Browse Items (90 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Blackpool"

BSmithJSmithJv1-2.pdf
Covers life before the war and volunteering for the RAF in August 1940. Continues with account of training as a wireless operator. Includes radio school crest and photograph of a Battle aircraft. Describes voyage from Liverpool via Cape Town then…

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BSmithJSmithJv1.pdf
Second version. Covers life before the war and volunteering for the RAF in August 1940. Continues with account of training as a wireless operator. Includes radio school crest and photograph of a Battle aircraft. Describes voyage from Liverpool via…

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BWoolfASWoolfASv1.pdf
First page has head and shoulders portrait of Arthur Woolf wearing uniform tunic with half brevet, medal ribbons and peaked cap. Next page has badges for Bomber Command, 5 Group and 630 Squadron.

Covers joining the RAF at age 19 and training at…

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BGambleATGambleATv1.pdf
Part 1. "By the Seat of his Pants". Covers from Alan Gamble's years as a schoolboy in Worthing in the late 1930's, up to joining the RAF in 1943, where he trained as a wireless operator in Blackpool. He joined 620 Squadron, which was equipped mainly…

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ABrooksR151029.mp3
Rita’s late husband was Flight Lieutenant Edward Brooks DFC, DFM. He was in the Home Guard before he enlisted with the Royal Air Force in February 1941, and sometime later went to RAF Uxbridge. Following his training at Blackpool the recruits…

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ABorthwickS180306.mp3
Sidney enlisted on 4th January 1944 at the Air Crew Reception Centre, Lord’s cricket ground. He was accepted despite a tumour on his left arm. Sidney was a rear gunner on Lancasters. After trained at Blackpool, he served at RAF Bottesford, RAF…

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PMarlowR1601.jpg
Ronald Marlow went to Middleton Council School, then worked at Forgrove Engineering. He joined the Air Training Corps, volunteered for the Royal Air Force training in London at St Johns Wood. He became an air gunner ad flew Wellingtons, followed by a…

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ABurdinJR170206.mp3
James Burdin went at Hutton Grammar School and worked on radio repair and sales. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force but had to wait and joined the Local Defence Volunteers instead. He did some rifle practice, general infantry training and…

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PCochraneDH16010002.jpg
A group of 38 airmen arranged in four rows and are wearing side caps with a white flash indicating they are under training. The photograph is in a cardboard mount with a handwritten '1941' at the top. On the cover is 'Dalette Studio' and an address…

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AMartinFJK180309.mp3
Keith Martin was working for an agricultural machinery merchants in Shrewsbury when the war started. This was classed as a reserved occupation but when he was nearly 20, he decided to volunteer for the Royal Air Force in April 1942 and was selected…

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BHookingsEWHookingsEWv1.pdf
From birth in 1920 until operational pilot in 1944. Covers early life in Battersea and Morden in London, family life, school and first jobs after leaving school at 14 years old. Describes family experiences at beginning of the war volunteering for…

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ABiltonGHA960623-0001.pdf
Talks of early life at school and work in Hull. Volunteered as ARP messenger and described duties and air raid damage in Hull. Volunteered as aircrew and initially selected for wireless operator/air gunner but later asked to change to air engineer.…

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EBiltonGHABilton[Mo][Date]-030001.jpg
Writes while on course in Blackpool. Mentions studying for exams and relates how well he did. Comments on cakes she sent and the weather. Asks after family news and asks her to send black tie.

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SRAFIngham19410620v040001-Audio.mp3
Jan Stangrycuik (Black) came from Poland via Argentina to fly in Bomber Command. He was injured when his aircraft crashed and he tells of his time in the RAF, including his recuperation from severe burns, leave and off duty relaxation. Jan also talks…

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SRAFIngham19410620v050001-Audio.mp3
Lech Gierak was born in Poland and after the death of his father made his way to England and joined the Polish Air Force. He worked as an armourer on a number of stations and after the war moved to Stoke on Trent to become a miner. Lech talks about…

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BPayneGPayneGv1.pdf
Geoff Payne's autobiography divided into five chapters.

Chapter 1. Under Training.
Having been assessed in Birmingham Geoff sets off to London in August 1942 for training, at Lords. Initial training was at Bridlington then gunnery school at…

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EDennisGCDennis[Fam][Date]-01.pdf
A letter written by George to his family. This is a farewell letter to his next of kin. He includes the addresses of four of his crew.

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EBirnieMWynnK440114-0001.jpg
Informs her that a gratuity of £100 and a pension of £130 a year together with allowance of £72 for two children has been awarded her as the widow of Pilot Officer Ian Archer Wynn. Award takes effect from 1 February 1944.

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SGillK1438901v30080-0002.jpg
Informs her of the value of he pension and child allowance as a widow of Flying Officer Kenneth Gill

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OCloddLGT1219816-160405-03.jpg
Notice for Leslie Clodd to join for service on 19 March 1941 at No 9 Reception Centre Blackpool.

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BWagnerHWWagnerHWv10001.jpg
Henry, volunteered for the RAF and learned to fly Tiger Moths at Brough. He then was transferred to South Africa on a troopship. His flying training came to an end after a poor solo flight. He was retrained as a navigator. On completion of his…

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EDonaldsonIDonaldsonDW[Date]-02.jpg
Congratulates him on recent award and writes briefly about arriving in Blackpool.

EDonaldsonIDonaldsonDWXX0505-0001.jpg
Thanks for letter and discusses battledress. mentions future move to Blackpool and current activities including sport. Ian is avoiding lectures by playing sport. He describes punting on the Nidd. He is due to depart shortly for Blackpool.

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MNolanJF150621-160517-02.jpg
Dates of main events of life of J F Nolan including birth, education, army service 1939-1941, then Air Ministry AID in various locations including Vickers Armstrong and A V Roe.

YShipmanJ1694683v2.pdf
Intermittent record of John's time at RAF West Kirby then Blackpool for training. He covers the sail from Liverpool to Durban, then India, first Bombay then train to Karachi. Once established at RAF Mauripur he records his daily work and…

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