Browse Items (59 total)

  • Creator is exactly "David Kavanagh"

AMinnittPB170314.mp3
Bruce Minnitt served in the Second World War flying Wellingtons on maritime reconnaissance in the Mediterranean and B-24s in India. When war started Bruce joined the Home Guard and, in 1941, aged 18, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force. He actually…

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PMercerH1701.jpg
Harold Mercer worked as a milkman before being called up in April 1942. He served in the RAF, initially as a transport driver and then trained to become an air gunner. He was sent to RAF Weston-super-Mare, where he played in the military band, before…

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PMakensL1701.jpg
Louis Makens worked as a farm worker before the war but volunteered for aircrew. He discusses his training on Wellingtons and operations flying Stirlings with 196 Squadron including a crash landing, and glider towing. His Halifax was shot down 18/19…

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PLovattP1701.jpg
Peter enrolled in the Air Training Corp before joining the Royal Air Force. He went to Walney Island, the Air Gunnery School, and was given the option of becoming a Bevin Boy or an air gunner, choosing the latter. Following training on Ansons he…

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ALinakerJ150924.mp3
Jack Linaker was working in a reserved occupation as a steelworker before volunteering to join the RAF. He was originally told he would be trained as a flight engineer but, frustrated by delays, he began training as a rear gunner. He joined 9…

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PHollierM1701.jpg
Marion Hollier served as a wireless operator in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force from February 1944 to September 1946. Before the war she worked in a construction firm, The George Wimpey Company, which built aerodromes. She learned the Morse code in…

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AGreenE180522.mp3
Elaine’s uncle worked as an armourer at RAF Scampton. He first joined the Royal Flying Corps before the organisation was renamed the RAF. He worked with Barnes Wallis at the time of the design of the bouncing bomb. He sustained an injury which the…

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PFreemanR1801.jpg
Ralph Freeman volunteered for the RAF in 1942. He began initial training in March 1943 and, in October, was posted to Manitoba where he qualified as a pilot after training on Cornells and Ansons. Upon returning to Great Britain, Freeman was…

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PFawcettK1701.jpg
Ken Fawcett worked for the Post Office and served in the Home Guard for two and a half years, having signed up at 16. He joined the Royal Air Force at Lords Cricket Ground in September 1943. He initially requested pilot training but, realising the…

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PCullingGC1701.jpg
George Charles Culling’s town struggled constantly during the war due to the amount of bombing, which eventually forced his school to close. Finding an interest in navigation equipment, George joined the Air Training Corps and learned more about…

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ACookJ150709.mp3
Jack Cook was born in Mexborough, left school aged 14 and went to work at a Gentlemen’s Outfitters. Aged 16 he worked on the footplate for LNER and at the age of 18 volunteered for aircrew and trained as a wireless operator/air gunner; he joined…

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PTitmanEA1801.jpg
Nancy Titman was born in 1918, and grew up in Deeping Saint James, Lincolnshire. At the age of 11 she won a scholarship to Stamford High School and did her teacher training in Peterborough. In 1938 she attended an interview in Cambridge, had a…

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PMossH1801.jpg
Henry grew up in Bradford and left school just before the outbreak of war. He had various jobs, including working in the mill, a greengrocer’s shop, the dye works and then garment cutting for the army. Aged 17 and a half he was called up in London…

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PMasonAE1801.jpg
Bert Mason was born in Germany and worked in light engineering and driving ambulances before joining the RAF in 1942. He started training as a navigator then joined a crew and became an air gunner on 195 Squadron at RAF Wratting Common. He tells of…

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PKettleboroughML1801.jpg
Michael Kettleborough lived in Woodhall Spa during the war, where his mother billeted RAF crew members in her home. One of them, Jack Gibson, asked for an early Christmas as there were some big operations coming up. Shortly before Christmas 1941…

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PHammondBF1801.jpg
Bert Hammond was born and brought up in Norwich and was working as a grocer’s assistant, as well as being an air cadet, at the start of the war. He recalls bombing attacks on Norwich and a lone aircraft machine gunning female workers leaving the…

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PBeasleyDG1727.jpg
At the start of the war, Doug Beasley left school at 16 to start work. Initially a member of the Air Training Corps, he was sent for aircrew selection when he became 18. There was a 12-month wait to enlist as a pilot, so he opted to become a flight…

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PCarswellA1702.jpg
Andrew Carswell volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force in his native Toronto. He trained as a pilot and, on arrival in the UK and completion of his further training, he was posted to 9 Squadron. His first operation was to Berlin. On their final…

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PBegbieD1701.jpg
Doug Begbie was an apprentice chef before he volunteered for the RAF. He trained as a rear gunner and was posted to 76 Squadron. He shot down what sounds like an Me 163.

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PBarnesR1701.jpg
Robert Barnes, as flight engineer, had to deal with an emergency on one flight when, during the process of changing the fuel tanks, the aircraft went into a steep dive.

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PBarnesR1701.jpg
Robert Barnes was working in a Reserved Occupation and knew the only way he could join the RAF was to volunteer for aircrew. Before he volunteered he was also a member of the ARP and Home Guard. Robert trained as a flight engineer and was posted to…

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PBaileyM1701.jpg
Maurice Bailey left school aged 14 and went to work in an engineering firm. He tells of how he always wanted to become a pilot, since he saw an aeroplane for the first time at school. After being discouraged from becoming a pilot by the RAF…

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PAlgarH1701.jpg
Harry Algar worked as an office boy at Hay’s Wharf in London before the war. He entered the Air Training Corps before joining the RAF aged 17. He started his training on Tiger Moths but was then sent to Canada to re-muster as a bomb aimer. Harry…

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ATinsleyR150604.mp3
Dick was from a farming background and joined the Royal Air Force in 1944. After going to RAF Bedford, he was sent to Lord’s cricket ground. Those passing as a pilot went to a flying school near Coventry to be assessed for pilot training on a Tiger…

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ASpencerR150720.mp3
Wembley born but educated in Essex, Reg Spencer left school in 1939. In 1943, on his 18th birthday, he was called up for National Service. Following initial training at RAF Bridlington he was trained as a wireless operator at No. 2 Radio School at…

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