Browse Items (150 total)
- Coverage is exactly "Royal Air Force. Fighter Command"
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Interview with John Allbon Bonds
John Bonds was brought up in London and remembers bombs dropping near him. He joined the RAF as an engine mechanic and after training worked on Spitfires before being posted to bombers. He was injured in an accident in a hangar and spent some time in…
Tags: ground crew; ground personnel; hangar; RAF Biggin Hill; Spitfire
Interview with Frank Lawrence Boutcher
Frank Boutcher worked as a junior clerk for Southend Borough Council before the war. He wanted to join the Royal Navy but they only required able seamen on a long commission, so he joined the RAF instead to train as an engine fitter. After passing…
Interview with Iris Done
Upon leaving school until her marriage, Iris worked for London County Council. After her marriage she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She reported to Bridgenorth in June 1942 to be sworn in. After that, she went to Morecambe where she learned…
Interview with Leslie Grantham Lunn
Leslie Lunn joined the RAF and after his basic training did his flying training in America. In the UK he joined 129 Spitfire squadron after completing his training. The squadron later converted to Mustangs. His squadron covered the D-Day landings and…
Ian Archer Wynn diary
Diary commences on joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 3 October 1940 and training at Babbacombe, Newquay and passing out as an aircraft fitter. Posting to RAF Kenley 6 January 1942 and association with fighter pilots Bluey Truscott, Paddy…
Newspaper cuttings concerning Paddy Finucane and pilgimage to Nijmegen by Kathleen Wynn
1. Title 'To lead wing at 21'. Relates to wartime history of Wing Commander Paddy Finucane. Handwritten note explains his death and that Ian Wynn was his engineer. 2. Title 'Brought Together'. Relates the meeting of Kathleen Harvey and Kathleen Wynn…
Interview with Vivian David Williams
Vivian joined the Royal Air Force in July 1938 as a flight mechanic and served for seven and a half years. After square drills at RAF Uxbridge and a course at RAF Manston, he did a basic engineering course at RAF Henlow. After six months at RAF St…
Tags: Advanced Flying Unit; fitter engine; Flying Training School; ground crew; ground personnel; home front; Hurricane; Lancaster; mechanics engine; military service conditions; RAF Calveley; RAF Cosford; RAF Grantham; RAF Hednesford; RAF Henlow; RAF Hixon; RAF Hooton Park; RAF Kemble; RAF Lyneham; RAF Manston; RAF Martlesham Heath; RAF North Weald; RAF South Cerney; RAF St Athan; RAF Thorney Island; RAF Uxbridge; RAF Watton; searchlight; training; York
After the War was Over
Jim Allen's experiences after the end of the war. He married in 1944 and had three children. His first job was as a bus conductor, then an insurance agent but he was unhappy so rejoined the RAF. He trained as a Fighter Controller and was posted to…
A Love Story by Grandad
An account of Jim Allen's life from 1941 to 1997. He details meeting his future wife and their intermittent courtship. There is great detail about his social life and relationship with his future wife. There are two pages of photographs:
First page:…
First page:…
University friends
Two young men wearing jacket and tie standing in front of a tree. The man on the left holds a book. Reported as two of Cheshire's friends at Oxford. On left is Thomas Peter Kingsland Higgs, known as Peter, who served with 111 squadron Fighter Command…
Tags: Victoria Cross
Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother and Mary
Bill catches up with family news and comments on the wet weather. States food is now better, although not as when first improved. Catches up with more news of farm and friends as well as family fund-raising for dinghies. Outlines what they do for…
Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother
Bill hopes harvest is going well and complains about food in the camp.
He gives a vivid description of dinghy drill, which was very funny to watch, but got on well with his own swimming and went on to Girvan where he describes what they did on…
He gives a vivid description of dinghy drill, which was very funny to watch, but got on well with his own swimming and went on to Girvan where he describes what they did on…
Nuremberg
Navigation calculations and a chart for operation to Nuremberg.
Big raid on Baltic coast: 41 missing
Newspaper account of Peenemunde operation. Notes attack on secret research and development establishment. Followed United States Fortress attack on Regensburg and Schweinfurt. Desribes all attacks.
RAF hit new vital target
Article on attack on new and vital target - Germany's largest and most important research and development establishment - Peenemunde. Mosquitos attacked Berlin and Fighter Command intruders carried out attacks on airfields. Heaviest Bomber Command…
Typhoon, Harvard and bomber crew
Album page with four photographs: - one of bomber crew de-briefing, sergeant in foreground in RAF uniform with USA shoulder flash, Flight Sergeant with Australia shoulder flash. - two photographs of Typhoon with 609 Squadron code PR, with servicing…
Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula
Continues to write about housing enquiries including options to rent or buy and possible locations and types of property. Mentions she is reading and old book about farming and goes on to describe her recent activities. Catches up with news of family…
Tags: prisoner of war; Stalag Luft 3
601 City of London Fighter Squadron Hendon 1939
A group of airmen arranged in four rows in front of a Blenheim. It is annotated '601 Cy of London Fighter Squadron Hendon 1939
Tangmere-Hawkinge-Manston -1940-Middle Wallop - Merville, France -Tangmere'.
Tangmere-Hawkinge-Manston -1940-Middle Wallop - Merville, France -Tangmere'.
Telegram to Squadron Leader Oxspring from Air Ministry
The telegram advises Oxspring that a press party will be arriving to photograph a Lincoln and Vampires.
Tags: 3 Group; Lincoln; RAF Odiham; RAF Wyton