined]
[Slipstream drawing]
ACCORDING to newspaper and radio reports published over the last few months, victory in 1944 is not just a remote possibility. Eye-witness accounts, both neutral and German, now reinforced by the reports of repatriated prisoners of war, agree that the German people have lost the war just as we British are convinced that we have already won it.
When victory does come, however, we still have our duty to the country; we cannot afford to slacken our efforts and to adopt an air of complacency. Hitler may feel that, even if he loses the war, he may gain some victory out of defeat by our consequent slackening in the war effort after the armistice. Complacency can bring defeat even after victory.
Naturally we shall indulge in a “binge” and are entitled to celebrate the armistic [sic] exuberantly when it comes, but we must not let this blind us to the duties that lie ahead.
Not only have we our own country to rebuild, but we have our duties to neutrals and even to Germany itself.
It will mean much to lasting peace if we try to understand these problems now. The difficulties of the French, the Belgians, the Dutch, the Czechs, the Poles, the Jugoslavs, the Nordic states – even of the Germans – will be very much our problem.
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[underlined] PERSONNEL PROWLINGS – [/underlined]
Ten Sons and Three Daughters!
[italics] The list of births – ten sons and three daughters for both R.A.F. and U.D.F. personnel – has reached a “new high” this month. [/italics]
CONGRATULATIONS to lucky fathers:-
W/O H.J. Martens – daughter, Valmai;
Sgt. E. Bray – son, Rodney William;
Cpl. G.L. Wright – daughter, Yvonne;
Cpl. L. Worley – son, Leslie Michael George;
L.A.C. J.K. Miller – son, George Boyce;
L.A.C. J.J. Myson – son, Alick Johnston;
L.A.C. J. Moore – son, Terrence James;
L.A.C. E. Jennings – son, Geoffrey Frederick;
L.A.C. A.H. Bassom – son, Alfred Henry;
A/M H.C. Slack – son, Norman Peter;
A/M R. Roberts – son, Richard Michael Rundele;
A/M J.M. Koekemoer - daughter, Katy Christina; and
A.C.1 W.Morrison – son, William McIntyre.
[inserted] NOT SO LUCKY!
There’s a story in Brooklyn’s “Erk” that a R.A.F. sergeant at Youngsfield went through the whole paraphernalia of getting permission to marry a W.A.A.F., i.e. cable to England, banns read in England, Home Office permission, Padré’s permission and C.O.’s permission – and then couldn’t get the girl’s permission! [/inserted]
Two more R.A.F. types have joined the ninety-odd of their colleagues who are already living out of camp, their wives in the great majority of cases being South African girls. The latest to capture daughters of South Africa are:
Cpl. A.Young, who married Miss Iris J. Fellows, at St. Mary’s, Port Elizabeth; and
L.A.C. H. Fowler, who married Miss Aletta Muller, in the Salvation Army Hall, Cradock.
One of “42’s” original settlers, Tommy Scotcher, who arrived an A.C. storebasher and is now a P/O instructor at East London, was married in December to Miss Joyce Campbell.
THERE have been a few promotions, too. Within the Sergeants’ Mess, F/Sgt. G.P. Venter is now a Warrant Officer, and Sgt. L.W. Bowtell has put up his “crown.” New corporals are A/M’s C.S. Ikin and M.J. Lotter.
ODDLY enough, only one 1st G.C. up to the time of going to Press – for Cadet Navigator J. Powell.
WHY NOT WRITE A SHORT STORY?
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[underlined] ON THE AIR – [/underlined]
Messages Recorded For Broadcast to U.K.
[italics] No. 42 Air School took the first step towards going “on the air” on B.B.C. home wavelengths when three officers, twelve N.C.O.’s and nine airmen travelled to the Grahamstown studios of the S.A.B.C. last month to record messages which are to be re-broadcast in the United Kingdom, to wives relatives and friends. [/italics]
THE broadcasters were chosen on individual merits and circumstances, those whose return to United Kingdom is imminent and those with wives of families in South Africa being generally excluded. Of the remainder, married men and those with special reasons were given preference. The choice of personnel appears to have been generally accepted as a fair one.
The lucky ones were W/Cdr. Tucker, F/Lt. Hindley, P/O Fletcher, F/Sgts. Waller, Hewitt and McLagan, Sgts. Baher, Sweetland, Thompson and Walters, Cpls. Blowers, Crerar, Lewin, Sherman and O’Dell, L.A.C.’s Walker, Kilby, Anderson, Penman, Wilson, Birnie, Samways, Williams and Durford.
[inserted] BROADCASTS TO R.A.F. FROM U.K.?
An interesting sidelight on the broadcast by 42 Air School personnel to the United Kingdom is a suggestion by Mrs. E. Minards, mother of L.A.C. C.H. Minards, that relatives in the United Kingdom should have the opportunity of broadcasting to husbands and sons in South Africa.
Inferring a two-way broadcast, Mrs. Minards says (in a letter to the Editor), “nothing would please us more than to be able to speak to our boys after all this time. I have myself written to the B.B.C. and hope for a reply.” [/inserted]
Cpl. Goodwin was unable to travel to the studio, but his message was read for him.
“For those who had never stood before a microphone before – and they were obviously in the majority – it was something of an experience,” writes one of those who took part. “We have seen so many radio studios in films and magazines, that there was nothing strange about sitting in a typical one. We were all pretty nervous, though, and imbued with the awful fear that we should ‘lose the place’ in our script, emit a squeaky or husky voice, cough horribly or trip over the wire to the microphone!
“Fortunately, none of us did, and everything went off splendidly. After a dummy run, came the real thing, our voices being relayed to Johannesburg and recorded there.
JOE SOAP IS WATCHING YOU
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“Then we had the most remarkable experience of all – our own voices were played back to us, just as our relatives will hear them in the United Kingdom! Each one disagreed with the broadcasting officials that that could possibly be his own voice, but it wasn’t much use arguing! No one, however, seemed prepared to admit whether he was disappointed or pleased at how he is heard by the rest of the world!
“We searched for traces of dialect, which we fondly imagined still gave away the districts in Britain we had left. Even Norman Hewitt’s Yorkshire twang seemed to vanish, while L.A.C. Walker came out with a typical South African ‘Cheerio, just now!’ Maybe it is we have been overseas too long (D. of A.P. to note), maybe we have lost our English accents and developed a South African one. We shall only know when we all return home again.”
[underlined] STOP PRESS [/underlined]
As we go to Press, the South African Broadcasting Corporation advises that the recorded messages were successfully beamed from the Cape Town studios on February 2.
It is not known when the messages will be broadcast in England, but sometime in February is probable.
U.K. Gathering of Port Elizabethans
Letter from F/Lt. A.L. (“Robbie”) Roberts, original Settler at Port Elizabeth, now back in the United Kingdom, tells of many 42 Air School people gathering together at a Royal Air Force station in England. They include, in addition to Roberts himself, S/Ldrs. A.R. Macdonald and G.H. Smith, F/Lt. Jimmy Rail, F/O Bill Harvey, P/O’s Foers, Lawson and Lawrence (of 6 A.N.), also Sgts. Alger and Bickers of a later A.N. course.
Quite a gathering of the clans!
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[underlined] FOR INFORMATION – [/underlined]
Bandsmen Are Not On The Scrounge!
[italics] Members of the 42 Air School Military Band are not on a glorious scrounge! That is the attitude taken by Sgt. S.L. Thompson, whose activities with the baton and the organisation have helped to make this band one of the best known in Port Elizabeth. [/italics]
“A CERTAIN N.C.O.,” writes Sgt. Thompson, “is reported to have have [sic] stated that bandsmen are ‘scroungers’ who ‘join us’ to evade station duties. Be it known to all and sundry who care to read D.R.O.s that bandsmen on this station carry out so many duties that they have very little time to themselves.
Anybody disputing this statement is at liberty to discuss it with the bandmaster,” he adds, “together with the question of debit balances and income tax deductions, in the Accounts Section on Monday afternoons!”
The parades and concerts attended by the Military Band take up a great deal of leisure time in themselves, in addition to which there are hours and hours of rehearsals, usually in the evenings after work.
[inserted] MUSIC IS IMPORTANT!
“The Army has [italics] always [/italics] recognised the importance of music – its cheering and inspiring qualities. Most of us will remember the thrilling story from the last war. Men were lying all round in the last stages of exhaustion – it was in the old market place at St. Quentin. Their Commanding Officer, Sir Tom Bridges, found a tin whistle and a toy drum, and, with the primitive music produced from those instruments, he roused those men to their feet and marched them to safety.” – [italics] Wynford Reynolds, organiser of the B.B.C. “Music While You Work” programmes, in an overseas talk. [/italics][/inserted]
January was quite a typical sort of month for the band, with one or two bright spots.
On Saturday, January 8, the Air Force Band, and a section of the Driftsands Corps of Drums, took transport for ‘Good Hope,’ where Captain Hornblower and his piratical horde made merry for the benefit of the Port Elizabeth children. The band provided incidental music for the party and for a large scale game of ‘musical chairs,’ winding up the afternoon with the ‘Retreat.’ The last order “splice the main brace” was obeyed with alacrity!
GOONS – SEND IN YOUR GEN
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A large detachment of S.A.A.F. personnel said good-bye to Port Elizabeth. It was ordained that they should parade from Westbourne Oval to the railway Station, and so, of course, the bands were called out. It was a gruelling march, in almost tropical heat, (the “wobble pump” experts nearly passed out) but, in the words of one Commanding Officer, “large crowds turned out for the send off, and the troops taking part thoroughly enjoyed the march through town.”
The band was again on the railway station to play off a batch of the original 28 Draft, homeward bound. They were given “Blighty” music, and by request, “Will ye no come back again” (rather subtle that) and “Auld Lang Syne.”
The last job, before going to Press, was a camp concert at Driftsands. The band gave a mixed programme, ranging from overture to community selection, and were ably supported by artists chosen from D.A.S. personnel. The very enthusiastic reception which we received was encouragement to do more of this sort of thing in future.
Since the above article was written, Sgt. Thompson has left No. 42 Air School for the U.K. The invitation to discuss band matters in Accounts Section on Monday afternoons, therefore, no longer applies! – Editor, “Woodpecker.”
More W.A.A.F. Promotions
There have been more W.A.A.F. promotions during the month, Corporals Elaine Wassman and Jenny Eales going up to Sergeant, while A/W “Dixie” Sayer becomes a Corporal.
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WE HAVE SAVED OVER £6,666!
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[underlined] 1,750 SEE – [/underlined]
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16. Rubber Dinghy Demonstration.
17. DINGHY DERBY FOR THE AIR FORCE FLOATING TROPHY.
18. Ladies’ open Diving. Dives as per [missing words]
[italics] Estimated as the biggest crowd ever to attend a swimming gala in Port Elizabeth, over 1,750 spectators, service and civilian, packed the stands at St. George’s Swimming Baths to see the 42 Air School Military Gala at the end of January.
Gate money amounted to over £123. [/italics]
IN addition to Port Elizabeth military units, teams travelled from Grahamstown and Port Alfred to take part. Against these visiting and local teams, 42 Air School won all the inter-service events.
The standard of swimming and diving showed an improvement on the 1943 gala, and in addition to the more sterotyped [sic] events there was a water polo match between 42 Air School and the Rest, a Dinghy demonstration (organised by F/O John Dovey, D.F.M.) and a comic diving display by Lt. Stanton and Cadet Lauder.
The polo match was very even, the Rest overrunning 42 A.S. in the initial stages. But unfitness told, leaving the long experience of Jackie Wyman on the Rest side and Lts. Stanton and Horn, 42 A.S., to come into its own and dominate the game. After the first swim up, the Rest missed a sitter when Sgt. Jones found himself open and decided on a backflip which missed, but he scored soon afterwards from close in. The Rest scored once again giving them a 2 goal lead. 42 then made a determined attempt and reduced the lead through Lt. Horn. The score was 2-1 for the Rest at half time.
After change of ends, Lt. Stanton scored once more for 42. Soon after Cpl. v.d. Spuy put the Rest up again with a lucky back-flick from the side of the bath. 42 again attached hotly and equalised through Lt. Horn. Sgt. Wyman once again put the Rest in the lead with a long clever shot, but 42 once more equalised just before time.
Result, 4-4.
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RESULTS
50 YDS. MEN’S DASH (SERVICES ONLY). – 1, Lt. Horn (42 A.S.); 2, Lt. Tindall (42 A.S.); 3, Lt. Hutchison (43 A.S.) & Cadet Trewartha (Goodhope). Time: 27 secs.
The swimming in this event was a big improvement on that of last season. Of 28 entries, no fewer than 12 competitors clocked under 30 secs. Lt. Tindall of 42 Air School has a perfect style and improves every time he goes into the water.
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Lt. Horn and Lt. Tindall, 1st and 2nd in 50 yards Services dash.
50 YDS. WOMEN’S DASH (SERVICES ONLY. [SIC] – 1, Sgt. J. Burrell (42 A.S.); 2, Cpl. J. Cross (42 A.S.); 3, L/Bdr. Lester (Heavy Battery). Time: 33.8 secs.
Joyce Burrell swam a good race to beat Joey Cross by 3 yds., in 3 secs. faster than last season’s time. Twelve entries were received for this event.
MEN’S OPEN DIVING. – 1, T. Furmston (93.6 points); 2, R. O’Neil (91.6 points); 3, R. Horn (87.4 points).
A big improvement by all competitors on diving performances in recent years. Only one bad dive in the whole competition. Tommy Furmston and R. O’Neil were constantly good in all their dives while Ronnie Horn was not much inferior.
200 YDS. MEN’S INTER-SERVICES TEAM RACE. – 1, 42 Air School (Lts. Horn, Stanton, Tindall and Marais); 2, 43 Air School; 3, H.M.S. Goodhope. Time: 1 min. 50 secs.
Once again 42 Air School proved too hot for the opposition with their team averaging 27.5 secs. per man, which is remarkably good swimming for a services team. It was an excellent race with seven teams competing. 42 beat their previous time by 6 secs. Lt. Hutchison, 43 Air School, swam an excellent last lap for his team.
133 1/3 YDS. WOMEN’S INTER-SERVICES TEAM RACE. – 1, 42 Air School (Lt. Spencer Watson, Sgts. Burrell, Harrington and Cpl. Cross); 2, S.A.C.S.; 3, S.S.S. Time: 1 min. 31.6 secs.
42 Air School with their good all round team had no difficulty in winning in the very fast average time of 22.9 secs. per member, every one swimming well.
ARE YOU BEING WATCHED?
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LIFE SAVING (MEN). – 1, Tony Cook; 2, Lt. Levy; 3, P. Stewart. [missing word] 34.4 secs.
A novelty in swimming, which proved very attractive and interesting besides being most useful, showing how quickly a body that has sunk to the bottom can be recovered and rescued.
LIFE SAVING RACE (WOMEN). – 1, Rona Burrell; 2, Pauline Rauch; 3, Cpl. Cross. Time: 42.9 secs.
50 YDS. 42 AIR SCHOOL PUPILS. – 1, L.A.C. Bryan (24 A.B.); 2, Cpl. Philips (23 A.B.); 3, L.A.C. Daniel (25 A.B.). Time 1 min. 27.8 secs.
The A.B.’s certainly made a clean sweep, filling all three places after a very even duel between Bryan and Philips.
50 YDS. OFFICERS’ DASH. – 1, Lt. Hutchison (43 A.S.); 2, Lt. Tindall (42 A.S.); 3, Lt. Marais (42 A.S.). Time: 27.3 secs.
Lt. Hutchison showed his class by winning this event in faster time than he returned in the Services 50 yards and turning the tables on Lt. Tindall. A good race, improving last year’s time by nearly 3 secs.
DINGHY DERBY. – 1, 42 Air School (Cpl. Evans and L.A.C. Moran; right and left of dinghy in picture on page 35); 2, Crash Boat; 3, Driftsands.
The gale blowing spoilt this event somewhat, as the dinghies had blown the length of the bath before the men had adjusted hood and apron. The opening of and construction of the dinghies proved to be more interesting than the race. 42 Air School fully deserved their good win.
WOMEN’S OPEN DIVING. – 1, Lily Davidson (101.4 points); 2, Cpl. Graham (88.2 points); 3, Rhona Murrell (82.4 points).
Here again the standard was a big improvement on that of last year, Lily once more proving herself to win the event twice in succession.
PUPILS’ INTER-COURSE TEAM RACE. – 1, 24 Air Navigators; 2, 23 Air Bombers; 3, 26 Air Navigators. Time: 1 min. 27.8 secs.
With all ten teams competing the event had to be swum in widths instead of lengths, and here the Navigators turned the tables on the Bombers by filling 1st and 3 [sic] places. The winning team averaged 21.9 secs per man, which was fair.
42 AIR SCHOOL INTER-SECTION TEAM RACE CHAMPIONSHIP. – 1, Navigation Section (Lts. Stanton, Glendinning, Birkett and P/O Dovey); 2, “B” Flight; 3, Nondescripts. Time: 1 min. 16.4 secs.
As far as 42 Air School was concerned this was the most important event of the whole gala. Every section possible entered a team, 14 teams in all toeing the mark. Through Lt. Tindall, “B” Flight got a silent lead which they could not maintain. Navigation, who took the lead after the second leg, recorded a close win from “B” Flight and Nondescripts in the record time of 1 min. 16.4 secs., an average of 19.1 per man.
2 WIDTHS GIRLS (12 and under). – [italics] “A” Division [/italics]: 1, Adrian Rauch; 2, Hilary Cook; 3, Gaynor Horn. Time: 23.9 secs. [italics] “B” Division [/italics]: 1, Joan Wheal; 2, Yvonne Wheal; 3, Peggie Mason. Time: 30.3 secs.
WE WANT CANDID CAMERA SHOTS
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2 WIDTHS BOYS (12 and under). – [italics] “A” Division [/italics]: 1, Ronnie Horn; 2, N. Trump; 3, Roger Richardson. Time: 20.3 secs. [italics] “B” Division [/italics]: 1, [missing letters]rek Staples; 2, Clive Reed; 3, Robson Connocher. Time: 23.5 secs.
100 YDS. GIRLS UNDER 18 E.P. BREAST STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP. – 1, Lily Davidson; 2, Pauline Rauch. Time: 1 min. 32.4 secs.
100 YDS. BOYS UNDER 16 E.P. CHAMPIONSHIP. – 1, J. Bishop; 2, E. Stevens; 3, R. Prentice. Time 65.6 secs.
50 YDS. GIRLS 16 AND UNDER. – [italics] “A” Division [/italics]: 1, Joan Horn; 2, Mary Hops; 3, Lily Davidson. Time: 32.3 secs. [italics] “B” Division [/italics]: 1, H. Baynes; 2, P. Forster; 3, Hilary Kent. Time: 35.7 secs.
50 YDS. BOYS 16 AND UNDER. – [italics] “A” Division [/italics]: 1, E. Nicholson; 2, R. Crosby; 3, C. Alexander. Time: 27.5 secs. [italics] “B” Division [/italics]: 1, A. Robertson; 2, I. Lewis; 3, A.G. Blackburn. Time: 29 secs. [italics] “C” Division [/italics]: 1, J. Mortimer; 2, P. Koyd; 3, F. Soloman. Time: 32.6 secs.
It rather occurs to me that it is the common people who [italics] do [/italics] things. – [italics] Stephen Leacock. [/italics]
The best work in the world is done on the quiet. – ([italics] Proverb [/italics]).
Bacchus has drowned more men than Nepture. – [italics] Dr. Fuller’s Gnomologia, 1732. [/italics]
Our patience will achieve more than our force. – [italics] Edmond Burke, 1788. [/italics]
Licker talks mighty loud w’en it git loose from de jug. – [italics] J.C. Harris, author of Brer Rabbit. [/italics]
Enthusiasm is the genius of all sincerity. – [italics] Lord Lytton, 1834. [/italics]
[inserted] WRITERS AND ARTISTS WANTED!
Active correspondents for various parts of the Air School are still required, particularly in the Flights and among the goons. Full length articles should be submitted to The Editor, at “Q” Stores, while snippets of gossip should be sent to The Editor or put in “Woodpecker” Boxes.
There is also plenty of room for more artists to submit drawings and sketches, generally of a humorous, topical and local character. Candid camera or other interesting photographs are also acceptable. These should be sent direct to the Editor. [/inserted]
[page break]
40
[underlined] AIR SCHOOL SPORT – [/underlined]
Added Interest . . . . . . . . Shown in Tennis
[italics] Added interest is being shown in tennis on the station, and the second round in both the men’s and women’s leagues commenced during January. Spirit was keen but unfortunately all league games played were lost. [/italics]
THE feminine side has been a little weak but has been putting up a plucky fight against experienced league players. The men suffered their first defeat of the season when they met Ack Ack on 23.1.44. Our team was not at full strength through the absence of Lt. Bond and Cpl. Lyall, and ran up against a hot team in Ack Ack, who had the E.P. runner-up, Cpl. Midgley playing for them. It was a very good match producing excellent tennis which made it thoroughly enjoyable. “42” eventually lost by 3 games.
In the first round, 42 Air School (men) easily headed the log with 5 matches played and 5 matches won, scoring 10 points against Fortress with 6 points, who are reflected second on the log.
Our ladies did well to obtain fourth place in the ladies’ log with 4 points against the leaders’ (S.S.S.) 10.
The results of the three matches were:–
42 A.S. (ladies), 39 games, lost to Fortress, 60 games, by 21.
42 A.S. (ladies), 31 games, lost to S.A.A., 37 games, by 37.
42 A.S. (ladies), 39 games, lost to Fortress, 60 games, by 21.
CRICKET “IN THE DOLDRUMS”
CRICKET seems to have got in the doldrums as far as the inter-section games are concerned, only City League games being played during January.
On the 9th there was a Fortress game against Grahamstown and Port Alfred combined, and we had five players from this station representing Fortress, Lts. Edwards and Bond, Sgt. Waldeck, Cpl. Lyall and Cpl. Barnes. Lt. Edwards earned the distinction of successfully captaining the side which won by 132 runs. Cpl. Lyall took 7 wickets for 32 runs while the fielding of Lt. Bond was an object lesson, surpassing anything yet seen this season.
Seven City League games were played during the month. Four were won and three lost, one by the “A” and two by the “B” team. Seven batting performances of 30 and over were recorded. P/O Mills made the highest score with 59, while Capt. Spence got a useful double of 38 and 35, Lt. Bond doing the same with 41 and 30, followed by Rusling 45 and Vines 30. Only three bowling feats of 4 or more wickets were registered. A/M Scheckle obtained 5 for 26, which included the hat trick, the first of the season. Cpl. Lyall got 4 for 9 and Goetsch 4 for 2.
THE “WOODPECKER” NEVER SLEEPS!
[page break]
41
[underlined] By Lt. F.J. Horn [/underlined]
In the City League logs our “A” team occupied first position at the end of January, with 12 matches played; 7 wins, 3 loses, 2 draws – 16 points.
“B” team occupied third position with 8 matches, having won 4, lost 3 and drawn 1, giving 9 points – three behind the leaders, M.T.T. School.
Results of the seven City League matches played were:–
42 A.S. “A” (86) beat Driftsands (51) by 35 runs.
42 A.S. “B” (76) lost to M.T.T. “A” (119) by 43 runs.
42 A.S. “A” (130 for 5) beat Pirates (128) by 5 wickets.
42 A.S. “B” (74) lost to M.T.T. “A” (144 for 7) by 70 runs.
42 A.S. “A” (118) lost to Union (119 for 6) by 4 wickets.
42 A.S. “B” (78) beat M.T.T. “B” (44) by 34 runs.
42 A.S. “B” (200 for 6) beat M.T.T. “A” (52) by 4 wickets and 148 runs.
[inserted] SOCCER AGAIN!
In spite of scorching weather, a sudden urge to “have a kick round” has developed among the soccer fans. Several impromptu challenge matches have already been played on the aerodrome – resulting more in lost weight than improvement in style!
The soccer season will soon be opening officially, but will be the poorer this season for the loss of W/O “Tubby” Gregory, who has left for the United Kingdom. [/inserted]
REGULAR GOLF
RECENTLY our golfers have been getting matches fairly regularly with two representative Fortress matches in which Capt. Vigne, Lt. Collins, Lt. Bond, Lt. Norval, Lt. Stirk and Cpl. Dunn had the honour of representing Fortress against Fairview and Walmer.
Besides the above, 42 Air School were challenged to play against Fairview on the Fairview Course on 23.1.44 with a team of ten players. Fairview won by 5 to 4 3/4.
SQUASH INTEREST KEEN
THE W.A.A.F.s are taking a keen interest in Squash and there is a regular turn out on the Squash courts most nights. Cpl. Fuller is to be congratulated on the fine progress she has made.
GET YOUR NAME IN PRINT
[page break]
[advertisement]
[advertisement]
[advertisement]
[advertisement]
[page break]
BADMINTON STILL POP[missing letters]
[missing letters]MINTON still continues to be very popular and [missing words] Y.M.C.A. Sgt. Perks has developed into a really [missing words] Cpls. Steele and Tee are also making very good progress [missing words]
INTER-UNIT TENIQUOIT
MARY SPENCER-WATSON, Stella Nillson, Ethel Har[missing letters] [missing words] Eileen Tonks and Jessie Post made up the “42” [missing words] Teniquoit Tourney held at the Oval on 22.1.44. We too[missing letters] [missing words]
“NIGHT MUST FALL”
Postings and pending postings are interfering with reheasal[missing words] Williams’ “Night Must Fall,” the latest dramatic venture of [missing words] Air School. The posting of Les Banks has been a great [missing words] gap in the cast.
Among five of the certainties so far, however, are [missing words] Grayne [missing letters]onnie Visser (as Mrs. Bramson), Leone Phillip[missing letters] [missing words] Jill Lawrie (as Dora) and Ted Carter (as Hurbert). Prod[missing letters] [missing words] of Leslie T. Berry.
[advertisement]
[page break]
42
[partial advertisement]
[page break]
[missing letters]UT OURSELVES
[missing words] The Woodpecker” is copyright and must not be reproduced [missing words] the Editor or unless due acknowledgement is made.
[missing words] from all serving men and women of 42 Air School and Drift- [missing words] [missing letters]embers of the W.A.A.F., C.P.S., S.A.W.A.S. and other organ- [missing words] far as possible an endeavour will be made to return manu- [missing words] Editor cannot be responsible for contributions that are [missing words] [missing letters]uld be original and unpublished and authenticated with the [missing words] the contributor, not necessarily for publication. They should be [missing words], on one side of the paper and should rarely exceed 1,500 words.
[missing words] is published at sixpence monthly and any profits will be devoted [missing words]
THE STAFF
Captain F.S. Stapleton, D.S.O., D.F.C., R.A.F.
Lieutenant G.L. Hindley, R.A.F.V.R.
[missing words] [missing letters]s (in this issue): Lt. F.J. Horn, S.A.A.F.; F/Sgt. L.G. Gaze, R.A.F.;
[missing words] Thompson, R.A.F.V.R.; Sgt. E. Tonks, W.A.A.F.; Cpl. A.W. Linger-Harris, [missing words] L.A.C. J.M. Templeton, R.A.F.V.R.; Miss N. Perry, S.A.W.A.S., and others.
[missing words] issue): Lt. M.H. Tester (ex-42 A.S.); F/Sgt. A.C. Campbell (ex-42 A.S.); [missing words] Gaze, R.A.F.; Cpl. J. Bell, R.A.F.
[missing words] : Station Photographic Section, and other sources.
[missing words] J. Baker, R.A.F.V.R.
[missing words] R.C. Parks, R.A.F., and Airwoman G. Roux, W.A.A.F. [missing words] R.B. Beavington, R.A.F.V.R.
BACK NUMBE[missing letters]
[missing letters] Woodpecker” contained in Volumes [missing words] from October 1941 to September 1942 and from Nov./Dec. 1942 to Septem[missing letters]ocks of which are completely exhausted: Nov./Dec. 1942 January 1943.
In Volume III, copies of the October, November, December 1943 and January 1944 issues are still available at the usual price of 6d.
THE demand for “The Woodpecker” is so great that regular readers are strongly advised to make sure of their copies by forwarding order and remittance to The Editor, “The Woodpecker,” No. 42 Air School, Port Elizabeth.
THE MARCH “WOODPECKER”
The March “Woodpecker” will be published in four weeks’ time – on Friday, 24.3.44.
All copy, drawings, photographs, suggestions, etc. should be in the hands of the Editor (available in “Q” Stores) or put in “Woodpecker” Boxes by Friday, 10.3.44, to ensure inclusion.
“Woodpecker” Boxes are to be found at the Main Guard Room, opposite the Station Notice Board and in the Sergeants’ Mess.
Correspondents not at the Air School are advised to post copy to reach the Editor by 10.3.44.
Only copy of a particularly urgent nature should be submitted after that date.
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
The Woodpecker, February 1944
Description
An account of the resource
A magazine produced by the 42 Air School, South Africa. News, articles, jokes and cartoons about airmen at the school.
Creator
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42 Air School, RAF
Date
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1944-02
Format
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A 23 page printed newsletter
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Identifier
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MNealeETH1395951-150731-082
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
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South Africa
South Africa--Makhanda
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
arts and crafts
entertainment
sport
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1213/11962/EClarkAEDonaldsonJ430519-0001.2.jpg
32ee420d0a664c160e3b2c65ba49486e
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1213/11962/EClarkAEDonaldsonJ430519-0002.2.jpg
2a58148dc3c22818309da54956ac4324
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Donaldson, David
David Donaldson
D Donaldson
Description
An account of the resource
309 Items and a sub-collection of 51 items. Concerns Royal Air Force career of Wing Commander David Donaldson DSO and bar, DFC. A pilot, he joined the Royal Air Force Reserve in 1934. Mobilized in 1939. he undertook tours on 149, 57 and 156 and 192 Squadrons. He was photographed by Cecil Beaton at RAF Mildenhall in 1941. Collection contains a large number of letters to and from family members, friends as well as Royal Air Force personnel. Also included are personal and service documents, and his logbooks. In addition, there are photographs of family, service personnel and aircraft. After the war he became a solicitor. The collection also contains an oral history interview with Frances Grundy, his daughter.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Anna Frances Grundy and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-06-02
2022-10-17
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Donaldson, D
Grundy, AF
Transcribed document
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Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
St. Andrew’s
May 19th. 43.
My dear Joyce
Dorothy wrote yesterday & told me about David’s D.S.O.. Isn’t it splendid - I do feel quite set up with pride and pleasure! I don’t know David’s address so I must just leave it to you to pass this on to him. I am so glad.
I am spending two comfortable days with nothing to do except enjoy myself with the Head of St. Leonards School St. Andrews. This is a lovely old house – weather, after being incredibly bad nearly all the time for three weeks, has quite suddenly become perfect and St. Andrews – which is always like a little old grey town out of a fairy-tale – is almost too good to be true. But all along the sea-front the trees & flowering shrubs look as if they had been scorched – scarcely a leaf or a flower, from the terrible N.E. gale of Saturday week. I was at Aberdeen & it was awful.
I shall be back on the 25th – but I
[page break]
am very much afraid I shall be too late to see you & Frances. I [underlined] am [/underlined] so sorry. Anyhow this brings much love to you all three & please tell David how awfully pleased I am.
This doesn’t need an answer you know!
.With love from.
Nettie
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Joyce from his aunt A E Clark
Description
An account of the resource
Letter to Joyce Donaldson from his aunt Nettie. Writes she has heard about David's Distinguished Service Order and asks her to pass on congratulations. Describes her current activities, weather and local area of St Andrew's.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
A E Clark
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-05-19
Format
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Two page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EClarkAEDonaldsonJ430519
Coverage
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Civilian
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Fife
Scotland--St. Andrews
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-05-19
Distinguished Service Order
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/518/10448/MChadwickR18930430-150622-08.2.jpg
8dcf970df73f8028f10b823d054aa065
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Lapham, Rosemary
R Lapham
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
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Lapham, R
Description
An account of the resource
100 items. An oral history interview with Rosemary Lapham, the daughter of Roy Chadwick, family correspondence, congratulations on being honoured, personal documentation as well as photographs of family, acquaintances and aircraft. The collection also contains a thank you letter from Barnes Wallis to Roy Chadwick and a note from Arthur Harris to Robert Saundby about the in-feasibility of the Eder Möhne and Sorpe operation, some conceptual aircraft drawings and other mementos.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Rosemary Lapham and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-06-22
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Transcribed document
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Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[inserted vertically] London: Printed by Authority of the Registrar-General by Waterlow Bros. & Layton. Limited, 24, Birchin Lane, E.C. [inserted vertically]
BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT, 1874.
CERTIFICATE of REGISTRY of BIRTH
I, the undersigned, Do hereby certify that the Birth of Roy Chadwick born on the 30th day of April 1893, has been duly registered by me at No. 429 of my Register Book.
Witness my hand, this 17th day of May 1893
Alfred Edwards {Registrar of Births and Deaths.
Farnworth Sub-District.
[OVER.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Roy Chadwick Certificate of Registry of Birth
Description
An account of the resource
Certificate certifying birth of Roy Chadwick on 30 April 1893 was entered at No 429 of registry book
Creator
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A Edwards
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1893-05-17
Format
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One page printed form filled in
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Identifier
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MChadwickR18930430-150622-08
Coverage
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Civilian
Temporal Coverage
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1893-04-30
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
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Steve Baldwin
Chadwick, Roy (1893-1947)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/262/28703/MGouldAG1605203-160708-02.1.pdf
9cafd23c66cf62d3fc3c699782c6a993
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Gould, Allen
Allen G Gould
Allen Gould
A G Gould
A Gould
Description
An account of the resource
Twenty-seven items. Concerns Allen Geoffrey Gould (b. 1923, 1605203 Royal Air Force). He completed a tour of operations as a flight engineer with 620 Squadron and the Special Operations Executive. Collection consists of an oral history interview, his log book, flight engineer course notebooks, pilot's and engineers handling notes, mention in London Gazette, official documents and photographs.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Allen Geoffrey Gould and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-07-08
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Gould, AG
Requires
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Sgt. Allen G. Gould – 1605203, was born in 1923, after leaving school in Bournemouth at 13, he worked for the Danish Bacon Company until being called up in 1943. Choosing to join the RAF, initially wanting to be a Navigator, he ended up as a Flight Engineer, flying in the Short Stirling Mk. I, II, III and IV variants. Training at RAF St. Alban, then the Heavy Conversion Unit. Allen joined No. 620 Squadron, flying from various bases, RAF Chedburgh, RAF Leicester East and then RAF Fairford. The roles for this squadron were not just bombing missions but Minelaying, Supply drops, Glider Towing and Paratrooper drops. He took part in D-Day, dropping paratroopers from the 6th Airborne Division over Caen, France on the night of 5th June 1944, returning on the 6th towing a glider of heavy equipment. He was also a part of Market Garden, towing a glider on 17th September 1944 and returning on the 19th and 21st on supply drops. There were also numerous drops on behalf of Special Operations Executive (SOE) as well as Special Air Service (SAS) dropping supplies and paratroopers.
Andrew St.Denis
Allen Gould was born on 16 June 1923 in Bournemouth. He left school at fourteen and worked for the Danish Bacon company until he was called up. His father having spent four years in the trenches, in WW1, advised him against joining the Army, so he volunteered for the Royal Air Force.
He joined the RAF on in October 1942 and following basic training he attended the first-ever direct entry, Flight Engineers’ Course at RAF St Athan.
On completion of flight engineering training, he joined up with his crew on 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Stradishall, then moved with them onto 620 Squadron at RAF Chedburgh and later RAF Leicester East.
The squadron later relocated to RAF Fairford where they trained to tow gliders. He was billeted with 12 others in a Nissan hut, conveniently close to a trout stream. They often caught trout, away from the watchful eye of the bailiff and cooked them in a tin on the large coke stove that heated the hut. The illicit bounty was a most welcome supplement to the barely adequate daily rations they received.
Direct out of training with no aircraft experience he had to earn the trust of his crew who up until then had only come across experienced flight engineers. On only his second operational trip and flying with an inexperienced crew, they arrived late over Ludwigshafen, where they found themselves alone and under concentrated anti-aircraft fire. The aircraft was being peppered and was full of holes while the pilot was executing extreme manoeuvres trying to avoid further damage. A fuel tank was hit and Allen had to work hard to ensure the engines received sufficient fuel to keep running. At the same time he had to make sure there would be enough fuel remaining to get back to the south coast of England for an emergency landing. As the aircraft approached the runway, the airfield lights went out and the pilot announced he was going to do another circuit. Allen told him, bluntly, he couldn’t as he didn’t have enough fuel, so the pilot made a steep turn and conducted a blind landing with no fuel to spare. Allen bonded well with his crew and in their free time they would often all go out to the pub together.
Throughout his tour his squadron undertook a variety of roles, much of was it in support of the Special Operations Executive personnel, operating covertly in occupied Europe. They also trained to tow gliders and dropped parachuting troops on D Day.
Allen completed 32 operations as a flight engineer with 620 Squadron and he totalled over 460 flying hours on Stirlings. PGouldAG1610.2.jpg (1600×2310) (lincoln.ac.uk)
For his services to 620 Squadron, he was ‘Mentioned in Despatches’ for distinguished service. MGouldAG1605203-160708-13.2.pdf (lincoln.ac.uk)
Post war, he married his wife, Norma, who was training as a mechanic at St Athan when he met her. PGouldAG1601.2.jpg (1600×2412) (lincoln.ac.uk)
Allen was discharged in October 1946 having attained the rank of Warrant Officer. PGouldAG1604.1.jpg (1600×2330) (lincoln.ac.uk)
He returned to the Danish Bacon company where he worked for another 40 years.
Chriss Cann
October 1942: Volunteered for the RAF
January 1943 - July 1943: RAF St Athan, Flight Engineer Training
July 1943 - September 1943: RAF Stradishall, 1657 HCU, flying Stirling aircraft
September 1943 - December 1943: RAF Chedburgh, 620 Squadron, flying Stirling aircraft
January 1944 - March 1944: RAF Leicester East, 620 Squadron, flying Stirling aircraft
March 1944 - April 1945: RAF Fairford,620 Squadron, flying Stirling aircraft
8 October 1946: Released from service having attained the rank of Warrant Officer
Chris Cann
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
1605203
SGT GOULD A.G.
2 WORKSHOP
CLASS 3
Form 619.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
[Underlined] Stirling [/underlined]
[Underlined] School [/underlined]
Notebook for use in Schools.
[Page break]
[Diagrams]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Electrics [/underlined]
For a current to flow in a circuit it is necessary to have (1) An electrical pressure or E.M.F.
(2) Conductive Material.
(3) Complete circuit.
E.M.F. is measured in Volts with a Volt Meter connected in Parallel with the circuit.
Current is measured in Amps by means of an Ammeter which is connected in Series with the circuit.
Resistance is measured in Ohms and depends upon length & gauge of wire.
[Underlined] Ohms Law. [/underlined]
Volts / Current = Resistance in Ohms.
Volts x Current x Resistance.
Volts / Resistance = Current.
[Diagram]
Change resistance of lamp so that amps are 2 2/5 amps = 6 1/2 ohms
Power – measured in Watts
1 Watt = Volts x Amps
[Page break]
746 Watts = 1 Horse Power
Connection in Series.
(1.) Cells [diagram] = 6v
(2.) Resistance [diagram] = 6 Ohms
Connections in Parallel.
(1). Cells [diagram] 2v
(2) Resistance [diagram] [calculations]
Magnetic Effect of a Current
Strength of a field depends on :-
(1.) Current.
(2) No of turns.
i.e. on the number of turns.
(3) Whether coil is wound on soft iron.
[Page break]
Points to be considered in wiring an aircraft.
(1.) Voltages required to operate the various components.
(2) Size of cables – weight involved.
(3.) Size of switches – space involved.
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Accumulators. [\underlined]
Lead Accumulator
Voltage per cell 2.2
2 Plates 1 of Lead Peroxide Composition Positive
1 of Lead Negative.
Diluted Sulphuric Acid.
Fully Charged Condition
Specific Gravity 1.35
Voltage 2.2 v
Finall [sic] Charge while Gassing 2.7v
Fully Discharged Condition.
Specific Gravity 1.18
Voltage 1.8
Discharge weakens acid & fords Lead Sulphate on plates.
[Page break]
Amp hour Efficiency must be 60% to be airworthy.
[Underlined] Capacity [/underlined] Measurement is Amp hours based on the 10hr Rate.
[Underlined] Efficiency [/underlined] is the Amp hours discharge/Amp hr charge Approx 80-90%
[Underlined] Generator Cuts Out. [/underlined] 27v to Cut In
7 amps to Cut Out (reverse current)
[Diagram]
[Diagram]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Relay Switch. [/underlined] (1) Handles the heavy current
(2) Wiring run is shortened (3) Volt drop in run is lowered.(4) Heavy cabling kept from cockpit.
[Underlined] Used [\underlined]
Landing Lamps, Undercart, & Heater.
[Underlined] Voltage Regulator [\underlined]
2 Parts Voltage Reg & Current Regulator terminators are connected in Parallel.
Shunt Generator.
Speed & Magnetic Field Control the Current of the Generator Controlled by the Carbon [indecipherable word].
Magnet works motor which spins Carbon [indecipherable word] [symbol] worked by coil connected across [indecipherable word] of Generator.
[Indecipherable word] prevents the motor from [indecipherable word]
[Diagram]
2. Voltmeter in Charging Circuit but no Magneto
[Page break]
[Blank Page]
[Page break]
Theory of Flight
Air Resistance (Drag). depends on :-
(1.) Shape & attitude
(2.) Frontal Area
(3.) Air density (.077lb [symbol] ft at sea level)
(4.) (Airspeed) 2
Types of Drag.
(1.) Form Drag – due to shape, reduced by streamlining
(2.) Skin Friction – reduced by polishing skin
Fineness Ratio = Length / Max Width which should be 1/3 back.
Skin Friction – due to nature of surface & air density.
(3) Induced drag – due to production of a/c – reduced by using high aspect ratio, tapering [indecipherable word].
Total Drag.
[Diagram]
[Page break]
Aerofoils.
Bernouilli’s [sic] Theory.
Total energy of a fluid = Constant
Kinetic Energy + Pressure Energy = Constant
Thus an increase in speed will cause a decrease in pressure & vice versa (Venturi Effect)
Production of Lift.
Angle of Attack
[Table]
[Page break]
Indicated Air Speed (I.A.S.) = Speed from A.S.I.
Rectified Air Speed (R.A.S.) = IAS [symbol] Instrument Error Corrections
[Symbol] Position Error Correction.
True Air Speed = R.A.S x Altitude Correction Factor
Position Error Correction at 65,000ft Load with Pressure Head on top of Fuselage.
[Table]
[Calculations]
The total drag of an a/c is least [indecipherable words] when flying at the Optimal angle of attack and the speed at this angle of attack is [indecipherable word] as the [indecipherable words] Cruising [indecipherable word] Moderated Stalling Speed for as a/c of given weight is the same for all attitudes, but the True Stalling Speed increases as the altitude increases.
[Page break]
(S.H.F.) Steady Horizontal Flight
Relationship between Airspeed & Angle of Attack
Economical Cruising Speed.
S.H.F. is Flight at Constant Height at a Constant Speed.
For an aircraft to be in S.H.F. the two following conditions must be satisfied:-
Lift = Weight of Aircraft
Thrust = Drag.
An aircraft may be in steady H.F. at different angles of attack and different air speeds.
For a given a/c at a given Weight, for each angle of attack there is one corresponding speed of horizontal Flight & 1 only.
Assume a Stirling weighing 65,000 lbs is in S.H.F. at 6° Angle of Attack & 165 miles an hour. Thus the same aircraft could be flown at a greater speed but the angle of attack would have to be less than 6° x Similarly it could be flown at a less speed but in this case the angle of attack would have to be more than 6°.
However, out of all these possible combinations of angle of attack & airspeed, only 1 angle of attack & thus only 1 corresponding airspeed will at the same time give minimum drag & hence maximum range.
The angle of attack is the optimum angle and the corresponding airspeed is Economical Cruising Speed
[Page break]
The effect of Weight of Aircraft on Cruising Speeds.
[Underlined] Example [/underlined]
Stirling.
Outward bound (Heavy)
Recommended I.A.S. = 165 m.p.h.
Homeward bound (Light)
Recommended I.A.S. = 160 m.p.h.
The reason for the above difference is the difference in weight carried on the two trips.
No matter what the weight of the same aircraft, for maximum range it must be flown at the Optimum Angle of Attack. Thus the less the weight of the aircraft, the Less Lift required, hence the Less Speed required to give the Lift.
[Page break]
[Blank Page]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Engineering Science. [/underlined]
Graphs of Hercules Economical Cruising Boost &[indecipherable word] & Altitude Corrective Factor.
For any particular power requirement with in the economical cruising range the best conditions are obtained by reducing the R.P.M. and keeping the boost up as long as it does not exceed + 1lb [symbol] “
[Underlined] Engine Operational Conditions [/underlined] [underlined] B.P. [/underlined]
Takeoff (3 mins) RPM 28,000 + 6 3/4
Max Climb (30 mins) RPM 25,000 + 3 1/2
Max for Continuous Cruising (Rich) 25,000 + 3 1/2
Max Cruising (Work) 25,000 + 1
Max All Out Level (5 mins) 28,000 + 6 3/4
[Page break]
[Blank Page]
[Page break]
Supercharging.
Volumetric Efficiency = Weight of charge forced in per [indecipherable word] stroke / Weight of Charge to Fill [indecipherable word] Vol at N.T.P.
Normal Temp = 15° 6.
Normal Pressure = 14.7 lbs [symbol] “
High Boost, Low Revs for maximum Range
Methods of increasing power
[Calculation]
I.H.P. may be increased by
(1.) Increasing C ([indecipherable word]) Limits, [indecipherable word] weight, drag
(2) LA ([indecipherable word] x area = ) Weight Volume Limit as before
(3.) Increase N (RPM It [deleted word] Power to Drive [indecipherable words] increase. Dynamic Stress x [Indecipherable words]
(4) Increase [indecipherable word] In this case the increase in power would be got without the [indecipherable word] involved in (3), thus it is best to Increase Pressure. To do this we apply a [indecipherable word], rather than using light
[Page break]
comparison ratio.
Boost Pressure (British Engines)
Pressure above + or below - (14.7 lb [symbol] “). Note Air Ministry on Boost of RPM for specified operational condition (See Handbook)
Climb
(1.) Atmospheric Pressure Decreases, Power falls off
(2) Temp decreases, This will tend to compensate for fall off in power to (1)
Combined effect of 1 & 2 gives us a fall in Power
Power Altitude Curve N.A. Engine
[Diagram]
Effect of Maintaining constant Indicated Pressure with S/C + ABC.
[Diagram]
[Page break]
The gain to full throttle Height is the (1) [indecipherable words]
(2) Better Economy, both at altitude.
Pressure Ratio of S/G = Outlet Pressure / Inlet Pressure
Comparison of M & S Gear
[Table]
(a) High Revs – Low Boost
(b) Low Revs – High Boost
(c) Both Revs + Boost lower.
(a) Charger absorbs power without much height, Engine & [indecipherable word] losses high. (More Oil)
(b) Power taken by Charger reduced, Engine Losses reduced
[Page break]
Max Available Cruising Power
[Diagram]
to fly @ 170 IAS
The power required to fly an aircraft at any given I.A.S. Increases steadily with altitude as Seen by the graph
The increase is due to the [indecipherable word] in I.A.S. while the drag remains constant.
The Altitude where the power required crosses the power available is the ceiling of the aircraft. This ceiling is not fixed because as the speed & load vary, the power required line varies if S gear is engaged at sea level the power available drops because of the higher temp of the S gear change + the extra power to drive S gear that due to the higher gear ratio the boost pressure can be maintained to a higher altitude.
S gear always requires more fuel per H.P. than M therefore whenever possible M gear must be used. When cruising engage S gear only if the speed required cannot be obtained in M.
[Page break]
Climbing
[Diagram]
Gear change when climbing.
The gear to use in a climb is always the one which is capable of giving the higher rate of climb. That is the one which gives the greater horsepower. From sealevel up to 9,000 ft M gear gives more HP than S despite the fact that at 9,000 ft the boost in M has dropped to +3 ½. From 9,000 ft on, S gear gives more H.P. than M. Therefore when climbing change to S gear at 9,000 ft or where the boost in M has dropped to +3 1/2.
Performance.
Range Flying – Big bomb load – smallest possible fuel load.
Range Flying.
This is the condition of Flight normally met in a Stirling, where the pilot is trying to obtain maximum miles per gallon. For this the petrol used per mile
[Page break]
must be best, and since each gallon of petrol is equal to a certain number of ft lb of work, the work done per mile must be best i.e. Drag must be a minimum. Since lift is fixed equal to weight, drag will be best when the lift drag ratio is greatest i.e. when flying at the optimum angle of attack.
In flight it is impossible to measure directly the angle of attack sufficiently accurately to make sure of flying at the optimum angle. At the average outward load of 66,000 lbs the optimum angle can only be obtained by flying at 160 IAS. And on the return journey where the load is reduced to 55,000 average, the speed must be reduced to 155 IAS to maintain the optimum angle. Therefore the speed given above is the most economical and will give maximum A.M.P.G.
[Diagram]
[Page break]
[Table]
[Calculations]
[Table] [Calculations]
[Page break]
[Calculation]
Trip 1200 Fuel required 1900 Fuel Taken 1946
[Calculations]
[Page break]
With the exception given below the range obtainable in a Stirling is independent of the altitude at which the aircraft is flying. The reason is that as altitude increases the pilot must maintain the same IAS to get maximum range and is therefore encountering the same drag.
Therefore the work done per mile is the same at all altitudes, and the range obtainable does not alter.
[Underlined] Exceptions. [/underlined]
At some altitudes the engine can get work out of petrol with greater efficiency than at others not therefore at the more efficient altitudes the range obtainable will increase. Above about 16,000 ft S gear must be engaged and below about 6,000 ft the engine is partly throttled, therefore at these particular altitudes engine efficiency drops and range is reduced.
[Page break]
[Table]
Duration Cruising (Endurance)
This condition is not very [indecipherable word] a Stirling It occurs when the pilot is trying to obtain Max Time in the air. The time is the air depends on the G.P.H. & will be the greatest when the G.P.H. is least i.e. when the H.P. is best. To reduce the H.P. Pilot must operate his revs & throttle and as he cuts the H.P. the speed will drop and the angle of attack will increase.
As this happens the amount of control over the a/c becomes smaller. Minimum galls per hour are obtained
[Page break]
when the H.P has been reduced just sufficiently to allow the pilot, reasonable control.
Range flying is minimum power.
Duration flying is minimum work.
For minimum control the pilot must maintain a certain I.A.S. and the power required to do this will increase steadily as altitude increases owing to the increase in TAS. Therefore gallons per hour will be best and duration greatest when flying at the lowest possible operational altitude.
Calculation
(1.) Enter Fuel Left.
(2) Switch Tanks
(3) Subtract Fuel
[Page break]
[Table]
[Calculations]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Climbing [\underlined]
During a climb the engines are working against 2 forces – Drag & Gravity & the rate of climb will depend on the amount of H.P. which can be used against Gravity. The H.P. used against drag increases steadily as forward speed increases but the thrust H.P available from the engines in a climb also increases as forward speed increases due to a steady rise in propellor [sic] efficiency. These 2 facts are shown by the 2 graphs – HP available & H.P. required against drag.
[Diagram]
From the graph is will be seen that the biggest margin of power available for climbing [indecipherable word] at about 160 IAS therefore this speed will give the highest rate of climb. To obtain this speed the engines are opened up to Max Climbing (2400 w +6) and speed reduced to 160 by adjusting the angle of climb.
[Page break]
[Blank page]
[Page break]
[Table]
[Page break]
[Blank Page]
[Diagram]
Stirling Circuit & Bumps
[Page break]
[Table]
[Calculations]
[Page break]
[Calculations]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Stirling school flight engineer course notes
Description
An account of the resource
Notes covering electrics, theory of flight, engineering science, supercharging, power, fuel consumption and engine use in various stages of flight.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
A Gould
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MGouldAG1605203-160708-02
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Training material
Format
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Thirty two page notebook with cover
Contributor
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Anne-Marie Watson
Steve Baldwin
aircrew
flight engineer
Stirling
training
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Leedham, Alma
Alma Lucy Muriel Leedham
A L M Leedham
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Leedham, A
Description
An account of the resource
Four items. An oral history interview with Alma Lucy Muriel Leedham (1922 - 2020, 455833 Royal Air Force), memoirs of herself and her husband Warrant Officer Terence Leedham an armourer who also served on a number of bomber command stations. She served as a driver in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force stationed at RAF Scampton and East Kirkby.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Alma Leedham and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-05-14
2017-05-26
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Alma Leedham
I was born in Fulham, London on 26th June 1922. I am now 91 years old and trying to put into words some of the things that have happened during the years so far. I had no sisters and just one brother. Graham was two years younger than me and from the age of 6ys I was made responsible for his safety. London was a wonderful place in those days. We were allowed to wander off and visit Museums and anything that was ‘Free of charge’.
.We [sic] learnt to swim in the Thames and were constantly going over the bridge into Putney for the start of the Oxford & Cambridge boat race each year. When I was 11 years old the family moved to Kingston-on-Thames. Because I had been run over by a car when I was 9yrs old I did not go to school for several weeks (in those days it was not considered important for a girl to do well at school – she would grow up and get married). I was just 14yrs and 1 month when I left school and got a job as an apprentice dressmaker. I made tea, washed up and went out to buy buns for the ladies tea break during which time, I also had to take material to another shop where buttons and belt buckles were made to order. I was there for about 6 weeks, earning 5 shillings per week and I got the sack for sliding down the banisters.of [sic] the 3 storey workshop. Apart from getting another job on the way home, not a lot happened until War was declared in September 1939. By then I was 17yrs of age and working as a Progress Chaser at Hawker Aircraft where the Hurricanes were being built. I stayed with them until near the end of 1941 when I decided to join the RAF
Learning to drive at Blackpool was not easy. There were 3 girls to each car and, when 4 of our ”Teachers” were picked up on a smash-and-grab raid by the Police, we had to start from “scratch” in North Wales which, at that time of year, was really beautiful with all the many rhodedendrons [sic] in full bloom. Three weeks on cars followed by another 3 weeks on lorries found most of us having passed all tests. Our half days were spent on classroom work where we learnt all about what went on under the bonnet
Early in June 1942 I was posted to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire where as WAAFs we were billeted in what had been originally, the married quarters. There were 3 of us to a room. Kath Williams (known as Bill), Vivian Winsome and myself. I think there were at least two more girls in the upstairs bedroom. (I little knew then that my second daughter would be born in the same house, No 18,. Some years later) Of course we only used the house for sleeping and our meals were served in the main cookhouse which also served as a cinema in the evenings. Driving all types of vehicles and meeting all sorts of people was soon part of the daily round. At that time Squadrons using the 4 hangers were 83 Sqdn who were in the process of changing from Wellingtons to Lancasters and 49 Sqdn who were flying Manchesters. Manchesters only had 2 engines and so, apparently, were not able to travel the required distances to Germany and were taken out of use. 83 Sqdn had been posted down south where I think they became part of the Pathfinders and, 57 Sqdn from Feltwell in Norfolk arrived as their replacement. It was then that I was transferred from a general driver in the MT Service area to 57 Sqdn as a tractor driver; taking the bombs from the Bomb Dump to the kites (as the planes were called in those days).. My house mate, Vivian, worked in the Bomb Dump and each morning she would have 6 bombed up trolleys (2 bomb loads) ready for me to take to the aircraft that would
[page break]
Be flying that night and I would leave for the dispersal points where the armourers would be waiting to take one 4,000 bomb and 2 loads of incendiaries for each aircraft. I soon got to know quite a few of the Ground Crews and to cut a long story short, among them was the man who was destined to become my future husband. Lofty Leedham (he was 6’2”) as he was known then was a Flight Sergeant in charge of the guns and turrets and the men who worked on them. Our boss was Warrant Officer Cook but, to tell you about him would make my story a great deal longer. It was quite a while before I discovered that Lofty’s Christian name was Terry. Our first date was on 6/06/43 and early in July Terry came down to Kingston-on-Thames to meet my Mum & Dad. In the August, only a month later 57 Sqdn was moved to East Kirkby where A Flight of 57 became part of the newly formed 630 Sqdn. We got married on 12th September from my parents home in Kingston-upon-Thames. Due to “rationing” and a shortage of everything, our wedding took place with me wearing a borrowed wedding dress but, we did manage with the help of neighbours, who gave us their food coupons, to have a small Wedding cake. Because the arrangements we had made for our honeymoon collapsed, we spent the next week living with my parents and going to London most evenings to see some of the shows. We did manage to see the Beverly Sisters and Danny Kaye before going back to East Kirkby where arrangements had been made for us to live “Off Camp”. the farm/pub where we slept was homely and was also very handy, as the bottom end of the farm was the boundary of the RAF perimeter and it was just a case of lifting our bikes over the railing and cycling round the Airfield to where we worked. It was then that I was put on night duty, so we were almost just passing each other, either to go to work or to come home each morning and evening. But that didn’t last for long when the discovery that I was !expecting! got me sent home to Mum & Dad. So I was no longer a member of the RAF. When in August of the following year our first daughter, Lesley, was born, we managed to find ‘Living Out’ accommodation in Lincoln which was some way from being ideal. Being back at RAF Scampton was like going home for us. We eventually were given the opportunity to taking over one of the Married Quarters with the provision that we clean it up and make it liveable. That was when we moved into No 18. and where our second daughter, Valerie was born, almost exactly 2 years after Lesley. (just 4 days difference). This was quite soon after we had found a nine month flatcoat (like a golden retriever only black). We called him “N*****” after Guy Gibson’s dog. He was a birthday present for Lesley. In those days we didn’t have much money so we were very pleased when the local butcher gave him to us. His history was that he had been bought by a couple for their son who had unfortunately been killed in Germany and they were unwilling to keep the dog. N***** spent many years with us but there were times when we had to leave him with my parents. For instance, when Terry was posted to the middle East and Singapore. I often had to wait a long time for a married quarter to become available but when I was able to take the girls to where ever Terry was serving I had to leave N***** with my family and go. . . N***** was always so pleased to see us each time we came home. The years passed and when we were living near Salisbury and the girls were starting to go to school there were no married quarters available, so we bought a caravan and got permission to live in the grounds of the nearby School of Chemical Warfare where Terry was in charge of “Working with Chemicals” . . Soon after we moved into the married quarter. I discovered that I was expecting another baby who arrived in the January and was our son, Richard. We now had three Children. . The next posting was Singapore and
[page break]
I waited 15months [sic] before getting a trip on the Asturius, (troopship) with the girls to join him. . The Suez Canal was not available for us in those years so, a trip round the bottom end of Africa lengthened our journey to Singapore. Terry met the ship on the harbour and took us to our new home in Serangoon Valley. (All this was written some time ago and I am now trying to make some sort of finish. (Terry died 25years [sic] ago and my memory is not quite what it was . . . . I am now 93 years old. .
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Alma Leedham's memoir
Description
An account of the resource
Tells of early life in London, joining the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force in 1941 and training as a driver. Relates experiences at RAF Scampton and then with 57 Squadron as a tractor driver pulling bomb trolleys. Subsequently went to East Kirkby. Married Terence Leedham who was an armourer on 57 Squadron in late 1943. Left the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force on expecting her first child. Continues with family history at RAF Scampton and postings to the middle east and Singapore.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
A Leedham
Format
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Three page printed document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
BLeedhamALeedhamAv1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
England--Lincolnshire
England--Kingston upon Thames
England--Surrey
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-06
1942-09-12
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
49 Squadron
57 Squadron
630 Squadron
83 Squadron
animal
bomb dump
bomb trolley
ground personnel
Lancaster
love and romance
Manchester
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF East Kirkby
RAF Scampton
service vehicle
tractor
Wellington
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Stevens, Peter
Peter Stevens
P Stevens
Georg Franz Hein
Description
An account of the resource
Eleven items. The collection concerns Squadron Leader Peter Stevens, Military Cross, (1919 - 1979, Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, letters and photographs. Originally called Georg Franz Hein, a German Jew, he was sent to Great Britain by his mother in 1934. He attended school in England and when war was declared he assumed the name of Peter Stevens, a deceased school friend. He joined the Air Force and flew operations as a pilot with 144 Squadron before crash landing his Hampden at Amsterdam in September 1941 and becoming a prisoner of war. <br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Marc Stevens and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. This collection was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.<br />
<p>This collection also contains items concerning Ivor Fraser. Additional information on Ivor Fraser is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/108075/">IBCC Losses Database</a>.</p>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-07-09
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Stevens, MH
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[inserted][underlined] SECRET & PERSONAL [/underlined][/inserted]
H.Q. Sdn. Air Division
C.C. Germany.
24.2.46.
Dear John,
Thank you for your letter 15/P.M/4616 of the 2nd I [indecipherable] with reference to S/L Stevens who is now filling an appointment as my P.A.
Stevens has been my P.A. since Aug. 1945 and I have nothing but good to say of him. He is hard working and loyal and in my opinion in every way suitable for nationalisation and the grant of a British passport. I am firmly convinced of his complete loyalty and integrity which is supported moreover by his operational [indecipherable].
[page break]
2.
He was recently selected by the Air C-in-C. to be his P.A. in [indecipherable] to S/L. Wright but this appointment had to be cancelled in view of Sir Sholto Douglas’s new appointment.
I have every reason personally to be grateful to him as he took over from my pilot who had a serious breakdown during a flight from Copenhagen to Berlin which resulted in a crash landing in fog and darkness in the Russian occupied zone of Germany on
[page break]
Dec. 21st 1945. His skill and determination under the most trying circumstances undoubtedly saved my life and those of five other passengers in my aircraft.
I would be delighted if you could now legalise his position and am prepared to give you any further information if necessary
Yours sincerely
A.P. Davidson
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Air Vice Marshal Davidson to Wing Commander W R John
Description
An account of the resource
John was tasked with investigating Peter Stevens' RAF record in order to ascertain his suitability for British citizenship. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
A P Davidson
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-02-24
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Three page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EDavidsonAP[Unknown]J450224
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-02-24
1945-08
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
Marc Stevens
forced landing
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1211/15777/EStottAEBlandfordJVarious-0002.2.jpg
0e1c9c030013ff3f9cc44f75244a52f1
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Stott, Robert
Stott, R
Description
An account of the resource
13 items. The collection concerns Pilot Officer Robert Stott (162588) DFM and contains photographs, letters and correspondence relating to his award of the Distinguished Flying Medal and his subsequent death in action on 26/27 November 1943. He flew operatoins as an air gunner with 101 Squadron from RAF Ludford Magna. <br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Jim Yule and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle. <br />Additional information on Robert Stott is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/122514/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IBCC Losses Database</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-10-01
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Yule, J
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
19/12/43. 1)
Arrived safe 24.4.1944
174 High Street
Musselburgh
Mid. Lothian.
[missing letters]ar Mr. Blandford,
Just a few lines to thank [missing word] very much for your nice letter I [missing letters]ived here on Friday. When I read it at [missing word] I was at a loss as to who you [missing word] as in my husbands crew there is [missing word] name like Blandford. So I am send- [missing letters] on the post card snap of his crew [missing letter]lso of the Navigator. The only thing I [missing word] think is that Sgt. Whittle may [missing word] been on sick leave & your son [missing word] in his place but please let me know. [missing word] any word does come in which I [missing word] will I will certainly let you [missing word]. It is only people like us who [missing word] had the [indecipherable word] really [indecipherable word] & worse [missing word] not express just how we feel. [missing word] will close now & I am praying & [missing letters]g we will get word soon.
Yours. Sincerely.
(Mrs) Agnes E. Stott.
[page break]
1)
174 High Street
Musselburgh
Mid. Lothian.
7:1:44
Dear Mr. Blandford.
Please forgive me writing you again so soon. But today I only learned that Sgt. Whittle is in sick bay with a perforated ear drum & I did not know. I hope you will forgive me writing you saying the Navigator’s name was not the same.
I hope to before very long now we will get word soon.
Yours Very Sincerely.
(Mrs) Agnes E. Stott.
[page break]
Replied [underlined] 1-2-1944 [/underlined]
174 High Street
Musselburgh
Mid. Lothian.
28:1:44
Dear Mr. Blandford.
It is with deep regret I write you at this time. on the 26 January I received word from the Air Ministry (I here quot [sic] their telegram).
According to information received through the International Red Cross Committee your husband Sgt. R. Stott (D.F.M.) is [indecipherable word] to have lost his life as the result of Air Operations on 26/11/43.
It came as a sudden shock but I still can’t believe it. I still do think he is still at liberty. It is my only hope now. If you have received similar news I pray to God to give you strength to carry on at this time.
Yours Very Sincerely
Agnes E. Stott.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Three letters from Robert Stott's wife
Description
An account of the resource
Letters from Agnes Stott to a fellow crew member's father, comments on confusion about regular crew member who did not fly with them on their last operation and telling him that she had received formal notice that Robert had died.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Agnes Stott
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-04-19
1944-01-07
1944-01-28
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Three handwritten letters
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text. Correspondence
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EStottAEBlandfordJVarious-0002
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-04-19
1944-01-07
1944-01-28
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
killed in action
missing in action
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2563/44398/MParryWE1172401-220531-03.1.pdf
9c7a743718410b920ea1606373dcfa71
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Parry, William Edward
Parry, W E
Description
An account of the resource
34 items. The collection concerns Pilot Officer William Edward Parry DFC (1912 - 1996, 1177401 Royal Air Force) and contains his decorations, documents and photographs. He flew operations as a pilot with 9 Squadron.
The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Frances Lee and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2022-05-31
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Parry, WE
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] Notes of interview with William Parry IX Sqn. Ground Crew 11.8.94 [underlined] – Andrew Hobley.
Born 1912. left school 1928. Lived in Birkenhead.
Moved to Church Streton to work for G.W.R. Reserved occupation. Left job and joined R.A.F.V.R., intending to become air crew (1940) At Cardington failed as air crew as night vision insuffient.
Offered chance to return to job (as not conscripted) but asked for job to do with aircraft and flying. Sent to Halton on engineering course. On 2 week leave pass went through Coventry on day after raid with Fellow “Halton Brat” who came from Coventry.
Joined a Sqn. Dec. 1940 as L.A.C. After 4/5 months sent back to do conversion course at Cosford. Applied to go on flying boat Squadron (as Sunderlands always carried a ground crew member) Posted back to 9 Sqn
9 Sqn. had Wellingtons till June ‘42
Manchesters June 42 – Aug ‘42
Lancasters after.
Main fault of Lancasters tendency to swing to port on take off, due to airflow from stbd inner. Saw one pilot (new) swing to port, overcompensate to sbd, aircraft u/c. collapsed port wing ripped, fire started. Never saw crew leave a/c so fast! After fire & bomb load want off no need for crane to pick up pieces!
Sent on two short courses with A V Roe at Woodford, saw Lancaster assembly shop & test field. Came of [sic] line (three line, one a/c per day) oiled & fueled [sic], taken straight up by pilot and air-tested.
[page break]
As Sergt. Supervised maintainence [sic] of 3 a/c. towards end of war was acting F/Sgt in B flight, supervising 9 – 10 a/c. Not yet involved with repair work himself, but served air worthy Form. Normaly [sic] 3 men per aircraft, two engine fitters, one airframe fitter.
For ED656 – Engine fitters. Bob Taylor
Alan Willgress (from Kings Lyn)
Airframe fitter. ‘pop’ [deleted] Burckell [/deleted] Burcknell (from Bourne, Lincs) Aged 44.
Stayed with 9 Sqd. till demobalised [sic] 1946 Serviced a/c with “Tallboys” – beautifully engineered bomb, shame to waste such skill on a bomb! Held in b’bay by sling – would sometimes drop back on take-off or landing – tail would break through bulkhead at rear of b’bay, this evening drop [two indecipherable words] 14.1.44. [two indecipherable words]
After leaving R.A.F. – (would have prefered [sic] to stay in but wife preferred him out) G.W.R. did not want to know him. Finaly got job with local electricity board in [deleted]Salop [/deleted] Shropshire.
Enjoyed the wartime years, inspite of the dangers.
Little interfearence [sic] from higher authority.
1) Not normal to take off of both magnetos as each engine not working. All landed off base – went to check as crew said mag. not working. One mag. dead. Sqd. Leader with him decided to take off & did (Normal to take Sgt as F/Eng)
[page break]
2) A/C dropped in at half finished airfield, only half a runway – landed O.K. but take off problem. Took out all armament & ammo, minimum fuel load, picked up boost to engine and got a/c off.
3) [indecipherable word] A/C landed little Snoring. All gone bar two. Final one motors and airframe O.K. rest duff. Pilot W/op & Parry took off. No wireless, no IFF. Murky day went up to 2000’, above cloud, and flew over Wash. Pilot suddenly noticed little black puffs ahead – flak!! Dived through cloud to be seen – was Navy.
4) End of war – flew to little airfield (just liberated) to set up POW shuttle. Aim to get servicing party established, took two Lancs loaded with equipment spare wheels loaded into bomb bay. Got to take off – pilot found b’bay doors would not close because of load – took off with doors open – very draftty [sic] – landed with feet frozen.
5) Close shave with John Evans. Had problem with a/c. Parry asked for air test. Evans asked for Bill to come up too as F/Eng. Went to Wainfleet, droped [sic] six practice bombs. Had permission to return at low level – went down low over sea of Skegness, then over land 200’. Came over [indecipherable word] nr. Spilsbury [sic]. Evans dropped a/c right down low – on pull out at end of run, took 12’ off fir tree. Temp. in Std outer shot up. Parry cut & feathered as smoke coming out, rest of engines to full power took up to 2000’. Engine still smoking. Evans suggested may have to jump Parry not amused as not wearing harness (too uncomfortable) and ‘chute back by entrance door!
[page break]
Smoke died off – was in fact steam. Got back to base sbd outer u/s, main spar damaged. Evans faced Court Martial – but lost in action before this.
6) superstitious Fl Lght [sic] Jim Lawn (NZ) devout R-Catholic always had St. Christopher medalion [sic] on instrument panel. (flew later WS-V.) Parry had to make sure medalion [sic] moved if flew other a/c.
Completed tour & went to training command at Swinderby, killed in accident caused by ground crew. It severed [indecipherable word] line [underlined] never [/underlined] just blocked with rag. A/C. engine Caught fire. a/c crashed. 7 crew, Cairns & 2 ground crew killed. [indecipherable word] line had been plugged with rag and engine over heated. Buried at Newark war cemetery. (also 1/2 crew had no chutes). Crashed nr. Lincoln.
13.4.45 moved to Bardney. Paddy joined soon after outstanding pilot – Could turn Lancaster [indecipherable word] up. Close friends. Shared many drinks in Sgts Mess, Saraus [sic] Head Lincoln & pub by railway station.
Came from Waterford, Irish National and proud of it. Joined up to fly. Only captain of aircraft still Non-Com. Group [deleted] Commander [/deleted] Captain called him in & said should apply for commision [sic] Delighted to meet an Irishman who was still patriotic. Paddy told him what to do with Commission! Never less commissioned later.
Fearlessness probably killed him. Q F I given was 250’ too low, so crashed. Would let down of clouds till could see trees above clouds. Presumably pressing on, not holding back. Originaly [sic] told 2 crew survived, then only one (rear gunner)
PTO
[indecipherable line]
[page break]
Paddy’s opinion of war – no qualm Bomb as many as can!
Photo (ED656 & crew) taken after air test soon after crashed & killed)
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Notes of Interview with William Parry 9 Squadron Ground Crew
Description
An account of the resource
A biography of Bill covering his RAF years.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Andrew Hobley
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1994-08-11
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Five handwritten sheets
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MParryWE1172401-220531-03
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
9 Squadron
ground crew
ground personnel
Lancaster
Manchester
pilot
prisoner of war
RAF Cardington
RAF Cosford
RAF Halton
RAF Little Snoring
Sunderland
Tallboy
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/518/10443/EHarrisATWallisB430214.1.jpg
ad3b3914a5498ed95aeff6f66e90ae87
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lapham, Rosemary
R Lapham
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lapham, R
Description
An account of the resource
100 items. An oral history interview with Rosemary Lapham, the daughter of Roy Chadwick, family correspondence, congratulations on being honoured, personal documentation as well as photographs of family, acquaintances and aircraft. The collection also contains a thank you letter from Barnes Wallis to Roy Chadwick and a note from Arthur Harris to Robert Saundby about the in-feasibility of the Eder Möhne and Sorpe operation, some conceptual aircraft drawings and other mementos.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Rosemary Lapham and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-06-22
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
this on a clear night with moonlight and radio altimeters. A.C.A.S. (T.R) suggested that we might send an experienced Lancaster Squadron Commander to the meeting on Monday to express an opinion on this point.
“IT WON’T WORK,” BOMBER HARRIS
[signature]
[underlined] 14th February 1943. S.A.S.O. [/underlined]
S.A.S.[underlined]O.[/underlined] This is tripe of the wildest description. There are so many ifs & ands that there is not the smallest chance of it working. To begin with the bomb would have to be [underlined] perfectly [/underlined] balanced round it’s axis. [indecipherable word] rotation at 500 RPM would wreck the aircraft or tear the bomb loose. I don’t believe a word of it’s supposed [indecipherable word] on the surface.
It would be much easier to design a “[indecipherable word]” bomb [inserted sketch] to run on the surface, bust it’s nose in on contact, sink & explode. This bomb would of course be heavier than water & exactly fit existing bomb bays.
At all costs stop them putting aside Lances [sic] & reducing our bombing effort on this wild goose chase. Let them prove the practicability of the weapon first. Another Toraplane – only madder. The war will be over before it works - & it never will. [underlined] ATH [/underlined]
14/2.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
It won't work - Bomber Harris
Description
An account of the resource
Copy of a note from Arthur Harris to R Saundby with title added 'It won't work Bomber Harris'. States that the idea was tripe of the wildest description with not the smallest chance of working. Goes on with other reasons why it would not work and suggests another design. Concludes with retort not to put aside Lancaster and reduce bombing effort on a wild goose chase.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Arthur Harris
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-02-14
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page photocopied document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EHarrisATWallisB430214
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-02
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
bombing
bouncing bomb
Eder Möhne and Sorpe operation (16–17 May 1943)
Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984)
Lancaster
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1586/43721/EBallyAHuntH450919-0001.1.jpg
55052da46c98024ec736a5103e94a5b7
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1586/43721/EBallyAHuntH450919-0002.1.jpg
6de14c23d18e4eeb6c7bf534b91b095b
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1586/43721/EBallyAHuntH450919-0003.1.jpg
95f7c7de42193d5b57a3e0a8f453c13f
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1586/43721/EBallyAHuntH450919-0004.1.jpg
e96e50e8156da6d5e2c80fa17e3aa90a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hunt, William Richard
W R Hunt
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2020-01-27
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Hunt, WR
Description
An account of the resource
<p>Nine items including a photograph album of 18 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Richard Hunt (520376 Royal Air Force) and contains documents and photographs. He flew operations as an observer with 35 Squadron and was killed 19 May 1942.</p>
<p>The collection includes an <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2561">album</a> with scenes of Gibraltar and Oran (Algeria), pre-war aircraft and RAF stations.<br /><br />The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by William John Hastings and catalogued by Benjamin Turner. <br /><br />Additional information on William Richard Hunt is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/214002/">IBCC Losses Database</a></p>
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Golbey, le 19 Septembre 1945
Bien chère Madame.
Je me permet de vous écrire cette lettre pour vous faire connaître que j’ai bien reçu votre lettre dans laquelle vous m’avez fait savoir que vous me remerciez des détails que j’avais bien voulu vous donner au sujet de la mort de votre malheureux fils.
Croyez bien Madame que j’ai fait tout ce que j’ai pu pour vous donner satisfaction et pour permettre au cœur d’une mère éprouvée d’être rassuré sur le sort d’un être doublement cher.
Je m’excuse tout de suite de ne pouvoir vous adresser cette lettre en traduction anglaise. J’ai disposé un certain temps d’un interpréte bénévole. Hélas, cette personne a quitté la région et je suis maintenant placé dans l’obligation de m’exprimer dans ma langue maternelle.
Croyez bien qu’elle n’en est pas moins aussi sincère à votre égard. Au cours de la guerre 1939-40, j’ai vécu assez longtemps dans un secteur et avec des militaires de l’armée britannique. Croyez que j’ai pu les apprécier à leur juste valeur et que je puis que leur exprimer à tous ma satisfaction personnel pour leur attitude et leur conduite qui a été des plus correctes vis à vis de notre pauvre pays de France.
Il est des choses dans une existence qui ne s’oublient pas. Celle ci restera toujours gravée dans ma mémoire et soyez persuadée que je garde vis à vis la Nation Britannique tout entière la plus profonde reconnaissance.
Vous me faites connaître sur votre lettre que vous ne savez comment me remercier? Puis-je me permettre de vous faire une humble demande? Pendant mon séjour auprès des militaires britanniques, j’ai apprécié en de maintes occasion l’arome et la délicatesse de votre tabac blond.
Serait-ce trop vous demander que de vouloir bien me faire un petit envoi de ce cher tabac? Vous me croirez certainement bien osé, mais c’est une petite excuse pour moi, car je suis un enragé fumeur et le tabac en France est rare. Je vous en serais extrémement reconnaissant.
De mon côté, je me ferai un plaisir de vous accueillir chez moi, si un jour au cours de l’un de vos pélerinages en France sur la tombe de votre cher fils, vous daigniez venir me faire une visite.
Comme vous me le demandez sur votre lettre, je vous fais parvenir les épreuves des photos prises au cimetière d’Aiglemont (Ardennes). L’épreuve marquée d’un X vous indique la tombe où repose de son éternel sommeil votre regretté garçon.
Avec mes meilleurs souvenirs, je vous prie d’agréer Madame l’expression de mon profond dévouement.
A Bally T.S.V.P.
[page break]
Mon adresse.
Monsieur BALLY, Auguste.
Adjudant de Gendarmerie à GOLBEY.
(Vosges)-France-
[page break]
Golbey, 19th Sept. 1945
My dear Madame,
I am writing this letter to let you know that I duly received your letter in which you thank me for the details I have been able to give you on the subject of the passing of your dear son.
Believe me dear madame that I have done my utmost to give you satisfaction and permit a mother’s heart to be assured of the fate of a Being doubly dear.
I ask you to excuse me for addressing you in French, but I have lost the services of a kind interpreter He has left this vicinity, and I am now obliged to write you in my mother tongue.
Believe me however that my words are no less sincere. In the course of the War 1939 – 40 I lived in a sector with British soldiers, and learned to appreciate their true value, and I express to them my personal satisfaction with their attitude and conduct which was always correct in my poor country of France.
It is one of the things in my existence which I shall never forget. It is graven in my memory, and be persuaded that I shall [word deleted] look to the entire British nation with the most profound gratitude.
You ask me in your letter how you can thank me. May I be so bold as to make a suggestion? During my stay with your soldiers I appreciated many, many times the aroma and delicacy of your light tobacco. Will it be too much to ask you to send me a small parcel of that cherished tobacco. You will certainly think it is very bold of me, and the only excuse I can offer is that I am a desperate smoker and tobacco in France is rare. I shall be very grateful to you.
From my side, it will be a great pleasure to [deleted] meet [/deleted] [inserted] receive [/inserted] you at my house, if one day in the course of a journey to France to see the tomb of your dear son you will do me the honour to visit me.
As requested, I am sending you the negatives of the photos taken at Aiglemont. The negative marked with a cross indicates the tomb where reposes your son in his eternal sleep.
My best wishes, etc etc.
[page break]
Paris 258K
2 1/2 hrs
3 miles North E of mezieres – charoevlle
Railway mezieres to Givel[deleted] l [/deleted]
Paris
8.30 Sunday
11.04 [indecipherable word]
[indecipherable word] station
Paris
11-13. to Gwett.
12.35
Brussels to Gwett
9am 10.50.
Cooks
9-50 Heathrow Brussells 10-40.
Brussels
9.25
L
10.20
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Mrs Hunt
Description
An account of the resource
A letter written in French, with accompanying English translation sent to Mrs Hunt. The French letter was written by an Auguste Bally, an Adjudant in the Gendarmerie. The letter is sent as a reply to Mrs Hunt, thanking Bally for information on her son's death and details of his burial. Bally reminisces his time with British soldiers. Bally later asks for some tobacco. The reverse of the English translation details various times and locations handwritten.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Auguste Bally
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-09-19
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1939
1940
1945
1945-09-19
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Golbey
France--Ardennes
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
British Army
Language
A language of the resource
fra
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Type written double sided letter with accompanying translation
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Benjamin Turner
Frances Grundy
Steve Baldwin
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EBallyAHuntH450919-0001, EBallyAHuntH450919-0002, EBallyAHuntH450919-0003, EBallyAHuntH450919-0004
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
final resting place
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1018/11484/E[Author]B-GWynnK[Date]-0001.jpg
f4cf559159939150cb3b4b28cd83dd80
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1018/11484/E[Author]B-GWynnK[Date]-0002.jpg
9628d30f2a70513cc35bedb5129c751b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wynn, Ian Archer
I A Wynn
Description
An account of the resource
146 Items. Collection concerns Pilot Officer Ian Archer Wynn (1908 - 1943, 146838 Royal Air Force). After training as ground crew he remustered as a flight engineer and flew operations with 100 Squadron. He was killed 25 May 1943 on an operation from RAF Grimsby to Düsseldorf. Collection consists of a diary, a memorial book, an official report on what was his final operation, photographs of his crew, his family and the squadron as well as official correspondence from Air Ministry and British Red Cross, letters of condolence and a large number of letters from Ian Wynn to his wife Kathleen. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Patrick Anthony Wynn and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. <br /><br />Additional information on Ian Archer Wynn is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/126116/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-07-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wynn, IA
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[inserted] P.S. many thanks for the canopy. [/inserted]
Kelsall.
[Underlined] Friday [/underlined].
My dear Kathleen,
I am so very sorry to hear you have had bad news of Ian, but sincerely pray he is safe & a probable prisoner, even that is better than the anguish of wondering where he is.
Don’t give up hope Kath, I feel somehow he is safe, & will soon be home with you again.
George and I have said several times lately we hoped he had done all his operational trips
[Page break]
& was grounded for a time, it has been a terrible time for you.
I am not much good at writing this kind of letter, but I do most sincerely grieve for you & will pray for you & the children, but still hoping for the best.
If you feel you would like a rest & change from Horley I should be delighted for you to come for a bit.
Perhapes [sic] fresh surroundings would do you good.
Yours very sincerely
[Underlined] Bessie & George [/underlined]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Kathleen Wynn from Bessie George
Description
An account of the resource
Letter of condolence over news that husband is missing.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
B George
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
E[Author]B-GWynnK[Date]
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Bradley Froggatt
Steve Baldwin
grief
missing in action
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1169/18224/EHarriesDTurnerKW[Date]-010001.jpg
e445b2ff974aba4a246d14d44ca7e251
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1169/18224/EHarriesDTurnerKW[Date]-010002.jpg
969598fe4788e1d7fdc23150ab665a8d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Turner, John
Albion John Turner
A J Turner
Description
An account of the resource
<a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/228620/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>116 items. Concerns Flight Sergeant Albion John Turner (1911 - 1939, 561939 Royal Air Force) who joined the RAF as an apprentice in 1927. After service as a fitter he re-mustered as a pilot in 1935 and after training served on 216 Squadron flying Vickers Victoria and Valentia before moving to 9 Squadron on Handley Page Heyfords in 1936. He converted to Wellingtons February 1939 and was killed when his aircraft was shot down on 4 September 1939 during operations against shipping at Brunsbüttel. Collection consists of an oral history interview with Penny Turner his daughter (b. 1938), correspondence, official documents, his logbook and photographs. <br /><br />Additional information on Albion John Turner <span>is available via the </span><a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/228620/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IBCC Losses Database</a><br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Penny Turner and catalogued by Nigel Huckins
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-05-29
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Turner, J
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Telephone No. : RUISLIP 3381 ;
and direct lines from Air Ministry.
Telegraphic Address :
RECORDS, RUISLIP.
Any communications on the
subject of this letter should
be addressed to :-
OFFICER i/c RECORDS,
ROYAL AIR FORCE,
RUISLIP, MIDDLESEX,
and the following number
quoted :-
C7/561939
Dear Madam,
With reference [missing text] 5th September 1939, it [missing text] you that according to [missing text] the International Red [missing text] No. 561939 Flight Serg[missing letters][missing text] No. 9 Squadron, Royal [missing text] considered as killed in [missing text] 4th September 1939.
It is further [missing text] in the Wilhelmshaven [missing text].
In conveying this information to you [missing text] Air Council desire me to express their deep [missing text] at your husband’s death in his Country’s service.
Any private effects which are under Royal Air Force control will be forwarded to this office, but some time must necessarily elapse before disposal can be effected.
Any communications regarding effects or the disposal of any monies that may eventually be found to be due to the airman’s estate, should be addressed to the “Under Secretary of State, Air Ministry, London, W.C.2”.
[underlined] /Should you wish [/underlined]
Mrs. K. W. Turner,
Fotherby Vicarage,
Fotherby, Nr. Louth.
[page break]
[missing text][missing letters]ou wish to make application for [missing text][missing letters]ocompanying Form should be completed [missing text] the envelope provided to the Ministry [missing text] the question of an award will be [missing text][missing letters]he result notified to you in due [missing text]
[missing text] you of the Air Council’s deepest [missing text] great loss.
I am,
Dear Madam,
Your obedient Servant,
[signature]
Air Commodore,
Officer i/c Records
ROYAL AIR FORCE
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Mrs K Turner from Air Ministry Records Office
Description
An account of the resource
Notification that Flight Sergeant A J Turner was killed in action on operations in the Wilhelmshafen area on 4 September 1939.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
B Harries
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One typewritten sheet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EHarriesDTurnerKW[Date]-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1939-09-04
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Georgie Donaldson
Steve Baldwin
9 Squadron
killed in action
RAF Ruislip
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/518/10421/EWallisBChadwickR430525-0001.1.jpg
3546fe6c7caa542633108bdc9d2e935d
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/518/10421/EWallisBChadwickR430525-0002.1.jpg
09e745f89b30570cbcb4ad7514c252c3
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lapham, Rosemary
R Lapham
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lapham, R
Description
An account of the resource
100 items. An oral history interview with Rosemary Lapham, the daughter of Roy Chadwick, family correspondence, congratulations on being honoured, personal documentation as well as photographs of family, acquaintances and aircraft. The collection also contains a thank you letter from Barnes Wallis to Roy Chadwick and a note from Arthur Harris to Robert Saundby about the in-feasibility of the Eder Möhne and Sorpe operation, some conceptual aircraft drawings and other mementos.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Rosemary Lapham and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-06-22
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
TELEGRAMS: “VICASTRONG-TELEX. WEYBRIDGE”
TELEPHONE: BYFLEET 240 (14 LINES)
[National Scheme for Disabled Men Crest]
REGISTERED OFFICE: VICKERS HOUSE.
BROADWAY. WESTMINSTER. S.W.1.
Vickers-Armstrongs Limited.
(AIRCRAFT SECTION)
WEYBRIDGE WORKS.
WEYBRIDGE. SURREY.
OUR REF. CA.
YOUR REF.
25th May 1943.
Roy Chadwick, Esq.,
A.V.Roe & Co. Ltd.,
Greengate,
Middleton,
[underlined] MANCHASTER [/underlined]
My dear Chadwick,
I am sorry that my erratic movements since the great event have prevented my receiving your telegram of congratulations until today. I am very deeply grateful, but feel an enormous share of the credit is due to you, and I have been trying to find the time to white and tell you how much I appreciate all the work which you and your assistants have done, and personally, in a special degree, was given the making or breaking of this enterprise, for if at that fateful meeting in C.R.D’s office on the 26th February, you had declared the task impossible of fulfilment in the given time, the powers of opposition were so great that I should never have got instructions to go ahead. Possibly you did not realise how much hung on your instantaneous reaction, but I can assure you that I very nearly had heart failure until you decided to join in the great adventure. No-one believed that we should do it. You yourself said it would be a miracle if we did, and I think the whole thing is one of the most amazing examples of team work and co-operation in the whole history of the war.
May I offer you my very deep thanks for the existence of your wonderful Lancaster, for it was the only aircraft in the world capable of doing the job, and I should like to pay my tribute of congratulation and admiration to you, the designer.
Let us hope that the future will hold for us another terrific adventure in which we may join, though I fear no such spectacular target
P.T.O.
[page break]
remains to be brought down.
All good wishes for the future success of Lancaster [inserted]s[/inserted] and Yorks.
Yours very sincerely,
[underlined] B.N.Wallis. [/underlined]
[inserted] Received Stamp dated 27 MAY 1943 & numbered 683/5700 [/inserted]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Roy Chadwick from Barnes Wallis
Description
An account of the resource
Addressed to Roy Chadwick at A.V.Roe on Vickers-Armstrong headed paper. Thanks Chadwick for existence of Lancaster and his support at a meeting in C.R.D's office on 26 January without which the dams operation would not have happened. States is was one of the most amazing examples of team work and cooperation in the war.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
B Wallis
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-05-25
1943-05-27
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page typewritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EWallisBChadwickR430525
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Surrey
England--Weybridge
England--Manchester
England--Lancashire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-05-25
1943-05-27
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
bombing
Chadwick, Roy (1893-1947)
Eder Möhne and Sorpe operation (16–17 May 1943)
Lancaster
Wallis, Barnes Neville (1887-1979)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/518/10444/EWallisBLaphamR761223.1.jpg
05d6e3fb95c2d494be2cfc375fbe4ba3
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lapham, Rosemary
R Lapham
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lapham, R
Description
An account of the resource
100 items. An oral history interview with Rosemary Lapham, the daughter of Roy Chadwick, family correspondence, congratulations on being honoured, personal documentation as well as photographs of family, acquaintances and aircraft. The collection also contains a thank you letter from Barnes Wallis to Roy Chadwick and a note from Arthur Harris to Robert Saundby about the in-feasibility of the Eder Möhne and Sorpe operation, some conceptual aircraft drawings and other mementos.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Rosemary Lapham and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-06-22
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
WHITE HILL HOUSE,
Effingham,
Surrey.
23th December, 1976
Mrs F. Lapham,
The Vicarage,
Upton-by-Chaster,
[underlined] CHESHIRE, CH2 1EL. [/underlined]
Dear Mrs Lapham,
Thank you very much for your Christmas Greetings from all your family and for the photographs which I think are excellent.
Molly and I join in sending to you, your Mother and family our very best wishes for a Happy Christmas and New Year,
Yours sincerely,
Barnes Wallis.
[page break]
[photograph]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Mrs Lapham from Barnes Wallis
Description
An account of the resource
Addressed to Mrs F Lapham thanking her for Christmas greetings and sending their's in return. Signed Barnes Wallis. Enclosed is photograph of Barnes Wallis and a women seated looking up at another woman who is leaning down to talk to them. Three people are holding plates of food.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
B Wallis
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1976-12-23
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page printed document and one b/w photograph
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EWallisBLaphamR761223
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Surrey
England--Effingham
England--Cheshire
England--Chester
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1976-12-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
Wallis, Barnes Neville (1887-1979)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/496/19656/MCookeWH2220169-150902-06.2.jpg
52b4e499f573f92eb038ae61c98d0362
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cooke, William
William H Cooke
W H Cooke
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
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Cooke, WH
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An account of the resource
15 items. An oral history interview with William Cooke (2220169 Royal Air Force), log book and other service material, medals, photographs and memorabilia. He flew operations with 49 Squadron as an air gunner.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
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A DAY AT EAST KIRKBY
IS THIS REALLY JUST A JOY RIDE,
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FUN.
WILL I NOT NEED STOWING MY PARACHUTE
OR NEED TO CHECK EACH GUN.
WILL IT ONLY BE A SHORT RUN
JUST A TAXI DOWN THE STRIP.
NOT EIGHT LONG HOURS OF SEARCHING
IN STRESS AND TENSIONS GRIP.
JUST A RUN AROUND THE AIRFIELD
WHEELS FIRMLY ON THE GROUND.
NOT THINKING “WILL WE DITCH TONIGHT”
AND MAYBE ALL BE DROWNED.
THANKFULLY THAT’S OVER NOW
I SLEEP PEACEFULLY IN MY BED,
REMEMBERING OFT TIMES ABOUT
MY MATES OF OLD NOW DEAD.
SO IF YOU SEE ME IN THE STREET
JUST NOD AND SAY “GOOD DAY”,
AND THANK THE LORD IT’S OVER
NO MORE AIRCREW NEED TO PAY
BILL COOKE – (MID UPPER GUNNER)
LANCASTERS 49 SQUADRON RAF 1943-45
PRIOR TO VISIT ON WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2012
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Title
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'A Day at East Kirkby'
Description
An account of the resource
Poem by Bill Cooke prior to a visit to East Kirkby - contrasting the stress of operational flying on Lancasters to the forthcoming aircraft taxi ride.
Creator
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Bill Cooke
Date
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2012-07
Format
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One printed sheet
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Poetry
Identifier
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MCookeWH2220169-150902-06
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
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Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
Temporal Coverage
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2012-07-11
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
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Steve Baldwin
49 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
arts and crafts
Lancaster
RAF East Kirkby
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1628/25543/PSaundersEJ20010096.1.jpg
9a09f961e4bbebcf2e5eef17808f00f6
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Title
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Saunders, Ernest John. Album 2
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2020-02-13
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
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Saunders, EJ
Description
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Album containing photographs of his training and service in North Africa and with Bomber Command.
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[Arabic text] [crest] BRITISH GOVERNMENT
[Arabic text]
To All Arab Peoples – Greetings and Peace be upon you. The bearer of this letter is an Officer of the British Government and a friend of all Arabs. Treat him well, guard him from harm, give him food and drink, help him to return to the nearest British soldiers and you will be rewarded. Peace and the Mercy of God upon you.
[italics] The British High Command in the East. [/italics]
SOME POINTS ON CONDUCT WHEN MEETING THE ARABS IN THE DESERT.
Remove footwear on entering their tents. Completely ignore their women. If thirsty drink the water they offer, but DO NOT fill your waterbottle from their personal supply. Go to their well and fetch what you want. Never neglect any puddle or other water supply for topping up your bottle. Use the Halazone included in your Aid Box. Do not expect breakfast, if you sleep the night. Arabs will give you a mid-day or evening meal. Always be courteous.
REMEMBER, NEVER TRY AND HURRY IN THE DESERT, SLOW AND SURE DOES IT.
A few useful words.
Euglish [sic] – Arabic
English – Ingleezi
American – Amerikani
Friend – Sa-hib, Sa-deck
Water – Moya
Food – Akl or Mungarea
Village – Balaad
Tired – Ta-eban
English – Arabic
Day – Yome
Night – Layl
Half – Nuss
Half a day – Nuss il Yome
Near – Gareeb
Far – Baeed
Take me to the English and you will be rewarded. – Hud nee eind el Ingleez wa tahud Mu-ka-fa.
English Flying Officer. – Zabit Ingleezi Tye-yara.
How far (how many kilos?). – Kam kilo?
Enemy. – Germani, Taliani, Siziliani.
Distance and time: Remember, Slow & Sure does it.
The older Arabs cannot read, write or tell the time. They measure distance by the number of days journey. “Near” may mean 10 minutes or 10 hours. Far probably means over a days journey. A days journey is probably about 30 miles. The younger Arabs are more accurate.
GOOD LUCK.
5581/PMEB-4/43
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Title
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Notes for Communicating with Arabs
Description
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A document in English and Arabic asking for help, explaining how to behave with Arabs, including a few words in Arabic and an explanation of the perception of distance.
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British High Command, Egypt
Format
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One printed sheet on an album page
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Identifier
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PSaundersEJ20010096
Coverage
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Civilian
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
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North Africa
Egypt
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
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IBCC Digital Archive
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Peter Bradbury
Steve Baldwin
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Workflow A completed
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1001/16396/BRoomCARoomCAv1.2.pdf
0e3af1949a3e18695e58b0dd671f294d
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Title
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Joseph, David
D Joseph
Description
An account of the resource
22 items. The collection concerns Flight Sergeant David Joseph (1576383, Royal Air Force) and contains his decorations, log book, memoirs, correspondence and a list of prisoners of war at Stalag Luft 4. He flew operations as a pilot with 76 Squadron from RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor until his aircraft was shot down on 18 March 1944 on an operation to Frankfurt and he became a prisoner of war. The collection also contains a letter to Mrs Ramsay about the loss of her son, Flying Officer Kenneth Ramsay and photographs of his final resting place. <br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Brian Joseph and catalogued by Barry Hunter.<br /><br />Additional information on Kenneth Grant Ramsay is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/223173/">IBCC Losses Database</a>.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2018-05-22
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
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Joseph, D
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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[inserted] [signature] P/D. [/inserted]
[inserted] Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft III Sagan, Stalag Luft VI Heydekrug, Stalag Luft IV Gross Tyschow [sic], Stalag 357, Fallingbostel. [/inserted]
[underlined] HOW WE TOOK THE GOOD NEWS FROM GROSSE TYCHOW TO FALLINGBOSTEL [/underlined]
OR
[underlined] THE ARMY THAT DIDN’T MARCH ON ITS STOMACH [/underlined]
OR
[underlined] THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, HURRAH, HURRAH [/underlined]!
AN AUTHENTIC DIARY OF THE FORCED MARCH UNDERTAKEN BY ROYAL AIR FORCE P.O.W.S – COMPILED BY W/O C.A. ROOM.
1945 6th Feb.
[inserted] from Stalag Luft Gross Tyschow [sic]
Camp leader crashes into the barrack at 12:30 a.m. and wakes the whole lot of us, with the news that we’re being evacuated on foot at 12 noon today. What a bloody panic! Everyone tears around and has a woof of all outstanding grub (if any). Frank thinks of nothing else but a cup of char, and on goes the jug, and we bung ion all the tea and condensed milk we’ve got. You can stand a spoon upright in the old cup! Then we all climb back into bed again to dream of what lies ahead.
Up bright and early, no-one can sleep, and we make last-minute adjustments to the home-made packs (towel and braces), in which we are carrying our pathetic bundles. Room the Refugee! Roll the two blankets up and after a hasty meal of warm spuds in their jackets, plus straw, dirt and grass, we all pile out for Roll-Call. Move off at 11:30 a.m. into the Vorlager, and we pass a line of sentry-boxes standing empty and desolate. Never thought we’d ever see them empty like this! We are issued with a full Red Cross pa rcel[sic] of food and one-third of a loaf of bread, the first bread we’ve seen for a month. Pass by the sick-bay where a couple of hundred of the boys are being left behind without protection to await the arrival of the Russians. Then at 12:30 p.m. we set course. The roads are covered in ice, slush, snow and what have you. We pass over the Neifhside Road, scene of the famous “Run up the Road” on 19th July, 1944. First eleven kilos are covered in good time, we are all feeling fresh, then we strike out across muddy fields and cart tracks to Naffin, where we are bunged into barns for the night. Caked in mud and snow, and the old decrepit German cart plus sledge are bogged in the lane. We couldn’t care less! Arbeits Kommando 957, Stalag 111D is situated on the road and we meet French and Canadian P.O.W.s. No food issued by the horrible goons and I have to creep unobserved into the cowshed to get a cup of cold water! Wizard sleep, we’re all dead tired, and during the night a ruddy rat bites me on the cheek, gnawing his way through the straw, one blanket, pullover, scarf and cap. Some teeth!
[page break]
-2-
7th Feb. 11 Miles
Up quite early and we have a slice of bread and cheese before we set out at 9 a.m. Bach up mud-caked lane and across a ploughed field to reach the main road. My feet weigh at least 5 lbs. each with the good German soil adhering to them. Rain and sleet for 8 miles and everyone thoroughly miserable. We shall be sleeping in wet blankets to-night but on a cart. Everyone is stiff and aching from the first day’s march and after a gruelling 17 miles we reach Reselkow. Another Kommando from Stalag 11D here, and we meet Canadians from Dieppe. Bloody awful night, no room in barn, a nd[sic] again no food from Jerry. Jack and I have had two slices of bread to-day and a cup of coffee, (wet and warm). Wet and uncomfortable and boy, do my feet and legs ache! Every picture tells a story.
17 Miles
8th Feb. Off we go a t[sic] 9.a.m. Stolzenburg 10:15 a.m. and at noon we reach the main Stettin-Danzig road. Turn left towards Stettin (70 miles) and we have an opportunity to see how long the column is – 2,000 men, three abreast take up an awful lot of roads. Meet many evacuees from the East, with their pathetic heap of belongings piled on to a make-shift cart, drawn by a horse which looks as though it will drop dead at any moment. We’re just as tired too! While we are having a break for “lunch”, one slice of bread and cheese – a load of French P.O.W.s come along the road begging cigarettes from us. They fight among themselves to grab those we offer before the German guards hustle them along. I break the ice on a puddle to get a cup of moderately clean water, my thirst is so great. Hobenfier at 5:30 p.m. after 17 miles, where we expect to bed down for the night. Everyone on his knees, with aching legs, and sore and blistered feet, and tired, wet and miserable. Join the Air Force and Fly! Almost collapse when we learn we have to march another three miles over a road knee-deep in snow, to an outlying farm. Jack and I end up in a chaff-cutting shed, with Swedes, turnips and mangolds all around us. Wash our feet in hot water brought to us by a Russian slave worker and I take the old boots off for the first time since we set out. I regret it later on! German guard brings in a bucket of soup for the dogs guarding us. The dogs didn’t even see the soup, some hungry P.O.W.s woofed the whole lot.
20 Miles
9th Feb. Some stupid German calls us at 6 a.m., with the news that we are marching at 7 a.m. We are due for a day’s rest after three days of marching, and I almost weep, after the gruelling day we had yesterday. However, it is later altered
[page break]
-3-
9th Feb. to a day of rest and I’m back on the straw in no time. spuds issued both morning and afternoon. Bandage my feet and remain horizontal for the rest of the day.
NIL
10th Feb. Set off a t[sic] 7 a.m. and reach the main road at 8 a.m. Convoys of Army pontoon and soldiers going West, presumably retreating from Joe’s onward drive. One mile on main road to Stettin then turn due West towards Greifenburg, along a rough and muddy road. 1/4 loaf per man issued here and then we pass through a small village where buckets of cold water, fruit juice and hot ersatz coffee are left by the roadside. What has come over the Germans? Any other time they would have spat at us without hesitation accompanying their spitting efforts with remarks such as “Luftgangsters”, “Terrorfliegers”, etc. Reach Probbilow at 4:30 p.m. and the Frau supplies hot water to 100 of us. Have my first wash for five days. Feet very wet and blisters still troublesome.
13 Miles
11th Feb. Set off at 8:15 a.m., roads icy, but dry. Sun shining and the blokes are decidedly more cheerful. Griefenburg reached at 10 a.m., first big town we’ve passed through. I jump on to the pavement to dodge a lorry and get shoved into the gutter by a particularly nasty-looking civilian, Swear under my breath. We see some Frenchmen wearing the flash of the Free French Forces in Germany! Dozens of evacuees on the roads. Reach Kukahn at 2 p.m. and we split up into parties of 100 for each barn in the village. While Jack gets our bed ready, I hobble around the yard and find a French prisoner. Out comes my best French and he comes across with a huge sandwich full of sausage and onions. Just like giving me a three course dinner and Jack and I knock it back at once. Spuds and hot water brought out by the Hausfrau but it’s far too cold to strip off and wash. We sleep under a haycart and spend a comfortable night.
13 Miles
12th Feb. Jack’s birthday to-day, he’s 24. Gets an extra cup of water from me for a present, all I can afford! We hit the road at 8 a.m. and hike through a wood for three miles. Volzin at 9 a.m., Dorphagen at 10:15 a.m. One cup of hot macaroni soup issued from mobile field kitchen, very nice but I could drink ten cups and still want more. Lutzenhagen at 12:30 p.m. and reach Goerke at 4 p.m. where we have booked rooms for the night. Jack and I sleep in the chaff-cutting joint once more, next to the cowshed. Wizard bed and my French gets us some onions, bread and milk from a French P.O.W. Comfortable night and woken up at 6:30 a.m. by French
[page break]
-4-
12th Feb. and Polish prisoners from the farm who want to cut the chaff and turnips.
13 miles
13th Feb. A day of rest, thank heaven! Some generous French prisoners give Jack and Myself some porridge and milk, fried spuds and onions. Only decent meal we’ve had for nearly five weeks. We purchase a small sheep for 50 marks from the farmer and the boys slaughter it. Divided among 600 men, and my share is as big as a sugar knob. 100 German officers and men have 4 sheep between them. Higher mathematics as taught by the Fuehrer! Kicked out of our comfortable quarters by an irate farmer who has caught the boys milking his cows. They drained ‘em dry. Deadly night in an old barn, about three feet of straw between Jack and I, on a slope as well. We swear at each other during the night.
NIL
14th Feb. The “Gentlemen Tramps” move off a t[sic] the respectable hour of 10 a.m., and cover three miles through ankle-deep mud. Then three more miles through a rainstorm and blankets and clothes very, very wet. We’re not going very far to-day, finish at noon and the Germans issue 1/7 lb. of margarine, six dry biscuits (no bread available) and 1/5 lb. of corned beef. I smell a big rat! Billeted at Dobberphul where the barn leaks like a sieve and rats, and other livestock play a lively tattoo on my chest all night. First taste of bartering. Hobnob with an attractive fraulein who lives on the farm and for one square of chocolate she gives me an egg and 1/3 of a loaf of bread. Wizard!
6 Miles
15th Feb. My 25th B irthday[sic] to-day, my aching back, I feel as though I’m 55! Off we got at 7:45 a.m. and hit the main SWINEMUNDE road. On to Tessin at 10a.m. and here we pass three dead horses on the road. Not much left of them, and the dogs attached to the column have a nibble as they go by. I turn my nose up although I’m pretty hungry. If it was a dead bullock, I mught [sic] have a go, my mother wouldn’t know! Go through Hagen at 10:30 a.m., last town on the mainland, and then we cross the bridge to the island and crawl through Wollin. The Huns graciously allow us to rest outside the town, after a five mile stretch. We plod on and on and at 5 p.m. we reach Pritter, 2-1/2 miles from the port of Swinemunde. Record run to-day so my feet tell me, anyway. No accommodation in barns so we rough it out in the open, or cleared woodland. Make a tent from bracken but it falls down.
[page break]
-5-
15th Feb. Cup of soup from mobile kitchen then Jack and I curl up together and we kip down on the grass with my overcoat beneath us. Heavy frost at night and we wake up absolutely frozen. Obviously! Can hardly feel my feet. There are some 1,800 of our party here along with 800 Tommies and Russians whom we picked up in ghe [sic] afternoon. Much stealing goes on, blokes lose their food and belongings. It’s tragic when a person robs his pals through hunger. We’ll stick it on the Reparations Bill when it’s all over.
24 Miles
16th Feb. [inserted] What a birthday! 22 today. [/inserted] Up at 6:30 a.m. and hobbling down the main road by 7:30 a.m. After an hour’s march, we reach Swinemunde, the great Baltic Port. The ferry to the second island isn’t due for three hours, so we hang around and wait. We’ve had nothing to eat or drink to-day and the German soldiers and civilians try and sell us cold water for 5 cigarettes a cup. We prefer to go thirsty. We jump on the ferry at 11:30 and as soon as we get comfortable downstairs, it’s time to get off again! On the island, a German soldier sells me 1/6 of a loaf of bread for 20 cigarettes! Sheer robbery but Jack and I are feeling pretty hungry. March through Zirchow at noon and we pass huge Naval barracks where the boys of the Kriegsmarine line up and watch us go by with arrogance written all over them. At Crenzow we go into barns and Jack and myself secure a comfortable berth underneath the threshing machine. We corner a Russian and buy two cattle cakes from him for five cigarettes. With a splash of jam on them they are quite appetising. Amazing what we do eat these days. Hot water dished up.
12-1/2 Miles
17th Feb. Away by 8:30 a.m. and through Usedom at noon after a wea ry[sic] monotonous plod. Last town before the mainland and cross the Parge Bridge at 1 p.m. On cobblestones for five miles and my poor feet suffer! I might as well walk on a bed of nails, it couldn’t hurt any more. Plenty of F.W.190’s and Me. 109’s circling above us, and we pass by their aerodrome. Everyone tired and brassed off after the long trek of the previous two days. Boots drying out at las t[sic], but I’ve lost the heel of one of them and walk with a perpetual limp. At Murchin, we are herded into barns along with the Russians from Luft 4. Accommodation terrible, no room at all and during the night the Russians crawl over and do a spot of grub-lifting. We’re hungry enough but they’re a darn sight hungrier. The food stakes are grim at the moment. Hardly any cold water available, and no hot water at all. Five rotten spuds given to each man. Cold and miserable and morale low at the moment.
[page break]
-6-
18th Feb. Set course a t[sic] 9:15 a.m. and after five miles, we reach Anklam which has been pounded by the Yanks quite a few times. Plenty of evidence here and the civilians give us particularly sour looks. One old gaffer waves his walking stick threateningly, quite near me, and I put on a spurt. My poor old feet complain too! Weary hike for another 8 miles to Nerdin where we are rewarded with a good barn and a generous farmer for a pleasant change. Hot water in a tub and I have a shave, wash and even clean my teeth in a small pig sty and Jack finds six old spuds in a trough so we go to town. Wizard soup made in a milk tin from spuds, hot water, one onion and breadcrumbs. Funny how a wash, shave and some food send our morale up by leaps and bounds.
13 Miles
19th Feb. Cup of coffee and some soup before we leave a t[sic] 7:30 a.m. Learn tha t[sic] the German High Command have ordered all Burgomasters not to issue spuds to prisoners so we’re in a sorry spot. If we have to rely on our minute quantities of Red Cross food we’ll never see England again; I’m sure of it. Several blokes have disappeared from the column, we get smaller every day. Where the hell they are, we don’t know.
Bit risky, buzzing off at the moment with the food situation as it is, and the Germans are rather panicky with the trigger finger. Dead straight road for nine miles, terribly monotonous. Long “lunch” interval, the Germans must be getting tired as well. Not much use giving us all this time, we’ve nothing to eat, might as well go on walking nearer home. Turn off to main Berlin-Neubrandenburg road. Berlin is 100 miles to the S.W. Walk through woods later, pas t[sic] Italian P.W. camp and here we see a brutal German guard flogging a dog with a whip and a stick and hate written all over his ugly face. Reach a farm at Seltz, but no room for us there. Issued with a cup of hot green water (pea soup) from the mobile kitchen and then we plod on by moonlight with the boys singing some good old Army songs. After three miles we hit Hermannshobe and its deadly trying to fix up some sleeping space in the darkness. Jack and I end up in a cellar with cobwebs and rats all over the shop. Some bright spark decides that “our cellar” is the latrine during the night. I never swore so much in all my life.
18 Miles
20th Feb. Day of rest is proclaimed and about time too. We’ve been on the plod for six days and our plates of meat are crying out for a break. I pinch a cup of fresh milk from a willing cow in the cowshed and after seven spuds for breakfast I’m violently sick. We’ve had very little food lately and a big “woof” of spuds was too much for me. I sell Auntie’s blue pullover that I was wea ring[sic] when I was shot down, and a couple of Polish slave workers give me 1/2 loaf of bread and some cooked beans. Cold and miserable
[page break]
-7-
20th Feb. All day so decide on going to bed early. Lots of the boys are cooking the ears of wheat that they’ve stolen from the barn and are trying to make a cereal. Not very successfully however. Learn that we have five miles to cover tomorrow, then sixteen miles the next day to Neubrandenburg where we are due to stay in a Stalag. I’ll believe that when we get there. These Germans change their tactics too many times.
NIL
21st Feb. Off at 9:45 a.m. Miss the soup issue, not enough to go round. First four miles up a muddy cart-tract [sic] and I’m pretty puffed at the end of it. The German guards buy bread in the village. Poor propaganda! They can’t even feed their own troops, let alone us poor prisoners. Do a deal with a guard on the roadside, 1/6 loaf of bread and a hunk of lard for twelve dirty old cigarettes. As sick by the roadside later on. Do I feel grim! Getting pretty weak these days but have to plod on somehow. At Gutskow, we are housed in a decent barn and we get a liberal issue of spuds. At this farm there is a girl who was in Boston, U.S.A. in the middle of January, as an internee and has just been repatriated. What the hell she came back to this mess for, I just can’t imagine! The Yanks look at her goggle-eyed, they can’t believe that she was in the golden States so recently. But they all draw the line at speaking to her. Hot brew and spuds at 5 p.m. and we then hit the hay. For me, it’s the warmest and most comfortable night since we began the hike, but poor old Jack is in a deadly state. He’s been eating someof [sic] the cooked beans that we traded for my pullover and they’re playing havoc with his stomach. I didn’t touch them hungry though I was. He’s up half the night and has job to make the door over the mass of sprawling bodies. Guards refuse to let him out of the barn and it’s just too bad on the bloke sleeping by the door! The beans are given to Geoff next morning, in disgust and the name of Poland stinks a t[sic] the moment.
7 Miles
22nd Feb. A day of Rest! We remain in the pit till la te[sic] then queue for 1-1/2 hours for one cup of lukewarm water. Peel a few spuds in the farmyard and at 4 p.m. we are issued with a cup of soup, hot water and five spuds. I get fatter every day, I don’t think. Anyway, it’s hot, and warms us a little. Put the flag out! The Germans issue some rations – 2/5 loaf of bread, 1/11 lb. meat (stinking corned beef) and 1/4 lb. of margarine. The Army can again march on it’s stomach for a few miles anyway. Jack groggy all day, very weak at the moment – I don’t think I’ve seen him look so ill. Don’t feel so good myself either. Stomach weak and sick three times today.
NIL
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23rd Feb. Ja ck[sic] too ill to march, so gets on sick wagon. Can’t divide our grub in time and he needs someone with him, so I tag along. A very bumpy ride over cart tracks. S/C 8 a.m. and our stomachs turn over several times en route. Pass through village with funeral in progress at the early hour or 9 a.m. [underlined] He [/underlined] doesn’t care who wins the war anyway. Our two horses exhausted after pulling the wagon through deep mud! Change horses and take on four this time. Reminds us of the stage coach era. Kleef Bahnhof 12:30 p.m. Rosenow 1:15. Arrive a t[sic] Briggow, our billet for the night at 3 p.m. and get decent in the barn along with the sick party. Hot water and spuds in the evening and my hunger is appeased somewhat! Auspicious occasion, as I clean my teeth and have a wash in the pig-trough.12 Miles
24th Feb. Programme seems uncertain, so we stay here to-day. Have two cups of soup, two sandwiches and a hot brew. I ever shave and wash and then lay on the straw for the rest of the day, feeling that life is indeed good, compared with the last week or two. Two men taken out during the night with internal trouble and hear later that they passed on. The total number of deaths in now nine, that we know of.
NIL
25th Feb. Rest. Pea soup twice to-day and by evening time, I regret having it. I hate peas, but when there’s nothing else I have to eat them. No chance of a deal of any kind as the guards are watching the slave workers pretty closely. Monotonous day, just laze on the straw. Feeling weak inside but Jack much better than he was.
NIL
26th Feb. T he[sic] Doc works the miracle and up comes a cup of barley at noon, and again at 5 p.m. German Doctor visits the barn during the day and a rranges[sic] for the removal of the worst cases to the hospital. Believe me, you’ve got to be half dead to be among them. I’m not sure which is best – going into dock of carrying on with the hike. With super diplomacy, we carry off a big deal – 1/2 loaf of bread and some cold roast CHICKEN for half a can of coffee and three squares of chocolate. Pierce the German guard and a banquet is ordered. Jack and myself grin at each other with delight. You’d imagine we were at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet eating off his gold plate. Our table manners disappear completely as we greedily woof the legs of the chicken, held in our hands. No time to waste on forks!
NIL
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27th Feb. Still no sign of moving so for breakfast, we finished off the scraps of chicken along with a hunk of Polish bread and margarine that I pinched. Barley again for lunch and at 5p.m. also. Very sleepless night, and we’re very overcrowded, more blokes falling sick every day.
NIL
28th Feb. Hands too damn cold to write. Shivering all day in a very draughty barn into which we moved this morning. One man died to-day from an infection on the knee. Lack of medical supplies now serious. But a ray of sunshine appear s[sic] on this wet, dismal day. A truck of Red Cross parcels a rrive[sic], brought from Lubeck on a wagon supplied by the American Red Cross and driven with Swiss patrol. The Huns can’t give us anything it seems. Issue of one parcel each, they have to last till the end of the march, and heaven knows when tha t[sic] will be. Goody, goody, I have a stand-up bath in the farmer’s kitchen to-day. I had to, due to an accident! The water was lukewarm, about three inches deep, but I’ve a vivid imagination. Feel tons better after it.
NIL
1st Ma r[sic]. Rain and a very high wind to-day, and very cold too. B ut[sic] maybe it’s the fact that our resistance is almost nil. My feet are just frozen the whole time. Barley twice again and I pinch some spuds out of the farmer’s clamp and Des Grealy cooks them for us. We’re so damned hungry, we woof 1-1/2 cans of spuds each. Dirty great holes in the roof and the rain comes in and the wind blows like fury. I wonder what Jon Hall of The Hurricane would do if he were here.
NIL
2nd Mar. Another man dies in hospital. Hands and feet frozen, too cold to peel our few spuds, so we jus t[sic] woof them with the jackets on. Deadly business answering the call of Nature in the open-air. Half a ruddy gale blows around your rear! Not at all funny. Stay under the blanket and overcoat most of the day, warmest place by far.
NIL
3rd Mar. Up at 8 a.m. for a cup of German coffee and some cold cooked spuds. Frozen as usual. I’ve almost forgotten what it is to be warm. At 12:30 p.m. we leave the farm after our long rest. Five miles to Luplow along cart tracks and ploughed fields. At least we are a little warmer on the march. Good billet, eight of us in small barn, and Jack and I cook some s tolen[sic] spuds over a wood fire outside and along with a stolen onion those spuds taste delicious! Comfortable night, but feet cold as usual.
5 Miles
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4th Mar. Up at 7 a.m. and off at 8:30 a.m. in a perishing snowstorm with the slow party, mostly semi-sick wallahs. We go so slowly, I even think a snail would pass us. Our blankets are soon wet, as usual. Decide to rejoin the mob as soon as we can, this pace is killing us! Pass Don having the usual by the roadside in a snowstorm! Bit draughty. See three dead horses by the roadside, dropped dead, brassed off, I presume. Many evacuees from Stettin areas. Get 1/4 loaf from guard for tem battered and broken cigarettes. Slice of bread donated by the only good-hearted Hun in Germany. Vossfeld 1 p.m., Marhin 1?:45 p.m., Musselhagen 2 p.m., Rockow, then Muckelhei for the night. Hot brew as soon as we bed down, feeling tired out, miserable and as weak as a drowned rat. Early night.
14 Miles
5th Mar. Off at 8:30 a.m., with 1/6 loaf of bread and 1/5 parcel of Red Cross food issued on the roadside. I carry the whole parcel for five miles then Ferdie kindly divides it up! Brassed off. Air raid in progress, plenty of fighters and vapour trails at 20,000 feet! Wo ist der Luftwaffe? The USAAF are very much in evidence. Hear the bombs dropping. Lovely sound, but too near for my liking. Waren at 11:30 a.m. long trek through the town and we all feel very hungry at the sight of food in the shops, and civilians woofing in the local restaurant. An old codger gives me a kick in the pants as I go past, apparently he hates us. I can’t do a thing, just swear like fury under by [sic] breath. Pass a S talag[sic] on the other side of town – wish to hell we could go in there. Roads improving now, off the cobblestones that are so prevalent in German towns, but at the same time we’re very much on our knees. Guess we stiffened up when we rested too long. Klink at 3 o’clock then off into the woods and reach Warnhof at 4:30 p.m. Right on our benders. Good barn, we sleep under a wagon but still get trodden on during the night. Norman Stokes crawls 100 yards on hands and knees then has an accident in his pants. Too funny for words! Five spuds and hot water, along with two slices of bread and a biscuit. Some feed to-night.
17-1/2 Miles.
6th Mar. Up at 6:30 a.m. with the usual spuds before we set off at 8:30 a.m. very tired and s tiff[sic] after yesterday’s long trek. Cover 8 miles to Mecklow with only a short rest half way. Then half hour’s rest sitting on the dirt by the roadside. Klim can full of spuds goes down well. Then a long, long hike of nearly ten miles without a rest through Jungershof, Alt Schwerin and Karow, a railway junction. Look longingly at a line of goods trucks drawn up in the station. Sigh-post[sic] by roadside reads Berlin 177K., Neuebrandenburg 80K., Rostock 74K. 7 more dead horses by the road, with the flesh hacked off by hungry dogs, and probably hungry Germans as well. I hope they starve! Reach Walnshof at 4:15 p.m., and Jack and I sleep with the pigs in their sty.
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6th Mar. What a line! – but very warm. Scrounge a can of potato salad from a farm worker (Pole), also a can of milk, all for two cigarettes. I answer the call of Nature on a pig during the night and unconsciously apologize to him. Jack thinks it very amusing. Another air raid during the night.
18 Miles.
7th Mar. The old Day of Rest and are we grateful! A can of real milk for breakfast along with four spuds. A lay down on some straw all morning to rest our aching limbs. Three brews during the day and a can of barley soup that I scrounged from a Polish slave worker. We have a wash and a shave and a general clean up in the sty along with the pigs. The last war wallahs have nothing on us I’m afraid. They can no longer crow about the mud they used to plough through. As is usual when we rest, it’s perishing cold outside. Some of the boys help the old farmer to pull down a tree, presumably hoping for some extra grub. Tree goes down but no grub comes up. The dear, kind Germans issue 1/2 loaf per man and 1/2 oz. margarine per man to last six long days. Jack and I suck two squares of chocolate each in bed, and it lasts twenty minutes. The highlight of my life these days!
NIL
8th Mar. Staying here again to-day, the German High Command must be in a fla t[sic] spin. However, we’re grateful for the respite. Room is out bright and early and in the cowshed pinching a can of milk. I think I’ll join the Land Army for the next war. We lunch early to-day, at 11 a.m., and it’s a two-course effort, one spud and a spoonful of cooked swede! Sew s few buttons on my pants but if any more part company with me, I’ve had it – no wool or cotton left. A few more spuds appear in the evening, moderate ration, plus a can of soup that I buy from a German kiddie for one cigarette. He’ll smoke himself to death before nightfall. I pinch some more milk, but a German farmhand catches me and knocks the whole lot into my face and swears furiously. Didn’t even have the chance to swallow any. Jack finds it amusing but I certainly don’t. Last half bar of chocolate in bed. Never will I be without chocolate when I get home.
NIL
9th Mar. Up at 6 a.m., and a really hot brew this time Ferdy has done well in the old cookhouse, such as it is. Some cats (cooked) come up just before we leave, they help to fill the gap in the stomach. Off on the trot once more at 8:15 a.m., across frozen cart tracks for three miles to Penzlin which we hit at 9:45 a.m. it’s a miracle, there are no broken ankles flying around after that stroll. Gallin railway station at 10:30 a.m., and we look very jealously at a German officer who has jus t[sic] come home on leave to be greeted by his frau. We see a German clad in a warm RAF
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9th Ma r[sic]. Flying coat, exercising horses. For two miles we hit the best road surface yet, all concrete and we step on it. Then through mud, cart tracks and ploughed fields to Diestelow which we reach at 12 noon. Destined to stay here for the rest of the day. Only 11 miles to-day but the rough surface has taken all our energy away. A “woof” of biscuits and corned dickey on arrival, and a brew (good ‘un) comes up in half an hour. Bad dose of diarrhoea (how the hell do you spell it?) For the rest of the day and night it seems as though it’s my turn for dysentery, the complaint most prevalent these days. It’s the “G.I.’s” with a vengeance. Spuds and a can of thick soup during the evening but I can’t touch any. Rather sleepless night, up quite a few times.
11 Miles
10th Mar. Rest to-day, thank heaven! I don’t think I could stagger out of the farmyard to-day, I feel so darn weak and tired. Two spuds at 11 a.m., and a drop of barley. Jack working in the cookhouse to-day, a good thing because he does a deal with the German civvies and brings back 1/2 loaf of bread for 20 cigarettes and a square of chocolate. G.I.’s pretty grim at the moment, visiting the slit trench every hour of more and just make it several times. Air rai at night, very early too and I see the stuff going up when I’m visiting my “second home” outside. Darned insomnia again and I’m up half a dozen times during the night.
NIL
11th Mar. Rest of the column move off but I feel too weak to march so I go on the sick wagon. Divide what bit of grub we have in case I don’t see Jack at the other end. S/C at Pollock and half the column are now quartered, plus the chow wagon. Cup of hot wa ter[sic] there, then on to Lanken, a further three miles, where I rejoin the barrack who catch us up later. The sick wagon is an old wooden affair, a real boneshaker and my stomach suffers – not in silence either. Jump off wagon six times during the journey, making a total of 32 during the last 48 hours. Not fog! Crowded barn but Jack gets past a German guard by jumping the ditch at the back. Drops his cup and faithful walking stick in the sheissen[sic]! Farmer appears later, wa ving[sic] a naked scythe on discovering five litres of milk missing. The boys have been a t[sic] it again. Even worse later, when he reports that a number of chickens have disappea red[sic] miraculously. He threatens to shoot a few of the boys in the morning but Diplomat Clarke talks him round with the aid of the Hauptmann. Deadly night, insomnia and dysentery. I have a hell of a job to get to the trench, with bloke’s bodies and feet in the way. I want to go home! Another heavy air raid at night.
9 Miles
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12th Ma r[sic]. Up very early, not much use stopping bed, have to jump out as soon as I hit the straw! Hot drink at 9 a.m. and we are then moved back to Beckendorf, in the large barn at noon. Presumably this farmer will be glad to see the back of us – quite a few of his chickens have met a hasty death since we arrived. After all, a bloke must eat. No wagon available so I have to stagger along somehow. This dysentery is deadly – sometimes I think I’ll never see my native country again! Only two miles but I have to fall out half a dozen times. We pass the padre, Rev. Morgan, on the road. He’s one of the boys, looks as much like a tramp as any of us. He could have ridden the whole way, but not him. One of the very best, one of these lovable types. Reach the village faged out, and bless Jack for carrying half my kit. Good lad! Decent pit, near the door for military reasons! Spend the rest of the day on the straw, under my blankets, both of ‘em, with the wind howling through the decrepit barn. 1/2 loaf of bread and 1 oz. of margarine issued. Another accident, I am now minus a pair of trousers. Mighty wet outside during the night, pop out 7 times altogether, and am abused and sworn at, and whacked with a rifle butt by a guard. He refers to me as an English pig. I’d dearly love to see him in the same predicament.
2 Miles
13th Mar. Have to divide our pitiful stock of food once more as I’m going into “hospital”. This consists of twenty or so beds of straw in the farmer’s covered- in pigsties. Wish Jack could come with me, I feel so darned helpless. Doc brings me a can of mint tea, helps to brighten me up a little, but I don’t stay there very long, as I’ve got to go another four miles on the wagon as there’s no room here. The place is overcrowded now and with so many chaps suffering from frostbite, horrible blisters on their feet and so on. Still haven’t got my trousers, so I wrap myself in a blanket. Cold and miserable journey on the wagon, in a heavy rainstorm, blankets soaked as usual. Four miles, through Lanken again, to Stalzendorf. Horrible barn, freezing inside and the rain coming in. I’m past caring though. Hardly any sleep, two packs and two bales of straw fall on me from the loft above. The G.I.’s are less frequent now – they need to be after more than 70 in the last 3 days.
4 Miles
14th Mar. Move again at 7 a.m. on the wagon. Haven’t eaten a thing except a spoonful of tinned salmon during the last 48 hours. Terrible journey over ploughed fields, stomach badly shaken. Barn accommodation at Moderitz. Not bad at all, but food stakes pretty grim by now. Doesn’t affect me today, my poor old stomach is quite beyond any form of food.
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14th Mar. Get into a make-shift bed of straw at 12 noon, on arrival. Raining like hell outside and I feel so miserable and depressed that it’s the bes t[sic] place to be in. barracks 8, 9 and 10 arrive two hours later – they’re getting a grim deal all round. I break my fast (56 hours) with a slice of cold toast and pate. Hunger bloody acute by now, but daren’t eat anything more. Square of chocolate in bed, lasts 20 minutes. Out 4 times in the night but manage to sleep as well. Quite a pleasant change after the insomnia spell. Still no food issued by those dear friends of ours, the Germans.
9 Miles
15th Mar. Stay in bed all day, rest does wonders. Have a few small spuds at 1 o/c and a handful of old carrots. Very hungry but scared to eat any more in case the old complaint returns. Glorious sunshine all afternoon and air activity above us. Have a bath in a bucket and clean my teeth once more, even washing a few clothes also. I feel rather happy – a wash and brush up makes a load of difference. Another square of nutty in bed, make this one last for a long, long time as I’ve hardly eaten at all to-day. Much better night’s rest, although I’m up several times again. Main trouble is weakness now. The boys here are in a grim state. No Red Cross food, hardly any bread, and our only food for a day consists of a few spuds and a cup of watery soup. They can not continue to march much longer without a high rate of sickness. Can count the old ribs quite easily now and I don’t suppose I’m more tha n[sic] 6-1/2 stones. We are told we are to proceed to Ludwigslust, 20 miles away and then transport will be provided. Camp Leaders have been in touch with Red Cross Distribution Centres at Lubeck. Need for parcels is vital, the Germans can’t or won’t feed us. Up-to-date, we have been on the road 37 days, covered 288 miles and our food supplies have been 2 loaves, 4/5 lb. margarine, 2/11 lb. meat, (from the Germans) and 2-1/2 food parcels from the Red Cross. Speaks for itself, I think.
NIL
16th Mar. Sick party moves again at 7 a.m. on the old bone-shaker. Three miles to Parchim, through the town, and on for eight miles in the direction of Ludwigslust, which is now nine miles away. Old lady and gent of some 80 summers come up to the cart and start knocking the boys about with their walking sticks. Bit sticky, for a time, until the guards call them off. Cold ride but we’re there at 1 p.m. and wait for Barracks 1-4 to arrive with their chow-wagon. The joint is called Durehow, pretty miserable spot and no food at all for us. The farmer is a Heil Hitler man, not ‘arf’! The G.I.’s are clearing up now, but I’m starving
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16th Mar. like everyone else. Picked up a dirty old piece of bread this morning, weeks old, but I scraped it and chewed it. Better than nothing anyway. I’m not fussy. If my poor mother could see me now. Probably tell me I shouldn’t have joined! Barracks 1-4 arrive at 3 p.m. with chow-wagon and at 6 p.m. we have a cup of thin watery soup with one carrot in it. And I’ve been waiting since 9 a.m. with my tongue hanging out. Wo ist der fleisch and Kartoffeln? Have my one remaining square of nutty and go to bed, at least I can’t yearn for grub when I’m asleep. Bloke sleeping next to me who has been without food, apart from 5 spuds and a cup of soup, for three days. He eats two slices of bread and is violently sick. Poor devil, I’d like to help him, but have nowt myself. Some blokes have been like that for four days and marching 15 miles a day in all weathers.
12 miles
17th Mar. Brew of sweet mint tea form the wagon at 7 a.m. and the Yanks, Barracks 1-4 move off at 8 a.m. on the last lap (so we are told) to Ludwigslust. Sick party remaining here for a day, as no wagon is available and I’m bloody sure I wouldn’t last more than one mile with kit on my back. Several blokes attempt the struggle, counting on a parcel issue the other end. I hope their efforts are rewarded. No food available for the 30 of us, till the next big party arrives about 3 p.m. They eventually turn up at 4 p.m. and the dear, kind Germans issue a 1/4 loaf bread and 1/8 lb. of margarine to last for four days. 1-1/2 spuds come up at 5 o’clock plus the dirtiest, thinnest soup I’ve ever seen, 90% water and 10% Kohlrabi. Can read the name of the maker on the bottom of my tin! Go to bed feeling very, very hungry but manage to sleep OK. I dream a wonderful dream of never-ending plates of fish and chips. I’d pay 20 quid for some right now, if I only had 20 quid.
NIL
18th Mar. Cold brew at 8 a.m. with one slice of bread and a piece of spam. Barracks 8, 9 and 10 move out and advance guard of 5, 6 and 7 a rrive[sic] at 11 o’clock. Never was I more glad to see Jack than when he staggered in. We celebrate with a woof off some civvy bread he’s purloined from somewhere. Their Jerry rations must have been better than ours or he must have rationed himself severely, as he has more grub left than me. Gosh, it’s good to see him again, and we natter away as though we’ve been parted for five years instead of five days. Comradeship means more in a prison camp than anywhere on earth. Put the flag out, we’ve just bought a hunk of bread from Lofty Maddocks for some old Jerry margarine. We can’t eat that alone so we’re off on
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18th Mar. dry bread now. Spuds issued in evening (1-1/2 and dirty at that). Buy two extra ones for two cigarettes and a piece of liver paste. To smoke or starve, that is the question. Times are bloody hard, aren’t they Mum?
NIL
Here beginneth Jack’s diary for the last five days;
13th March. Rest at Beckendorf. Cec pretty groggy and taken with the sick joint. Split up for the first time since last August and we divide the grub, rather awkward. Heard from American medical bloke that Cec has left for some other joint. (Minus his trousers! C.A.R.) 15th March. Up at 6 a.m. for a cup of thin stew and a slice of bread and soon on the road for Lanken, Stalzendorf and Neuehoff, all along cart tracks then to Zielslurbe. Mint tea and a raw spud from the Huns after dark. 12 miles. 16th March. Good night’s rest, 1 slice of bread and half an EGG for breakfast, having bought two for 5 cigarettes. Hear we move on Sunday and two days should finish the march. Good show! Feel very tired and rest most of the day. Wondering how Cec is going on. (Ruddy grim boy C.A.R.) 17th March. Brew and egg sandwich for breakfast. Fair spud ration comes up and I buy a slice of bread for a tiny spot of Klim. 18th March. Up at 6 a.m. and after a measly breakfast off along the old cart-tracks once the old cart-tracks once mor[sic] to Damn, through Spornitz to Durehow. Meet Cec again here and are we both glad! Have a woof to cerebrate.
19th Mar. Rejoin Barrack 7 to-day, along with Jack. I don’t feel at all well but I’m leaving with Jack even if I collapse on the road. Leave Durehow at 8 a.m. to Brenz, where we pass groups of the Army boys who called in a t[sic] Luft 4 on their way down from Danzig. That must be about 500 miles back up the road! We yell at one another and I think of the good old Army cry “Are we downhearted”? It’s a most emphatic “NO”. Takes more than a bunch of Huns to get us down. You’d think we were meeting each other in Piccadilly on a night out! I think that’s what the Brass Hats mean when they talk about “esprit de corps”? Off down the road to Blievenstorf, then Muchow at 11 a.m. Stop for a roadside picnic off one solitary slice of bread and a tiny piece of spam. If a horse ran by I’d think I was at Newmarket in the good old piping days of peace. Roadside news bulletin! Another five miles to go and they’re giving us some bread to-night. Up goes the old morale. Zierzow at 1 p.m. where we pack in for the day. Find Barracks 8, 9 and 10 already here, and they’ve pinched all the best spots in the barn. Further outlook – bloody! On my old benders, but
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19th Mar. a slice of bread and a cup of ersatz coffee sets me up once more. Germans issue 3/8 loaf to each man. There’s a dirty great crust on our piece. The bread is hard enough, but that’s the last straw. Never mind Jack, pitch in! 5 spuds at 7 o’clock and we woof them with a piece of bread and old faithful, a piece of spam. Delicious! Couldn’t sleep at all, dreaming wild dreams of freedom. My God, what I won’t do when that day dawns.
13 Miles
20th Mar. Start at 9 o’clock, feeling very tired with pains in my leg. I guess it’s rheumatism or gout, never will I grin at unfortunate old men again when they mention their aches and pains. Going very hard. Werle at 10a.m. and we have a long rest of 50 minutes as the Jerries issue a further 3/8 loaf and blob of margarine. It’s not Adolf’s birthday yet, surely? Why the generosity? On to Kremmin, and reach Bechentin a t[sic] 1:30 p.m. Mathematician Reeves announces that we are tearing across the Third Reich at a rate of 14 miles a day on two slices of bread and four spuds per day. Grea t[sic] cheers go up. Seven spuds come round at 7 o’clock, the boys have been pinching again, bless ‘em. Very tired after today’s slog over some hard and rough roads and my legs are letting me know all the gen. Jack’s favourite blister has burst forth again. We but 15 ozs. Of sausage meat from a civvy fa rm[sic] worker for 15 cigarettes and sell 3 ozs. Of liver meat for 20 cigarettes. Tired business men.
12 Miles
21st Mar. Off at 9:40 a.m. – wait for remainder of the column and then the whole compound moves off, first time we’ve been together since Swinemunde. Head winds, dust, perspiration, and a slow pace, all brass us off completely. Through Wanslitz, then strike through the forest over bags of sand to Eldena, a small market town on the canal. Arrive Bresegard at 4:45 p.m. and split up into small barns, 100 men in each. Woof at 6 o’clock of bread and sausage meat. Get the serviettes out Jack, we’re dining in style! Only two spuds come up, but we have a hot wash in the yard. Hope we stay here tomorrow.
11 Miles
22nd Mar. Do we hell! Up at 5:30 a.m. but one consolation – we have two cups of wizard, thick soup before we leave at 7:30 a.m. The old stomach feels quite full, rather strange sensation these stormy days. Glorious sunshine, but with an Army overcoat, I hate it. Boy, do I sweat, and my feet are dea dly[sic]. Remind myself to take my boots off to-night. I’ll suffer for it next day, though. Through Karens, Conew, and Melliss to Heidorf. Here I fall out for the usual, and I’m rapped across the rear with a rifle butt by the brute of
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22nd Mar. a sergeant. I’ll do him one fine day. Have to tear down the road to catch the boys up, but the guard tears with me, I don’t mind so much. Half Red Cross parcel issued on the roadside and poor old Barracks 8, 9 and 10 have to carry the 50 lb. cartons for 1-1/2 miles. Brave and stalwart fellows. If I carried one, I’d collapse after a few yards. I just missed that ordeal through belting up the road to catch up. We cross the River Elbe just north of Domitz. River Rhine next stop boys, then dear old Father Thames. Air raid begins and we turn off the main highway and have a rest. Bags of flak, give ‘em socks boys. Think of it, most of you up there will be back necking in the back row of the flicks to-night. Ah! Woe is me. Three miles down the winding road by the river to Dammatz, where we stay the night. Woof and a hot brew then a shave and wash once more. Good egg! This is a cheap existence, one razor blade has lasted me eight weeks. A good night’s rest for a change and I dream of home, sweet home.
16 Miles
23rd Mar. Two cans of soup with a bit of meat in them from a Hun for breakfast. Resting here today, ideal spot too, on the banks of the Elbe. If we had a boat out, I’d imagine myself on the Thames back home. A goon tells us we’re getting a full parcel today. Right, we’ll see how [underlined] that [/underlined] one turns out. He’s given us a load of duff gen up till now. Glorious sunshine all day, sitting outside on the straw. Spring is here, snowdrops and swallows knocking around. Wizard, 1/5 loaf and 1/25 lb. of margarine issued. They’ll kill themselves with generosity any moment now. Decent spud ration for tea and we also have a piece of toast off the old farmer’s kitchen fire. Clean my boots for the first time, having sneaked a Jerry’s boot polish and brushes when he wasn’t around. Must have a touch of sunstroke, I feel very tired and have a splitting headache. We must have come through many degrees of longitude because seven weeks ago we were marching in deep snow and ice and now we’re being bitten by mosquitoes.
NIL
24th Mar. Off we go at 8:30 but hang around on the road for a hell of a time. Ha lf[sic] a parcel issued on the road and we set course for Dannenburg. Fairly large town and the boys pass their ha ndiwork[sic]! Usual air raid in progress but on we go to Tripkau and Melzingen. Sun really hot by now and I’m perspiring like mad, tired out incidentally. Finish day’s march at Brebenbook, 100 men to a barn. Pinch a small enamel bowl and I buy a small knife and a can of salt and a bottle for 10 cigarettes. Eight spuds for supper, but no breakfast. Deadly.
16 Miles
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25th Mar. Set out at 8 a.m. with nothing inside us. That’s nothing fresh however. Three chickens made a quick exit from this world overnight. Wally had a blanty! Pass through Gut Collase and Kienitz and then an air raid begins. Formations of U.S. bombers fly over us and bomb further on. What a super sound that is! Then a monotonous plod for eight miles, no sign of a village for ages, until we hit Nimbergen, where most of the column stay for the night. We strike unlucky and do an extra three miles to Almsdorf. Good barn, 80 of us with electric light as well. Generous ration of spuds and Jack and I dig into the parcel with a slice of bread and jam and prunes and powdered milk. That was very nice, Jack, come again. One Yank finds an upholstered seat from a car, and a table also. He fondly imagines himself in the Waldorf-Astoria, no doubt. The straw spoils the effect somewhat. Could I do with a wash. These perishing lice are becoming mechaniced [sic].
15 Miles
26th Mar. Off at 8:30 a.m. after waiting for the rest of the column. A good pace for a change and most of the blokes in step. Six miles go past in no time, through Romstedt, Bevensen, Nasson-Nettorf, and Emmendorf. Sun very hot and pace slows down. Roads becoming grim. These cobblestones play hell with my blisters and aching feet. Barracks 1 – 4 and 8, 9 and 10 go ahead but we stay behind. Never found out the name of the village. The German R.A.C. has fallen down on the job. One thing about this country, you always know where you are – signposts all over the shop. Small barn but uncomfortable and I shiver as soon as I lay down. Bilious during the night and sick three times. Out another four times for the usual. Off the old food and Jack has my spuds. Sleepless night. I sit in a buggy with a guard to get some fresh air after being sick in the night. Oh Lord, spare me from dysentery again!
13 Miles
27th Mar. Day of rest and I’m very grateful. In the old pile of straw most of the day, but have half a bath in a bucket of water. Don’t eat my spuds, so Jack tucks in once more. News flash! We’re [underlined] supposed [/underlined] to go three miles to Uelzen, get split up and go by cattle truck to some camp. Yah! 1 p.m. we pack up and move to Ebstorf – 5 miles away. Crikey, it may be true, so the boys tear along the road with trains before the eyes, and we’re there in just over 1-1/2 hours. That’s the fastest we’ve walked yet. Several budding Olympic walkers in this mob. Yes, the trainload of cattle trucks are there and we all pile into them at Ebstorf Bahnhof. But what a blow! These trucks usually hold 8 horses or 40 men and even then we’re crowded. On this occasion, the hard pressed Germans cram no less than
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27th Mar. 80 repeat 80 men into a truck. It is a physical impossibility to sit down – some are hunched up wog-fashion but the rest have to stand. Dear lord, how long will this last? Now we decide to get cracking on the grub we have left in our parcels. Remembering the sad occasion when we moved to Luft 4 and had our food stolen by the Jerries we are determined not to take any with us into this new camp. Off we go with a hunk of bread, spam, cheese and jam and the parcel slowly deflates. Then I begin to feel ill and can’t eat another thing. This is the most tragic moment of my life. Here am I, been longing for a super-woof for weeks, and now I’ve had it. My God, am I ill! Sick twice, and a G.I. in a Klim tin, a masterpiece of precision work. The doors have been closed a long time and the air is pretty foul. We’re on our way, however, and about 2 a.m. we stop for 20 minutes. Jack helps me out, and I see Doc Pollock who doses me with opium. Relieves me a hell of a lot. Locked in again and pass a horrible night. Everyone swears he prefers marching to this hell on earth.
5 Miles
[inserted] *.Split up & joined Other party to Stalag 357 [/inserted]
28th Mar. Finally arrive at Fallingbostel, near Hanover. 1-1/2 miles to walk from the station but we’re mighty thankful to stretch our legs. Arrive at [underlined] Stalag XIB [/underlined], a mixed Army camp of French, British, Serbs, Yugoslavs and Indians. Hang around and then searched in a huge marquee. None of the Germans pinch any food, for a couple of cigarettes skilfully planted in their hands gets us through the search without any bother. Camp is horribly overcrowded most of the British are Airborne fellows in their weird “jumping suits”. Nearly all captured at Arnhem and like all new prisoners they’re “airborne” all the time. What “Stories of the Air”! Grub stakes very poor, only 1/2 parcel has been issued here during the last 3-1/2 weeks, and the German rations consist of three spuds, “whispering grass”, and two cups of weak ersatz coffee. Soon after we arrive a mass funeral takes place. 15 of the boys are buried, in their plain wooden coffins, the majority have just wasted away. I’m not feeling any too happy at this dismal sight. Up half the night with the old G.I.’s and lose my trousers temporarily. We are all herded together in a huge marquee, and I have approximately a space one foot wide to sleep in. The Long Trek has now ended and so has the Diary, I’m afraid. No more paper available. Delete Toilet Paper, substitute grass and straw!
1-1/2 Miles
29th Mar. to 8th April I’ve scrounged some paper but must be very brief. Our stay at Stalag XIB is destined to be cut short, curse it. The offensive on the Western Front has opened up in full blast and now we are being evacuated from Montgomery’s Army. Presumably we shall meet the Russians half way back. The
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29th Mar. to 8th April Army boys are staying behind but the poor old RAF have got to march away. We have spent 11 days idle and hungry and we’re all in. Blokes have been dying every day, including poor old Harry Bliss. He was taken ill with appendicitis in the cattle trucks and was kept locked up in agony. He died soon after we got here. In many ways I am glad to get out of here. We stand a little more chance of picking up odd bits of food on the road. Another month of this and I’m pretty sure many of us would hit the long, long trail. I can’t forget that Russian who was taken into the Mortuary, covered with a sheet. The sheet was practically flat on the stretcher.
We move out at 12 noon on the 8th and I say goodbye to the pals we’ve made here, including Ginger and Sammy and some boys from the local Regiment. It was good to meet them. See you all at home very shortly! Fairly good rations given us before we leave, including flour and dehydrated cabbage. Accompanied by Army guards, we march 12 miles through Nordbostel to Blecknar. The route is over country similar to Salisbury Plain, and it has been used for the same purpose by German artillery. Decent barn and a liberal issue of spuds. Sleep pretty well, wondering how far away the British Army is right now.
12 Miles
9th April Rest today. Three decent meals today of spuds, pinched from a store below the barn, and the cabbage issue yesterday. Loaf of bread from a Russian Army Captain for a pound of German margarine that was issued. Pretty good deal that, no sentiment in business.
NIL
10th April Off at 9 a.m. through Bergen. Miss the main road and cover extra five miles detour. Jack and I fall out for the usual and hide in a ditch. The column moves on and we come out later. There’s a German soldier down the road nattering away to a bevy of German maidens outside a farm, so back we go again for a meeting to discuss tactics. Go a mile down the road, not a soul about and we make for an XXB Kommando, which is billeted outside a farm. Sit in the ditch to rest and wait a while, when luck deserts us and a truck with all the stragglers aboard comes along. A German sees us and we’ve had it. I spin ‘em a yarn we’ve come from another column, going another way but does he believe me, does he hell! Get in Jack. Ah, well it was nice being free. We catch the column up but they won’t allow us to get off and we ride all the way to Trauen, 6 miles on. Not enough barn accommodation and many sleep in the open air. Hardly any water available. Jack and I are in a barn but we have a deadly night. The lice and other small animals
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10th April swarming over me give me hell. They’ve been multiplying for some time now but we can’t get rid of them. They are in our clothing, hair etc., and it’s pretty grim not being able to wash.
16 Miles
11th April Rest today, no-one, Germans included, seems to know the score. Some of the boys from the column in front come back in the opposite direction and there’s mass confusion. Don’t tell me the Russians are that close! Go into the river nearby and have a bath. Very cold but I prefer to shiver than have these deadly lice. Shed some of my clothes and throw it away, it’s full of animals! If we go on much longer, I shall be the first bloke to cross the Third Reich in the nude. The afternoon is well spent in slinking into a garden and pinching some rhubarb. We make a tart with the flour and water, and eat in style. This is better than the old Stalag! Exciting tonight. Spitfires and Typhoons shoot up an aerodrome just across the road, and are in combat with FW190’s just above our heads. The boys all scamper into the barn, under bushes, blocks of wood and any cover available. We see a 190 go down in flames. What a bloody cheer went up. Another night of “hunting”. The bath didn’t do me any good.
NIL
12th April Plod on across the fields and cart tracks to Wellingbostel. During a rest in the woods, I find a propaganda newspaper dropped by the RAF. Gives us all the up-to-date gen and we devour it greedily. The Huns are reading it as well. Also find ration cards and lea flets[sic] dropped by the boys. Excellent barn, 17 of us in it and we’re locked in – the Huns don’t know were[sic] there. There’s even a lorry in here with us. Any petrol about? Just a slice of bread for supper, then go to sleep. The majority of the boys are in the open, in the wood.
15 Miles
13th April Make a fire as usual out in the open, all budding Boy Scouts now. Stealing wood from the civvies woodshed while Jack gets a few spuds cooked. No bread issued so we make a few biscuits from the last of the flour. Off we go at 1 o’clock along dusty roads for 5 miles to Betzendorf. Not a bad place and we go on the scrounge till bedtime. No Joy!
5 Miles
14th April Cook some spuds over a fire all morning but move at 1:30 and plod for three miles to Barnstedt. We are now only 10 miles from Ebstorf where we boarded the cattle trucks for XIB. The farmer had just killed a horse when we arrived. We didn’t care whether it died from T.B. or anything else. We just get stuck in with a knife or razor blade and run off triumphantly with a hunk of lung and his ruddy windpipe. Get the fire going Jack, we feast tonight. Gosh, it tasted wizard. Bit tough but it’s something to get the old teeth into.
3 Miles
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15th April Boil some spuds over a fire during the morning and also have some rhubarb left. Add some German saccharin and some cooked barley and it’s a sizeable meal for a change. Move at 1 p.m. and do 4 miles to Eitzen. Here Jack and I make a dash for it. It’s now or never. We go past a farmyard, and I keep an eagle eye on the guards. They turn the other way for a moment or two, and I prod Jack and whisper “Left turn”. Into the farmyard we dart, sweating like mad. Into a cattle shed and under some straw, and there we stay for a long while. No one appears and later some civvy kids come in and then race back to tell the old man. Two old ladies come in and we natter to them, stalling all the time. They are scared stiff of the pair of us and they keep telling us that the Allies will kill them when they arrive. We smooth them over with some propaganda and one old dear brings a postcard from her son who is a P.O.W. in Canada. I’ll bet he’s more comfortable than I am, anyway. Some Polish slave workers bring us food: cake, soft-boiled eggs, bread and margarine and coffee. Ma dam[sic], that tastes like a five course dinner in Piccadilly. The farmer eventually arrives and he’s scared too. If he’s found harbouring P.O.W.’s he’s for the wall and a firing squad. Fetches the Burgomaster who later brings in a soldier. This is it, Jack we’re off to join the column. This soldier has fallen out with bad feet, and we later lea ve[sic] the farm to hit the road once more. But luck is with us. A Polish slave worker comes tearing down the road and gives us some coffee and food to see us on our way. At this moment the Hun decides he’s had enough and back we go to the farm and spend the night there.
4 Miles
16th April Breakfast in the kitchen of the farm. Milk, soup, bacon sandwiches and coffee! Wash clothes in a copper during the morning and for dinner we have vegetable soup with onions and spuds. This is really wonderful. We’ve been talking to the guard all morning. He’s a disillusioned German, let down badly by the Feuhrer. He has lost his family in an air raid, and his brothers on the Eastern Front and is horribly brassed off with the war, most of all with the march. So are we. With some diplomacy we persuade to hide us up till the Allies come. He will be a prisoner in a week or so anyway so what has he to lose. Will he fall for it? We await events eagerly. At 5 p.m. we move on to Bienenbuttel, 4 miles away. He certainly is tired of marching. Things look very much in our favour. We will never catch the boys up by marching, only by truck can we make it. Air raid on the way and we stop by a cemetery! Then another halt in the middle of a wood and he leaves us with his rifle and kit while he nips smartly into the undergrowth. What the hell is he playing at? We arrive at the village a t[sic] 8 o’clock three hours later and stop by a house where
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16th April a German brings us some apples. What a life. Two weeks ago we were being kicked and snarled at. Now they give us apples. The mentality of a defeated which crawl to the conquerors! Call at the Burgomaster’s house but he can’t do a thing with us. We go to the town hotel where German troops are quartered and our hearts sink. But we’re kicked out. Whoopee! On we go to the outskirts of another farm and as soon as the hausfrau sees us she starts screaming “Terrorbombers”, “Luftgangsters” etc. etc. Let’s go Jack! But the old guard talks to her and she takes us to a barn in the yard. Our straw beds are only half a dozen yards from the main road and we hear the Army lorries and troops going by, retreating as usual. We go into the kitchen and later have a meal: fried eggs (first for two years), onions and lashings of milk. There’s more food on the table, but we’re scared to eat it. We can’t believe it’s there, the result of the last few month’s privations. This is beyond our wildest dreams. I daren’t hope for too much, we’ve been disappointed so many times before. But I don’t sleep very well, my brain is in a whirl.
4 Miles
17th April Up at 8:30 a.m. and we help the little Russian girl in the kitchen. She’s about 18 and the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. In decent clothes and with make up I’d take her anywhere and love being seen with her. Does she work hard! Jack and I feel very sorry for her. Still you’ll soon be free, Olga, and the boot on the other foot. Huge breakfast at 9 a.m. we’re called into the kitchen. Sheer luxury being called in to meals and everything laid ready. Three platefuls of milk soup, bread, whey, cheese, jam, syrup, bacon and apples. Back to the straw to sleep, I can hardly stand. My poor old stomach can hardly cope with a meal of that size. For dinner we had potato soup, pork, stewed apples in syrup, and coffee. Sit out in the sun and later the old guard brings us a bucketful of soup from the German Red Cross. I’ll guarantee they don’t know it’s for P.O.W.’s in hiding! Later, supper: (we couldn’t eat any tea) of soft-boiled eggs and sausages with hot milk. We’ve eaten more food today than we’ve had during the last month. The guard has worked it all out that our troops should be in the town by 4:30 a.m. tomorrow. Still a little pessimistic but the Germans are retreating like mad down the main road, just over the wall. They blew up the railway bridge this evening, and broke several windows in the house. I went flat on the ground, thinking the RAF were about. Another restless night.
NIL
18th April [underlined] LIBERATION DAY [/underlined]
Up quite early and out for a wash and shave. Looking quite smart these days and we must be presentable to the Britis h[sic] Army when they arrive, bless ‘em. Keep the Russian girl to carry buckets of water, and then breakfast is up. Milk soup again with bread and whey, cheese and jam. Sit out in the yard in the sunshine and then a lay-down on the old straw. And now the great moment arrives! The farmer’s uncle comes tearing into the yard from the town, yelling like mad, and “Heil Hitlering” every few yards. I
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18th April know enough German to know what he’s saying –“The English are Here”! Absolutely wizard. Jack and I tear out to the gate with tears in our eyes. A council of war is held and one of us must stay and look after the guard who is now OUR PRISONER, and the other must go down to the town and see what’s cooking. Out comes a pack of cards. Jack cuts the Jack of Hearts and poor me has the two of spades. So I retire to the kitchen and mount guard over Ex-Gefreiter Mars. He whips off his badges of rank and insignia and they’re my souvenirs. I also have the rifle and bayonet and ammunition. Do I feel good! I’m on tenderhooks [sic] waiting for him to come back. Never did an hour pass so slowly. Back he comes at 11:30 with a huge grin all over his face, carrying sweets, chocolate, a box of cigars and biscuits. We give the biscuits, sweets and chocolate to the young Russian girl and the Poles, and puff contentedly at the cigars. Quickly the farmer and his wife realize the position we are in, we’re the bosses now and we’re invited into the dining room for a feast. Soup, rabbit, spuds and sauce, ham, stewed rhubarb and cherries make up the menu and we lean back in the armchair feeling that life is indeed good. I can’t believe it’s true. Have a wash and smarten up to meet our liberators and off we go with our prisoner between us. Jus t[sic] outside the gate we hear a Cockney voice, and a smiling face appears. It’s a soldier, “mopping-up” with his pal and they’re carrying loads of eggs pinched in the process. We jus t[sic] about hug them with delight we’re the first liberated P.O.W.’s they’ve met. On down the road and we meet a Captain in a scout car who exclaims “What the ‘ell is this?” Our strange clothing caused the query. We soon tell him and out comes more grub. Into the hotel we go, the same one from which we were thrown out the other evening. The Tommies are there in force drinking the place dry. Cups of Army tea, real strong stuff are brought in and we’re the guests of honour. Then a mug of beer and down to the cellar where we find clothes in abundance. I shed my old, lice infested clothing and fix myself up with a new white shirt that has a collar miles too big for me. A smart grey suit and a red tie, plus a pair of soft black leather boots. “Flash Harry” with a vengeance. Also pinch two bottles of preser ved[sic] strawberries and some soap and a suitcase. The German civvies are crying and protest but remembering the events of the past I have no pity what-ever. We move up to the Transport Section and have our photographs taken by a Tommy. Some German prisoners are brought in and we have a go at them. I relieve a Flt. Sgt. of his jackboots and 1000 marks from his wallet. I’ve got a newspaper, the “News of the World” too! A soldier apologises because it’s three weeks old, I wouldn’t care if it was 12 months old. I devour every word, greedily. We’re going home at long last and at a stop on the roadside the Tommies cook us fried eggs and onions, and some bully beef. Then on we go and find we’re advancing with the 11th Armoured Division to Luneberg. The tanks open up at Messerschmitts and F.W.’s and we’re scared stiff God, wouldn’t it be awful to be captured again! Stay in a farm at night and have a wizard supper and actually listen to the 9 o’clock news from Englans[sic]. Bruce, old boy, your voice never sounded sweeter!
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18th April 120 German prisoners are brought in including our own guard. Can’t sleep a wink, far too excited. Get up and smoke cigarettes and woof biscuits. Out I go at 5 a.m. and help a soldier light the fires in the field kitchens, and have a hot wash and a brew. So ends a glorious day, the happiest of my life, and the one we waited so long for. Soon be home, Mum. I send her a postcard this afternoon, won’t she be delighted to receive it? Our minds are too confused to think properly, we want to rush home in a couple of hours, but we’ll try and be patient.
19th April Lovely breakfast of real porridge and sugar and milk, fried eggs, sausages, [underlined] white [/underlined] bread and butter. Then delouse myself and my precious blanket sent from home. I’ve carried it all this way and it’s going back home on my bed. Off we go at 10a.m. back to Bienenbuttel, lose the way two or three times. From Merdack we then go to Celle. Pass German aerodromes with dozens of burnt-out aircraft on the ground. Good show, boys. Also see hordes of Russians, French and Poles making their own way back on foot mostly. But six are in a huge car, driven by four horses! Arrive Celle at 6 o’clock and meet Norman Rees in the market place and a joyful re-union takes place. Billeted in Army barracks and given a light meal. They won’t allow us to overeat. Several of the boys are in pain – their stomachs just can’t take it. Sleep on the floor of the hut, no insomnia tonight however.
20th April Up at 8 o’clock and after breakfast we queue up to be registered. The boys are coming in by the dozen now, wonder where the old column is by now. I expect they have crossed the Elbe. Draw clean clothing, army battledress, from a store and after a bath, I become a soldier. After tea we go to the cinema. The film is very old and I fall asleep, but I’m very happy. Canteen issues cigarettes, chewing gum, matches and a cigar, all buskshee. Still no money! Geoff Reeves and Don Godard roll in tonight. They’ve been hiding in a wood box. The Tommies thought Don was with a girl-friend. Geoff’s hair is so long these days! Complete diary by candlelight. Almost finished it now, thank God!
21st April Up rather early and we are soon off on another stage of the journey home. After breakfast we pile into lorries and the convey moves off in a rainstorm. Arrive at Nienburg at about 2 o’clock, this place being N.W. of Hanover and only 20 miles from Fallingbostel. Billeted, and given a meal of stew and rice pudding. Meet a fellow from Oxford and have a drop of rum with him and a long talk about home. Promise to visit his people and take a message back for him. He gives me two souvenirs of Holland, a couple of silk scarves. Hang around the rest of the day – very impatient. Write to Mum and Doris and then bed.
22nd April The rich food that we’ve been having these last few days has upset me with a vengeance, and I’ll have to lie low. To-day for instance Jack and I woofed a 2 lb. fruit pudding each with cream on top and then went down to dinner and knocked back Irish stew and peaches and cream! It’s difficult to turn away from the good food, but I’d rather not have that deadly dysentery again.
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22nd April Many of the chaps have been very ill through over-eating. May leave for England tomorrow. Prowl around the German stores again looking for anything worth having, then into bad. Tomorrow night should see us in England once more.
23rd April Nothing happens all day, so Jack and I go to the cinema at 6:30 and see some news reels, and Mickey Mous e[sic]. Half-way through the picture some bloke comes in and yells, “P’s. O.W. outside.” You never saw such a rus h[sic]. Everybody dead scared the trucks will leave without them. We don’t move off for two hours so into the Q.M.’s office and we sample some red wine looted from France. Feel half tight but very, very happy. Leave at 10 p.m. in the trucks. Very uncomfortable, almost as bad as the cattle truck but we’re all very cheerful.
24th April We ride all night and one truck crashes into a tree, killing the driver and seriously injuring several of the P’s.O.W. Wake up with a s tiff[sic] neck, sore all over. We’re at Borghorst, and we raid a milk lorry outside the dairy. Billeted in the town for five hours and I have a good long sleep. Charge into a German house, and have a feed, wash and a shave. The Huns didn’t murmur. Leave at 2 o’clock for Rheine airport and drive right up to the aircraft. Separated from Jack for the second time. See you in Blighty, Jack. We’re soon airborne and on the last stage for home. Soon we leave Germany behind, over Belgium and France, the Channel and then the white cliffs of Dover. There are a few lumps in the boys’ throats a s[sic] they gaze at them. Pass along the coast to Dungeness and across to Guildford and we land at Dunsfeld [sic], at 6:30 p.m. I’m first out the kite and a W.A.A.F. rushes up to kiss me. That was worth all the two years. Even S.P.’s come up and greet us. One bloke, a P.O.W. for over five years, sits on the grass and weeps unashamedly. The welcome bowls us over. The good old Red Cross is there in force, the hangar is hung with flags and a huge “WELCOME HOME” sign fluttering from the roof. A wizard tea, 2 pounds advance pa y[sic], a rest and off we go to London. The money jingles merrily in our pockets. All the W.A.A.F.’s follow the truck on their bicycles, what a glamorous guard of honour! Leave Guildford and arrive London at 9:30 where we mob the first policeman we see. He doesn’t quite know what’s happening. Off to a hotel at Eufton, beds all made for us, new pyjamas, a bag of good things from the Red Cross and a final message from them. The message reads “We salute you and wish you the best of luck.” I rather think we should salute [underlined] them [/underlined], without their wonderful help we wouldn’t be here to enjoy the welcome. A bath, a real bath, and I laze in the luxury of it for nearly two hours. Jump out as weak as a rat but really clean this time. This is sheer heaven.
25th April Off at 10 a.m. for Paddington and we’re in Cosford by 12:30 p.m. the reception centre. Another terrific welcome, re-kitted with new uniforms, interrogated by Intelligence wallahs and more gifts from the R.A.F. and the Red Cross. Organization superb and we remain here till 9 a.m. next day.
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26th April Now we’re really on the way. Arrive Oxford at 1 p.m. and on the local bus at 2:15 p.m. I queued up for one hour, no need to do so, but I’m not missing this one. Sent a wire to Mum. Arrive home at 3 p.m. and there is Mum waiting for me. The great moment has arrived, even more wonderful then I expected. No words can describe my feelings. I think I’ll leave the Diary just there.
I’m happy, what more can I ask?
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Title
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How we took the good news from Grosse Tychow to Fallingbostel
The army that didn't march on its stomach
The Russians are coming, Hurrah, Hurrah!
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A diary of the forced march undertaken by prisoners of war 6 February 1945 to 26 April 1945
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C A Room
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IBCC Digital Archive
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
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28 typewritten sheets
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eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Diary
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
BRoomCARoomCAv1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Poland
Poland--Tychowo
Germany--Bad Fallingbostel
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-03
1945-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
animal
fear
prisoner of war
Stalag Luft 4
the long march
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2146/37083/PFieldPL19080006.2.jpg
53fd497bde563fe8c9957d912c087a43
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2146/37083/PFieldPL19080007.2.jpg
f672e8e21d9a315dede73cfc59ad5182
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Field, Peter L and Cynthia G. Photograph album 5
Description
An account of the resource
13 items. Photographs of wartime colleagues, Cook's tour aerial photographs of bomb damaged German cities, and family and friends as well as two letters home.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-09-19
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Field, PL-CG
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
813742 Sgt. Barry C.G.
WAAF Sgts’ Mess,
RCAF Station,
Leeming,
Yorks.
December 1st 1944.
My dearest Mamma,
Very many thanks for sending the frock, shoes, etc. – it was nice of you to send them so promptly, tho’ I tried to tell Daddy over that faint line that there was no hurry. You see we hope to have a party in the mess & dress up properly for it for a change – all very unofficial, of course. Technically we are supposed to wear uniform at all functions, but nobody who matters sees us [inserted] in [underlined] our [/underlined] mess [/inserted] We usually wear slacks & jumpers or shirt-blouses.
Thank you so much for your letter – I’m sorry, but I forgot to bring it on duty with me so I shall try & rememember [sic] what you said.
So Angela starts today in the ATS – I’m so glad she is at last doing what she had been trying for the past year to do. Yes, you will be missing her, even if not in a practical sense! However, it’s my opinion that within a year she will have improved & changed beyond recognition. She’ll find it tough at first but I think she realises that. Maybe she’ll be able to get home from Guildford during [deleted] hed [/deleted] her training.
I [underlined] wish [/underlined] I could get home for Christmas [inserted] but [/inserted] it wouldn’t be fair to leave Betty & Connie to cope & miss all the fun here thro’ being tired & on duty so much, I don’t if know anyone who is getting leave at Christmas – perhaps it has been stopped anyway.
Please excuse the squalid paper, but I ain’t got no notepaper at the moment.
On Monday I gave myself a treat & took myself to Harrogate – it was the first time I had been off camp (other than to Jocks, which is only just outside camp, & North Allerton which is 9 miles away) [deleted] for [/deleted] since my leave. I had quite a lot of money – about £6, as we had been paid an extra wage with back pay added.
[page break]
You remember I couldn’t get my coupons accepted anywhere when I was on leave – I tried again in Harrogate & succeeded. I bought a pale blue-green shirt blouse to wear with my slacks, two prs pants & a “BR” – these items to be purchased with great care for best wear. The blouse has a [indecipherable word] collar which looks rather smart, & soft buttons.
[sketch]
I also bought two very sweet cot pillow cases hand embroidered for one of the Waaf Sgts here, who is having a baby next March.
[sketch]
I had tea in Standings – there are armchairs & settees at the tables round the wall, so I got a very comfortable armchair at a small table near the window. I saw a frightful film, of which I forget the title, then caught the bus to Ripon & from thence to the end of the long road to the camp. It was snowing during the day & there was 2” snow either side of the Great North Road.
The other night the Intelligence section gave a party in North Allerton Stn. Hotel & they invited Betty, Connie, & [deleted] I [/deleted] me – Connie was on duty but the Senior Flying control Officer let her off, as it was quiet. The only other female there was a very charming WD [deleted] (Scandinavian Waaf) [/deleted] officer. We had an [underlined] enormous [/underlined] dinner with chicken etc. & plenty of drinks with it & afterwards retired to the smoking room & had a sing song, dancing & general merriment. Connie & I got there in a car belonging to a staff Wing Commander – he insisted on driving on the right side of the road, which was rather tricky
Last night we saw a Canadian Navy show – it really was wizard. A Russian played the violin & there were many sea chanties, etc.
[page break]
On Wednesday night we gave a screening party in our mess for a very newly screened crew – I was on duty from 7pm & so missed the party & meeting the crew.
Our precious crew – the one which went to PFF – hadn’t started operating yet, & the poor kids are getting terribly fed up, the reason is that they have only just got a bomb aimer – I told you their own B/A refused to go with them (& so he has nearly finished his tour of ops., & the boys have only about 16 trips at the moment).
I have just been watching an aircraft land in very bad visibility – the flying control office had quite a time getting him down by shooting off a number of flares to guide him down to the runway, which was invisible to the pilot until he actually came in to land.
I wonder a lot these days about when the war is over – it’s not much use trying to plan anything at the moment. I want to strike out on my own, but at the same time I am longing to come home & be with the family – perhaps I can combine the two. I am in two minds about leaving the service, which is secure at least – but I think that I shall want to leave as soon as my job is redundant, which will be the day hostilities ease – if it were not for the fact that I do love my job & my friends here, I should feel I had had quite enough of service life – [underlined] & [/underlined] uniform. My group for demobilisation is 32 – not too bad considering I am young, & single. The twins won’t be out until long after me, I imagine!
It's very nice of you to think of making some pants for me for Christmas – I certainly could do with them – they seem to wear out at such a terrific rate. Those camiknix you gave me – last Christmas was it? – are in shreds, tho’ they’ve done wonderfully considering how often I wash & iron ‘em! I have two older pairs of cami’s which I had at Huntingdon 2 years ago – may tear if I look at them!! My service pants are the same – they won’t change ‘em unless they’re very bad.
[page break]
Well, Ma, I think I’d better stop & rest your weary eyes. Please thank Rose very much for her letter & the wonderful drawings, which caused much amusement in the mess – I’ll answer it as soon as I can I am so sorry I can’t get to her play – I never seem to be home at the right time, do I?
My love to Dad & Aunt.
Your darling
[signature]
[photograph]
[indecipherable words]
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from C G Barry to her mother
Description
An account of the resource
Letter mounted on four pages of album. Writes of her activities at RAF Leeming and catches up with family news. Gives reasons for not coming home on leave for Christmas. Describes shirt and pillow cases she had just bought. Writes about several entertainment and party events. Mentions 'their precious crew' who went to Pathfinders had not started operating yet. Goes on to describe watching aircraft land in poor weather. Speculates on future after war was over.
On the last page of album a head and shoulders portrait of a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force wearing tunic.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
C G Barry
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-12-01
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-12-01
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Text. Correspondence
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four page handwritten letter and one b/w photograph mounted on four album pages.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PFieldPL19080006, PFieldPL19080007
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
aircrew
entertainment
ground personnel
military living conditions
military service conditions
Pathfinders
RAF Leeming
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1939/36735/BSpearSFSpiersJMv10001.1.jpg
15ea2c565d3e72913c229807481e089b
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1939/36735/BSpearSFSpiersJMv10002.1.jpg
c3d87e7a0e1f3f94c342d217e79da9b7
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Field, Peter L and Cynthia G
Peter L Field
P L Field
Cynthia G Field
C G Field
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-09-19
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Field, PL-CG
Description
An account of the resource
144 items and five photograph albums in sub-collections. The collection concerns Peter L and Cynthia G Field and contains memoirs, correspondence, photographs. Peter Field (b. 1920) served as a wireless operator and Cynthia (b. 1921) served as a WAAF in 2 Group. <br /><br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2137">Album One</a> Photographs of various people.<br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2138">Album Two</a> Photographs of people and places, postcards.<br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2141">Album Three</a> Photographs of parents house over the years.<br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2144">Album Four</a> Photographs of family events, places and people.<br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2146">Album Five</a> <span>Photographs of wartime colleagues, Cook's tour aerial photographs of bomb damaged German cities, and family and friends as well as two letters home.</span><br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Susan Elizabeth Field and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] Additional information about Jean’s life [/underlined] For Sally Spear.
It is not known when Jean joined the WAAF but she was already stationed at Huntingdon RAF when I arrived there in late 1941. We began to converse in the NAAFI and discovered many mutual interests, icluding [sic] artistic ones. It was such a joy having a cultural discussion for a change and to savour each other’s sense of humour.
Jean belonged to Intelligence and worked in the Drawing Office. She was fortunate to be amongst educated colleagues, who formed a group, including ourselves, to attend regular musical evenings at nearby Hemingford Grey. Borrowing camp bicycles in January 1942, we would make our way to the 12th. century Manor House, sometimes in moonlight, later on during light summer evenings. Mrs. Lucy Boston welcomed any local RAF personnel who cared to turn up to listen to classical records played on a wind-up gramophone with a huge horn. Interval refreshments were very civilised, in a candle-lit dining room with log fire blazing in a Tudor-arched fireplace, using “best china”. Mrs. Boston took an interest in Jean and wanted to draw Jean’s elegant hands, but the idea lapsed I believe.
A sequel to the evenings came about after Mrs. Boston died at the age of 98 in 1990. On behalf of Jean and myself, I wrote to Peter Boston, the son, expressing our gratitude for all his mother did for us at an impressionable age and at an extraordinary time.
He kindly invited us to the memorial service in October. Jean was to get a lift to Luton to take the coach to Cambridge, where we could pick her up. On the day it was worrying late when she arrived, but we managed to get to the church just in time. It was a hot day for Jean, in her already weak state, but she was determined, also, not to miss going to the house for refreshments afterwards. Sheer willpower enabled Jean to get through the afternoon and somehow to climb the stone staircase to the old Music Room, looking, amazingly, just the same as remebered. [sic] Finally we took Jean back with us to Birmingham and put her straight to bed.
Back to 1942, when our friendship underwent a test after my promotion to corporal and subsequently to sergeant, to qualify me for other work, albeit on the same camp, so that we saw less of each other for a time. Jean was anyway to be posted soon to RAF Benson, a photo-reconnaissence [sic] airfield feeding its results to the secret Interpretation Unit at Medmenham.
After the war we each attended London Art Schools, Jean at the Central School and myself at Goldsmiths College School of Art. We met from time to time – I remember her elder brother John, looking very impressive in his naval officer’s uniform, treating us to lunch at Vereeshwarmy’s rather grand Indian restaurant near the Mayfair Hotel (not sure of the spelling!). Jean would also visit me at my aunts’ Hampstead flat, where I lodged as a student.
[page break]
2.
In 1948 I received a devastating reply from Jean after sending her an invitation to my wedding in July. She was in South Mimms Hospital awaiting an operation and would be unable to come. I visited her there on my own, finding her extremely apprehensive about her coming ordeal. Some family members were also there, with Jean obviously feeling everything was becoming somewhat overwhelming, despite trying her hardest to keep a grip on herself, poor lass. The family kindly took me off to tea and I was glad Jean would have quiet, but I couldn’t forget Jean’s agony of mind. Peter and I soon went together – she was calmer than when I last saw her – but still had not been operated on, and it was to be a long time for her to endure afterwards also. She was to become increasingly physically more and more vulnerable and less able to work.
There was to be a period of some 12 years when Jean and I were “incommunicado” to each other, I busy with children, but Jean later confessed she also withdrew for undefined reasons. We eventually took up with each other again quite as before. Jean had been living with an aunt in Bushey for some years, but she died, leaving her cottage to a cousin of Jean’s, although he did not need it as much as Jean needed a secure home.
Ultimately Jean came to live at her flat at 62 Claybury, Sparrow’s Herne, Bushey in 1968 and here, as Sally mentions, was converted to the Baha’i faith and found her spiritual anchor. She seemed happy there, but work was becoming impossible for her to manage and she had to give it up. Her last job was at a company called Elliots, no details remembered. Jean got to know Atherton, as Sally mentions, but was left bereft when her friend moved away to Bovingdon. Jean herself then felt she would move to Bovingdon, which became her last home, save for an unfortunate short-lived venture to try a care home in Devon. Her high expectations were the unfortunate reverse of being fulfilled and Jean was extremely lonely. She was, after all an urban person born and bred and did not realise how isolated it can be in the country. Jean had put her flat up for sale and she had let us have some of her furniture but thank goodness she decided, in desperation, to return, just in time to re-secure her flat and of course we saw to it that her furniture came back
Jean’s idealistic, uncompromising attitude on standards in every aspect of life, spiritual, moral, temporal, gave me encouragement still to keep personal integrity against the general trends in society. She loved the best, whether it be of courtesy, honesty, love, or the good things of our world – books, pictures, music, clothes. Had she been rich she would have delighted in using her wealth wisely and generously, even – and she [underlined] was [/underlined] lavish when she had any small windfall! Jean was a sort of Mrs. Boston, who was ev[deleted]e[/deleted]en more uncompromising, if possible, and far more daunting than our dear Jean. It was a blessing on me and my family to have known her.
Cynthia Grayburn Field.
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Memoir on the life of Jean Spears by her friend Cynthia Field
Description
An account of the resource
Describes meeting and becoming friends at RAF Huntingdon in late 1941. Writes of their work, common interests and activities including listening to classical music. Mentions promotions and change of job restricting meetings and subsequent postings. Continues with post war activities and on and off relationships.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
C G Field
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941
1942
1990
1948
1968
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Huntingdonshire
England--Oxfordshire
England--London
England--Hertfordshire
England--Bushey
England--Huntingdon
England--Herefordshire
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Civilian
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page printed document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
BSpearSFSpiersJMv1
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
ground personnel
Photographic Reconnaissance Unit
RAF Benson
RAF Medmenham
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/535/16663/MWarrenHJ619608-160425-03.1.jpg
7b0c35e774006a0c7b9d0bf2e8959eb3
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Warren, Harold James
H J Warren
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Warren, HJ
Description
An account of the resource
10 items. Two oral history interviews with Harold James Warren (1921 - 2017, 619608 Royal Air Force) service material, a note book, diary and photographs. He Joined the RAF in 1938, and after training as ground crew but remustered and after training in Canada, became a flight engineer.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Harold Warren and catalogued by Peter Adams.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-10-22
2015-10-30
2016-07-12
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
CITY OF MOOSE JAW [picture] SASKATCHEWAN CANADA
Be it remembered:
That 619608. LAC. Warren H.G.J.
during the Second World War was a member of No. 32 S.F.T.S., R.A.F., Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada; and on behalf of the City of Moose Jaw, we wish to record our sincere appreciation of the contribution made by him to the British Commonwealth Air Training Scheme.
[wax seal] In witness whereof we have, on behalf of the City of Moose Jaw, affixed its Corporate Seal under our hands, this 5th day of October, A.D. 1944.
J.C. MacDanald
Deputy Mayor
D Craven
City Clerk
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
City of Moose Jaw remembrance certificate
Description
An account of the resource
Paper certificate presented to H G Warren by the City of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, as remembrance of his time with No.32 Service Training Flying School, RAF, in the city. It is signed by the Deputy Mayor and City Clerk.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
City of Moose Jaw
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-10-05
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One paper certificate
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MWarrenHJ619608-160425-03
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Saskatchewan--Moose Jaw
Saskatchewan
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1009/18832/NMadgettHR190610-020001.2.jpg
24054963f22d98ce31c35ce20426ef1b
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1009/18832/NMadgettHR190610-020002.2.jpg
4dab2e0633abe8621621e150aeb650a9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Madgett, Hedley Robert
H R Madgett
Description
An account of the resource
250 items. The collection concerns Pilot Officer Hedley Madgett DFM (1922 - 1943, 147519, 1330340 Royal Air Force), a pilot with 61 Squadron. He was killed 18 August 1943 on the last operation of his tour from RAF Syerston to Peenemünde. The collection consists of letters, postcards and telegrams to his parents while he was training in the United Kingdom and Canada. In addition the collection contains memorabilia, documents from the Air Training Corps, artwork, a railway map, diaries, medals as well as his logbook, photographs of people, places and aircraft. Also contains letters of condolence to parents and a sub collection containing a photograph album with 44 items of his time training in Canada'.<br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Joan Madgett and Carol Gibson, and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /><span>Additional information on Hedley Madgett is available via the </span><a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/114690/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/madgett-hr/ ">IBCC Losses Database</a><span>.</span>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-03-17
2019-06-14
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Madgett, H
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
RAF Bombers Tricked Enemy by a Berlin False Alarm
NAZI ‘BACKROOM BOYS’ KILLED
Key Men Died Here
[Photograph]
End of a vital German research station. Reconnaissance picture shows Peenemunde after the big R.A.F. raid there. Devastation is enormous, huge craters can be seen all over the area. Forty huts in which radiolocation and other research was done have been destroyed in this section, and another 50 burnt.
Peenemunde Raid Wiped Out Air Experts’ HQ
By COLIN BEDNALL, Daily Mail Air Correspondent
It is considered most likely that numbers of outstanding German scientists and highly skilled technicians were killed in the R.A.F.’s mass attack last week on the previously unheard-of target of Peenemunde.
These men were the sinister, dangerous, and personal foes of every Allied airman who flies over Germany. The enemy cannot replace them.
They were essentially combatants, with normal military uniforms and rankings, but they fought with deadly radiolocation and other instruments produced and often operated many miles from the scene of combat.
Until the R.A.F. descended on Peenemunde, they hunted our airmen with little risk to themselves. The plans for the attack had these “backroom boys” very much in mind.
The first hint of their success was given by a German radio announcement the day after the raid that General von Chamier-Glisezenski, inventor of many of Germany’s secret weapons, had met with a “fatal accident.”
If the truth were known, many of his colleagues and subordinates met a similar fate on the night of August 17-18.
Evidence to support this belief is provided by the picture of bomb damage at Peenemunde which appears in this page.
The Vital Point
At first glance it may look no different from any other aerial photograph of bomb damage, but the vital point to observe is the flattening of rows of plain wood and iron huts. They are very large huts.
In them at the time of the raid would be scores of “backroom boys,” either working at their secret devices or resting.
Cut off from the rest of the world and surrounded by thick forest and the sea, the Peenemunde research and radiolocation station was supposed to be beyond prying eyes – especially R.A.F. eyes. It had the appearance of an innocent, over-grown holiday camp.
It would seem probable that many of the scientists were caught at work. As was stated in [italics] The Daily Mail [/italics] after the raid, the big R.A.F. force took a course that probably caused the enemy to anticipate an attack on Berlin.
Wrong Idea
There is every probability that the enemy believed Berlin was to be the target.
The “backroom boys” at Peenemunde would have welcomed this prospect with far more relish than the citizens of the capital because it would have provided them with their finest opportunity ever of testing and experimenting with their secret devices.
Absorbed in their work and without a fear that they – and not Berlin – might be the target for the night, few, if any, would have thought of taking shelter until it was too late.
And no hut is any protection against a British “block buster.”
[cartoon]
“Don’t you think you could bring yourself to take just a teeny-weeny peep at the damage?” – by Neb
[articles]
[page break]
FRIDAY, The Daily Mail, AUGUST 27, 1943.
[underlined] NURSES HAVE TO USE MOSQUITO NETS [/underlined]
Fly Plague Empties a Hospital, 21 Child Patients Ill
By Daily Mail Reporter
TWENTY-ONE children patients and four members of the staff at Watford Isolation Hospital have been affected by dysentery attributed to flies, which swarm in the wards and kitchen. Now only ten patients remain. The rest have been evacuated.
A letter from a sister at the hospital was read at a meeting of Watford Council yesterday. “To attempt to nurse patients, especially cases of infection, under such circumstances is both disgraceful and revolting,” she wrote.
“Until I became a sister at this hospital I considered myself fit and healthy, but although I have only been a member of the staff since October 1942 I have been almost continually under a doctor’s care.
“I attribute this to the fact that I have been working in unhygienic surroundings caused by this pestilence of flies.
“It has become a daily game for the children to count the flies from hour to hour which collect on the fly papers and around the wards, and which it is necessary to change twice daily, and even more often in the kitchen.”
[underlined] STAFF THEORY [/underlined]
I visited the hospital, which is normally capable of taking 140 fever cases, last night. The white-tiled walls had just been washed with disinfectant, but a minute later the flies came back.
The nursing staff are forced to sleep under netting. In the kitchen the cook has had to seal her cupboards.
Through a glass panel I saw one patient constantly flicking the insects away. On another counterpane I counted nearly 100 of them.
Ten fly papers hung from the ceiling of the sterilising room. They had been changed twice before I arrived.
A sister said: “The pests are floating in the water when I go to bathe the children at night.”
A Ministry of Health official has inspected the building and attempts have been made to find the cause of the plague.
The hospital staff have their own theories. They believe the flies come in from refuse pits 30 yards from the building.
[underlined] DANGER TO TOWN [/underlined]
“They have been worrying us for over a year now,” the sister said.
Yet three miles away in Watford High-street the swarms are almost as bad.
The matron of the hospital, who is on holiday, is preparing a full report for the Health Ministry.
“The whole borough might be affected unless something is done,” I was told.
Watford Council passed a resolution yesterday expressing serious concern “with the appalling conditions owing to the excessive number of flies at the hospital and the terrible conditions under which the staff had been endeavouring to carry out their duties for a considerable period of time.”
They instructed the council representatives on the hospital board to do “everything within their power to get this nuisance abated at once.”
‘FOR LUCK’ MEDALS
From Queen Mary
By Daily Mail Reporter
TWO small silver-coloured medallions, slightly bigger than a sixpence, engraved on one side “FROM M.R.” and on the other “FOR LUCK,” are prizes possessions of two R.A.F. aircraftmen stationed in the West Country.
They were presented to them by an elderly lady who gave them a lift in her car. Afterwards they discovered that the lady was Queen Mary.
The aircraftmen were walking into Chippenham, Wilts. to go to a cinema when the car drew up beside them. They accepted the proferred lift.
With Queen Mary in the car – though the men did not know it then – were the Queen’s lady-in-waiting and Lord Claud Hamilton, comptroller of her household.
Queen’s Own Idea
When the car dropped the men an elderly man gave them two small packages wrapped in cellophane.
It was only when a crowd began to gather on the pavements that they realised they had been driving with Queen Mary.
An official at Marlborough House told me yesterday: “The idea of the medallions was entirely Queen Mary’s.
“It is a very small medallion, made of a silver-coloured alloy, and can be hung on a watch-chain or slipped into a pocket. It means just what it says: ‘Good Luck.’”
Flyers Meet RAF Chief
[photograph]
BRITISH and American flyers tell Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, Chief of Bomber Command, some of their experiences during flights over Germany. They were guests at the “Not Forgotten Association” garden party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace yesterday. In chair is Warrant Officer R. Williams. Americans are S/Sgt. J. Sloan and S/Sgt. Alfred Vickers, of Chicago.
[articles]
Dublin Core
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Title
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Newspaper article on Peenemunde operation
Description
An account of the resource
"Nazi backroom boys killed, Pennemunde raid wiped out air experts HQ". Account of Peenmeunde operation and background to research carried out there. Surrounded by other articles and further articles on the reverse.
Creator
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Colin Bednall
Daily Mail
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Format
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One newspaper cutting
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Photograph
Identifier
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NMadgettHR190610-02
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
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Germany
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Germany--Peenemünde
Temporal Coverage
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1943-08-17
1943-08-18
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Date
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1943
Contributor
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David Bloomfield
Angela Gaffney
Steve Baldwin
Requires
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Workflow A completed
bombing
Bombing of Peenemünde (17/18 August 1943)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/183/2382/MWoodC1451225-160325-02.2.pdf
7f9d73343bc4bcb62028ceac2e677600
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Wood, Colin
Description
An account of the resource
15 items. An oral history interview with Warrant Officer Colin Wood (1922 - 2021, 1451225 Royal Air Force), his log book, service record and seven photographs including pictures of some of his crew. Colin Wood trained in Canada and flew operations as a navigator with 106 Squadron from RAF Metheringham. His crew were:
428289 - Andy A Anderson, pilot
1593692 - D Evans, flight engineer
1451225 - Colin Wood, navigator
1564707 - G H McElhone, bomb aimer
1873924 - P Thomas Tobin, wireless operator
1584474 - Vernon R Grogan, mid upper gunner
1595586 - R O Day, rear gunner.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Colin Wood and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2016-03-25
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Wood, C
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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[table]
[page break]
Swinging a Compass
Can be swung on any cardinal point first but usually on N or S.
1, Check compass for serviceability.
2, Ensure all equipment correct.
3, Place a/ct within 50 of Mag N & note Dev by landing compass. On as site of unusual Mag.
4, Place a/ct heading E & note Dev.
5, Place a/ct heading S & note Dev.
6, Calculate Coeff C by Dev N – S over 2.
7, Correct by changing sign of Coeff & applying to existing reading. Set this against Lubber Line.
8, Insert key in athwartships hole of micro-adjuster & turn until Red is on Red. Compass is now corrected for Coeff C.
9, Carefully remove key
10, Place a/ct on W & note Dev.
11, Calculate Coeff “B” by DEV E – W over 2. & correct as for C. key in F & A hole.
12, Carry out a Check swing on all eight headings starting on NW.
13, Calculate Coeff A & correct if necessary by turning whole compass in mounting requisite number of degrees. Clockwise for positive A & vice versa.
[page break]
Another way is –
Apply Coeff A with sign changed to present compass reading. Set this corrected compass reading. Set this corrected compass reading against the Lubber Line. Loosen screws & turn compass till Red in on Red. Tighten screws.
Calculate Res Dev by applying Coeff A with sign changed to the former DEV’s. Plot a curve of residual devs & draw up a critical point correction cord.
If swing starts on S calculate “C” on N & “B” on E. Do not change sign.
Causes of change of DEV in Flight.
1, Change of bomb load. Cards made out for bombs “on” & bombs “Off”
2, Change in Magnetic Latitude
a, Values of H & Z change with Mag Lat.
b, Dev set up by a/cts mag varies inversely as H.
3, Continuous vibration of a/ct.
4, Operation of Electrical Circuit.
5, Electrical Storms.
6, Engine Speed.
[page break]
Turns [deleted] effe [/deleted] on N & S Mag headings turns effect the compass
On E & W in headings acceleration & decelerations effect the compass.
[underlined] Gyro’s [/underlined]
Distant reading gyro compass.
[underlined] Advantages [/underlined]
1, Overcomes sluggishness due to screening by armour plating.
2, Rid of turning & accelerating errors.
3, Six people in a/ct can have correct reding [sic] at the same time through repeaters
4, Small DEV
5, Readings with no DEV
6, Position of [inserted] repeaters [/inserted] eliminates paralax.[sic]
[underlined] Disadvantages [/underlined]
1, Posn of Master Unit renders it vunerable to enemy action. In tail.
2, If power supply or wires broken compass u/s.
3, Weight.
4, Gyro may topple after evasive action
[page break]
[underlined] Master Unit. [/underlined]
[underlined] Gyro [/underlined]
[deleted] Mag [/deleted]
Rigidity is space
Steadiness
Not N seeking.
Overcomes turning errors
Kept precessing [swic] by needle & contact strip
[underlined] Mag Element [/underlined]
North seeking – keeps [deleted] needle [/deleted] axis at right angles to Mag meridian
First Switch to On
Second Switch to SETTING.
Leave for approx. 5 mins until needle settles to 50 hunt. Then turn to NORMAL.
After evasive action turn to Setting for a few mins & then Normal.
Switch OFF only after a/ct has come to rest.
[underlined] Variation Setting Corrector. [/underlined]
Set on VAR up to 300 E or W & corrects for Coeff A. This give a free reading
[page break]
[underlined] Repeaters [/underlined] (up to 6).
Pilots – for setting Co by movable pointer
Navigators – for reading Co & by putting on Azimuth circle bearings are obtained.
[underlined] Control Panel [/underlined]
Two switch’s ON or OFF & SETTING & NORMAL.
[underlined] Swinging [/underlined] to [underlined] Synchronise [/underlined].
The swing is done by Coeff method with compass running & switched to Normal A swing and then Check Swing.
[underlined] To Correct [/underlined] for [underlined] Coeff A [/underlined].
1, Enter value of Coeff A & date on tablet provided above window of Master Unit cover.
2, On the V[deleted] R [/deleted]SC loosen screws on lubber Ring & set to zero
3, Synchronise all repeaters to read within three degrees of required reading by inserting key in each repeater & turning
4, Turn knob on VSC until repeaters show exact reading
5, Reset loosened Lubber Ring to make scale read zero & tighten screws.
To be done on installation & every eight weeks.
[page break]
[calculations]
[underlined] DR Compass [/underlined]
Synchronising of Repeaters
1, Switch on main switch
2, Place N.S. switch to Setting until repearers begin to function through about 60
3, Place NSS to Normal in centre in Hunt.
4 Set V.S.C. to zero.
[page break]
5, Note the reading on Master Unit & apply Coeff A & obtain corrected reading
6, Set corrected reading on repeater
7, Insert corrector key in centre shaft of repeater & turn both card & pointer until pointer is paralell [sic] to Grid Wires or near as poss
8, Make final, accurate adjustment with V.S.C.
9, Loosen screws holding VSC pointer & reset to zero.
[diagram]
[underlined] Manipulation [/underlined]
1, Switch on DR Compass & with VSC at zero synchronise M.U. & Repeaters
2, Set VAR & DEV on V.S.C.
3, Switch on A.P.I. & allow to warm up for 30 secs.
4, Depress Test Button & lamp should wink regularly.
5, Set Lat & Long of point of depature on counters.
[page break]
6, On take off API will begin to register automatically between above 60 [indecipherable].
7, In flight the API should be reset to a fix approx. every 30 mins.
8, Check synchronisation of MU & Repeaters about every 20 mins.
9, Reset VAR & DEV whenever change occurs.
[table]
[page break]
[underlined] Position Lines [/underlined]
(1) By Trasit [sic] +/- 1/20 [symbol] Nearest object first the [indecipherable word] & secont object ie Lightship [symbol] Castle.
(2) [underlined] By Compass Brg. +/- 20 [/underlined]
Obtain compass brg of origin apply [underlined] DEV for a/cts Co(T) [/underlined] then VAR giving true bearing of origin, apply 1800 & lay off [underlined] from [/underlined] origin.
[underlined] Plan Range. [/underlined]
Not very accurate.
[underlined] Relative Bearing +/- 20 [/underlined]
To angle between a/cts head taken as being N 0000 & the line joining obs. & origin measured clockwise 0 to 360.
Add a/cts Co(T) giving T brg of origin.
[underlined] Astro [/underlined]
Within 10 miles.
[underlined] D/F W/T [/underlined]
1st class +/- 20 2nd – +/- 50 3rd – over 50.
[underlined] Uses of Single Posn line. [/underlined]
(1) Aid to Pinpointing.
[page break]
(2) [underlined] To Check G/S [/underlined]
Posn line must cut T at Right angles.
(3) [underlined] To Check Track. [/underlined] M.G.
Posn line paralell [sic] to track confirms track.
(4) [underlined] Homing or Leading Line. [/underlined]
Station sends Q.D.M. which mag co to reach origin.
(a) When Posn line passes through origin a/ct flies up posn line.
(b) When P.L. does not pass through origin
Allow for error & cut P.L. Join nearest cut to destination & fly that T. Draw another T paralell [sic] from other cut. On ETA turn in this case N to destination
[inserted drawing]
[underlined] Cocked Hat. [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] Reporting Positions. [/underlined]
(1) Place Names
(2) Lat & Long
(3) Grid System. BC 23 [inserted] (E) [/inserted] 84 [inserted] (N) [/inserted] Kilos
(4) Bearing & Distance.
(5) Lettering Co-ordinates – SW corner first.
(6) Royal Navy Method – Use any corner & give bearing & distance from same corner ie 135 ABMN 30 nm.
Grid variation is angle between N true & Grid N.
Properties of Mercators.
1, Plumb line straight line.
2, Angles are correctly represented
3, Scale varies with Latitude
4, Areas expanded with Latitude
5, Orthormorphic [sic] true to shape.
[diagram]
[page break]
Transferring Posn Lines.
Move Posn line along Track for distance by G/S flown.
W/V by Aid Plot.
[diagram]
DR Posn by Aid Plot.
[diagram]
[underlined] Topographical Maps. [/underlined]
1, Gt Circle [deleted] q [/deleted] approx. straight line Plumb line curved towards Equator.
2, Paralells [sic] curves lines.
3, Convergent St lines (usually)
4, Scale approx. constant.
5, Conformal Angles preserved.
[page break]
[Underlined] Types of Topo Maps. [/underlined]
a, Transverse Mercators Projection.
example – Canadian Air Nav Lines.
b, Lamberts Conformal - Conical.
ie – Aeronautical Charts of U.S.A.
c, Modified Polyconic.
ie RAF 1·500,000
Small Scale 1·1000,000 1-4000,000.
Medium Scale 1·500,000
Large Scale
[Inserted] 1320 YI D/F 215°(T) C.A. NIL. [/inserted]
[Underlined] CON [inserted] V [/inserted] ERGENCY D/F. [/underlined]
Bearing E of origin ADD angle } N HEMISPHERE.
Bearing E of origin SUBTRACT angle } N HEMISPHERE
Convergancy = ch long x sine mean Lat.
=8 x 3sine 30°
=8 x 1/2 = 4°.
Conversion angle = 1/2 convergancy.
[Graph]
[Page break]
Refined Procedure for Plotting D/F Brgs.
[Graph]
1, Obtain D/F brg.
2, Find DR Long & calculate CA.
3, Apply CA to brg to obtain RL. Draw in RL.
4, Where RL cuts nearest DR Long line draw a tangent to GC by applying CA again to RL
Use when CA is greater than 5°.
[Calculations]
[Underlined] Loop Bearings [/underlined]
[Calculations and graphs]
[Page break]
[Calculations and graphs]
[Underlined] C of Equal Bearing. [/underlined]
Is a curve along which the true GC of a stn from an [deleted] d [/deleted] a/ct is always the same.
Co FOR REVERSE TRACK.
To the reverse of the Co apply PLUS twice drift if this has been to STARBOARD, or, MINUS twice DRIFT, if this has been to PORT.
STARBOARD – ADD twice DRIFT to Co
PORT – MINUS twice DRIFT to Co
[Calculations]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Gnomonic Projection. [/underlined]
1, Paralells [sic] as concentric circles } POLAR
2, Long lines converging at the Pole }
3, Scale is exaggerated away from Pole.
4, Gt circles Straight lines.
5, RL or curved concave to Pole.
6, Shapes & angles distorted.
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Equatorial [/underlined]
1, Meridians st Lines.
Farther apart away from point of convergancy
2, Paralells [sic] concentric curves to Equator.
3, Scale not constant.
4, Gt Circles st lines.
5, GIL curves convex to Equator.
[Underlined] Oblique [/underlined]
1, Paralell [sic] at P of Tang is a st line
2, Meridians at P of T st lines.
3, Paralells [sic] converge at P of Tang.
4, St lines converging toward Pole [deleted] of T. [/deleted]
5, Gt Circle St line
6, RL concave to Pole.
7, Angles & areas wrong.
[Diagram]
[Page break]
Transferring Posn lines by Proportion.
[Diagram]
Measure AX to any scale
Draw AB as near track as possible or use Co.
[Calculation & Diagram]
Along Co join Air Posn to Posn line with any W/V – 60 K is best as there is 1nm per -min. From second Air Posn lay in W/V to second Posn line for another 10mins & transfer Posn line through meeting point
[Page break]
[Diagram]
Mark on rule to any scale first 3 units & then 5 units the other way from a zero point. Lay [inserted] rule [/inserted] on 3 posn lines until all three points on rule are above or on posn lines.
[Diagram inserted]
Lay in a line in approx. direction of Track & from centre where middle Posn line cuts it at mark 3 units & 5 units in proper direction. From these points join to 1st & 3rd Posn lines by line paralell [sic] to 2nd Posn L.
[Page break]
[Diagram]
Join Fix to Posn where 2nd & 3rd lines are taken from for you must have been on this line. This makes third Posn so use Unit Method to find TMG. & then transfer this through the Fix. This gives TMG & G/S so Air Posn & join to FIX at 1930 & find W/V.
[Underlined] Critical Point. [/underlined]
1, Algebraically
2, Graphically
3, Computer.
[Diagram and calculations]
[Page break]
[Diagram]
WH = Reduced TAS for 1 hr
WO = Reduced TAS for 1 hr
X = Any point along AB.
XW = W/V for 1 hr
HX = G/S home
OX = G/S Out.
A-Hx = Hx
Hx – ox = xo
Ox – B = Line joining these two.
Hx – P = Line parallel [sic] to OX-B.
[Formula]
by setting H on outer scale against H+O on inner scale the C.P. will be found opposite total distance measured on inner scale.
[Page break]
[Diagram and calculations]
Drift & Wind Lane
1, Take a Drift
2, Take brg on Wind Lane.
3, Set Drift on Computer
4, Discard one of the values of the Wind Lanes.
5, Allowing for veer compute the W/V
e.g. Wind Lanes 130/310.
TAS 120K
Ht 500’
Drift 108
Co 000
[Page break]
Angle between TRACK & wind direction Is [sic] always less than 90°
[Underlined] TAIL [/underlined] If wind angle is greater than 180 but less than 270 subtract from it 180
If wind angle is greater than [number missing] but greater than 180 subtract from 180
[Underlined] HEAD [/underlined] If wind angle is less than [number missing] but less than [number missing] leave
If wind angle is greater than 180 but less than 360 subtract from 360.
Factor Divide TAS by W/S.
To find Co given TRACK W/V
1, Find Factor
2, Divide Factor into sixty this will give MAX drift for prevailing beam wind. 3, Obtain wind angle.
4, Whatever fraction this wind angle is of 90, take same fraction of drift [underlined] oft[/underlined]tained [sic] in section 2,
Determine P or S.
Apply reverse to get Co.
e.g.W/V 310/20 TR 170 TAS 120
1, Factor 6
2, Max Drift 10
3, Wind Angle 40
4, Drift 4 8
[Page break]
To Find G/S
1, Wind Angle between [Calculations & diagram]
[Underlined] Leading Lines [/underlined]
Calculation of Co to make good LL & TTT knowing direction to turn & having one leading line & [right angle symbol] s to present Co & not having any W/V.
From centre Air Posn & radius Air Distance describe an arc to cut Posn line Cut on [deleted] on [/deleted] right if you want to turn Port from point which this arc cuts P.L. to Air Posn. This line is then Co to steer to make good LL
Prove – LL equals required track
Air Posn to LL equals wind effect
[Page break]
Co line mentioned above represents Air Speed for similar length of time for which the wind has been effecting you.
angle ؞between Co line & PL equals Drift
؞ Co line equals Co to make good LL
T.T.T.
Extend present Co until it cuts LL
Measure distance from Air Posn to PL & add or [inserted] subtract [/inserted] to Air Distance. Measure distance from PL to LL
[Formula]
When X = time to run to LL.
General –
If after an appropriate time of flight the reliable PL is obtained not at [right angle symbol]’s to Track it would then be possible to turn until it is at right angles to Track, transfer this PL by proportion (on wind effect) & use this transferred PL with which to follow out steps above.
If the Nav has no certainty of his posn he may turn to such a Co that a definite direction of turn to make good this LL will be insured. Not forgetting that the PL must be at [right angle symbol]’s to present Track.
[Page break]
Winds & TAS on Climb & Glide.
Computing TAS for Climb
In working out DR Posn for a long climb or calculating EAD before-hand it is nessecary [sic]to allow for changes in TAS which is constantly changing to alteration of height.
[Underlined] Method [/underlined]
If the lower height add 2/3 of difference between lower & upper hts. Use the ht thus obtained for conversion of RAS to TAS, the resultant TAS will then be used as the average for the whole climb.
[Underlined] Example [/underlined]
2000’ to 17000’ climb.
To 2000’ add 2/3 difference of 2*17000.
17000’ – 2000’ =15000’ [divided by sign] 3x2 = 10000’+ 2 =12000’
[Page break]
Instructions for Log-Keeping.
1, Nothing entered in log which has not a definite brg on navigation Entries relating to a/ct equipment other than nav equ: not responsible by nav [sic]: not entered.
2, Nothing is to be entered into the body of log which has a column for it
3, Time Ht Temp & TAS are to be recorded on each occasion when setting Co altering Co climbing descending or levelling out [sic] & [underlined] whenever a fix is obtained [/underlined].
4, W/Vs should always be followed by the method by which they are obtained & for what ht & must occupy seperate [sic] lines.
5, Times of OR Compass ON & OFF Compasses checked & SBA checked must be entered in the log.
6, Degree mins & Ditto marks never to be used.
7, QFE from Base [deleted] from [/deleted] must be logged – A SL Pressure
[Page break]
8, Lat & Long for DR Posns Air Posns & Fixes should not be shown in the log. Should be entered with time as FIX DR
9, Air Posn Indicator reading over Base when setting Co & on return should be logged
10, The amount added or subtracted to the Lat & Long to the API reading when resetting should be logged against the fix & time at which it is reset
11, The API reading over the target is to be logged.
[Underlined] Chartwork [/underlined]
1, When preparing charts all T Ps, Concentration Points & posn’s of Track Markers to be lettered & referred to by the letter in the log.
2, Time must be marked against every symbol.
[Symbols for A.P., D.R. and FIX].
[Page break]
Logging Loop Brgs.
D/F Loop “A” Sc Rdg 157 QC -2 Rel Brg 155
CoT 340 ؞ GCB 135 CA +2 RLB 137
Log Marking.
Question
1, The objective
2, The claimed posn
3, The plotted posn by photo
4, The plotted posn by analysis
5, The intended destination & ETA
6, The actual point of arrival &ETA.
To what extent were the following maintained
a, Log
b, DR Plot
c, AIR PLOT
Was full use made of the following if not – reasons
a, Visual fix
b, Astro
c, Loop
d, M/F D/F
e, H/F D/F
f, Flying Control
g, night lights organisation
[Page break]
D/F
In addition to the [word missing] there is a mag field due to the capacity effect between aerial & ground that is the [word missing] that is of importance in direction finding. The lectric [sic] field is only to conserve energy of mag field, the latter being the one which sets up in the receiving aerial the same frequency as in transmitting aerial.
An aerial is a conductor connected to a radio receiver or trans which can be used to transmit & receive radio signals. An electric current passing thro a conductor produces a mag field around it & a conductor in a varying field carries an alternating current this is theory of aerials.
A current in trans aerial & hence in wave itself may be interrupted or modulated either by voice morse etc, these interruptors [sic] are compressed upon wave & are reproduced in current induced in rec: aerial by mag: field of wave.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Wave Motion. [/underlined]
A wave is a disturbance propogated [sic] in any medium in such a manner that the shape but not nescesarily [sic] the magnitude of disturbance is repeated at regular intervals in space & time.
The passage of such a disturbance thro medium is termed [underlined] wave propogation [sic] [/underlined]
[Underlined] Properties of a Wave. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Velocity [/underlined] – The velocities of propogation [sic] is the vel with which the energy of the wave is conveyed from point to point in medium.
[Underlined] Frequency [/underlined] Number of complete cycles of disturbance which pass a given point in one second. A Cycle [deleted] s [/deleted] is one complete series of varyations [sic] of displacements between adjacent repetitions of the wave in space.
[Underlined] Amplitude [/underlined] – Is peak value for max displacement of the medium from its normal position.
[Underlined] Wave Length [/underlined] Is distance between corresponding states of displacements in two adjacent repetitions of the wave form.
[Underlined] Wave Propogation, [/underlined] From the transmitting aerial wave are propagated in all directions some travel paralell [sic] to earth surface but are rapidly absorbed by the surrounding objects & earth itself. The range of that ground wave depend [sic] on power of transmitter, the
[Page break]
frequency of radiation, nature of ground & season of year. Other waves are propagated skyways & are called sky-waves.
Low frequency waves are radiated skywards to a lesser degree than H.F. waves & are sometimes called flag-waves. They are of course best for D.F. but since they are much more rapidly attenuated than H.F. waves the latter are also used for D.F. work.
WAVE LENGTH = VELOCITY [over] FREQUENCY.
[Underlined] AERIALS. [/UNDERLINED]
Reception of radio wave by straight wire aerials. If one is erected in path of radio wave & connected radio receiver it will be energised by wave. Mag field of wave will cut aerial & induce in it an alternating current which is exact replica of the transmitting aerial current. Function of receiver is ؞ simply to reflect the particular wave or station & convert resultant current into an audible signal.
Polar Diagram of Intensity
Straight wave aerial has no directional properties – omnidirectional.
[Diagram]
Reception of Radio Waves.
Are straight interconnected aerials. (Loop). The bulk of directional finding is carried out by use of aerial systems
[Page break]
which depend for their directive properties of straight spaced aerials the volts of which are combaned [sic] as suitable receiving circuits
Directional Properties of Loop Aerial.
End on, different current is induced in each limb causing a circuit to form & giving a signal. MAX
[Diagram]
Broadside on, both limbs are cut by same part of the wave & exactly similar voltages induced & no current will flow round loop. MIN.
[Diagram]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Notes [/underlined] from [Underlined] Graph. [/underlined]
1, The loop has 2 MAX & 2 MIN signal strength posns in 360°
2, MIN positions more clealy [sic] defined than MAX as there is a bigger change in strength for a smaller amount of turn.
[Underlined] Figure of Eight or Loop Diagram. [/underlined]
[Diagram]
A co-sign diagram gives two MIN & two MAX. The direction of a transmitting station may ؞ be derived with 180° ambiguity. MIN positions used in practice because of their more sharply defined nature.
This 180° ambiguity may be derived by sense by combining open & loop aerial.
Determining Sense using Sense Aerial.
1, Take a loop brg & note time
2, Rotate loop 90°
3, Tune in station using sense aerial & adjust till signal is [deleted] m [/deleted] same strength as
[Page break]
signal received on Loop.
4, Operate Loop reversing switch to determine if original bearing was correct or recipical [sic].
[Diagram]
D/F Loop.
1st – minimum covers from 0° - 5°
2nd 6° - 15°
3rd 16° - 30°
Ground D/F
1st minimum covers from 0 - 4°
2nd 5 - 10°
3rd over 10.
[Underlined] Coastal Refraction [/underlined]
[Diagram]
[Page break]
① MAX Dev on N & S. Of opposite sign
② No Dev on E & W but loss or gain of directional force.
COEFF “C” = DEV on N – DEV on S [divided by] 2.
[Underlined] Co-eff A [/underlined]
1 Real “A”. Combination of horizontal sub-divided soft iron mag which gives same Dev on all headings. 1/2° limit
Apparent “A” – Due to compass being offset from F & A axis of a/ct – reading incorrectly by same amount on all headings.
Co-eff A – corrected by rotating whole compass in its mounting the same no of ° as calculated Coeff.
Clockwise for +ve A
Anticlockwise for -ve A
Coeff A = DEV on [inserted] MAG [/inserted] N +NE + E + SE + S + SW + W + NW [divided by] 8
[Underlined] Micro Adjuster [/underlined]
Two pairs of bar magnets mounted on crown wheels & may be opened or shut by a key. These can control
[Page break]
mag in line with that of a/cts major components. Stronger mag when like Roles brought closer together. [sic]
[Underlined] Standard Procedure for Compass Swing [/underlined]
By Coeff Method.
1 Check compass for serviceability
2, Ensure all equipment not carried in flight is removed & other equipment correctly stowed.
3, Take a/ct to place of unusual mag:
4, Controls in flying position.
5, Place a/ct N & note Dev by landing compass.
6, Place a/ct E & note Dev by landing compass.
7, Place a/ct S & note Dev by landing compass.
8, Calculate Coeff C by DEV N-S over 2.
9, If correcting determine new compass reading as follows – Change the sign of Coeff & apply it to existing compass reading Set this against L.L.
10, Insert key in athwartships hole & turn till Red on Red. Now corrected for Coeff C.
11, Place a/ct heading W & note Dev
12, Calculate “B” by Dev E-W over 2 & correct as for “C”. Key in F & A hole.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Night Effect. [/underlined]
[Diagram]
Upper atmosphere more completely ironised [sic] by sun than lower. Mostly at Dusk & Dawn a clear-cut layer of ironised [sic] air is formed. Also at night. Has property of reflecting wirless [sic] waves travelling towards it back to earth.
These reflected waves may cut horizontal components of loop & induce unwanted voltage in them. May destroy MIN signal
[Underlined] Quadrantal Error. [/underlined]
[Diagram]
Re-radiated fields set up by wireless waves striking masses of metal in fuselage & wings. Resultant is in Q.C. This causes apparent bending of waves (as received by loop) which is at MAX from Quadrantal points. If greatest mass of metal in F & A axis bending towards F & A line. (Twins)
If in athwartships bending towards that (4en}
1, Note sign of QC & error is apposite. QE varies with frequency
[Page break]
In some streamlined housings energised coils can be adjusted to reduce MAX to ± 4°
Sharpens zero signal.
Only fixed by skilled engineers.
[Underlined] Calibration of Loop. [/underlined]
Should be carried out
1, When loop installed in a/ct.
2, On structural modification
3, On addition of magnetic apparatus or subtraction
4, After every three months
5, After electrical storms.
[Underlined] Methods [/underlined]
1, Prepare a/cts for swing-compass-check equipment -radio.
2, Select known M/F transmitter 50-100 miles away & ascertain it will be transmitting for duration of swing
3, Measure (T) or MAG Great Circle brg of stm.
4, Take a/ct to suitable site away from any mag disturbances – electrical, runways etc.
5, Set a/ct in flying posn – loop not screened.
6, By means of Landing or Astro Compass swing a/ct through 360° taking brgs every 10° of stn.
7, Add brg to a/ct heading & compare with known GC bearing of Xmitter. Difference is QE, change sign for QC.
8, Construct a graph of QE plotting
[Page break]
errors against loop reading
9, Prepare Correction Card.
Range of Communications
1, Power of transmitter & sensitivity of receiver.
2, Ht of a/ct. Higher the better range.
3, Frequency – HF generally greater range.
4, Atmospheric & electrical disturbances (thunderstorms)
5, With H/F – time of day – greater range at night.
6, Intervening country. Best over sea & further over moist than dry land.
Route Marked, Equi-signal or Radio Range.
Between 200-400 KC.
6210 KC 3105 KC R/T. Call up stn & ask for weather report.
[Diagram]
In 3° margin continous [sic] signal is heard.
In 60° margin one is heard louder than the other
In 27° margin only one is heard
Stn call sign every 45 secs or so
[Page break]
[Underlined] Uses [/underlined]
1, Fly the beam.
2, Take D/F LOST BRg.
3, Take time of crossing beam & take centre time of coming out & posn line is in centre. Angle on map.
[Deleted] Range of [/deleted]
Rotating Beacon.
Flying Control
[Underlined] Functions [/underlined]
1, To give assistance on demand to any a/ct requiring aid.
2, To assist a/ct to land at and given station or stations as required by the pilot or op staff.
3, To enable a/ct to be diverted to other stations when their own base becomes unfit. [inserted] 24hr service – [/inserted]
[Underlined] Frequencies of F.C. [/underlined]
1, A/ct guard & safety Frequ.
[Deleted] 2, [/deleted] D/F & control Frequ.
2, 2 H/F D/F channels.
3, Emergency R/|T. {DARKY call-sign).
W/T – wireless telegraphy
4. SBA.
5, 1 VH/F D/F channel (Fighters)
[Page break]
Facilities available from F.C. Stn.
1, Weather Reports or changes in weather
2, Reports on station of landing ground.
3, Request for landing lights & flame paths.
4, Radio assisted & control approach (Descent thro’ cloud [sic]
5, Standard Beam Approach.
6, Homing Bearings & Co s to steer
8, [sic] Full assistance after an SOS.
Central Flying Control.
[Underlined] Functions [/underlined]
1, To advise Bomber Group Comma[inserted] n [/inserted] ders on the availability of alternate aerodromes should the necessity for large scale diversions be foreseen.
2, To co-ordinate the effort of the Groups so as to make best use of alternative dromes.
3, To advise & co-ordinate diversion during ops.
[Underlined] Group F.C. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Functions [/underlined]
1, To assist the Group operational staff in the control of their a/ct during operations.
2, To have ready any information required by Group op staff when necessity for diversion occurs.
[Page break]
Flying Control Stn Type I
① A/ct Guard & safety Freq.
[Deleted] 2, [/deleted] [Underlined] Facilities [/underlined]
1, Weather Reports ①
2, Reports on state of landing ground. ①
3, Request for flare paths & landing lights. ①
4, Diversions to other airports are also given ①
5, Request for S.B.A.
6, Request for R.A.C.A.
② D/F & Control Freq.
2 H/F D/F channels
1 V/HF D/F (for fighter a/ct). ②
1, Homing bearings. – QDM QUJ ②
2, Co s to steer ②
3, Radio assisted & controlled approach.
4, D/F bearings 100 miles
5, D/F brgs to 500 miles (-under certain conditions)
③ Emergency Distress R/T (DARKY).
[Underlined] Distress Procedure. [/underlined]
1, Switch on I.F.F. 100 miles from Coast (Start 3)
2, Fire coloured lights on crossing coast
3, If over 100 miles contact M/F D/F.
4, Contact any other M/F D/F station
SOS (3 times) UAB (3) ABCD 1234 (3) SOS AUB (3)
C – Course.
H – Height
I – TAS
P – PETROL (MINS.)
D – DR POSN [inserted] & TIME OF POSN [/inserted]
[Page break]
[Underlined] LIGHTS [/underlined]
F – A steady continuous light
FL – Sending out a flash at regular intervals
Occ – Sending flashes of darkness (longer light time than darkness) at definite intervals.
Alt – alternating – changing colour at definite inter
[Deleted] Gp [/deleted] F.FL. – Fixed & Flashing.
G.P. – Fixed number or group of flashs. [sic]
[Deleted] F.FL – [/deleted]
REV – Revolving. Increases to MAX or decrease to Occ or eclipse.
U. Unwatched – unreliable.
[Underlined] Factors Effecting Visibility [/underlined]
1, Met Conditions
2, Refraction
3, Ht of Observer
4, Ht of Tide
[Diagram]
Lock loop athwartships & turn a/ct till MIN heard. Take B.B. & offset loop scale by same amount. Fly down MIN until over station.
First make sure which side station is on. Signals increasing stn on Starboard. Signals decreasing stn on Port.
[Page break]
Fixed Beacon.
No directional properties.
Directional Beacons.
1, A Beam
2, A Rotating Beam
Single D/F
QDMS.
Posn line
Groups.
Ground D/F FIX
Bearing & Dist.
Same as Single.
M/F D/F
2-300 miles Ranges.
Procedure for Obtaining Fix.
Call up stn & identify yourself.
Give Priority.
Classification of [deledted] Fixes [/deleted] [inserted] Brgs. [/inserted] by Ground D/F.
[Table of Classifiaction of Fixes]
[Page break]
[Deleted] Fixes [/deleted]
[Underlined] X Code [/underlined]
X663. Bearing of you was – class – at –
X687 Send your call sign & 5 second dashes to enable brgs to be obtained.
X696 My Co to reach you – zero wind.
x699 Reply to QDM.
X700 True brg from you.
X702 What is my posn or fix.
X704 What is my posn by D/F brgs.
X709 CoT to reach you using Zero wind.
X711 (Reply to X709) at (time)
X714 Reply to X704) [sic]
X671 Cannot plot your posn.
[Underlined] Q Code [/underlined]
QBA – Horizontal visibility
QBB – Vertical visibility [inserted] Ht of [inserted] base of [/inserted] cloud at – [/inserted]
QAA – What is ETA
QAM – What is latest met Report
QDM – What is my Mag Track to reach you. [inserted] with zero wind. [/inserted]
QDR – Reciprocal to QDM [inserted]. Your mag brg in relation [inserted] to me is – [/inserted] [/inserted]
QTE – What is true bearing in relation to you
QFF – Barometric pressure at MSL
QDL – Do you intend to ask for
[Inserted] QFE Barometric pressure at ALP at – [/inserted]
[Page break]
a series of QDMs.
QFS – Please place radio beacon at – in operation
QGA – May I land using the Beam Approach
QBG – You may not land with B.A.
QGH – May I have a descent thro cloud
QGI – You may not
QFM – What is the ht to fly
QFG – You are over D/F hut
QST – Change frequency to a certain number of kilo.c.
QGE – What is my posn in terms of true brg & distance.
[Inserted] QDY – Same as QDM but B Barrage [underlined] within [/underlined] 60 miles of [inserted] me on that track [/inserted] [/inserted]
[Underlined] British Beacons. [/underlined]
[Inserted] QTF – Position of you’re a/ct accding [sic] to brgs taken is –
Mobile & Splashers.
Three stns keep changing round & take turns at sending. Times are secret so enemy cannot take bearings.
Splashers are three stns working together & enemy does not know which to jam.
[Underlined] Counter Measures [/underlined]
1, Jamming.
2, Meaconing. Enemy stn sends
[Page break]
same signal & Nil cannot be found. Or fills in silence so steady signal is heard.
Standard Beam Approach.
Belini – Tosi.
Search Coil
Goniometer.
Marconi-Adcock.
Underground wires covered & so secure from Night Effect.
[Diagram]
7G7 – Gt Group from N Ireland.
7Z7 – Jurby. I of Man.
UU7 – Loch Erne.
Identification must be made on M/F D/F.
1, Crossing coast below 2000’
2, If returning early
3, When you make landfall other than that which you briefed for (40 miles)
4, When IFF is U/S
5, When shadowed by enemy a/ct.
[Page break]
Wireless Theory.
[Underlined] Priorities. [/underlined]
1, Most Immediate. O -U
Application – messages of vital importance & only to be used in times of strained relations or war. Authority – Members of Air Council only. Outside Air Ministry – Air Officers Commanding in Chief or officers commanding independent commands.
Time Limit – Immediate.
2, Emergency – Enemy Aircraft. O – A.
Application – reporting of enemy a/ct
Authority – Air or other officers commanding & delegated to anyone whose duty it is to report enemy a/ct. Immediate.
3, Emergency. O.
Application – Operation [sic] messages of vital importance. Used in war or warlike local [deleted] l [/deleted] ops. Authority – Staff officers not below W.C or C.O. of a unit. May be delegated Formation Leader [sic] or captain of an a/ct acting singly. 15 mins time limit.
4, Immediate. O -P.
Application – For messages of extreme importance & of less importance than the above. Staff of headquarters not below rank od W.C. C.O. of a unit, formation leader. & same as no 3. Time limit 30 mins.
[Page break]
5, Important P.
Application – Messages which are important but not sufficient to justify Immediate but which need precedence over ordinary messages. Relate to - troop movement - weather reports & request.
Authority - HQ officer not below S.L. CO of a unit adjutant or duty Pilot & captain of a/ct acting singly. Time limit 45 mins.
Advantages & Disadvantages of W/T.
1, Independent of surrounding country.
2, Greater range
3, Speed.
4, Signals may be received at several points at the same time.
5, Portable
6, Suitable to a/ct.
Disadvantages
1, Interseption. [sic]
2, Divulges position of transmitting station or a/ct.
3, Liable to interferance [sic] from other stations & weather.
[Page break]
1, [Underlined] Employment of Armed Forces. [/underlined]
2, [Underlined] War. – Means of Avoiding. [/underlined]
a, Diplomacy
b, Propaganda.
c, Economic Pressure.
2, [Underlined] War [/underlined]
1, Armed Forces
2, Man-power.
3, Economic System
4, Finance
5, Morale.
[Underlined] Role of Navy [/underlined] is Offensive.
a, Attack enemy shipping fleet
b, Defensive. – Protection of own shipping.
[Underlined] Role of Army. [/underlined]
a, Offensive – Destroy enemy army occupy & dominate territory.
b, Defensive – Protection of home territory & overseas possessions.
[Underlined] Role of Air Force. [/underlined]
a, Attack of enemy
b, Defensive against air attack.
[Underlined] Air Warfare. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Characteristics [/underlined]
1, Range.
[Page break]
a, Deep penetration enemy country.
b, Long over-sea patrols.
c, Rapid
2. [Underlined] Speed [/underlined]
a, Less time over enemy territory.
b, Avoids enemy fighters.
c, In fighters – Tactical advantage – more efficient interception.
3, [Underlined] Flexibility [/underlined]
a, Independent of terrain.
b, Dont [sic] need to be concentrated on ground.
c, Changeable functions.
4, [Underlined] Mobility. [/underlined]
5, [Underlined] Power of Evasion. [/underlined]
[Underlined] CONDUCT OF AIR WARFARE [/underlined]
1, [Underlined] The Air Striking Force. [/underlined]
a, Public utilities service.
b, Industrial centres.
c, Military Naval & Air establishments.
d, Stocks of food, raw materials & goods
2, [Underlined] The Defence force. [/underlined]
a,
3, [Underlined] Naval Co-operation Force. [/underlined]
a, Coastal Command.
b, Air Branch R.N.
c Fleet Air Arm.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Procedure. [/underlined]
A.A.A. Full stop. or indicates Plain Language to follow.
IMI - Repeat.
N. – Nothing heard. --.--
BT – In Preamble – Code or Cypher to follow if at the end of text. Indicates message completed & T O.O. to follow.
EEEEEEE Erase.
VE Commence sign.
AR Ending sign. All transmission regarding messages have been completed.
II Seperation [sic] sign.
AA Unknown stn call sign.
IMIAA
IMIWB Word before.
IMIWA Word after.
IMIAB All before.
GR Groups
HM HM HM HM HM – W/T silence to be maintained.
WO WO WO WO WO – Cease W/T silence.
SOS SOS SOS International Distress Call.
C – Correct.
G – Repeat back.
R – Received.
AS – Wait.
K – Go ahead
[Page break]
F – Not to be answered.
V – From
H – Counting number of groups.
VE R08 R08 V L4Q K Preliminary Call.
VE L4Q V R08 K Answers preliminary Call
VE R08 V L4Q NR1st - Priority R G R 10 – AAA
31/8/43. Ten ansons departed Winnipeg 1040 eta Rivers 1140 – 0939 K.
VE L49 V R08 R. AR. or maybe TMT K. or TMT WB ansons.
R/T.
Over – My transmission is ended & I expect a reply from you
Out – Conversation ended & no reply expected.
Component Parts of R/T Message.
I Call
II Text
III Ending.
[Underlined] U.S. & British Priorities. [/underlined]
[Deleted] Urgent [/deleted] [underlined] US British [/underlined]
Urgent Emergency.
Ops Priority Immediate.
Priority Important
[Page break]
Time – 1440. Not T.O.O.
R/T Procedure Phrases.
[Underlined] Roger [/underlined] – I have received all of your last transmission.
[Underlined] Acknowlegde [sic] [/underlined] – Let me know if you have received & understood.
[Underlined] Willco [/underlined] - Your last message understood & where applicable will be done.
How do you hear me.
Speak slower.
Wait. – I must pause for a few secs.
[Deleted] I [/deleted] Await Out – pause longer than a few secs.
Say again – Repeat.
I say again – I will repeat.
Verify – check coding & text with originator & send correct version.
Message for you – I wish to transmit a message to you.
Send your message – I am ready for transmission
Read back – Repeat all message back exactly as received after I have given “over”
That is correct – You are correct.
Words twice – As a request – Communication difficult please send each group twice.
- As Information – groups will be sent twice.
Correction – An error has been made in this transmission, correct version is. –
[Page break]
Wrong – What you have just sent is incorrect, the correct version is –
Groups - No of Groups or cipher is –
Hello. Dono this is Jane. Message for You. Over.
[Underlined] Visual [/underlined]
{Aldis Lamp.
{Identification Light
{Pyrotechnics.
Flags – International Code of Flags.
Semaphore
Grounds.
Flag Waving.
W – Unable to read you owing to bad light
LL. – Light is to [sic] powerful - dimi [deleted]she[/deleted]nish.
MH. - Move higher or farther away
ML – Move to your left.
MR – Move to your right.
MA – Use -F . method
OL – Open the light. To align lamp on.
[Underlined] VE [/underlined] – General call sign.
VA – All transmissions completed.
[Page break]
To Make out a Message.
1, Address.
2, Addressee.
3, Originators [sic] Number & Date.
4, In reply to & Date.
5, Text.
6, Originators [sic] instructions
7, Priority
8, T.O.O.
Signal Duties of a Navigators [sic].
1, Synchronise Watches with WAG. & Pilot.
2, Initiate requests for Brgs.
3, When Loop is used stns should be told where stns are used.
4, Inform WAG when you use D/F.
5, Show Pilot MTB’s
6, Warns Pilots.
7, Items to repair Radio equipment.
Careful Stowage
[Deleted] G [/deleted]
[Underlined] 1155 [/underlined]
Tuning Dial – semi-circular & corresponds to range colouring.
Frequency Band Switch – Mode of OPS.
[Page break]
5 [Indecipherable word]
1, OMNI for all-round.
2, AVC – Intended for R/T
3, BALANCE – for visual D/F.
VIUAL – for visual D/F.
EIGHT- Aural D/F.
Volume Control – Increase or decrease.
Hetrodine Switch – for reception of code.
Hetrodine Adjustment – varies the pitch. when receiving code
Filter – switch on to reduce interference.
Meter Amplitude – to control visual needles.
Meter Balance Switch – to balance needles before taking bearings.
Meter Deflection Switch – High for VISUAL LOW for Homing & Aural.
Switch Speed Control
HIGH for code
LOW for [missing word]
Aural Sense. Acts as brg recipical [sic] switch for aural D/F.
To tune in Signal.
1, Turn switch on transmitter to STANDBY
2, Mode of operation switch to OMNI
3, Place band switch to proposed band.
4, Tune signal using tuning control first coarse then fine.
[Page break]
5, Advance volume to proper signal strength.
Filter may be used to avoid interference
[Underlined] Aural D/F [/underlined]
Tune in
Meter Deflection Switch to Low.
Figure of 8 Posn & turn loop until Min signal is heard.
Check sense by decreasing scale reading
If signal is louder with switch on R than L, reading is on scale. [Deleted] L [/deleted] If L loudest, scale reading is recipical [sic].
[Underlined] Visual D/F. [/underlined]
Tune in station.
Deflection Switch on High
Switch Speed – Low for R/T, High for Code.
Mode of OPs switch to Balance, adjust intersection needles by Meter Balance Switch.
Adjust Meter Amplitude for a high intersection of needles to [deleted] give [/deleted] Max sensitivity.
Mode of OPs to Visual
Turn loop until needles intersect on line. & note reading & time
Decrease Scale reading & if needles fall to R reading is right & if to L recipical [sic].
[Page break]
Homing by Visual Meter.
Items the same but Meter Deflection Swtich to Low (not so [deleted] be [/deleted] Lively)
Set Loop to 000 on scale (athwartships to a/cts head).
Turn a/ct until until [sic] needles intersect after determining Sense which is checked every 10 minutes.
[Underlined] TR 9 D. [/underlined]
Old Fighter receiver transmitter combined Two Channels or Frequencies.
1, Aerodrom [sic] Control
2, Darky for approx. pinpoints.
3, Inter comm between members of crew.
4, Inter comm between formations of a/ct.
5, Squeakers. (Balloon Barrage).
1333 Dinghy Transmission
Transmitter & Loading Coil.
[Underlined] 1154 [/underlined]
Trailing & Fixed Aerial.
OP & Earth switch. Put on E during electrical storms & earths to frame of a/ct & cuts out high-tension.
[Page break]
Ranges of Operations
1, 200K to 500Kc. – Yellow
2, 3m.c to 5.5 m.c – Red
3, 5.5m.c. to 10 m.c. – Blue
[Underlined] Precautions [/underlined]
1, Carefull [sic] stowage.
2, Prevention of damage by shock.
3, Prevention of damage by water
4, Testing of instrument cords while in use.
5, Period inspection by electrical engineers.
[Underlined] Nav Precautions. [/underlined]
Synchronise watches
Initiates request for loop brgs.
Guide to best stations.
When D/F used W/O should be informed which stations should give best fix
Makes MTBs.
Informs Pilot whenever Drift’s D/F Astro is being taken.
AISLE BAKER Charlie
Dog Easy Fox
George How Item
Jig King Love
Mike None Oboe
Peter Queen Roger
Sugar Tare Uncle
Victor William X Ray
Yoke Zebra.
[Page break]
[Underlined] RADAR [/underlined]
[Underlined] IFF – To provide identification to ground that you are friendly a/ct.
Used for Distress.
[Diagram]
1, Switch On.
2, Note that M.A. reads between .6 & 2 M.A.
3, Volt meter should read 12 volts. Adjust by Volume control
4, Ensure that Code Switch is to No 1
5, Plug in phones & listen to background of clicks. If occalations [sic] are heard adjust Tuning Screws A1 A2 & B by turning fully Anti-clockwise & then turning A1 to first occolation point
[Page break]
& then turning 3 clicks back.
For Distress turn Code Switch to No 3.
MK III
[Diagram]
1, Switch On.
2, Ensure Code Switch is always at No 1
3, See that N is showing under spring loaded flap
4, Plug in & listen for clicks.
5, For Distress turn wheel & move N until D is showing.
6, No emergency [sic] can be taken if Set occilates [sic].
[Page break]
Testing for I.F.F.
Apply volt meter or Aldis Lamp across two points of plug & note there is no reading
[Underlined] Dinghy XMitter. [/underlined] - T 1333.
500 Kc/s. Listening in periods are from 15 – 20 mins & 45 – 50 mins past the hour.
Range of a Kite aerial is 150 miles
Range of a Mast aerial is 20 miles.
300 volts High tension } by generator.
6 volts Low tension} 5 WATS [sic]
Two positions – Hand & Automatic.
[Deleted] M/F D/F [/deleted]
[Underlined] Loop Beacons. [/underlined]
“A” Group situated [deleted y [/deleted] in Yorkshire
“B” Group situated in Norfolk
”C” Group situated in Lincolnshire.
“D” Group situated in Yorkshire
“F” Group situated in Cornwall
“J” Group situated in Aberdeenshire
“G” Group situated in N Ireland.
[Page break]
Gives 24 Hr service.
A three mast Group.
“G” Group marked ABC – all others 1.2.3.
Jurby 7 Z 7 Lock [sic] Earn U U 7
Prestwick Barra Hd
Butt of Lewis.
[Page break]
MET.
Atmosphere & changes that take place in it.
Information Available.
1, Local Weather [underlined] Report. [/underlined]
a, Surface Winds & Cloud.
2, Clouds.
a Type of middle & high cloud.
b Low Cloud – Type. Ht above [underlined] ground [/underlined]
c,
3, Vis – Horizontal.
4, Weather
Weather at time of observation.
2, [Underlined] Forecast [/underlined].
3, Icing Report
a, Location of icing zone
b, Temp.
c, Thickness of cloud.
d, Ht of cloud above ground
Synoptic Chart.
A map on which is plotted the weather so a birds-eye view at a certain time can be obtained.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Pressure [/underlined]
New – Barometer
Station Pressure { 1, Index Error.
{2, Latitude & Centigraph Force
{3, [deleted] S [/deleted] Temp
4, Altitude
Dew Point. –
Is temp at which air must be cooled & constant press before condensation begins
Wet Bulb Temp.
Is temp to which air can be cooled by evaporating water into it assuming press remains constant
Relative Humidity
The amount of water vapour actually in air [divided by] Amount of WV needed to saturate same amount X 100
[Underlined] Upper Air Data. [/underlined]
1, Aeroplane ascent
Meteograph {Baragraph
{Thermograph
{Hydrograph
2, Radiosonde.
[Page break]
Clouds.
1, Type.
2, General Appearance
3, Sequence.
4, Cu Heaviest to East than West
Value of Cloud Recognition.
a, Above cloud approach.
b, In cloud
c, Evasive action.
Continuity. Bumpiness.
Icing Visibility.
Vertical Thickness. Ht of base above ground.
Altocumulus Castillatis [sic]. Vis 120 yds.
May mean thunderstorms later on.
Moderate Bumpiness. Severe if it turns to C.B.
1, Troposphere 7-8 miles.
5/6 of air by weight.
Vertical Currents.
Water Vapour.
Temp decreases with ht a 3°F per 1000’.
2, Stratosphere.
Little overhead motion
Almost no water vapour.
Temp remains constant with ht.
[Page break]
3, Tropopause.
Variations in ht.
1, Latitude
Equator – 11 miles above ground
N. Pole – 5 miles above ground
2, Season
Higher in Summer than in Winter.
[Underlined] Composition. [/underlined]
1, Constant –
Nitrogen, Oxygen
2, Variable –
Water Vapour.
Solid particles ie smoke, salt, pollen & dust.
[Underlined] Pressure [/underlined]
1, Average change with ht.
Decrease of 1mb per 30’
2, Variations from average
[Underlined] Winds. [/underlined]
1, Pressure Gradient.
Is rate of change of pressure measured perpendiculary [sic] to the Isobars.
2, Winds about a Low at 2,000’ or Geostrophic Level.
Blow Anti-clockwise & paralell to Isobars at a speed measured from the Geostrophic Wind Scale.
[Page break]
3, Winds above Geostrophic Level.
To W backs to W } Gain in Speed.
S veers to W }
E backs or veers to W }
With Low over N Pole & High over Equator.
Surface Winds
1, Normal case 2, Variation
Turbulence or Gustiness.
due to friction. Due to unequal heating of earths [sic] surface.
[Underlined] Gust [/underlined] – Sudden increase in speed & change in direction of the wind lasting one to two minutes
[Underlined] Diurnal Variation [/underlined]
Due to transfer of momentum from Geostrophic to Surface level, surface wind veers & increases during day. Back & decrease at night.
[Underlined] Squall [/underlined] Same as Gust but lasts longer – 5 or 6 mins. Due to Cold Front or Thunderstorm.
[Underlined] Due to Topogrphy. [sic]. [/underlined]
1, Barrier Effect.
2, Tunnel or Tunnel Effect.
3, Valley Effect.
4, Land & Sea Breezes.
5, Katabatic & Anabatic.
6, Chinook or John. [sic]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Polar Front Theory. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Bjerknes.. [/underlined]
1, [Underlined] Air Mass. [/underlined]
A huge revolving mass of air with uniform properties of Temp & Humidity in a horizontal direction.
2, [Underlined] Source Region. [/underlined]
a, Temp of surface is uniform.
b, Pressure system should be a HIGH.
[Underlined] Gt Britain. [/underlined]
1, North Atlantic
2, Northern Russia.
3, Bermuda or Azores.
4, Sahara.
An Air Mass will move & as they move are modified.
Vertical Currents.
Rising air always cools at a rate of 5.4°F due to expansion – Adiabatic Cooling Dry
Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate 5.4° per 1000’.
When Environment L R is less than D A L R air is stable vertical currents will not develop
When E.L.R. is [deleted] less [/deleted] [inserted] MORE [/inserted] that D A L R air is unstable & vertical air currents will develop.
[Page break]
[Diagrams]
[Underlined] Vertical Currents [/underlined]
1, Orographic Features & other obstructions.
(a) Strength of Wind.
b, Stability of Air.
c, Nature of ground.
2, Surface Heating
[Page break]
[Underlined] Heating of Earths [sic] Surface. [/underlined]
1, [Underlined] Radiation. [/underlined]
Heated from below.
Greenhouse Effect.
[Diagram]
2, [Underlined] Conduction [/underlined]
3, Convection.
[Underlined] Subsidence. [/underlined]
Air sinking in middle of air mass & meeting air which is rising from ground causing Compressibility & maybe warmth hence an Inversion. [Inserted diagram]
[Underlined] Humidity & Cloud Formation. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Humidity [/underlined]
1, Absolute Humidity is weight of water vapour in 1 Cu metre of air.
2, Wet Bulb Temperature.
3, Dew Point.
[Underlined] Condensation. [/underlined]
1, Cooling.
2, High R Humidity.
3, Condensation nuclei. – pollen, salt, smoke.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Causes for Condensation. [/underlined]
1, Warm Air moving over cold surface. dew or Hoar frost.
2, Mixing
3, Radiation Cooling.
4, Adiabatic cooling.
a, Turbulence. S.C.
b, Convection. Cu Cb.
c, Orograpic lifting. Sr or Cu Cb.
d, Frontal.
[Underlined] Precipitation. [/underlined]
An appreciable deposit of condensed W/V in either the solid or liquid form.
Types -
1, Thermal Convection precip:
Cu –
Cb – heavy to moderate showers.
2, Orographic.
ST – drizzle.
Cb – heavy to Mod showers.
3, Frontal
AS Light
Nb – becoming moderate [inserted] 200 miles. [/inserted] continuous precip.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Precipitation. [ /underlined]
[Underlined] Snow [/underlined] It forms at at [sic] temp below freezing point where ice crystals are formed, these grow & falls [sic] as snow if temp [deleted] if [/deleted] is below FP all the way down.
[Underlined] -Hail. [/underlined]
Consists of hard pellets formed by raindrops being caught by swift ascending currents & air & carried up far above FL & freeze. Move about & grow by collision with super-cooled drops. Cb cloud.
[Diagram]
Continuous Rain – Green Shading
Intermitent [sic] Rain – Green Hatching.
Showers – Green Triangle
Drizzle – Green Commas.
[Underlined] Visibiity [/underlined]
Is greatest distance at which prominent objects can be recognised against the horizon with naked eye.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Code [/underlined] [Drawn circle]
6
Plotted on Circle in Red in [underlined] Code [/underlined]
[Underlined] Restrictions [/underlined]
1, Condensed Water Vapour.
a, Clouds – [underlined] average [/underlined] 220yds.
Least in low rainbearing clouds.
2, Precipitation
a, Rain. Moderate about 2 1/2 miles
In Heavy 1100yds.
b, Drizzle – Poor.
c, Snow – Zero or very bad.
d, Fog – from zero to 1100 yds.
e, Mist – from 1100 to 2200 yds.
- [Underlined] Fog [/underlined]
[Underlined] Radiation. [/underlined]
a, High R H.
b, Clear Skies
c, Light wind – 8 mph.
d, No Dram-off.
[Underlined] Advection. [/underlined] - Horizontal motion.
Warm moist air and moving over a cold surface.
Example – Tropical Air Mass – Maritime from Azores or Bermuda – passing over English Channel in Spring & summer.
[Page break]
Hill or Upslope Fog.
Steam Fog.
Frontal Fog
Air slides into Trough of Low & starts to rise, cools & forms fog. Mixing at Frontal Surface will lower down & form Fog.
[Diagram]
Smoke & Dust.
1, Dust
a, Characteristics of Region
1, Dry
2, Little vegetation
3, Light soil.
b, Conditions in Air Mass.
Unstable Air
2, Smoke.
a, Industrial smoke.
Condition of Air Mass
a, [sic] An Inversion.
Surface heating will help to break through Inversion & allow Fog to escape. Strengthening of wind.
[Page break]
3, [Underlined] Haze [/underlined]
a, Solid Particles.
[Underlined] Icing [/underlined]
1, Dangers associated.
a, Increase air drag
b, Increase stalling speed
2, Fixed wing tip slot
3, Motor Efficiency
a, Carbu: icing (60°F)
4, Airscrew icing.
5, Jamming of controls
6, Mis: - Pitot Head. Radio. Doors.
Physical Processes of Formation
a, Clear Air.
1, Carb icing (60°F)
Ventilation Effect
Evaporation of Petrol.
[deleted] b [/deleted] 2, Sublimation.
Water vapour to ice crystals
b, [Underlined] Cloud [/underlined]
1, Small well super-cooled droplets. Large piece of opaque ice which does not adhere to a/ct & small amount of water
[Page break]
which adheres to a/ct as clear ice
2, Large slightly supercooled droplets. Small piece of opaque ice & a great amount of water which adheres to a/ct as clear ice.
c, Freezing Rain.
Temp slightly below freezing.
[Underlined] Hoar Frost [/underlined]
Part of a/ct effected:
Entire machine coated.
[Underlined] Situation [/underlined] Cold a/ct enters warm moist air eg: descent.
[Underlined] Effect [/underlined] Radio. Windscreen
Take-off impossible.
[Underlined] Rime Frost [/underlined]
Leading Edges.
Thin cloud composed of small super-cooled droplets.
Changes shape of airframe
Pitot head. Carb:
[Underlined] Glaze & Clear. [/underlined]
Leading Edges
Ram slightly below F.P.
All effects.
[Page break]
Opaque & Transparent.
Leading Edge.
Thick clouds composed of large slightly [inserted] super [/inserted] cooled droplets
All Effects.
In layer cloud 33°F to 14°F. 3°F per 1000’.
= 6 000’ zone
In heap 32°F to -4°F
= 1200’ zone.
Rain – just below 32°F
1, Ht Flight.
Nil.
2, Fronts
[Diagram]
[Page break]
1, Freezing Rain (Frontal [sic]
a, Land
b, Turn back
2, Cloud
Cu = Avoid
Sc = above – go up through gaps
[Underlined] Thunderstorms. [/underlined]
a, High R.H.
b, Unstable air to high levels.
2, [Underlined] Characteristics of Cb. [/underlined]
[Diagram]
3, [Underlined] Types [/underlined]
a, . [Underlined] Surface heating [/underlined] (Air Mass)
1, Diurnal heating.
1, Late afternoon, persisting into the night
2, Spring or Summer
3, Local
[Page break]
2, Air moving over a warmer [inserted] water [/inserted] surface
1, NW wind over warm Atlantic Drift (winter)
2, NE wind over warm N Sea (Winter)
3, Mediterranean Sea (winter) – violent.
3, Air moving over a warmer land surface.
1, Summer
2, Daytime.
4, Orographic.
b, [Underlined] Frontal [/underlined]
1, Cold Front
2, Warm Front
a, Ahead of Front, higher base & not so violent
3, Occlusion.
[Underlined] Dangers. [/underlined]
1, Bumpiness – 10-15 000’
Over mountains 18 – 20 000
2, Hail – Structural damage.
3, Icing – glaze
4, Light[deleted]e [/deleted] ning – radio.
[Page break]
Thunderstorms.
1, Conditions Necessary.
Pressure Systems
1, High Pressure
2, Col
3, Trough – Front
4 Trough – with no Front
5, Secondary Low – Summer.
[Underlined] Pressure Systems [/underlined]
1, [Underlined] High [/underlined]
A, [Underlined] Summer. [/underlined]
1, Light winds. Isobars wider apart near centre
2, Clear Skies – due to subsidence, sinking of air disperses cloud
3, Inversion. – by compression.
4, Cumulus or cb – surface heating.
5, Fog
B, [Underlined] Winter [/underlined]
1, 10/10 Sc is possible.
Convergance. [sic]
[Underlined] Ridge [/underlined]
Weather same as High
Very brief as it is between two Lows.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Low [/underlined]
Convergance [sic] giving rising currents.
[Underlined] Trough. [/underlined]
Convergence
[Underlined] Secondary Low. [/underlined]
a, Summer – shallow
Thunderstorms
b, Winter – deep
Gales – heavy rain.
[Underlined] Line Squall [/underlined]
Rapidly moving cold front
[Diagrams]
When Tropical Maritime Air reaches England in spring or Summer. Usually is very stable & may form War & Cold Front.
[Page break]
[Diagram]
Gives Cold Front behind which will be Cu & Cb, - near the Low will be Cb heavy, & in front will be Sc & occational [sic] Cb.
[Underlined] Weather Maps. [/underlined]
1, Speed of the Front.
2, Time Front will pass your stn.
Find what –
Winds will do
Weather – clouds. precip:
[Page break]
[Underlined] Ship Recognition. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Importance [/underlined]
1, Recognise enemy ships & take appropriate action.
2, Recognise allied ships
3, Ability to accurately report to Intelligence Branch.
What to Report.
1, Nationality.
2, Type
3, Tonnage.
Types of Bows.
1, Straight Bow. [Right angle sign] to Deck & Waterline
2, Raked Bow. Inclined back to Waterline
3, Clipper Bow. Concaved back to Waterline
4, Maser Bow. Convexed back to Waterline
5, Ram Bow Foot strengthened & protruding
[Drawings of Bows]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Types of Stern. [/underlined]
1, Counter Stern
[Diagram]
2, Cruiser Stern
[Diagram
3, Cruiser Spoon
[Diagram]
4, Square
[Diagram]
5, Tuggy
[Diagram]
[Underlined] HULLS. [/underlined]
1, Flush Decker
2, Flush Decker with well deck
a, Well Deck F’ward
b, Well Deck Aft
3, Three Island
a, Three Island with engine aft.
4, Gram & Ore deck.
[Page break]
Flush Deck.
[Diagram]
Flush Deck with Well deck f’ward.
[Diagram]
Well Deck Aft.
[Diagram]
Three Island.
[Diagram]
Engine Aft.
[Diagram]
Gram & Ore.
[Diagram]
[Underlined] SUPERSTRUCTURES. [/underlined]
1, Full.
2, Composite
3, Spilt.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Extreme Full. [/underlined]
At least two almost full length of ship.
Queen Mary
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Moderate Full. [/underlined]
Athlone [inserted] Castle [/inserted]. One only full ships [sic] length & any number of other decks.
[Diagram]
Minor Full.
Any number not full length of ship. More than 2 decks. New York.
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Composite [/underlined]
One deck joined to bridge with one funnel on it. Maid of Kent.
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Split. [/underlined] (freighters).
Bridgework separated from superstructure.
[Diagram]
[Underlined] MAST. [/underlined]
1, Pole
2, Tripod
3, Goal Posts
4, Samson or King.
[Page break]
Pole Mast.
Merchant.
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Tripod. [/underlined]
2 supporting legs. Either will support main mast
naval vessels.
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Goal Post [/underlined]
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Samson or King [/underlined]
[Diagrams]
Naming of Masts.
F.O. mast – single usually forward
Mainmast – another mast added.
Mizzenmast – 3rd added.
Jiggermast – 4th.
Spanker - 5th – sailing vessels.
[Underlined] Duties of Intelligence Section. [/underlined]
1, To collect was [sic] & culrevate [sic] information.
2, To deduce a true picture from that information
3, To distribute the true facts to proper quarters,
4, To prevent enemy obtaining information of us.
[Underlined] S.I.O. Duties [/underlined]
1, To pass onto Air Crews authentic information of enemy defences targets etc.
2, To allocate any particular job of reconnaisence [sic] to crews.
[Page break]
3, To collect & curelate [sic] information collected by Air Crews & pass on to Command Intelligence
4, To organise & control the Intelligence library so Air Crews may keep up to date with their information.
[Underlined] Sources of Intelligence Information. [/underlined]
1, Neutral & enemy press & radio
2, Examination of captured docks [sic] & equipment.
3, Innterragtion [sic] of prisoners.
4, Reports from secret agents.
5, Naval Military & Air reconasense [sic].
Reconacence [sic] consists of obtaining information about enemy & the ground of his occupation by means of observation & reporting same to base.
[Underlined] Rules [/underlined]
1, On all occasion flying over enemy territory on which he may be operating crews should carry out recon
2, Make brief clear notes in Nav Log of all points of interest observed.
3, Crews should report only what they see.
4, Crews should not make deductions or use guesswork.
5, Observation should where possible be confirmed with photo’s. Be accurate.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Value of Photo [/underlined]
A photo records all detail permantly [sic] & accurately [sic].
[Underlined] Advantages of Air Reco. [/underlined]
1, Speed & range of a/ct allows observation of a large area in a relatively short time.
2, A/ct can use cloud cover to obtain surprise secrecy & security.
3, A/ct can surmount natural barriers & enemy land defences.
4, Ht of a/ct gives VIS.
[Underlined] Limitations of Air Reco [/underlined]
1, Adverse weather can interfere [deleted] of [/deleted] or prevent.
2, Enemy defences may hamper it.
3, Identification of Army or Naval units is difficult.
4, Negative information is unreliable as a/ct cannot force action from a hidden enemy.
5, Camaflouge [sic] or deception can fool crews.
[Underlined] Rule for Reports. [/underlined]
1, Always give place time & ht from which each observation is made.
2, Indicate posn by one of approved methods
[Page break]
The Four Natural Divisions.
1, Scandinavian [inserted] 8,000’ [/inserted] Highlands pass across N Sea – Pennine Chain – Cambrians.
2, Southern [deleted] Islands [/deleted] Highlands – Pyranees [sic] [inserted] 10,000’ [/inserted] Alps [inserted] 2000 [/inserted] & Carpathians
3, Ayberian [sic], Italian & Balkan Peninsulas Cantabrians Appenines Dineric Balkan Mts
Sierra de Quadanranna [sic]. Mt Etna 10,000’. Pindus
3, The Great Plain.
Runs from Southern Highlands to Arctic Ocean. From Urals to Caspian on East Atlantic on West.
4, Plane [sic] of Hungary
[Diagram]
[Underlined] Rivers of Europe. [/underlined]
Source in Alps.
1, DANUBE – East to Black Sea.
2, RHINE – North to N Sea
3, RHONE – South to Med.
4, PO – S & E to Adriatic.
[Page break]
Source in Great Plane [sic].
1, Over [sic], Vistula N to Baltic S.
2, Elbe Weser Rhine – N to N Sea.
3, Seine – English C.
4, Loire, Daronne [sic] – B of Biscay.
5, Dneiper, Dneister [sic] into Black
6, Don into Sea of Azov.
7, Volga Caspian.
[Underlined] Islands. [/underlined] Bodies of Water.
1, Lofotens.
2, White Sea
3, Fairoe Islands [sic]
4, Gulf of Finland & Bothnia.
5, Baltic Sea.
6, North Sea
7, Scaggerak & Katterjat [sic]
8, Jutland Peninsula.
9, Gib.
10, Gulf of Lions & Genoa.
11, Tyrhenian [sic] Sea.
12, [Deleted] Alfatic [/deleted] Alfians [sic]
13, Dardanelles, Sea of Marmoro, Straits of Bosphoros
[Page break]
[Underlined] British Isles. [/underlined]
Mountains – Grampiens – Penine [sic] Chains Cambrians.
Rivers – Thames, Severn, Trent, Clyde, Mercy [sic] Tyne.
Bristol Channel, Carnigan [sic] Bay, St Georges Bay, North Channel, Irish Sea, Solway Morry [sic] Pentland Firths, Firth of Forth & Clyde The Wash.
Islands –
Shetlands Orkney Man Wight & Scilly.
Cities,
Aberdeen Dublin Belfast Brum Bristol Cardiff Coventry Dover Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow Hull Leeds Leicester Liverpool Manchester Newcastle Norich [sic] Nottingham Plymouth Portsmouth Sheffield Southampton Swansea Londonerry [sic]
[Underlined] France [/underlined]
Mountains –
Pyronees [sic] Alps Gulf of Lions [sic]
Cities.
Dunkirk Calais Lille Dieppe Le Havre Rouen Paris Naney [sic] Cherbourg Brest Marseille Toulon Lymes [sic]
[Underlined] Italy [/underlined]
Appenines [sic] Gulf of Genoa River Po & Tiber Liberian Sea. Catoma [sic] Syracuse Brittonia [sic]
[Page break]
Paloma Marsella. Messina.
Regio Naples Rome Genoa Turin Milan Venice
Augsburg – MEs.
Berlin – Administration & Communication Centre
Bremen – Focke Wolfe & Sea Port
Cologne – Ford Moters [sic]
Cuschaven – U-Boats
Desseu – Junkers.
Dortmund – Steel. & Canals.
Dresden – Optical instruments
Duisberg – Inland Port & Industry
Dusseldorf – Tube works. Communications.
Emden – Sea Port & iron imports.
Essen – Krupps
Frankfurt-on-the-Marne – Cars chemicals
Friddrishschen [sic] – Dorniers.
Hamburg – Sea port & shipyards a/ct factories.
Hamm – Railway centre
Gena – Brass works & optical instruments
Kessel – a/ct & Locomotive Factories.
Kiel – Canal & Shipyards.
Leipzig - Engineering & chemicals.
Lubeck – Ship-building.
Mannhein – Chemicals communications engineering
Munster – Railway Centre.
Munich – Engineering & a/ct engines.
Narenburg – Heavy vehicles & tools
[Page break]
P Tilson – Skoda.
Rostock – Seaport dockyard & Heinkels
Saarbrucken – Coal & Iron.
Stettin – Sea Port, chemicals & oils.
Stuttgart – Bosch Magnetic works & engines.
Wilhelmshaven – Naval Base.
[Underlined] Reports from Air. [/underlined]
1, Time, Ht, & place & visibility.
2, Your Posn. 090-x-2’
3, Show N.
4, Detail – rails, roads (1st & 2nd) bridges dams. Rivers.
5, Large buildings. Nearby aerodromes.
6, Activity – rail & road. Populace.
7, Terrain. Method of attack. Best targets.
[Underlined] Italy [/underlined]
Brindisi Foggia Taranto. Salerno Leghorn. Florence. La Speza. Genoa Milan Turin Trieste Terune. Split.
Sardinia.
-Cagliari
Corsica. – Bistea.
[Underlined] Med Islands [/underlined]
Balearic Isles – Marjerka & Melerna [sic] Corsica Sardinia Pantelleria Malta Scily [sic] Capri.
[Page break]
A.S.I
[Diagram]
Principle of ASI is a relationship of two pressures – pressure – of and outside a/ct against pressure inside.
[Diagram]
[Page break]
[Underlined] ERRORS. [/underlined]
1, Position & Attitude
2, Density – a, Temperature
b, Pressure – height.
3, Mechanical Error.
Position – due to position of Pressure Head.
Must be in undisturbed air.
Altitude – due to angle of a/ct to flight path.
Density – temp & press changes. Can be corrected on computer.
Mechanical Error. Due to imperfections in instrument
Other errors due to Leakages, dirt
[Underlined] Altimeter Setting. [/underlined]
Airport pressure reduced to M.S.L. in ICAN scale.
[Underlined] Correction for Temp. [/underlined]
Set ht above ground opposite temp.
Isothermal – Subtract {add} 2’ per 1,000 indicated for every 1°F that the mean temp is below (above) 50°F
ICAN – Subtract 10% of indicated Alt for every 28FC & that actual temp is below ICAN temp for that ht.
Also Compensator Bar.
[Page break]
[Underlined] C.S.B.S. [/underlined]
Uses – 1, To produce accurate line of sight for bombing purposes.
2, To obtain Drift.
3, To find W/V.
1, Warn Pilot. 2, Level.
3, Set TAS to MIN. 4, W/S to MAX
5, T/V to Infinity.
6, Enemy speed to zero & direction at 90 or 270
7, Clamp Bearing Plate. With eye at backsight Keep head still & manipulate D wires so that objects on ground appear to run along them for their full length. ؞ D wires are aligned with Track & angle between them & F & A axis is Drift.
Read drift on Drift scale against Wind Scale bar
Take several in bumpy weather
Notify Pilot.
[Underlined] To Check Course. [/underlined]
1, Line up D wires with natural P.L.
2, Read off angle measured by D Wires.
3, If D Wires are to S’board subtract angle from true brg of P.L. to get Co(T)
4,
[Page break]
[Underlined] To Check G/S. [/underlined]
1, Warn pilot.
2, Find Drift & set on.
3, Set computed ht above ground on Red ht scale.
4, With eye at backsight time the passage of objects along D Wires & between sets of beads Take average of several.
5, This gives number of secs to cover 1 mile or number of mins to cover 60 miles.
G/S can be worked out from this. Time must be within 1/5 sec.
[Page break]
[Underlined] TIME. [/underlined]
[Calculations]
Conversion – Arc to time – divide degrees, min°secs by 15.
Time to Arc – Multiply hours, mins & secs by 15.
Watch Keeping.
[Calculations]
[Page break]
[Calculations]
[Page break]
[Calculations]
Moons revolution [deleted] l [/deleted] round earth takes 28 days. About 13° per day.
[Underlined] Sub-Stellar Point. [/underlined]
A point on surface of earth through which passes a line joining a heavenly body to centre of earth.
[Underlined] Declination of a body [/underlined]
Equivalent to Lat of S.S.Pt. of body. Measured No5 from Equators (Terrestrial & Celestial).
[Underlined] Local Hour Angle [/underlined]
Change of Long between some standard meridian [deleted] (GM) [/deleted] & that of the body always measured clockwise thro’ 360° from standard meridian.
[Underlined] Greenwich Hour Angle [/underlined]
Measured from GM to Body westwards.
Complement of angle measured – X60 – is distance of observer from S.S.P.
[Page break]
[Diagrams]
Q. CORRECTION.
[Diagrams]
[Page break]
Star Recognition.
Heavenly panorama changes with respect to us as it revolves around POLARIS, but position of stars relative to one another does not change.
1, Stars
2, Sun – a star the centre of our universe
3, Moon – satelite [sic] of EARTH, completes orbit in 28 days.
4, Planets – posn relative to us changes continually
- shine by reflected light.
- stars twinkle – planets don’t.
[ Diagrams]
[Page break]
[Calculations]
[Page break]
Estimating Range.
Man fills 2/3 of blade foresight at 600 standing
Man fills 2/3 of blade foresight at 400
Man fills 2/3 of blade foresight at 250 kneeling.
Cleaning.
Ensure gun is unloaded.
Remove bolt
Clean bore using 4 x 4 1/2 flanelette
Pour [underlined] boiling [/underlined] water through barrel from breach end.
Dry & lightly oil the barrel.
Clean & oil magazine.
[Diagram]
[Page break
Armaments.
Smoke Cloud Navigation
Flame Flash Navigation
Aluminium Sea Marker.
Flare Reco: 4.5”
Photographic Flash 4.5”
Signal Distance Marine.
Cartridge Signal 1.5”
Signal Rocket 1 lb
[Page break]
[Table showing different pyrotechnics, uses & storage]
[Page break]
[Calculations]
[Page break]
Accessories for Mirror Photography.
1, Modified Type 25 mount.
2, 8” Lens Cone.
3, Mirror placed at 45° angle to axess of lense [sic].
4, High speed Types 35 Control (2 sec TI).
5, High speed gear box (rewind in 2 secs).
6, High speed Shutter around 1/1,000’ sec.
Type 35 Control is switched on with releasing of Bomb Switch.
Mirror photo: is used to photo the results of low level & dive-bombing attacks.
[Underlined] Filters [/underlined]
A 25 (RED) - minus Blue (Yellow).
[Underlined] Purpose [/underlined] - 1, to increase contrast
2, Penatrate [sic] haze.
3, Help to detect camouflauge. [sic]
[Deleted] For [/deleted] 4 For normal colour correction & contrast minus blue is used & for extreme use A25.
[Page break]
[Table]
[Page break]
#6.
Smoke Generator – Percussion – kept in stores. [inserted] ground to a/ct. [/inserted]
#5 – Friction. Remove striker from Cd & draw across scratch card.
#6 Aircraft to ground – kept in a/ct – percussion.
Remove safety pin & drop overboard
Smoke Puffs – for finding W/V. Carried in a/ct.
Percussion. Fired from signal pistol.
600yds. Limiting Range.
400yds - Effective Range
150yds – Point . Blank.
10’ per 100 yds
40’ group at 200 yds = 2 RADs full.
40’ group at 400 yds = 1 RAD.
Flare Framing Reconnassance [sic]. 4”
Use – Ground illumination - for forced landing & night photography.
Precautions – 1, Ensure Safety Pin pulled before take-off.
Ignited by friction by means of pull percussion ignitor.
2, Ensure Static Cord is fastened to carrier or a/ct.
[Page break]
Flashes Photographic. 4” Mk I
Use – In conjunction with camera to photo bomb bursts. (timed with shutter of camera by means of photoelectric cell.).
Carried on L/S carrier.
Percussion by means of [deleted] 484 [/deleted] 848 or 849 fuse with specified delay capsule.
Ensure that proper delay capsule is in fuse & screwed properly into base of flare.
Precaution – Do not touch rubber band around fuse body. Ensure fuse does not become dismantled.
[Page break]
[Diagram of Type 35 Control]
[Page break]
Green light indicates that the power is reaching the camera & a contact is made in camera. It goes on when camera released & stays on till camera fully wound.
Green light burns cont:
Red light at regular intervals
Indicates,
[Underlined] Camera Running [/underlined]
Causes – 1, Faulty Time Switch in Control.
2, Brocken [sic] spring on Locking Lever.
3, Push-Button stuck in Control
Camera break down
Causes – +, Brocken [sic] or faulty.
1, Flexible Drive.
2, Motor.
3, No 4 Lead.
[Underlined] Hand Held Obliques. [/underlined]
Any photo taken at an oblique angle approx. 45°
Type 21 Mount used.
Lens must not face into Sun.
Camera must be level.
[Page break]
13, Carry out check swing on all 8 headings.
14, Calculate “A” & correct if neccecary [sic] by turning compass in mounting Clockwise for +ve A & vice versa.
Must have Nav officers [sic] permission.
[Underlined] Testing Compass on Unsuitable Site. [/underlined]
From extreme edges of estimated area of swinging ground take two brgs by landing compass of some clear object 3-4 miles away & if they differ by more than 1° site unsuitable.
Then take brg of object & bring a/cts compass over exact spot & note heading by P-4. Then take brg which will be from true heading of a/ct & note diff between this & landing com: brg.
L.C. Mag: Headg = Mag Brg of object +(360 - Relative Brg)
M:H: = M:B + 360 – RB.
[Underlined] Test for Serviceability. [/underlined]
1, Examine external paint work for corrosion.
[Page break]
2, Test freedom of Grid Ring.
3, Test locking device.
4, Internal paint for flaking & liquid for discolouration & bubbles.
5, Suspension of Compass bowl.
6, Test for Pivot Friction.
7, Damping Test. –
Deflect mag system 90° & hold for 1 min.
Release & time its [sic] swing back through first 85°. Times in Instrument Manual.
[Underlined] Astro Compass [/underlined]
Checking Co by Heavenly Bodies.
1, Level carefully.
2, Warn the pilot.
3, Calculate LHA & DEC of body.
4, Set LHA & Dec & D.R. Lattitude. (all to nearest degree).
5, Turn [deleted] cop [/deleted] complete top of instrument until body is in line of sight. (Use Pin Shadow for Sun.[sic]
6. Read Co(T) against L.L. on bearing plate.
CO EFF “C” is algeebaic [sic] value of the Dev: on magnetic N caused by component Q & its allied soft iron effects
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Colin Wood's navigational notes
Description
An account of the resource
Notes taken during Colin Wood's training. They cover navigation, wireless, radar, meteorology, intelligence, geography and operations.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colin Wood
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
119 handwritten sheets
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
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MWoodC1451225-160325-02
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Conforms To
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Pending review
Contributor
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Anne-Marie Watson
Steve Baldwin
training
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Joseph, David
D Joseph
Description
An account of the resource
22 items. The collection concerns Flight Sergeant David Joseph (1576383, Royal Air Force) and contains his decorations, log book, memoirs, correspondence and a list of prisoners of war at Stalag Luft 4. He flew operations as a pilot with 76 Squadron from RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor until his aircraft was shot down on 18 March 1944 on an operation to Frankfurt and he became a prisoner of war. The collection also contains a letter to Mrs Ramsay about the loss of her son, Flying Officer Kenneth Ramsay and photographs of his final resting place. <br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Brian Joseph and catalogued by Barry Hunter.<br /><br />Additional information on Kenneth Grant Ramsay is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/223173/">IBCC Losses Database</a>.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-05-22
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Joseph, D
Transcribed document
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Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Letter from Wing Commander Iveson.
[underlined] Holme-on-Spalding Moor [/underlined]
[underlined] 19th March 1944. [/underlined]
[page break]
76S/68/ /P.1.
No. 76 Squadron,
R.A.F. Station,
Holme on Spalding Moor.
Yorks.
19th. March 1944.
Dear Mr. Joseph,
It was with the utmost regret that I had to telegraph you and tell you that your son, Flight Sgt. David Joseph, is reported missing from air operations against the enemy last night. The target against which he was detailed was Frankfurt.
It is desired to explain that the request in the telegram notifying you of the casualty to your son wasc [sic] included with the object of avoiding his chance of escape being prejudiced by undue publicity in case he was still at large. This is not to say that any information about him is available, but is a precaution adopted in the case of all personnel reported missing.
Your son was fast proving to be one ofnthe [sic] best Pilots we have on the Squadron, and a man with a strong sense of duty and courage. He had a very responsible job as Captain of his aircraft, and had the complete confidence, not only of his whole crew, but also of his Flight Commander and myself. The news of his loss has been received with the very greatest sorrow.
I am enclosing a list of names and addresses of the next of kin of the crew, in case you might wish to write them.
His personal effects have been sent to the Royal Air Force Central Depository, Colnebrooke, Slough, Bucks, who will be communicating in due course regarding disposal of same.
Please accept on behalf of myself and the entire Squadron, my sincerest sympathy in these anxious days of waiting.
Yours very sincerely,
D. Iveson
Wing Commander, Commanding
[underlined] No. 76 Squadron. R.A.F. [/underlined]
Mr. B. C. Joseph,
30, Avenue Road,
Stratford on Avon.
WARWICKSHIRE.
[page break]
[underlined] COPY. [/underlined]
76S/68/ /P.1.
No. 76 Squadron,
R.A.F. Station,
Holme on Spalding Moor.
Yorks.
19th March 1944.
Dear Mr. Joseph,
It was with the utmost regret that I had to telegraph you and tell you that your son, Flight Sgt. David Joseph, is reported missing from air operations against the enemy last night. The target against which he was detailed was Frankfurt.
It is desired to explain that the request in the telegram notifying you of the casualty to your son was included with the object of avoiding his chance of escape being prejudiced by undue publicity in case he was still at large. This is not to say that any information about him is available, but is a precaution adopted in the case of all personnel reported missing.
Your son was fast proving to be one of the best Pilots we have on the Squadron, and a man with a strong sense of duty and courage. He had a very responsible job as Captain of his aircraft, and had the complete confidence, not only of his whole crew, but also of his Flight Commander and myself. The news of his loss has been received with the very greatest sorrow.
I am enclosing a list of names and addresses of the next of kin of the crew, in case you might wish to write them.
His personal effects have been sent to the Royal Air Force Central Depository, Colnebrooke, Slough, Bucks, who will be communicating in due course regarding disposal of same.
Please accept on behalf of myself and the entire Squadron, my sincerest sympathy in these anxious days of waiting.
Yours very sincerely,
(Sgd) D. Iveson
Wing Commander, Commanding
[underlined] No. 76 Squadron. R.A.F. [/underlined]
Mr. B.C. Joseph,
30, Avenue Road,
Stratford-on-Avon.
Warwickshire.
[page break]
[inserted] X [/inserted] 1576383 F/Sgt. JOSEPH. David. Pilot Hebrew.
N/K :- Father. Mr. B.C.Joseph, 30, Avenue Road, Stratford-on-Avon.
R157474. F/Sgt. WIRTH. Edmund. Air Bomb. R.C.
N/K:- Father: Mr. W.Wirth, 772, McPhillips Street, Winnipeg, Canada.
J22060. F/O. RAMSAY. Kenneth. Navigator. U.C.
N/K:- Mother: Mrs. J.Ramsay, 1198, West 70th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
[inserted] X [/inserted] 1468176. Sgt. HASKETT. James. WOP/AIR. Meth.
N/K:- Father. Mr. W.J.Haskett, 2, Dora Place, Tottenhill, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
1004925. Sgt. KIRTON. John. A/G(M.U.). R.C.
N/K:- Mother: Mrs. R.Kirton, 1, Gray’s Terrace, Redhills, Durham City.
[inserted] X [/inserted] 1604913. Sgt. GILES. Edward. F/Eng. C. of E.
Father:- Mr.H.Giles, 6, Cardwell Crescent, Oxford.
[inserted] X [/inserted] 1823159. Sgt. SINCLAIR. William. A/G. C. of S.
N/K:- Father. Mr. P.Sinclair, 5, Halkett Place, Saltcoats, Ayrshire.
Missing – 18th/19th March 1944.
[page break]
Hal[inserted] Mk3 [/inserted] LW/655V
hrs 19-43 took off
ref [deleted] P419 P41429 [/deleted] P414910/1/P4 cao
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Wing Commander Iveson to Mr B C Joseph
Description
An account of the resource
The letter refers to Mr Joseph's son, Flight Sergeant David Joseph who is reported as missing in action. A list of his crew is included. The list does not include Sergeant Louis Makens who joined the crew as mid under gunner and became a prisoner of war.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
D Iveson
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-03-19
Format
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One envelope and three typewritten sheets.
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EIvesonDJosephBC440319-0001,
EIvesonDJosephBC440319-0002,
EIvesonDJosephBC440319-0003,
EIvesonDJosephBC440319-0004,
EIvesonDJosephBC440319-0005
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-03-18
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
76 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
bomb aimer
flight engineer
Halifax
missing in action
navigator
pilot
prisoner of war
RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
wireless operator