Browse Items (162 total)
- Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Cornwall (County)"
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Interview with Joan Watson
Joan Watson went to Bracebridge School and then worked at Ruddock’s of Lincoln as a printer. Joan discusses evacuees, the bombing war, home font (local men doing fire watching at work), and social life in wartime: dancing, cinema and gatherings.…
Interview with Jim Wildes
Jim was born in July 1923 in Burton on Trent and was the eldest of six children. His father served in the First World War. When Jim left school aged 14, he joined the Boys Brigade which had a Royal Air Force section and he had the chance to fly in…
Interview with Harry Hodgson
Harry Hodgson was ground crew during the war. He was based with 10 Squadron, working on Halifax Bombers at RAF Melbourne. Harry said it was a very busy time patching up the holes from both anti-aircraft fire and bullets on the Halifax. He remembers…
Interview with Harry Fearns
Harry Fearns was born and lived in Barnsley South Yorkshire. He left school at 16 and joined the Prudential Insurance Company as a door to door premiums collector before joining the Royal Air Force in 1944 as a flight engineer. Following initial…
Interview with Frederick Harold Shepherd
Frederick joined the Royal Air Forcein 1941. After going to Cardington, he was given deferred entry and studied for a year at university. He was invited to London for initial training, followed by the Initial Training Wing at RAF Newquay. He did…
Interview with Frank Colenso
Frank Colenso grew up in Cornwall and worked for a local newspaper at the outbreak of the war. He recalls the return of injured survivors from Dunkirk into Falmouth Bay. He joined the local defence volunteers following the bombing of Falmouth and…
Interview with Bob Leedham
Bob Leedham was a flight engineer who carried out twenty-one operations on Stirlings. At the outbreak of war Bob was an apprentice motor mechanic, and along with other apprentices, was left to operate the garage when all the engineers were called up.…
Interview with Bill Thomas
Bill had joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps. He volunteered as a pilot in the Royal Air Force and flew Tiger Moths at RAF Sywell but was re-mustered as a navigator. Bill went to Canada as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme,…
Interview with Bertram Arthur Yeandle
After leaving school, Bertram Yeandle joined the RAF apprentice scheme and trained as an engine fitter at RAF Halton. After completing his apprenticeship at RAF Cosford, he was posted to 148 Squadron, RAF Harwell, where he serviced Wellingtons. In…
Interview with Ben John May
Ben was born in 1925 in Kent and his first job was in the gas works. A member of the Air Transport Command, he was called up in 1944 and, after initial training at RAF Locking, he joined No.4 flight engineers’ course at RAF St Athan for one year.…
Interview with Andrezej Jerziorski
Andrezej Jerziorski's wartime memories. Andrezej Jerziorski was born in Poland but after he and his father were evacuated from France, he managed to join the RAF and flew in Coastal Command during the war, stationed as far apart as Scotland and…
Interview with Andrew Deytrikh
Andrew Deytrikh’s family emigrated from Russia in 1919 and he was born in the Isle of Wight. He grew up in London before being employed in a laboratory testing metals. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and after training as a pilot he joined…
Interview with Albert Smith
Albert was born in Aberdeenshire. Before the war he worked as an apprentice in an engineering firm. In 1943 he volunteered for the Royal Air Force, trained at London, Bridlington and Newquay before going for mechanical and engineering training. …
Ian Archer Wynn diary
Diary commences on joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 3 October 1940 and training at Babbacombe, Newquay and passing out as an aircraft fitter. Posting to RAF Kenley 6 January 1942 and association with fighter pilots Bluey Truscott, Paddy…
Headland Hotel
A view across a sandy bay. In the background is a village and the Headland Hotel, Newquay
Halifax and Land's End
Top left - front quarter view of a Halifax parked on snow covered dispersal with bomb trolley in front. Captioned 'Our old "Love" in dispersal - Foulsham, Jan 1945'. Included is enlarged view of this photograph.
Top right - rock formation. Captioned…
Top right - rock formation. Captioned…
H K M Algar’s aircrew flying log book. Four
Aircrew flying log book for H K W Algar, navigator, covering the period from 2 September 1964 to 13 July 1966. Detailing his flying duties with 38 Squadron, and instructor duties with Maritime Operational Training Unit. He was stationed at RAF Luqa…
H K M Algar’s aircrew flying log book. Five
Aircrew flying log book for H K M Algar, navigator, covering the period from 18 August 1966 to 12 March 1968. Detailing his instructor duties with Maritime Operational Training Unit. He was stationed at RAF St Mawgan. Aircraft flown in was…
Group of 51 Airmen
51 airmen positioned in four rows in front of The Highbury Hotel, Newquay. Captioned '"C" Flight, No 1 Squadron. No 8 I.T.W. Newquay, Cornwall Feb-Apr 1941'.
Geoffrey Whittle's observers and air gunners flying log book. One
Observers and air gunners flying log book for Geoffrey Whittle, navigator, covering the period from 4 November 1942 to 26 July 1953. Detailing his flying training, instructor duties and post war flying. He was stationed at RAF West Freugh, RAF…
Fred Weston and his parents
Fred standing with his parents in their garden. Information supplied with the collection states 'Fred, with Bill and Ivy (parents) Backgarden at Pendeen 1940'.
Four airmen in Sidcot suits
Four airmen in sidcot suits, one sitting on a low wall, three standing. One airman is smoking a pipe. They are carrying their helmets and goggles. On the reverse 'Tolmie, Morris, McNiven, Siddall, No 8 I.T.W. Apr.1941'. Also 'Tolmie 1 Siddall 3…
Forces Preliminary course E.V.T. Sennen and Worth Matravers, Dorset, May - July 1946'
Colour post card of Sennen Cove annotated with 'The School' and 'Station Headquarters'.
Three small photographs of 20 service personnel informally posed in front of a blast wall, wooden hut and base of an aerial tower in background.
Small head…
Three small photographs of 20 service personnel informally posed in front of a blast wall, wooden hut and base of an aerial tower in background.
Small head…
Flight Sergeant Peter Raeburn Jenkinson DFM - life story
Covers medical problems in childhood, starting work with Bristol aircraft company in 1937, medically unfit for RAF aircrew, he was sent to work on Beaufighter at RAF Predannack where he was awarded a white feather by a young lady at a social event.…
Flight Engineer, 420 Squadron RCF, Bomber Command, RAF WWII
Ben May's life and service as a flight engineer on 420 Squadron flying Halifax from January 1945. Relate life before volunteering for aircrew and being called up for the RAF in February 1944. Provides short description of training and joining 420…