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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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
No 1436220 LAC Akrill
A 6 Flight No 4 Squadron,
No 6 I.T.W. Raf.
Aberystwyth
Dear Mum,
Just thought I’d write you all a letter to wish you all the best for Christmas. I don’t know whether it will reach you in time. If not it will have to do for the New Year! I suppose mum wrote at the week end but the letter hasn’t turned up yet. Mary’s parcel took a long time. I expect it will be even worse when I get to Scotland in the New Year and as for California – well I think you’ll have to write piles of letters before I go & then I can take them along
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
and open one a week!
I’m just beggining [sic] to realise that it’s Christmas. Last week I was thinking we were still a month off and it came as a shock to find it was only a week, to the 25th. I went to chapel to night and we had a very good carol service. Mr. Bray (the minister) asked me up to the Manse for Christmas Day so it won’t be so bad but, oh dear, I give anything to be home. Anyway I’m glad all the rest of you will still be there keeping the flag flying. Well, I shall be thinking of you all so just imagine I’m there will you. Of course when you look at Lucy after dinner you’ll realise that [underlined] somebody’s [/underlined] missing!! And Harry will be able to make himself really
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
bad with the pudding trying to get a good share of sixpences. I expect is [sic] shall have a jolly time at Mr. Bray’s. They are grand folk & usually have a happy crowd of young folk there though I expect the students will be at home. I didn’t like the thought of Christmas Day at the old Lion Royal. Luckily I’m not on guard but I believe Max & Joe are.
So much for Christmas. The New Year’s certainly starting off well for me. I should know within those first few weeks just whether or not I’m going to do any good as air-crew. If I get to the U.S.A. I think I can count on being O.K. Theale is the place we are posted to & we’ve been told that it’s near Dumfries
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
which, as far as I know, is in the very North of Scotland. One fellow we were talking to seems to know it. He says it’s 25 miles from Aberdeen and is an operational station used for ferrying from America so it should be interesting if the weather’s all right. I expect though it will be snow-bound or at least not very good for flying. I hope it doesn’t mean we’re there longer. I believe we have to do a bit of flying ourselves though not much of course. If we get through alright as pilots then its America and what an oportunity [sic]! Well I’m going to do my best & if I’m no good well, I’m no good & I’ve had it. Maxy & a few more
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
out of the flight are going to somewhere in Yorkshire a few days after us. We’re all being split up I’m afraid. Poor old Max was very cut up because he didn’t get posted with us. We’ve all been such good pals. I hope Joe & I can stick together still. Expect we’ll have another choice journey through Wales, England & Scotland.
Last week the flight was taken on a tour of the National Library of Wales. It’s a marvelous [sic] place & most of it’s now given over to the storing of [deleted] N [/deleted] our National Treasures from London & other Blitzed parts. We had a demonstration by a very clever old fellow in the repairing of priceless old books and manuscripts. He was an absolute magician.
[page break]
[underlined] 6 [/underlined]
We went clay-pigeon shooting one day last week. It was a terrible day. [deleted] not [/deleted] The range is by the sea & great gales kept sweeping in [deleted and [/deleted] with blinding rain. I got soaked & caught a cold but I managed to bust two pigeons. It was good fun.
We’ve been doing rifle drill lately. Our Air Officer Commanding is coming down sometime & we have to form a guard of honour but I hope we’ve gone before then.
I shall be quite sorry to leave Aberystwith. [sic] Everyone’s been very good to us & it’s a fine spot. I had a glorious walk this afternoon through the mountains, & along roads & tracks cut through great woods of beech & ivy & holly. But I’ve no regrets at leaving No 6 I.T.W
[page break]
[underlined] 7 [/underlined]
I spent an evening up at Mr. Elenor’s the other day.
Well, time I went. I’ll just get another cup of tea from the canteen & go. I shall miss the canteen. Expect my winter comforts will come in useful now!
So I’ll be thinking of you all on Christmas day.
All the best & lots of love [deleted] you [/deleted] to Harry & Ros & all of you.
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Writes of mail received and complains of time taken but will be worse when he gets to Scotland or California. Christmas approaching. Went to chapel and had good carol service. Catches up with home news. Speculates on future as aircrew and possible postings in Scotland. Mentions visit to national library of Wales which is repository for items from London and other blitzed areas. Writes of clay pigeon shooting and rifle drill. Will be sorry to leave Aberystwyth and 6 ITW.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Seven 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]XX1221
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Wales--Dyfed
Wales--Aberystwyth
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
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1941-12-21
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941-12
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
faith
military living conditions
military service conditions
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Cadet No 1436220 A.C. Akrill WE
5 Flight P. Squadron,
Posting Wing,
Avenue Close,
Avenue Road,
London N.W. 8.
Monday night 29 September
Dear Mum,
I’m sending my washing home as my things are getting a bit black & it’s not easy to get them done in London. I don’t think the civvy towel is mine actually but mine went & I lagged this which was rather lively but I havn’t [sic] used it. I don’t want it back. I will let you know my I.T.W. address as soon as I get there.
I shall be very, very glad to get away from this dump though for some things quite sorry to leave London. Here were [sic] only killing time until we can be posted. This afternoon is a good example of a Posting Wing life. We came back from dinner & had a nice long wait, sitting on the billet floor. We were called on Parade – the Parade ground is two or three minutes walk away – and went through all the palaver of
[page break]
falling in &c. Our Corporal then told us that there was to be a Kit Inspection, marched us back & dismissed us to lay out our kit. We went through all that trouble & sat on the few remaining square inches of floor until 4.20 when we learned on making enquiries the the [sic] P/O hadn’t turned up & [deleted] had [/deleted] the corporal had inspected it himself & had forgotten us as we’re cut off from the rest in the kitchen. So we decided we’d had it & put our stuff back again & went off for an hours drill before tea. A week like this will be quite enough, though on Wednesday our Flight is on Guard & we have the next day off & will possibly be posted of [sic] Friday – Sat at the latest (we hope!) Observers are posted immediately.
One good thing about this place is that if we have time we can get in for two meals at once as our flights are so big no-one misses us. I had a good feed tonight. Downstairs for 1 meal – 3 sausages & mash & 2 pieces of bread & [inserted] butter [/inserted] jam instead of one & then upstairs for 5 more sausages & enough butter & jam for half a bread loaf. I think the tea was doped for the new intake so I avoided it.
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
I’ve been out with Wilfred (the Cadet I met at [deleted] Mwn [/deleted] Reynolds) over the week end. I shall be very sorry to leave him at the week-end though there is a very vague hope of our going together. We went on Sunday to the Westminster Central Hall to hear the Rev. Sangster. Wilfred’s a grand lad & we could be such good friends if only we could be together. Once again at Westminster everybody was very kind & we had two invitations out to tea.
I hear that the hardest part of I.T.W is Aircraft Recognition. I wish I had all my books here. I’ve not seen a plane or a picture of one [deleted] tod [/deleted] until today [deleted] whe [/deleted] I know all the British & some of the Jerries but we have to know Italians too as well as details of wing span &c. It certainly means that when I get to I.T.W it must be work all the time. We also get Maths, Navigation, & Morse in addition to drill. We have to become absolutely tip-top in marching &c. Talk about the goose-step! Our march is nearly as crazy!
Well I want to get to bed early tonight. We were up late this morning & I’ve
[page break]
got a bit of a cold. [deleted] I [/deleted]
I should be getting a photograph of our old flight & will send you one. There are only 29 out of the 50 here. 4 have been posted as observers & the rest haven’t passed their maths.
I havn’t [sic] heard much about Mr. H. I often think about the good time I had that first holiday week – years ago it seems.
[deleted] I [/deleted] Oh, there is a boy who was at school with Dave here. He was at the Medical at Nottingham with us & at Cardington with me.
Best of love to everybody,
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Written as cadet from posting wing. Sending washing home. Will be glad to get away from current location. Describes daily activity, a friend and going to Westminster Central Hall. Suggests that hardest part of Initial Training Wing will be aircraft recognition and wished he had all his books. Hopes to get flight photograph to send.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]XX0929
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
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
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1941-09-29
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941-09
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
Initial Training Wing
military living conditions
military service conditions
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Sgt. Akrill,
Sgts’ Mess. R.A.F.
East Wretham,
Thetford.
NORFOLK.
Thurs. 11.3.43.
Dear All,
This is just to thank you for all the letters received and to wish Daddy many happy returns of the 13th. I hope it gets there in time.
It’s grand going round collecting all the letters. I’d quite forgotten [deleted] it [/deleted] my birthday itil [sic] I got a lovely card from Isobel yesterday morning. In the afternoon I got Harry & Ros’s card & present, Irene’s letter and a long letter from Miss Mary. This morning’s post brought in the parcel from home, a book – B.P’s “Adventuring to Manhood” from Miss Moakes & Miss Witham, a greetings telegramme [sic] from David & one from the Sliffes & a letter from Mary. Thanks very much everybody for everything. I’m ever so please
[page break]
with all. It’s great collecting parcels and letters!
I shall be sending some washing soon when I can manage to get a parcel off – don’t know when that will be. You seem to be pretty busy these days.
Jock has gone for X Ray today Nothing exciting happening to write about.
Must get this off to catch tonight’s post.
Love to all
[Underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his family
Description
An account of the resource
Bill thanks everyone for the letters and wishes his father happy birthday. Forgot it was his own birthday and describes all his letters and presents. Thanks everyone. Will send washing home soon. Pilot has gone for x-ray.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-03-11
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Bradley Froggatt
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430311
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--Norfolk
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-03
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
military living conditions
RAF East Wretham
-
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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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
No 1436220 Sgt Akrill,
Sgts’ Mess,
Raf. Station,
East Wretham,
Thetford,
NORFOLK.
Saturday 6.3.43.
Dear Mum,
Pleased to hear from you yesterday, when parcel arrived. It begins to seem a long time when you go to the rack for mail several days & find none. The contents of the parcel have already been sampled. The sausage rolls were mighyt good – oh gee! But the mince-pies were a sight better, even. Thank you for sending on the letter from Sgt. Hughes.
[underlined] MONDAY [/underlined] Didn’t get any more done on Sat as the boys came up & wanted me to go into Bury St. Edmunds with them. Think it’s a good idea to get away now & then. Last night I went for a lovely long walk
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
& looked in the pretty little church in the village. There’s nowhere I can get to a service. It’s a really unusual village. The camp is in the Hall grounds on the edge of the park. The officers & Waafs are billeted in the Hall. To get to the village there’s a mile & a half’s walk across the park & through some woods along the Hall Drive. Then you get to the [underlined] beginning [/underlined] of the village – a couple of cottages in the park – the school & the village hut (now the YMCA canteen) & the church. At the end of the park is the vicarage & a [deleted] couple [/deleted] farm, & a few more cottages. Then there’s another rather desolate lane for another mile & a half & you get to the remainder of the village – a tumble-down windmill, a few cottages the village store
[page break]
3
and the famous & much loved “Dog & Partridge” The station is over half a mile beyond that & beyond the station lie acres of young pines. This is certainly a desolate spot!
I’ve now got quite settled in here now & could have some enjoyable rides when Lizzie’s fit again. I think we look like being here for some time tho’ there may be a sudden move when our parent-station is serviceable again. They’re extending the runways. It’s a lovely place near the small town of Mildenhall on the edge of the fens. I shall like this place better when the temperature goes up!!! We always pull old Moffats leg when he wakes up every morning groaning of the cold & tell him we thought
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
these [deleted] C [/deleted] tough Canadians were used to it.
Spent the last few days picking up all the ‘gen’ I can on our new aircraft and equipment and had a few lectures on them. Jock is now able to hobble around but is still indefinitely grounded. I actually did an hour’s flying one day!!
There’s not a ‘drome at Thetford & Joyce Blow couldn’t have been here but there are quite a few stations around.
You seem to have had a right old time threshing. You’ll be glad it’s done. Ros says you still have 2 girls. I do hope Daddy’s alright Wonder if Miss Moakes & Miss Witham came for the week-end
Have you seen the Henry’s again lately? Please thank Mrs. H.
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
for her present and tell Mr. H. that I [underlined] did [/underlined] enjoy my stay at Honington though I wasn’t allowed to stay. Did I tell you about the fellow who went to Grantham, Devon, Kent, Bury St. Edmunds & home to Liverpool between each before arriving here nearly a week later! It wasn’t Mr. H’s fault but it was very funny. There’s a mistake in the Official list of Squadrons & nobody’s bothered to alter it. They treated us just like Lords!
Wonder how the garden’s doing – if the shallots &c are alright. Tell Sis & Nip I want to hear all about their activities & acquaintances – Aggie D., Miss E-D-B. & of course Mrs Beet (if nobody’d done her in yet)
Isn’t the weather perfect – tho’ the nights are cold.
[page break]
[underlined] 6 [/underlined]
Well, will go & see what’s for tea. Food’s not so bad here.
Enclosing £5
Love to all
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill has received her parcel and letter. Visited Bury St Edmunds. Describes area around camp and where it is in relation to part of the village. Would be a good place to use his bike when it is repaired. May remain there but could move if parent station near Mildenhall becomes serviceable - currently extending the runways. Catches up with home and farm news.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-03-06
1943-03-08
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Six 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430306
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--Norfolk
England--Suffolk
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-03
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
aircrew
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF East Wretham
RAF Mildenhall
runway
-
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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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
1436220 Sgt. Akrill. W.E.,
Sgts’ Mess.
R.A.F. East Wretham,
Thetford.
Norfolk.
Thurs. 4.3.43.
Dear Mum,
S.O.S. Don’t know whether my letters have gone astray but I’ve not heard a word yet. Come on somebody – get weaving!! Maybe you’re all too busy wolfing into the pig. I suppose the mail takes some time getting through but others have had some mail so I’m looking out.
Afraid I’ve nothing much to talk about. Life here isn’t very exciting and [deleted] we [/deleted] our crew has done no flying at all yet as Jock took a header out of a bus the other night and bust his knee up again so that’s put him in Dock for a goodish while & we are just mucking about
[page break]
Don’t know how long he will be. What a pilot!! It gives us a rest but it gets a bit monotonous. Everybody busy converting. Mr Henry said I’d find panic & chaos & I certainly have!! Expect we’ll start in a week or so – if we’ve a pilot!!!
Found a nice little YMCA here – a goodish walk, which I enjoy, thro’ the park & woods. Can get hold of a few things here & sit & write.
Its young Michael’ birthday today & I wonder if he’s enjoyed himself. I bet he has!!
Well, must go, sorry this is brief but I’ve to walk back with the others who want to be off & there’s no news anyway.
Lots of love to you all
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Complains at receiving no letters from home. Have done no flying at pilot has injured his knee again. Has found a local YMCA. Little news to report.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-03-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page handwritten letter
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-03
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430304
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--Norfolk
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF East Wretham
-
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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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
1436220 SGT. AKRILL W.E.,
c/o SGTS’ MESS,
R.A.F. Station,
EAST WRETHAM,
Thetford.
Norfolk.
Sunday 28.2.43.
Dear Mum,
Well here I be and for a few weeks I guess, here I look like staying. We quite expected leaving here yesterday & had hopes of leave!!!! However if we’re good boys they’re going to send us on a Conversion course in about a fortnight or so and in the meantime we have to mess around getting in a bit of extra training on Wimpey IIIs. You see we’re told we’ve to be extra good to qualify for Lanc IIs. It’s possible we’ll not be here for very long anyway. I’d like to have my bike here but it’s no good sending it til I know whether I’m likely to stay or not. We may be going to our parent station. This is just a satelit ‘drome.
Our Pilot turned up yesterday
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
afternoon after touring the country looking for Honingtons!!! Nearly everyone has found the right place now!! What a joke! Practically everyone went to the Lincolnshire version & then chased to the U.S. station in Suffolk! The biggest joke was that I thought I’d got the [underlined] pukkah gen [/underlined] from S/Ldr. Henry & still turned up like a twerp at the wrong place among the Yanks!! Every time I thought about it I had to laugh though it [underlined] wasn’t [/underlined] such a joke to arrive here and be told we wern’t [sic] wanted. However now we’re here they decided to keep us.
It’s absolutely the queerest R.A.F. station yet – everybody drousing [sic] round log cabins & wooden shacks under the oaks and spruces. Somebody remarked that it was a lovely country but there was too much of it. I think it’s even far
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
enough from the madding crowd to suit [underlined] my [/underlined] liking. There’s just a few pills to swallow. [circled 1]. Billets [circled 2] Ablutions [circled 3] Mess – though the food isn’t too bad and we seem to be fairly sure of a reasonable meal at mid-day. [circled 4]. Difficulty of getting any odd things for a body’s comfort or of any provision for entertainment or recreation. That’s why I’m writing in pencil – my ink’s run out. I’m using my last stamp on this letter so can you get me a book when Mary’s in the village? Apart from that the place is O.K. I shall be quite happy.
I wish Fred was over here with his saw – there’s plenty of logs in the woods round the hut but we’ve nothing to get ‘em apart with. We have to go out “wooding” to get our stoves going to thaw the air a bit – we get hardly any coal.
I think it may be quite
[page break]
4
hopeful for leave around Easter. It would be grand if David & I could be home together again. We get no 48s or days off but it’s not long to Easter.
I shall be looking out for lots of letters! Unless I can find some stamps somewhere this is the last I can write – though I expect there will be nothing at all to write about.
Love to all
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill writes he will now be staying at East Wretham for the time being. Possible conversion course in two weeks but currently training on Wellington. Pilot arrived after touring country looking for Honnington. Most crews have now arrived. Describes strange living accommodation and station facilities (or lack of them).
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-02-28
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430228
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
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Norfolk
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-02
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF East Wretham
training
Wellington
-
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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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Somewhere in Norfolk – or Suffolk
(Goodness knows where – I don’t!!)
Friday 26.2.43.
Dear Mum and All,
Oh dear, oh dear [underlined] what [/underlined] a lot of fun I’m having!!! Honest – the mess the 4 crews posted to 115 Sqdn have got into is enough to make a cat laugh!!
I got to Bury Saint Edmunds O.K. Got a through train from Newark which only took 3 1/2 hours so I decided that would be a Bang-on place for getting home from – bags of useful trains I charged along to the R.T.O’s office on the station to get transport & was very pleased to find 2 more chaps there from Happy Heyford – Stan Hunt and his Bombadier. [sic] We rang up Honington for transport & waited for it. Imagine our amazement
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
when a weird looking American Jeep car came to a dead stop & some Yank officers piled out & signalled [underlined] us [/underlined] in! We’d just settled in when crowds [underlined] more [/underlined] Yanks just off a train scrambled in too. We were decidedly mystified as you may guess. Anyway off we went on a most hair-raising ride [deleted] to [/deleted] for mile upon mile. At length we reached the Jeep’s destinSation – a terrific camp swarming with U.S. Army personel [sic]!!! We reported to the U.S. Guard room who scatched [sic] their heads in amazement & finally someone remembers where the R.A.F. Orderly Room was and escorted us to a deserted looking building to the Orderly Room. There was an erk and a corporal who nearly collapsed when we told him we were reporting to 115 Squadron.
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
and soon informed us that 115 was certainly [underlined] not [/underlined] at Honington! It turned out to be an American Maintenance Squadron at Honington tho’ there were still about 50 R.A.F. personel [sic] still there. 115 Squadron had never really been there tho’ they had tried to re-form it there in 1940 after Dunkirk. We discovered that it was at Wretham about 20 miles away & arranged for transport to fetch us to there on the following day. In the Mess we got a marvellous tea & they found beds for us. The Sgts. Mess & quarters were marvellous & we were disappointed to think that it wasn’t the place! Later at night 8 more fellows turned up – 11 of us in all representing 4 crews.
It was a scream to hear
[page break]
4
everyone's story. Nobody had been sure [underlined] which [/underlined] Honington to go to. My Bombadier [sic] had gone all the way from London to Honington near Grantham found it was the wrong place & gone back to Grantham where he found 2 more fellows on their way there!! So they all came back to Bury St. E They’d heard that my Pilot & another pilot were also on their way to Honington, Lincs!! We had a good breakfast and a marvellous dinner – the best I’ve had in the forces of wonderful America stuff which you’d thought had disappeared since the war. Then the Wretham (pronounced Rettam) transport came & we set off over huge moors, commons & parks where there’s thousands of acres of re-apprestation. So we arrive at East Wretham. Here, at
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
any rate for the time being, we found 115 Squadron tho’ what, why or when 115 Sq is nobody knows. We did learn tho’ that 115 Squadron didn’t particularly want [underlined] us [/underlined]!! I expect by now that you’ve got a telegramme [sic] cancelling my posting. The Wing Co. here sent them off yesterday. He’s away at the moment so just [underlined] what [/underlined] is to become of us nobody knows. It’s pretty certain that we’ll not be staying here for Mr. H. was right about the L. IIs. and we’ll have to go somewhere to convert to the darned things I expect. We hope to find out something a bit more definite tomorrow. Maybe the rest of the crews will arrive by then. There’s only my Bombadier [sic] here so far. Goodness knows where Larry & Moff are. Jock seems to be visiting all the
[page break]
[underlined] 6 [/underlined]
Honingtons he can find!!
If you see Mr. Henry you must tell him that he landed me in among a great camp full of Yankees. But tell him they gave us a marvellous time anyway. Cigarettes & chocolate!!! It really was funny – but I think this camp is funnier!!! Anything [underlined] less [/underlined] like a R.A.F. station I’ve yet to see. We are billeted in log cabins which are round a small clearing in a wood All these little wooden huts nestling beneath oaks & spruces is more like a scout camp somebody remarked. Nobody [underlined] ever [/underlined] seems to do anything Talk about sleepy hollow! It all really looks very charming but its not so comfortable or convenient. The mess – another wooden shack under the firs – isnt [sic] so very hot.
[page break]
[underlined] 7 [/underlined]
The various buildings are scattered for miles – in converted crewyards, by ploughed fields, mixed up with herds of Jerseys, duck ponds, woods, fields & goodness knows what. The flying field is far away – a thundering great moor surrounded by woods and lakes. There’s no town or human habitation of any size within miles. So if I do stay here you see I’ll certainly want my bike. I shan’t mind it at all during the summer provided I have [deleted] my [/deleted] a bike to get around on. It’s fine country round here. I shall like it. It’s a lovely day & the place seems really picturesque!!!!
So don’t write here. I’ll try to let you know as soon as I can where I can be found. A pity
[page break]
[underlined] 8 [/underlined]
that that telegramme [sic] didn’t arrive a bit earlier!! Don’t be surprised if I turn up for [underlined] more [/underlined] leave but don’t [underlined] expect [/underlined] such luck!
I’ll give you this address in case you don’t hear:-
c/o Sgts’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
East Wretham,
Thetford.
Norfolk.
Love to all & thanks for a lovely leave.
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]
P.S. Just going out into the wood sticking to get the stove going
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 Bill Akrill to his mother and all
Description
An account of the resource
Relates journey to new station and 115 Squadron somewhere in Norfolk/Suffolk. Arrived at Honnington but no 115 Squadron. Arranged transport to correct base at Wretham. Well looked after at Honington by American maintenance squadron. Many other personnel had varying difficult journeys to wrong locations. No sign of 115 Squadron who do not want them anyway. Tells them to expect telegram cancelling posting. Hopefully will all be sorted tomorrow. Describes current location and living conditions. Asks them not to write to him at Wretham yet.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-02-26
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Eight-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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430226
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--Suffolk
England--Norfolk
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-02
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
115 Squadron
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF East Wretham
RAF Honington
-
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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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
underlined] Happy Heyford [/underlined]
Thurs. 4.2.43.
Dear Mum,
Big gen at last!!! Our crew is among among [sic] those posted. Oh gee, arn’t [sic] we lucky! As far as I can see we will be going on Saturday and I expect to be catching the 12.58 from Heyford and getting into Newark at 5.30, on Saturday night. I’ll try to confirm this on the phone and if anything turns up to hinder me from getting that train I’ll let you know. Anyway if I don’t see you on the station I’ll [deleted] w [/deleted] ring up from there.
At the moment we’re
[page break]
tearing all over the camp getting “clearance chits” signed. What a business. It looks like taking all day at least. Then I’ve all my stuff to pack & bike to see to. Don’t know whether I’m on my head or my heels at the moment – having lost 2 parachutes!!! Tonight I’m taking the address at chapel & will be saying goodbye to all my friends there.
Well, must chase off now to hand in some kit – Glad to say I have to hand in my heaviest flying clothing.
See you on Sat!!!!
Whoopee!!!
Cheerio
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill has now received his posting and is coming home on leave. Rushing about clearing out and saying goodbye to friends.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-02-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430204
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-02
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
No. 1436220 Sgt. Akrill,
Sgts’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station
Upper Heyford,
OXON.
Sat. 30.1.43.
Dear Mum,
I thought I’d best pack up & send a few odds & ends of washing. Don’t send them back as I should be home ere long, but I thought if I sent them I’d have something clean for when I get home.
Was pleased to get your letter this morning. Thank you for forwarding the one from Charlie Aslin. He’s pretty well looked after on the Rock but says he’s tired of seeing nothing but sea & rock & burning sun & would like a nice, wet, cold ride to SW & Co! And I wouldn’t mind a bit of his scorching sun!
How’s Mary’s cold I wonder? She seems to be doing plenty of C.D. work as usual. You didn’t say how
[page break]
-2-
Harry was. Hope Daddy doesn’t tire himself too much. He ought to have some hot dinner but it’s a long way. Pleased to hear some dykes are getting done [deleted] a [/deleted] round about. There’s plenty needed it.
Looking forward to seeing the aconites, primroses &c. I saw a few snowdrops in the Post Office garden in Lower H. a few days ago & Enid has a lovely bunch of violets. Hope it’s good weather when I do get home Hope Mary manages the spraying – should have some good results next year.
Yes, if David get another 48 on the 20th Feb. it’s very possible that I shall be seeing him. Still can’t say when we’ll be posted. The only thing that’s definite is that we’ll get no 48s or days off while we are waiting.
[page break]
-3-
Nearly everybody has finished now. We did our last trip last night and were over P.H. soon after 9.30. Expect you were then all thinking of retiring. Was too busy to look out into the blackness but [deleted] I [/deleted] it was a dark, cloudy night so I’d not have seen anything. It’s something to know that we’ve finished. Gosh! training over at last (or as near over as it can be – we’re still training right thro’ Ops. I expect, these days) Jock is now out of ‘dock’.
Managed to get down to Lower H. on Thursday. They’re about better tho’ Mr. B’s still not very well. They have to work so very hard. Up at 3 am and at it ‘til nearly 8 some nights. It’s wonderful what they find time to do for the chapel
[page break]
-4-
& making me & one or two others so welcome.
Just remembered that it’s Saturday so the P.O. will be closed & I can’t get the parcel off ‘til Monday. Will finish letter off then.
[underlined] MONDAY NIGHT – or rather, TUESDAY MORNING [/underlined]
Didn’t get this off Monday as I spent the whole day at Hinton (we’re water logged) trying to get into the air. Transport arrangements are shocking & it’s a wonder I havn’t [sic] had a double pneumonia twice over by now waiting around. Finally we got here just before 8 & found they wouldn’t give us any tea. They’d also refused it at Hinton & would only give us a mouthful of dinner after much persuasion. The powers that be just don’t realise that we’re not mechanical and [underlined] have [/underlined] to eat to keep alive. However
[page break]
-5-
somebody had left a tin of ‘Golden Syrup’ in sight so I pinched it and it helped down quite a bit of dry bread – which is fortunately not rationed yet – here, though it is on some stations. I think the food situation must be getting serious – I know I’m always hungry!! I went to bed as soon as I got in – I was tired but I was wakened about 11.30 by a terriffic [sic] noise over a gambling crowd around my bed & with lights & fug & noise it’s no good trying to get to sleep again though I’m tired enough. So I thought I’d try & get this off.
There’s now quite a strong belief that we’ll be leaving here this week-end but we can get to know nothing official on the matter. Won’t it be grand
[page break]
-6-
to be home! We have been guaranteed 7 days – sometime.
We have just heard that Johnny [inserted] Amos, [/inserted] – who left us a few weeks ago has been killed in a flying accident. It upset us all – he’s the first to go. He was a grand lad – nearly 21 – I counted him as one of my best pals.
Sunday was a terribly wild day here with great gales til the rain came about 4 o’clock. I was then biking to tea at L. Heyford but didn’t get so wet. It cleared up surprisingly soon after. Sgt. Hughes has now gone on leave – possible he won’t be back before I go.
Well, will be hoping to see you before many suns have set.
Love to all,
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]
P.S. It now looks quite hopeful for leave at the week-end – somewhere between Friday & Tuesday – Maybe!!
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 Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill starts with domestic matters and catch up with home news. Writes that nearly everyone has finished course and they did last trip previous evening. Their pilot is now fit again.
Has visited his local friends, who work very hard but are so kind and welcoming. Spent day trying to get airborne, then had problems getting anything to eat. Writes that friend who left recently was killed in flying accident.
Hopeful of getting leave very soon.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-01-30
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Six 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430130
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-01
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
aircrew
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/666/18084/EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430125-0001.jpg
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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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
1436220 SGT. AKRILL W.E.,
SGTS’ [deleted] AKRILL [/deleted] MESS,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford.
OXON
Mon. 25.1.43
Dear Mum,
Many thanks for parcel & letter which I got safely on Friday Cake & apples very acceptable.
Afraid now that we’ll not be getting any leave for about 3 weeks – weather being good. Almost finished but will have to hang on a bit. Well, I guess we can manage to wait a bit longer. In addition our pilot has damaged his knee & is in dock – we don’t know for how long. If he’s not out tomorrow I’m going to see the Flight Commander about finishing with a staff pilot. We’ve only a little left to do but we all want to get it finished. We may pick up another pilot later but I hope the rest of us will hang
[page break]
together.
I managed to rush down to Lower H. last night. Went down on Friday night & found them all unwell, but they were better on Sunday. On Saturday I was lucky enough to get about an hour & a half on my bike before dusk. It was a lovely evening and I enjoyed it.
Sorry to hear about the raid. By the way there’s now a rather strickt [sic] 2 way censor enforced so I shouldn’t say much about things like that.
Please thank Ros for letter. Afraid there’s not much I can write about. Not much doing these days.
Love to all
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Thanks for parcel and letter. No leave for about 3 weeks, nearly finished course. Mentions pilot has injured his knee and may need to get a staff pilot soon to finish their training hours. Mentions local friends and stricter two-way censorship now in action, so has to be careful what they write about.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-01-25
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430125
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-01
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
aircrew
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
No 1436220 Sgt. Akrill,
Sgts’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford,
OXON
Fri. 15.1.43.
Dear Mum,
Got your letter today & as there’s nothing on for me tonight I thought I’d get my dirty washing packed up tho’ I may not get it off tomorrow. I’m sending my stockings but if you can’t do anything with them (see enclosed sketch) just send them back & I’ll try to get them changed. As Mable Day remarked the heels – and toes seem to have dropped out! I got your last letter with further mention of “summer vests” just after kit inspection when I’d fished them from the bottom of my kit bag, saw they were quite clean & decided to put them back so I don’t feel like fishing for them again.
Oh yes we easily may turn up. One of our lot spent a couple of days there. Thought it was a pretty awful
[page break]
place these days – but that wouldn’t worry me. You may have heard the yarn – I believe they spent an [deleted] night [/deleted] [inserted] evening [/inserted] at the Halfway House.
Yes I shall be sorry to leave Heyford – as far as having friends is concerned. If I go far away it will be like leaving home a second time. Let’s hope I can go one better!!
Goodness Stanley must be getting energetic! I just [underlined] can’t [/underlined] imagine him riding from Newark on a bike. I bet there was some fuss over it!
Yes the roads were shocking here on Saturday night. I thought about P.H. road when I was skidding across the Parade Ground. I’ve had some fun on that for the last 2 Winters before joining up! Glad the girls are Folk dancing again. I hope they enjoy it.
Sorry to hear about Mrs Baines. It’s very hard on poor Miss Bush. She’s a brick. I feel so sorry for her.
[page break]
Didn’t get to Heyford last night – we were busy – but went at Sgt Hughes’s invitation on Tuesday and to chapel on Sunday last. Almost forgotten about next Sunday with the Prestons!! I didn’t half get teased on Sunday!!
Possibly not be here so very much longer. I think 3 weeks should see us through O.K. We’re getting along quite well. It’s hard work – they expect a very high standard – but if we can get it done I don’t mind. I’m glad to say I’m as fit as anything in spite of missing food and sleep, though I often feel pretty tired. But oh how grand that leave will be when it gets here! A [underlined] real [/underlined] leave with time to stop & think, time to eat & sleep. I can just picture myself [deleted] with [/deleted] in the old chair
[page break]
by the fire (a lovely blazing fire that sends everybody to sleep) with my feet on the ‘Humpty’ watching you kitting [sic] in your sleep & daddy reading the ‘Farmers’ Weekly’ with his feet on the mantlepiece, Mary toasting her chilblains & dozing over a book & Nipper writing page after page to Miss Moakes or Jimmy.
Well, I must go outside & have a look at the stars & get cracking on them, pack my washing up & then make up for lost sleep.
Be seeing you soon
Love to [underlined] all [/underlined]
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Starts with domestic issues. Will be sorry to leave Upper Heyford as made many friends. Mentions slippery roads locally and writes of activities. Will be there for another 3 weeks. Concludes with reminiscences of home.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-01-15
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430115
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-01
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
1436220 Sgt. Akrill,
Sgts’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford,
OXON.
Fri. 8.1.43
Dear Mum,
I see there’s a parcel for me in the Post Office so I’ll collect it in the morning & then get this off tomorrow enclosing £.S.D. Think it must have been there some time but I’ve missed the list in the Mess.
Just landed from a trip over Norfolk, Lincs and Yorks. Had fun over Newark but I was much too busy to have a look outside. Were detailed to take off again less then half an hour after we touched down on the drome again but it was scrubbed owing to – well never mind. I think one of these days we’ll really have to land at S. It’s tantalizing when you can look out & see home especially when you’re feeling as anxious for a spot of leave as I do. So I’m having a quiet little rest on my bed. There’s a simple terrible
[page break]
kit inspection in the morning at 0750 hrs. With all the kit I have (& that I havn’t [sic]) its going to be a binding affair. I [underlined] dislike [/underlined] kit inspections more than anything. And at [underlined] that [/underlined] hour too. Oh dear, oh dear. Just one of the little things sent to try us [deleted] as [/deleted] as Mary’s friend Mr. Whatsitt-with-the Umbrella would remark.
I got down to Lower H. last night to the Fellowship and later to the Bates’ to supper. Mrs. B. said something about writing to thank you for your letter or something. I got teased last night when I got an invitation from the Prestons (who are farmers who live next door & whose party I went to on Sat.) to go to [deleted] tea [/deleted] supper a week on Sunday. They have 3 daughters so there was much speculation as to which one it was! Finally they decided it must be Vera, short, fat and 30 is who came to ask me! By the time I leave here I shall know
[page break]
three quarters of the village! Possibly not be here very much longer – all depending on the weather. Lets hope that [deleted] on [/deleted] my next move will bring me somewhere [inserted] where [/inserted] I shan’t have to be getting to know strangers! May spend some time at Win. before moving on to S. & then if I [deleted] move [/deleted] get finally to Wad. It would be ideal wouldn’t it for the Spring & Summer. Expect after all I’ll go to N. Yorks!!!!! I hear from our instructors, who all come from those stations around, that they are grand places to be at. We get to know a lot about them & it will be disappointing not to get there after building up hopes.
We’re having some extremely interesting lectures these days. I can’t talk about them but they are interesting & I enjoy them.
You remember the Gremlins I started
[page break]
doing? I hadn’t time to carry on and any way they became too technical but I have done a lot in a little booklet which the boys are very pleased with and want me to send something up to the R.A.F. Journal, which I shall do if I’ve chance – which isn’t likely.
Well, folks must get mobile and get weaving on this kit business, will finish when I’ve got your parcel.
[underlined] SATURDAY [/underlined] Collected your parcel from the Post Office this morning. Many thanks for the apples, cake & soap. Your parcels always have such a lovely “homey” smell long before I open them. They’re grand to get. Sorry about the colds & weather. You can guess how cold it [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] is upstairs! Poor old Major. I wondered why the dinner was so tough yesterday. Wonder if Mary & Daddy went to Lincoln yesterday. I was over there about 2 o’clock. It was a nice day. There’s lots of snow in N. Yorks.
[page break]
I wrote to Auntie at the same time as I wrote to the Moakes so she should have got it. They seem to have all the hard luck. No I don’t expect you’ll feel like stirring far from Potter Hill at the moment. I don’t think you’ll find a better little corner of the world at the moment. Which reminds me I’m sure Miss Moakes would be interested to know that the R.A.F. has great faith in her ‘adexolin’ pills, as a means of improving night vision. We’re supposed to take 3 of them a day and 1 Vitamin “D” tablet a day but that’s usually missing. I’m hopefully taking the ‘adexolin’ & have a chuckle at Miss M. dosing Mary up but I think it would be a better idea to concentrate on better food & blow the pills.
No, David didn’t seem to [sic] pleased
[page break]
with the Navy in his last letter. He’s definitely not the type for service life though he’d never admit he wasn’t happy. I’m happy enough as long as I can keep getting a spot of home and at the moment my bottle’s getting empty as Daddy would say. Soon be due for 7 days but it won’t come ‘til I’ve finished here.
Anyway, I’ll be seeing you one of these fine days I hope.
Love to all
Bill.
[deleted] P.S. [/deleted]
[underlined] 4. pm [/underlined] P.S. Just dashing off to do another trip to Goole & Newark &c. Will be right over home!!
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 Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill writes of flying close to home and an upcoming kit inspection early the next morning.
Last night he went to the church fellowship in the village and then to his friends for supper. Has also had an invitation from their neighbours, so is getting to know lots of people.
Speculates about where he might be posted - hopes it will be somewhere close to home.
Talks of his drawings of gremlins which he has made up into a little booklet. Has been suggested he should send it to the RAF Journal.
Resuming the letter the following day, Bill thanks his mother for her parcel and replies to news from home.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-01-08
1943-01-09
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Six 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430108
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-01
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
aircrew
arts and crafts
gremlin
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Sgt. Akrill,
R.A.F. Upper Heyford.
OXON.
Mon. 4.1.4[deleted]2[deleted] [inserted]3[/inserted].
Dear Mum,
Thank you for your lovely, interesting letter. I saw Sgt Hughes & managed to get your letter down to Mrs. Bates.
Havn’t much to tell you but thought you’d be wondering. I’ll try to let you have a line [deleted] wh [/deleted] as often as I can but don’t get bothered if you don’t hear for some time as I’ll be at it non stop, day & night as long as the weather holds. You’d never believe I could rush about as I do these days – leaping out of bed & tearing round preparing for flights, taking about 3 minutes over a meal when I’ve chance to get one at odd hours & then coming staggering back & crawling straight into bed (perhaps never actually flying at all).
[page break]
On Sunday morning it was very tantalising when we were coming back from Goole & the pilot said “Coming up to Newark now!” & I rushed back to the Astro Dome to have a look out & there was Stapleford Woods just alongside. Norten Woods behind & P.H. which we’d come right over in the dist. Had a longing look at Newark & then went back to work. Should have been up over N. Yorks and [indecipherable word] Newark again today but didn’t get off. Detailed for it tonight.
On Sat. were detailed for big exercise co-operating with Ground & Fighter defences but that was scrubbed & we were put on other exercises & messed around until gone 7 [inserted] when all was scrubbed [/inserted] I was asked down to a party of some friends of the Bates that night at 7 & was so fed up that I rushed off down & got there about 8. Had quite a nice time, though it meant another late night This is the first time for 3 days that I’ve had a sit down!! Still I don’t mind as long as it means getting finished here & getting some leave.
Love to all
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]
[inserted] Lots of my pals are flying to Swinderby today. I won’t be doing it as it’s a 2 hr. trip & we have finished all our short trips.
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 Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill says it is difficult to write letters as he is so busy flying, or preparing for flights which never happen. He did manage to fly very close to his home the other day. Getting through the flights now, so should then get some leave.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-01-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430104
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-01
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
aircrew
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
underlined] Sun [/underlined] 27.12.42.
[underlined] Heyford [/underlined]
Dear Mum,
Now that Christmas has come & gone there seem to be more letters than ever to write! I got yours of the 24th today as well as one from Miss Mary enclosing a card from her friends in Reading where I used to go (I hope to get to Reading again while I’m here do you still know Joan Reeson’s address?) and a letter from Mr. Sunman. Couldn’t think [underlined] who [/underlined] the Mary was at L’pool. I think it must be Miss Mary Newbone I knew in London & met again on the way to W. Freugh. I got Harry’s letter & the present on the 23rd. They’re nice hankies & it was good of them to use up [underlined] more [/underlined] coupons on me. On the 23rd also I got 2 parcels from
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
Kelsey – a lovely cake, chocolate & chocolate biscuits from Auntie and a Country book from Phyllis. On Christmas Day I got the R.T.G’s card. I suppose you saw it. I think it’s a very good idea for a present. If you didn’t [inserted] see it [/inserted] it was a “Book Token Stamp” a 3/6 stamp you can exchange for a book at most Bookshops. There are some books I’d like in Oxford. Also on the 25th a Greetings Telegramme [sic] from the Iliffes and a letter from Joyce and Harry Thats [sic] about the lot in the Mail line – except for [deleted] you [/deleted] mums & Mary’s letters
But I’ve had a marvellous Christmas, thanks to some [underlined] very [/underlined] good friends. They really are the grandest folks. It was just like being at home. They made
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
me feel I really belonged.
On Monday we saw the camp Panto. It was very good indeed – all the actors were from the station. Christmas Eve I was down for flying but it was scrubbed so 2 of us biked into Bicester – the nearest town – in the afternoon & bought some apples, cigs for the boys & had something to eat. We went to the Pictures in camp & saw a very good film “The Young Mr. Pitt” (He was the “Churchill” who fought Napoleon) at night. Went to bed early but soon got roused again so got up & cleaned buttons &c till 2 a.m. Got up 7.45 & scrambled for breakfast – quite good an [underlined] EGG [/underlined]!!! Later in the morning I biked down to Lower H. & found the Bates still busy at the bakehouse & on the
[page break]
4
rounds. So I joined Sgt. Hughes & his 3 youngsters who were busy making [deleted] toy [/deleted] model aeroplanes.
I joined the Bates’s for dinner. What a dinner. [underlined] Nearly [/underlined] as good as my mother could cook – Great leg of goose, sprouts, &c &c, plum pud, mince pies.
After dinner the party began. Sgt Hughes & Mrs Hughes came in with Alan & Jean (Michael being out in the pram) Len Bates collected his friend Harold. Sgt Harding turned up (he couldn’t get to dinner as he had to wait on the Erks at Hinton) & of course the [sic] was Mr. & Mrs Bates & Enid. We played the most riotous games – everybody romping round, & all [deleted] had a [/deleted] sat down to a great big tea, & carried on with [underlined] more [/underlined] games – supper & still more games til 12.30. I went round with Mr. Bates & Len to mix the dough after tea.
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
The youngsters of course went to bed before then. They had dragged me out to join in a Charade with Enid, Len, Harold, Alan & Jean, & were so pleased that I thought we were never going to stop doing Charades with me as producer & principal part. You should have seen me in a short skirt, trousers rolled up, umbrellas, hats &c as Grandma!! Then I did a ghost which made Alan – who’s only nine have a dream & sleepwalk when he got to bed!! What an uproar but I did enjoy it. They wanted Mr. Harding & I to stay overnight but we both had bikes & it was a fine night so we returned to camp where there was [underlined] plenty [/underlined] happening. The whole place sort of steamed & beer fumes hit you before you got there. There was a dance in the Naafi. In my room everyone was in bed after spending a very sober time playing “monopoly” all day. The Canadians have found
[page break]
[underlined] 6 [/underlined]
another room I’m glad to say. The lads really are a decent crowd & I was sorry to think they’d had such a dismal time when I’d been so well done to. They’d had an awful queue & rush for dinner which was small (& they weren’t sure what it was they’d had) & there had been no tea or sugar.
On Boxing Day I woke up at 20 to 10 to find everybody still asleep so we slept on til 11!! Had quite a good dinner & then got on my bike & went for a long ride. The Bates had asked me to go to tea again. I really felt I shouldn’t but they just wouldn’t hear of my not doing so we had another lively evening with more games & more tucking in at a great home cured ham for supper. It was a treat. Poor Enid (“Miss Bunn”) was rather jealous when Len invited Harold’s sister along!! She reminded me ever so much of Isobel.
[page break]
7
By 11.30 that night I think there was no game from “Oranges & Lemons” to “Murders” that we hadn’t played.
Night flying’s out of the question tonight so I shall get to chapel O.K. & will be expected there again. I hope Bill Harding can get. He’s a wonderful pianist, and we had no time for singing on Christmas and Boxing Day. Must go now or I’ll be late.
[underlined] MONDAY [/underlined] Went to the Bates’s again after chapel last night. Really feel I shouldn’t go so often but they won’t hear of my not going and make me feel really at home. They’re such a homely lot of folks. They’re having a party on Wednesday and are anxious for me to go again but of course I can’t be sure of getting. Sgt. Harding turned up last night having just heard that he’d become a father on Christmas day. He’s a
[page break]
[underlined] 8 [/underlined]
grand chap.
So you see in spite of all I’ve had a very, very happy Christmas. At camp things were dreadful. It didn’t seem like the same world after the home life at Lower H. I’m glad I got out of it. Anybody who didn’t drink had a miserable time of it. The trouble is that it’s encouraged & catered for so sober men – or women – were quite a novelty – You weren’t enjoying yourself unless you were reeling!
We were all amused about the Ities prisoners idea about the war being over. I expect they’re not particularly anxious to get much work done but if they can manage the carrots it will be something. How many have you got? I expect there’ll be somebody in charge.
However did Nipper manage to get home with all that lot?
[page break]
9
Talk about Santa Claus!!
I went to Oxford on my day off with a B. Aimer. It poured with rain & the place was packed – couldn’t get [underlined] near [/underlined] the shops. On [deleted] Monday [/deleted] Tuesday had a pleasant surprise when our crew was given [underlined] another [/underlined] day off! I just went for a ride into Bicester in the afternoon.
I don’t know quite how Isobel can be [underlined] getting [/underlined] fat!!
Expect David will be up. Don’t suppose he’d been home long when Mary called. Havn’t [sic] had a letter from him for a long while.
We moved into the Operational Flights yesterday. We should be finished here in about 6 – 8 weeks. I shall be glad. I’ve the worst part of the whole training ahead and bad weather in store too I expect. Still, I’d sooner have bad weather now than on the
[page break]
Squadron.
I’ll try to get my [deleted] laundry off [/deleted] dirty clothes of [sic] today. There may be some extra as I couldn’t get them to the Laundry.
Also enclosing £5.
We’re trying to get a 48. But as we get some lectures for 3 weeks there’ll be none til then & then I expect we’ll get it in crews & ours is at the bottom of the list. Anyway I’ll be hoping to see you all as soon as possible. A number of lads dodged of [sic] home on bikes, or in civvies or even forged permission to travel!! But the risk really wouldn’t be worth while as I’d got such good friends looking after me.
Love to all of you
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]
P.S. Where shall I write to the R.T.G’s to thank them?
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 Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill writes after Christmas, relating the cards he received and all that happened to him. Everything went very well: he went to camp pantomime and cinema just before Christmas and spent Christmas Day at his friends' house in Lower Heyford. He describes the dinner, company and games. The fun he had contrasted sharply with the men at base, where they either got drunk or played Monopoly. Had a long lie-in on Boxing Day.
Have just been moved in operational flights and should be finished in 6-8 weeks.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-12-27
1942-12-28
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Ten 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421227
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
entertainment
military living conditions
military service conditions
Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Sgt. AKRILL,
Sgts’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford.
Oxon.
FRI. 18.12.42.
Dear Mum and All,
Thanks ever so much all of you for the parcel, which was a real excitement to open. It was good of you to get the pyjamas. My!! The cake certainly looks good! Its easy to say who made it. No I shan’t keep it ‘til Christmas as they go as dry as old bricks in no time. We’ll have a quiet little party tonight perhaps and get the best out of it while we can. Thank Sis for the carrot. I thought at first it was a pear! Think she might have chosen one that wasn’t cankered! Anyway it was O.K. As you can see I’m already using Nip’s notepaper and envelopes. They’re always a problem
[page break]
and about the most sensible present for anybody in the services. I must write to her. 3 Carr have I believe.
I shan’t bother with washing til after Christmas. The razor blades by the way came just right as my last one had broke in half though was still [deleted] usable [/deleted] useable. I must be very careful but should be glad if she’d try for some more. Can’t get near any round here, though I’m going to try in Oxford, & keep asking anybody who goes out.
Tomorrow our crew is being given the day off. We’d all got so tired & fed up with the last 3 weeks that our skippers all demanded a break so 3 crews a day are having time off. I shall have a long day in Oxford and go to the theatre at night. It’ll be a change to get into town. Quite a crowd are going up to London. Flying was scrubbed early – I expect you’ve
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
been quiet too with the fog your getting (so we hear from “Met”.)
Our landing field is now unsafe and unuseable so we have to go to our Satelite [sic] ‘drome for flying so this makes the general chaos and chasing round even worse. Last night we messed around in [deleted] our [/deleted] the kite and out from [deleted] 3 [/deleted] 1500 hrs to 0100 next morning & got to bed at 0200. after just 20 minutes flying. When they scrubbed it was a glorious night. It makes you fed up. It was a job getting our ships from Heyford to Hinton-in-the-Hedges our Satelite [sic] When we took off the ship just plunged & slashed through mud & water & shook us up somewhat but “Jock” (our Skipper) got her off alright. He’s a good chap.
There’s all sorts of jubilation being planned here but most of it seems to concern drink. Afraid Christmas on Camp won’t be a particularly happy occasion for me though I shall
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
be happy in my own way. Since I’ve been in the RAF I’ve often been thankful that I’ve a home like I have and that I’ve been brought up to find amusement in other things than drink and the like. However there are others like myself I’ve got to know some nice chaps. Most of our gang of Navigators are a fine lot – I like them all but – things will be just a bit too bright for them I’m afraid. At the moment we’ve a gang of Canadian Air Gunners in our room. They’re a disgusting, wide-mouthed crowd – we’re all fed up with them. Afraid they’re not very good “Ambassadors of Canada” Moffat, my A/G is a Canadian, too, but he’s quite a different chap – very keen on his job and a real nice fellow, - a lanky, bronzed and handsome “cowboy” type – the sort of Canadian you read about but
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
seldom see! We had some Yanks in [inserted] our room [/inserted] a while back & they were even more revolting. It’s very disturbing to [deleted] think [/deleted] wonder if these are a fair sample of American & Canadian manhood just what hope we have of building a new world. I sincerely hope our Allies have something better than that exhibited over here.
I havn’t [sic] been able to get to Lower Heyford lately. I was asked down to a Christmas Party last night but couldn’t make it
I’ve piles of letters ought to be written so must get cracking. If I havn’t [sic] chance again before Christmas I’ll wish you all a happy one now. You’ll be very quiet won’t you – just 3 of you. Well I’ll be thinking about you – there in spirit!!! (By the way what “Charlie” do you mean?)
[page break]
Remember me to Isobel if you see her. I expect David will be coming up. Tell him from me he’s a lucky ‘erb! Maybe I’ll be dishing out the Waaf’s Christmas Pud on Xmas day!! Imagine it!!
Will try to write again before Christmas.
Love to all of you
[underlined] Bill [/underlined] x
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 Bill Akrill to his mother and all
Description
An account of the resource
Bill thanks them all for the parcel which included pyjamas, a cake, a carrot and notepaper and envelopes.
They have been working very hard and have managed to get a day off tomorrow. Expecting to go into Oxford and go to a theatre in the evening.
The landing field at Upper Heyford is now unsafe, so they have had to the satellite station at Hinton in the Hedges. This has made the chasing about even worse.
Most of the Christmas activities planned seem to involve drinking, so Bill is not looking forward to that side of it. He mentions that there are some other men who he gets on with - 'nice chaps', but there are also some very loud Canadians and Americans. Most of the Canadians are not like this at all.
Sends Christmas greetings in case not able to write again.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-12-18
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Six 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421218
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
aircrew
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Sgt. Akrill.
Sgts. Mess.
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford
Oxon.
Sunday 13.12.42.
Dear Mum,
Thank you for the letter which turned up yesterday. Sorry you were worried but as things are now I didn’t realise it was so long since I wrote. I could be like David & ring you up if you want me to but it really doesn’t seem worth it.
Things are keeping on just about the same. It gets a bit tiring but I’ll be able to have a rest at Christmas. On Friday night we were just taxying out to take off when we got bogged in the mud & messed round there from 6 to 10 in pouring rain & finally had to abandon it. Saturday was fine & I was all ready to come in an Anson to bring somebody to Scampton but [underlined] that [/underlined] was scrubbed. One day some of the lads took a S/Ldr to Winthorpe in an Annie. Wasn’t I wild when I found out later. I think we should have developed engine trouble if [underlined] I’d [/underlined] got as far as that!! Then somebody else went to Wigsley. People are always going to & from there so maybe I’ll get one day
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
We’ve got the “Circus” here paying us a visit. A Junkers 88, a Messerschmitt 110 and a Heinkel!!! They put up a good show in the air but I’ve been over them & I’m glad I’m not one of their crew. The crew doesn’t seem to be considered at all as they are in our own kites. The Ju 88 is one of the best aircraft in the world but the crew are packed like sardines. We look like a unit of the Luftwaffe at the moment!!
I got my Gift from the Comforts’ Fund the other day – it had been lying around sometime as someone had spelt my name wrongly & missed my number. Would you let me know where to write to acknowledge it? Please tell Mary that I’m stumped for blades again – on my last which is like a saw.
Enclosing £7. Havn’t [sic] got any Christmas Presents – see what I can do if ever I get into town.
Will try to write again soon.
Love to all
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill writes of flying activity, or lack of it when flights are abandoned or postponed. Mentions visit of circus comprising Ju 88, Me 110 and Heinkel which gave flying demonstration and after he was able to look over them. Was not impressed with crew space.
Has received a gift from the 'Comforts Fund'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-12-13
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421213
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
Anson
He 111
Ju 88
Me 110
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
inserted] Just found I’d left this out of parcel! [/inserted]
Sgt. Akrill,
Sgts. Mess,
R.A.F. Stn., Upper Heyford,
Oxon.
Tues. 8.12.42.
Dear Mum,
Sorry if you’ve been looking for a letter. Things have been absolutely upside down since I started flying. Detailed for night flying every night only to have it cancelled after chasing all over the place, sweltering in flying kit by the crew room stove, shivering at dispersal, bumping in transport to the aircraft, wading thro’ mud & puddles in the dark and – very occasionally actually flying. Tonight, however the met report was really duff and they had the gumption to cancel flying at briefing before 4 o’clock so I’ve got a free evening and a chance of catching up with letters tho’ as I was flying last night & didn’t get to bed til the early hours & then had to be up early for first detail this morning, I shall be ready for an early bed. I’ll pack my washing up tonight & if I can will take it to the P.O.
[page break]
tomorrow. My bike’s got to Lower Heyford alright but I’ve not been able to collect it. Don’t worry I’ll not use it in the dark. Afraid I shan’t have much chance of going out at all.
I’ve flown with all of my crew and I’m proud of them all. Out pilot Sgt Fallon is very keen and [deleted] I [/deleted] very reliable, responsible chap. He’s exactly the type I should have wanted. I’ve every confidence in him. The Wop’s a keen little chap too, so’s the tail gunner (tho he’s very tall & can hardly curl himself up into the turret) and our Bomb Aimer seems to know his job too. I only hope now that the Navigator knows [underlined] his [underlined] stuff. Its not much fun flying in Wimps – we’re shut in a little cabin just like grapes & can’t see a thing of what’s going on. It’ll be better in Lancs (I hope)
On Sunday flying was cancelled just in time for me to get to chapel & we went to supper again at the Bates’s. Yes, tell Mary there [underlined] is [/underlined] a Miss Bun – an apple-cheeked and giggly young lady of about 13.
[page break]
John (the Welsh chap) had bad news (for me) that he is being posted on Thursday. He was a grand chap & a real friend. He’s going to Cranwell
Afraid I shan’t be home before Christmas We should be starting our final 5 or 6 weeks on Monday in the Operational Flights (Doesn’t mean we [underlined] are [/underlined] operational) so look for seeing me for 7 days then tho’ I guess weather will upset things somewhat. However we should get a break at Christmas and I’m certainly looking forward to Xmas just for that reason. Think I can’t do better than sleep and write letters. They’re asking for Senior NCOs to volunteer to wait on the airmen at Christmas dinner but I don’t fancy myself rushing around with plates of airforce custard and Christmas pud. David’s getting 10 days. Lucky chap. I [underlined] could [/underlined] get home if it were not for travelling restrictions. I think.
Been considering creeping out in civvies!
Pleased Mary’s teeth work so well. Tell her I’m longing to see how glamourous
[page break]
she looks in them. Tell her that on Friday flying was scrubbed just right for me to dash to the camp cinema so see “Jungle Book” I remember how she liked it so did my best get. I liked all the animals and things and had a big argument when it was done [deleted] as [/deleted] when a pal of mine tried to say that apart from the tiger man was the only animal that killed for sport. I suppose the picture tried to show that too.
Well must write to David who said he was ringing me up at the Mess on Sat. Afraid it won’t be much good as I don’t know when flying will be scrubbed. Love to all. Let’s here [sic] from you
Love
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]
[underlined] Wed. [/underlined]
Managed to dash off for my bike & got it O.K.
Thank Ros & Nip for letters & Ros for photo. Poor old Nip!! Had a laugh over Nip’s story. Will reply when I get a chance [underlined] B [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill writes of being very busy with night flying - although often they are almost ready to go before it is cancelled due to bad weather. His bike has arrived at Upper Heyford station but he has not had time to collect it.
Describes his crew in some detail - has every confidence in them, and hopes he 'knows his stuff' as well.
Flying was cancelled on Sunday, so was able to go to chapel and to supper with his new local friends.
Bill mentions he will not be home for Christmas, since they are starting their last 5-6 weeks soon, but should get a break and is looking forward to that.
Was able to go to the cinema to see 'Jungle Book'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-12-08
1942-12-09
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four handwritten pages
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421208-0001
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421208-0002
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421208-0003
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421208-0004
aircrew
entertainment
faith
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
No. 1436220 Sergeant Akrill,
c/o Sergeants’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford,
Oxon.
Mon. 30.11.42.
Dear Auntie,
Letter writing seems to have grown very spasmodic and uncertain with me of late. I’m afraid that even home’s been kept wondering at times You must forgive me.
I’ve heard from time to time from Mum how you are all faring tho’ of course restrictions won’t allow them to get over. Mum is talking of coming over to see you by bus one day but I hope she won’t attempt it just yet. She & daddy went over to Kelsey one week-end but war-time travel really is too much for her. As for my getting over – I don’t know when that day will be. If, later, I chance to get stationed nearer home, I shall, perhaps be able to manage it but leaves to date have been all too
[page break]
short to allow me to get any distance.
Last week-end I managed to get home on 48 hrs leave and it did me a world of good to get some good food & Potter Hill air. There’s really no air in the world like it. I think it would be a good idea to fill my oxygen bottles (for high flying) with Potter Hill air. It’s a cure for body & soul I always think. Mother had the best of things to eat, and as usual, every body fussed me up!
I’ve been at Heyford 6 weeks but flying has been held up. I like it, tho’ of course aerodromes are 2 quite different things in Summer & Winter & life’s quite different too. That’s perhaps why I miss some of the happy times I had in Scotland. In spite of some of its disadvantages I really did enjoy being up there, & they were wonderful bike rides I used to have. Here, of course, we’re much nearer to civilisation – three towns being near, Oxford, Bicester & Banbury, but we get little time off & I’m not much for raking round at night
[page break]
so I’ve merely been to Oxford once. It’s really a marvellous place and I was thrilled at it’s architecture & for all that it’s Colleges stand for. The district’s pleasant too, and I’ve sent home for my bicycle tho’ there’ll not be very [underlined] much [/underlined] opportunity of using it
I’ve found a chapel in the village & made some good friends. Yesterday, when we had a rare day off, I was asked to tea and supper. We do appreciate the thought of those who are glad to share their fire and company now and then.
Potter Hill seems as usual. And as usual they are very very [sic] busy. They’ve just got some more land and it is grass which has to be ploughed. However daddy managed to get another man who’s starting today. He’s living in so that will mean more work in the house. Some soldiers from the searchlight camp were getting very helpful & 4 came every day until they were moved. The land girls arn’t [sic] up to much I’m afraid. Irene
[page break]
of course is still with us. She’s a good sort on the whole I think.
Harry is getting more like himself again but he’s had a nasty time. Michael James is a splendid lad – such a great hefty fellow he’s getting, full of life but good as gold. He seems a different lad every time I see him.
I wonder how your young man is getting along. Please remember me to every one at Metheringham. One of these days, maybe, I shall be seeing you all.
David is quite near here – at Winchester. I saw him at home for a few hours about 6 weeks ago. He’s a grand friend.
Mind you keep well this uncertain weather. I hope Miss Cabourne is recovered from the nasty shock.
Will be glad to hear from anyone when there’s time to write.
[underlined] Billy Akrill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his aunt
Description
An account of the resource
Bill catches up with family news. Mentions going home on recent 48 hour leave. Writes of course progress and compares current base with previous in Scotland. Despite being near three towns, has only get into Oxford once, although he was impressed by it. Concludes with more family and home news.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-11-30
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421130
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-11
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
faith
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Sgt. Akrill.
c/o SGTS. Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford.
OXON.
Sat. 28.11.42.
Dear Mum,
Just got your letter. Thought I’d get of [sic] the enclosed £7. Think I should manage 150 certs by Christmas & then I shall have half the number allowed.
Yes it was a bit annoying about the train but I got there O.K so I didn’t worry. No we’re still not flying but hope to be next week.
Glad you’ve seen Mr. Henry again. I should think every one would be agreeable to coming there – we’re all keen on getting on to Lancs. but it depends on how things go. He doesn’t seem to have told you much about P.F. tho’ of course we can’t write about it. What I wanted to know was how easy it was to get into the Force. I’m not good enough yet but it’s
[page break]
a thing to be proud of to get in. I suppose he’s got hold of the fairy-tale about it being dangerous.
Pleased it was Trixie and not Sam that went. She didn’t seem up to much. I like old Sam.
Hope Mary get on O.K. with her teeth – Harry and Ros as well. Yes, it will be a very good idea to give the new roses something to keep them warm – the old ones too.
Now an S.O.S. Can you send Lizzie down as soon as possible? Think I may be able to find use for a bike in the next few weeks & it would make such a difference. I borrowed an ancient iron on Tuesday afternoon when a gang of us had a chance of doing a cycle tour instead of P.T. We had a lovely ride & I think we may have other chances as well as odd Sundays off [inserted] if weather keeps bad. [/inserted] & odd half hours when I could slip out or into Bicester. So if you could send it to Lower Heyford (G.W) station please, I’d be very pleased. Could you ask Mary if she’d oil it well first?
Have got tomorrow off. Love Bill
[page break]
[underlined] P.S. Monday night 30.11.42 [/underlined]
Afraid this won’t get off ‘til Tuesday’s post. Had yesterday off. It was a glorious day & I had a lovely time. Went for a walk in the morning thro’ a very beautiful part. I was invited out to tea & went to chapel at Lower Heyford in the afternoon & to these folk’s for tea. They’re a nice homely family – the bakers in the village, so very busy but made me very welcome. I went round again in the evening after evening service & there was quite a crowd of us – 2 ground staff sgts. & a grand fellow – an airman – from Wales as well as one of the Sgt’s wives whose got a couple of rooms with the Bates’s (the people who asked me out) and their boy and girl. We had a sing-song – which made me think of home – (Another thing which reminded me of P.H. was having chickens to shut up) We stayed supper & then the 3 of us walked back to camp. [deleted] It’s [/deleted] It makes you feel so much more settled & happy when there are people like that who are glad to share their fire & company
[page break]
once in a while. We all hope to go down to the chapel again on Thursday.
Today we’ve moved into Armament Flight & tomorrow if all goes well we may even fly. It’ll be an absolutely new experience again after all this time. I’ve got all my crew & I think we shall do well enough. Pilot seems a very capable sort &, most important, I think he’ll appreciate a navigator’s difficulties and problems. He’s a Scot & so is the W/Op I believe. I hope he turns out alright. Bomb-Aimer is a Londoner ([underlined] not [/underlined] Ginger who, as mad as ever, got mixed up!) Tail-end-Charlie hails from Canada & seems a keen, likeable sort. I trust I may be worthy of their trust & capable of undertaking my duty in their safety. It’s really a great & serious moment. Of course they may not be with me right thro but its likely.
Love to all
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill catches up with news, referring to someone who he hoped would answer Bill's question about how difficult it was to get into the Pathfinder Force. Urgently asks his mother to send down his bicycle by train. Borrowed one the other day and would be able to travel around more.
PS two days later in which he describes the day before (Sunday), how he went to chapel and was invited to tea by the Bates family, who were very hospitable. There were a number of people there and they had a most enjoyable time.
Today they were moved to Armament Flight and hope to start flying again tomorrow. Describes his crew and how he feels about it - 'I trust I may be worthy of their trust and capable to undertaking my duty in their safety'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-11-28
1942-11-30
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421128
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-11
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
aircrew
faith
military ethos
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
SGT. AKRILL.
c/o SGTS. MESS,
UPPER HEYFORD,
OXON.
Mon. 23.11.42.
Dear All,
Had a wonderful 48 & feel much better for it. Only a few of us got back before this morning. My train was late, got in to Newark just before 4 & stood in the station ‘til a quarter to 5. changing engines &c. However she got a very good speed on & we got to Kings X just an hour late at 1920. So I’d no time to go to St. Martins Canteen but got to Paddington in good time to get a good seat & eat most of my sandwiches on the way. I thought of what Daddy said about having the pickings of partridge against that glorious fire about 9 o’clock. Well it was cold in the train but [underlined] I [/underlined] was enjoying those chicken & ham sandwiches at that time. They [underlined] were [/underlined] good, just melted in my mouth. Got into Heyford & had a lovely walk the 3 miles back to camp in glorious frosty moonlight around midnight. Only
[page break]
a few were back, a few turned up at 7.30 this morning, having spent the night in a cold railway carriage on Banbury station & the rest rolled up later & were dragged before the C.G.I. & Adjutant (a most unloved gentleman) & are now in for “Jankers” I’m glad I swear by that Kings X. train. I believe you can get anywhere on it tho’ I do double back on my tracks from Paddington to [deleted] Oxford [/deleted] Heyford.
I did enjoy that 48 - & its done me good. Tho’ you rather spoiled things with those meals!! The Mess doesn’t go down very well after being reminded what mum can do with bluestalks and owd [sic] hens & partridges. &c. I’m thinking very tenderly at the moment about the rest of that broth. I think I should have managed another go at it somehow. Poor old Ben Burst. I can sympathise with him now. I was pleased to find the cheese-cakes. I do enjoy them but its no good sending them by post. And the apples – I shall be tempted to eat til I get a pain!
We’re now doing the last week of ground lectures for the 3rd time but we’re told that [underlined] probably [/underlined]
[page break]
next Tuesday we’ll move into Armament Flight & even may get into the air. Expect we’ll be crewed-up by then.
Will write again later in the week.
Love to all, sorry I didn’t see Harry again before I went
Cheerio
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his family
Description
An account of the resource
Bill writes that he really enjoyed recent 48 hour leave and describes a difficult journey back to Upper Heyford and that many of the men are now on 'jankers' for getting back late. Continues to enthuse over recent leave and home food. Now on last week of ground lectures for the third time.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-11-23
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421123
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-11
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
military discipline
military living conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[inserted] P.S. Tues. Decided to bring parcel [underlined] on Friday. [/underlined]
Sgt. Akrill.
c/o Sgts. Mess,
R.A.F. Station.
Upper Heyford,
Oxon.
Sat. 14.11.42.
Dearest Mum,
What a lovely parcel! I was pleased with it – just what I felt like, apples rolling out. The cake’s delicious too. And the rubbers. Its grand to know that somewhere you’r [sic] not just another body! I shan’t be able to get this off ‘til Monday but thought I’d get a batch of letters written now. Thank you for the snap. It’s grand.
Weather’s been dismal of late and life no more varied or exciting than usual. However today we’ve finished the first part of our training – the ground subjects only part. And tomorrow – believe it or not – we get the whole day off – [underlined] free [/underlined]!! Flying’s been held up so we’ll not move into Armaments Flight to begin flying ‘til next Thursday at the
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
earliest. On Friday we are due for a 48 and I think we’ll be able to get it tho’ whether or not I’ll be able to get home I’m not sure. If I can, expect me about 6. on Friday night. I hope I can stay ‘til the 3 train from Newark. But I can’t be sure of anything. If I can I’ll let you know nearer Friday.
Hope the blue-stalks are still sprouting. I [underlined] shall [/underlined] enjoy being home for a while. I feel to be going into a decline here!
We’ve [deleted] been [/deleted] managed to get some wonderful improvements in our Dining Hall these last few days. Things & food havn’t [sic] been quite as they should be in a Sgts Mess. though absolute luxury to what we’ve been used to at Freugh. Anyway things are getting organised & meals & conditions have been really nice tho’ rationing affects us pretty badly & we live pretty much on porridge & sausages.
Going to have a lie-in tomorrow. That’ll be fine. And then go for a walk round and see if there’s a chapel at either of the
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
Heyfords. Won’t it be grand to hear the bells again! I think it’s a great idea and will cheer every body along no end. I hope I can hear some near here. It really was a glorious victory & has got old Nastie thinking. But he’s not done yet. The opinion in the Raf seems to be that the war’s good for another 2 years. Our Bombing offensive is only just starting but I know that we’ve got something for them
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
Well, hope to see you on Friday but don’t count on it. David was home at the week-end. He can count on regular monthly week-ends. Pity it didn’t fall together.
Love
[underlined]Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill thanks her for the parcel with apples and cake. Writes of weather, course progress - have finished all the ground subjects - and upcoming 48 hours pass, when he hopes to get home. Mentions improvements in dining hall and quality of sergeants mess. Mentions he intends going out to find a local chapel and comments on war news.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-11-14
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four 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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421114-02
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
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-11
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
mess
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Dear Mary,
Wonder if you’ve got your gap-stoppers in yet? Make haste & get them in in case I’m home next week end.
I was interested to hear that George Sunman was following in my footsteps. Poor old George I wonder how he’ll like it. His mother seemed in a bit of a flat spin. I wrote to C.T.S. [symbol] giving him [symbol] (Mr. Sunman) all the gen I could in a short space in a letter. Expect he’ll go from ACRC to Brighton. The system’s altered a lot since my day. Gosh I wouldn’t like to think I had to go thro’ it again yet I do believe those were as happy & certainly as carefree days as we’ll have. Its a case of grim reality now & O.T.U.s solid bind, bind bind! I don’t expect he’ll know what he’ll get into until after I.T.W. Shouldn’t wonder if he becomes a Navigator W/T (wireless) on Mosquitos, Beaufighters &c.
I may have to go in the D. Chamber again, this time not as an oxygen guinea pig
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
but testing if my body will stand up to pressure less atmosphere. I believe we go to 40 thousand. Its only prospective stratosphere & high altitude crews who go in but [deleted] we [/deleted] [inserted] it [/inserted] may not be necessary for us to be so fitted. Those strato-bomber crews are chosen like this. It’s a tedious business as you get so “high” & then somebody goes down with pain or something & every one has to decend [sic] very, very slowly to avoid damage, extract the body & begin all over again. Not many can stand high altitudes & I’d like to have a go just to see what it’s like. Don’t know if my ears would stand it tho’.
Hope you’ve been able to get on with the work a bit. It hasn’t been so wet, but foggy & damp & miserable & flying’s held up. Hope its nice & sunny tomorrow for my day off. Day off. Gosh it’s a lovely thought.
Any tomatoes left for the week-end. Hope to see you the dear old sis.
Love to daddy, he’s the only one not included in this batch. [underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to Mary
Description
An account of the resource
Bill discusses a friend at home who has just gone into the RAF. Writes that he will have to go into the decompression chamber again, this time to see which men are able to crew a strato-bomber.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-11-14
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421114-01
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
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-11
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Sgt. Akrill,
c/o Sergeants’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford,
Oxon.
Mon. 9.11.42.
Dear Mum,
Pleased you were able to get to Kelsey but sorry the journey was so bad and that you found them so busy. What a shame Auntie & Uncle having so much on their hands. I must write a few lines soon.
No I hadn’t heard about Grantham. I think they keep things like that in the background these days. A nasty story about the Oxford. Wonder if it was from Ossington. The boys who were there say they’re terrible old crates & not safe.
I expect the weather’s holding us all up - on the land and in the air. I believe we’re down to start flying next week but its quite certain that we won’t. Oh, fancy talking about bluestalks to [underlined] me [/underlined]! If I get a 48 I hope there
[page break]
will be some left. On the new sylabus [sic] we should have finished here in 9 weeks time so I’ll definately [sic] not be home for Christmas but should get a 48 before then tho’ an ordinary 48 ‘s no good for getting home.
No, we didn’t get a day off – not had one yet. Got off early last Monday but it wasn’t a great deal of good to me. Still I got the train to Oxford & we had a change of food, went to the theatre & were reminded that there [underlined] is [/underlined] a place where people are free & don’t all wear blue! Hoping to be able to catch the 5 o’clock bus one night to get in to see [deleted] some [/deleted] a good Opera that’s on this week.
I’ve got some photos but nothing to send them in. If I haven’t enclosed them in this, if you send an economy label I’ll patch up an old envelope. I’m sorry I’m looking so much like a wet week-end. Pity I hadn’t a Freugh one but a lot of them are on the Eastb. & Heyford ones.
Well the news these days is something worth listening too. [sic] Gosh, its terriffic [sic] isn’t it! The second front at last and more powerful than
[page break]
anybody had imagined. As long as we don’t sit back now and think that [deleted] now [/deleted] all is well!! I think there’ll still be something left for me to do when I’ve finished here. I’ve never believed in fancy sudden endings.
Did you hear Mrs. Roosevelt’s speech? I thought it was very good but I wondered if her dear boys over here appreciated it. I suppose its wrong but I’ve not a very good opinion of what I’ve seen of them so far. We’ve some of them & some Canadians here with us. The Canadians suffer our discomforts in silence but the Yanks are always cursing this & that – expecting their cissy New York luxuries in Army barracks of a small island at war and bragging about coming to win wars for “this God-darned country” Their sence [sic] of humour – NIL.
I haven’t got the coupons & I don’t know whether I shall manage it as our adjutant is a stickler.
If you could pop a couple of apples in with my pyjamas I’d be mighty grateful. I’m dying for one. Nice juicy one. Those Mrs Iliffe gave me were simply grand.
Love
[underlined] Bill [/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 from Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill mentions events in Grantham and to an Oxford. The weather is holding them up (and probably at home as well). Does not expect to get leave for Christmas and only the occasional 48 hour leave. He did spend of day in Oxford, where he went to the theatre.
Writes about the second front and Mrs Roosevelt's speech. Bill also gives his opinions of Canadians (fine) and Americans (always complaining) that he has met.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-11-09
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421109
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
England--Oxford
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-11
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
entertainment
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Wed. 4.11.42
[underlined] Heyford [/underlined]
Dear Sis,
Thanks a lot for both letters and for sending collars &c. Want to get rid of some LSD. so please find enclosed £8 & hand to mum. Hope she & daddy had a good week-end. Hope Harry’s getting near the end of his trouble. Please thank Ros for letter. Will be writing there soon.
You seem to have been having similar weather to us. Fog today. Its going to hold us up a lot. I shall be glad to have finished training. And of course when I do leave here I shall be [deleted] comi [/deleted] in a better position for getting home in more ways than one. I’ve about 1 chance in 10 of getting some really comfortable billets (good enough for a Squadron Leader) when I move!!! But I shan’t push for it as it wouldn’t be fair to you.
By the way we passed Mrs. Roosevelt’s car in Oxford the other day
[page break]
Well I think I’ve told Nipper all I have to tell. I’ll be sending you some more group photos. soon. The boys tried to get some done in Oxford on Monday but everybody seems to be booked up.
Will you be sending pyjamas soon. Not that I mind but you’ll be saying these stink!
Love
Bill
P.S. Rubber Shortage.
Can you do anything
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 Bill Akrill to his sister
Description
An account of the resource
Bill catches up with family news, discusses the weather, his chances of getting a good billet and that he passed Mrs Roosevelt's car in Oxford.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-11-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
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
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421104
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-11
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
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
military living conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
-
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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
Akrill, William
Billy Akrill
W Akrill
Description
An account of the resource
132 items. The collection concerns Sergeant William Akrill (1922 - 1943, 1436220 Royal Air Force). He was a navigator with 115 Squadron. His Wellington was shot down by a night-fighter on an operation to Essen and crashed into the Ijsselmeer 12/13 March 1943. The collection contains his photographs, letters, and cartoons as well as an oral history interview with Michael and Ann Akrill about their uncle. There is also a subcollection of letters written as a teenage boy to his father in hospital. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Michael and Ann Akrill and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. Additional information on William Akrill is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/200183/" title="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/akrill-we/ ">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
2017-12-04
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Akrill, M-A
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Sgt Akrill,
c/o Sgts’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford,
Oxon.
Tuesday 27.10.42
Dearest Mum,
Very many thanks for letter which turned up this morning and for all news therein. Oh, the journey was O.K. I shall go via Kings X next time. Its further & takes longer perhaps but I needn’t leave so early.
Glad Mary’s cold is getting better. Pity about the soldiers going just as they were getting so helpful. Maybe the next lot there will come a bit. Well done Miss M. getting all the trees done. Wonder if she got any more mushrooms. I’m counting on finding bags of bluestalks when I come again. If you go to Kelsey give my love to everybody. I shall be writing shortly. But while you are there why not stay a bit longer. It will be a change for you
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
Remember me to the Henrys if you see them. Sorry I didn’t see the S/Ldr. If you do see him tell him I [underlined] may [/underlined] be coming along to join him ere lang!!
Everybody’s shivering here. We’re not allowed heating until Nov. 1st. and for a day or two it’s just poured. In the Married Quarters we tried lighting a fire with pinched coke and remains of a wooden plate rack but it wouldn’t go. I got my feet wet and had to use my soaked top-coat as an extra blanket on my bed beneath water systems coppers and the kitchen sink! However tonight we moved out of there & most of [deleted] the [/deleted] [inserted] our [/inserted] Navigators are together in a room in Barrack Blocks. It would have been alright in M.Q. if there’d been hot water & a few other things – just a few of us together. My new bed’s not half as comfortable & I’ve nowhere at all to keep things but I’ll find more room later I dare say. Hope to get sheets soon too.
Been getting lectures since last Thursday. Don’t suppose I shall work any harder than
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
my conscience thinks I should. Not a case of passing exams and pleasing instructors now but something more like life or death so for my own and my crew’s sake I must get all the gen I can here. I’ve got one member of my crew. Ginger Ames is teaming up as Bombadier. He’s a good sort – you can’t help liking him. Very young and a proper twerp – not a streak of seriousness in him but I like him a lot. It was Ginger who used to collaborate with me in pinching carrots at the Freugh. We were lucky enough to find some growing in the gardens at M.Q!! Now, most important, I want a pilot I can like and rely on. Looking them over anxiously but of course, as captain, it’s up to them to pick their crew. A good Wop. means a lot too. It’s very exciting sorting out. Gives you something to work for having a crew.
Now I must tell you of the experience I had today. A number of us went in the Decompression Chamber. I’d better explain what this is. You know that as we go
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
up higher and higher the pressure becomes less and the air contains insufficient oxygen to keep life going. This has 2 effects on flying – lack of oxygen sends you incapable and finally unconscious until you pass out absolutely. Decreased pressure naturally causes swelling – fountain pens & watches burst, we get wind in the intestines, pain in forehead & cheek bones, partial blindness &c &c. excess [deleted] oxy [/deleted] nitrogen causes “bends” – horrible pain in joints. Well in the Decom. Chamber the M.O. can cut off the [deleted] Oxygen [/deleted] air to agree with varying heights.
Six of us sat in while the M.O., a medical orderly and a few others watched us from windows in the top. All had normal flying equipment – oxygen masks and [deleted] ma [/deleted] intercom headphone receivers. And then I heard that No 4 was to go up to 25,000’ without his oxygen supply plugged in until No 6 did it for him on instructions from the M.O. (he being physically incapable of doing so.) Well [underlined] I [/underlined] was No 4!!
Off we went. At 10,000’ all but me turned on
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
their oxygen supply. The M.O. asked me to shuffle a pack of cards, write my signature 5 times and count backwards, missing out even numbers, from 101. All of these I did O.K. but when I tried to count again at 20,000’ I remember finding it requiring an enormous amount of concentration. I shuffled the cards again and assured the M.O. that I was feeling fine.
Then the fun began for the others. I got to 25,000’ and the M.O. took us up higher to 27,000’ I counted again tho’ I was barely conscious of doing it. They told me after that I counted all over the place and then I was asked to write my signature again (I don’t know whether I counted or wrote first actually) I thought I was doing fine and wrote the five asked for. Somehow, I got the cards into my hand when asked to shuffle again. I think somebody must have given me them. I don’t know what I did with them but the boys say they nearly died with laughing at my antics. Finally I closed my eyes happily and stroked them in my hands. Then the M.O. asked
[page break]
[underlined] 6 [/underlined]
for my oxygen on again – I was on the verge of collapsing. Well I remember finding myself with cards all over my knee but didn’t think that at all wrong and told the M.O. so. I began to recover & the M.O. asked me if I’d know [deleted] whether [/deleted] if he asked No 6 to turn on my oxygen. I told him of course I would – but I was feeling quite O.K and didn’t want it on yet! “What would you say if I said I’d already asked for it on?” said the M.O.
“You haven’t “ said I “I’m O.K so far – feel fine”
M.O. “Would you take a bet on that?”
Me “Yes, of course, anything you like”
M.O. “Would you bet me half-a-crown that I havn’t [sic] asked No 6 to turn your oxygen on?”
Me (very decidedly) “Yes!!!”
M.O. “Well look at your oxygen dial.”
I looked and was [underlined] astonished [/underlined] to find it on – absolutely dumfounded.
But I was more so when I saw my signatures. The M.O. asked me what I thought of them.
Me. “Oh they were alright, may have been just
[page break]
7
the tiniest bit shakey [sic] but I could do them alright”
M.O. “Would you be able to read them again?”
Me. ([underlined] very [/underlined] indignantly) “Certainly I should, sir.”
M.O. “Have a look at them.”
What a shock!! I’m enclosing them for you to see. The second 5 were at 25000 – 27.,000’ feet. The first of the 5 isn’t so bad but the monotony of doing it, so the M.O. told us, brings on a feeling of increased self-confidence & that is the result.
What an experience! It was wierd [sic] to have passed out like that. I’d never have believed it but for the proof of the oxygen supply & the signatures. It certainly proves the terrible importance of every precaution with Oxygen in the air for you’d never know that it had been cut off or that your mental-powers wern’t [sic] working & your movements not co-ordinated. Next, I saw one of my pals go thro’ something similar. It was funny. Then I peeped thro’ the window at 2 more. Their signatures were a scream to be seen being done. Far worse than mine! But my antics with
[page break]
[underlined] 8 [/underlined]
cards seem to have been the star attraction. We had to decend [sic] very carefully as in the rarified air hollows & things had swelled – particularly the eustacian [sic] tube, as its called, of the ear – and in coming down the pressure was greater again & brought about intense pain and a liability of a burst ear drum. My ears usually give me some trouble in rapid decents. [sic] For this reason it’s fatal to fly with a cold & we’re not allowed to do so here.
Well, so much for that, don’t know whether you’re interested. We’ve had a lot of medical and first aid lectures here. Man wasn’t built for existing at those heights & many gruesome consequences may result if care isn’t taken.
What did you think of the latest Lanc. raid on Milan? We had them all over here at 1300 hrs. I’ve [underlined] never [/underlined] seen anything like it. They were hedge-hopping and where-ever you looked were great 4 engined Lancasters, & it took them ages to finish coming. They came over again at 2100, so I guessed
[page break]
9
that it was Italy again. All that for 3 lost. Compared with 6 months ago the losses are incredibly small but our modern aircraft are extremely good. Only the very [underlined] best [/underlined] stuff is used these days. At one time we had to send anything that would fly at all.
There’s a rumour that we may get Saturday off. I hope so. We’ll all work better for a day off and I want to get into Oxford for a few things and a haircut. Also I want to look round this wonderful town I’ve heard so much about.
Just been pleased to find that not only are the Barrack Blocks heated now but that the lounge in the mess which used to be like a refrigerator is also heated.
Food for the last week has been really good. As much as you like and its something you can enjoy too. But I’m [deleted] catious [/deleted] cautious of giving too much praise!! Some chaps trained in the lands of plenty overseas grumble like anything. Gosh they should have had some West Freugh feeding. I’m feeling
[page break]
heaps better. It really wasn’t sufficient or good enough to keep you in health. We get vitamin tablets too here so when you see me again I’ll be no end fit!!!
And I don’t think it’ll be so long before I do see you. It’s time anyway. Havn’t [sic] been home for a week!!!!
Until then, lots of love to all.
Lets here from you all.
Cheerio
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]
P.S. Do you remember me looking at the Oxfords flying over and saying “Get some flying hours in boys – I’ll be with you soon!”? Well so I am. A number of our pilots are from Ossington!
[page break]
[underlined] CONFIDENTIAL SICK REPORT [/underlined]
MEDICAL INSPECTION REPORT
[underlined] UNIT 80 WORKS FLIGHT [/underlined]
[underlined] DATE 17-8-42 [/underlined]
[underlined] STATION Upper Heyford [/underlined]
OFFICIAL NUMBER – RANK – NAME AND INITIALS – Whether a default or for duty + - DISEASE – M.Os REMARKS – DISPOSAL
[deleted] [indecipherable number] [/deleted] – [deleted] AC 2 [/deleted] – [deleted] [indecipherable name] [/deleted] – MoD
[date stamp]
[underlined] ORDERLY N.C.O.s SIGNATURE [signature] MEDICAL OFFICERS SIGNATURE [signature] [/underlined]
[page break]
[10 signatures]
[underlined] 1st Row [/underlined]
Without Oxygen below 10,000 ft.
[underlined] 2nd Row [/underlined]
Without Oxygen at 26,000 ft.
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 Bill Akrill to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Bill catches up with home news. Comments about cold and rain conditions and heating not being turned on until 1st November. Writes some course details and crewing up with bombadier.
Provides a detailed description of his and others experiences in decompression chamber including anoxia. Mentions recent operations to Milan. Enclosed is a medical confidential sick report concerning decompression training dated 17 August 1942 but with Bill's signatures on the back, showing how it changed during the decompression chamber experience.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-10-27
Contributor
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Tricia Marshall
Format
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Ten page handwritten letter and two sided sick report
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421027
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Oxfordshire
Italy
Italy--Milan
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-10
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
William Akrill
ground personnel
Lancaster
medical officer
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Upper Heyford
training