Browse Items (133 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Bedfordshire"

MPrestonJC201864-210924-06.jpg
John's mess bill, August 1946.

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SDryhurstHG1332214v10003.jpg
Account of crash of HS-125 onto Vauxhall van assembly block, Luton in which Harold Dryhurts was killed.

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SClarkeBE18567619v10022.jpg
Events recorded the night Brian Clarke was shot down, as told to his brother by his parents.

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ALonghurstWJ180407.mp3
William Longhurst served as an engine mechanic throughout the Second World War. He was a member of the Hackney Wick Air Defence Cadet Corps before volunteering to enlist in the RAF after his 17th birthday. Following basic training at RAF Skegness,…

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PStonemanWJ1605.jpg
William James Stoneman was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds before Aircrew Reception Centre at RAF Cardington. He chose to become a rear gunner as he did not have to wait. Air gunnery training followed at RAF Bishopscourt in Northern Ireland on Ansons and…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v250002.mp3
Wilf Keyte joined the RAF in 1937 and was based with maintenance units. He was posted to RAF Scampton and RAF Henlow where he worked with the Queen Bee missile unit. He was then posted in charge of stores to the Orkneys and then RAF Swinderby. Wilf…

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AWilliamsVD170403.mp3
Vivian joined the Royal Air Force in July 1938 as a flight mechanic and served for seven and a half years. After square drills at RAF Uxbridge and a course at RAF Manston, he did a basic engineering course at RAF Henlow. After six months at RAF St…

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ACoulsonW180207.mp3
Bill Clarkson was flying on operations from RAF Tempsford dropping agents and supplies over occupied territory. On one occasion they were recalled due to bad weather and had to return with the agent on board. Obviously, he was in civilian clothes and…

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AKnottS151001.mp3
Sidney Knott was from Leigh-on-Sea and recalls the day, with invasion apparently imminent, that signs were put up on the local shops advising people that they had to be ready to move within an hour and to take only one suitcase with them. Sidney’s…

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ADavisR150929.mp3
Ron volunteered for the Royal Air Force aged 18. Due to poor eyesight, he was unsuitable for aircrew and became an airframe fitter. After assessment at RAF Cardington, he went to Bournemouth for drilling and firearms training. He was posted to RAF…

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ADavisR[Date]-01.mp3
Ron Davis talks of his joining the RAF and early training at Cardington, Bournemouth and Halton. He trained as a fitter and was posted to RAF Scampton on Hampdens with 49 Squadron. Ron tells many stories of life as groundcrew at RAF Scampton…

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PDunbarR1801.jpg
Reg Dunbar enlisted for the RAF in Liverpool and it was suggested that he join as a wireless operator. He went to RAF Cardington initially and then to RAF Yatesbury for training. He also trained as an air gunner, and after training was posted to 37…

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AWinterP160418.mp3
Philip Winter worked in the civil service before he volunteered for the Air Force. He trained as a pilot and flew three operations with 102 Squadron before he was wounded in the ankle. After recuperation he flew towing targets for air gunnery…

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PBellinghamPF1602.jpg
Peter Bellingham worked as a post office engineer before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. He trained in Rhodesia and South Africa and completed a tour of operations as a bomb aimer, dropping supplies with 138 Squadron from RAF Tempsford. He…

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ACourtPR171211.mp3
Percival Robert Court joined the Air Training Corps in March 1941, volunteering for the Royal Air Force at the earliest age of 17 and a half. Training at RAF Cardington, he became a flight mechanic. He then moved to RAF Skegness to continue formal…

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PHarperL1901.jpg
Len Harper registered for the air force in April 1939, influenced by the positive experience of his brother, who had joined in January. Upon completing training at the Wireless Training School, RAF Yatesbury, he was posted to RAF Wittering, where he…

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PdiPlacitoLH1701.jpg
Lawrence di Placito served as a second-class coxswain on the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches during the Second World War. He was born in Chertsey and attended Egham grammar school where he was a member of the cadet force. Upon leaving school in 1936 he…

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PHarbuttLN1801.jpg
Laurie Harbutt was born in Edmonton, London. Before volunteering, he worked as a wireless telegraphist which was a Reserved Occupation. He wanted to join the Navy but because of his occupation his only option was RAF aircrew. He was posted to 77…

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AMunroKW160522.mp3
Ken was a 456 Squadron Mosquito navigator. He initially joined the Army’s Victorian Scottish regiment but changed to the Royal Air force. He was selected to be a navigator and sailed to Canada. Ken did a course at Edmonton and was made an officer.…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v070002-0002.mp3
Before the outbreak of war, Ken Neve (b.1925) served as the captain's runner with the Home Guard, under his father who was the captain. Ken joined the Fleet Air Arm, which he chose as he wanted to work with both ships and aircraft. After training to…

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ABeechingJB180118.mp3
John Beeching was born in London and joined the RAF in 1941, although his initial training was in Canada. After several escapades John joined 169 Squadron as a night fighter pilot and worked in electronic counter-measures, as well as training crews…

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PWatkinsJ1801.jpg
John Watkins was working in retail in Rotherham and in 1939 he joined 218 Squadron ATC. He joined the RAF in February 1942 at RAF Cardington, and did his initial training at RAF Blackpool. In December 1942 he did his wireless training at RAF…

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PWildesJE180829.jpg
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…

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ACarringtonJ170207.mp3
Jane Carrington joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1942 at the age of 18 because it sounded more exciting than the Army or Navy and she like the colour of the uniform. She served as a cook, and volunteered to join the band as a drummer. She…

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AMulhallJE160823.mp3
James was born in Gorton, attended Catholic schools, and became an apprentice plumber. In November 1942 he joined the Royal Air Force and trained as a mechanic at RAF St Athan before being posted to RAF Henlow to assemble Hurricanes. He then went…

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