Browse Items (383 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Oxfordshire"

AMaywoodRM151109.mp3
Dick was born in Peterborough and volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1941. He was called up to Lord’s Cricket Ground in 1942. Dick went to No. 6 Initial Training Wing at Aberystwyth. He then went to RAF Desford, flying Tiger Moths and was…

PMotterheadN1501.jpg
Born on a farm in Shropshire, his best friend from his youth joined the Royal Air Force as aircrew and was killed at RAF Honington when a German aircraft bombed the station. A desire for revenge made him enlist for flying duties in January 1941. He…

PMusgroveJ1501.jpg
Born in York in 1922, Joseph left school at 14 and started work in a chocolate factory and attended two nights of further education per week. In 1936, a fighter aircraft had landed nearby which stimulated his interest in flying which he retained all…

PRoyallG1501.jpg
George volunteered to be a pilot but settled for Air Observer. He talks about his selection and training in London and then in Stratford-upon-Avon, where enjoyed the theatre and how, at Brighton, illness separated him from the rest of the course. So,…

ASmithBM170118.mp3
Barry passed the RAF’s apprentice entrance examination in February 1945, aged 15, and went to RAF Halton to become an electrician. He discusses the three training which resulted in the First Ordinary National Certificate.

In 1948, Barry was…

PWadeR1503.jpg
Ron was born in Stoke-on-Trent. He left school at fourteen and tells of his experiences working in a pottery factory doing odd jobs until he was called up. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 at the age of twenty-two. Ron trained as an air gunner…

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…

PWrigleyJ17040018.jpg
Photograph 1 is a group of airmen drinking beer, captioned 'Sgt's Mess, Abingdon, 1945.'
Photograph 2 is the roofs of Tripoli, captioned 'Tripoli-Libya Old Town . 1955'

LStevensP[Ser#-DoB]v1.pdf
Pilots flying log book for Peter Stevens, covering the period from 6 June 1940 to 7 September 1941 when he was taken prisoner of war and then from 26 July 1945 to 22 January 1947 and from 28 September 1952 to 19 September 1953. Detailing his flying…

ABrandonJP180302.mp3
June Brandon was born in India, returning to England when her father died. She joined the WAAF and went into the Photographic Section, loading cameras on Spitfires then carrying out development of the films. She served at several RAF stations,…

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 Yatesbury for training. He also trained as an air gunner, and after training was posted to 37…

PGallagherGCK1701.jpg
Charles Gallagher was born in a small village outside Nottingham where his father was rector of the local church. At the age of six the family moved to South Brent on Dartmoor where Charles enjoyed country sports and helped with the local hunt. At…

AHolthamJ180522.mp3
At the age of 15 he ran away from home, lied about his age, and joined the British Army. In 1917 he joined the Royal Flying Corps and qualified as a pilot and volunteered to join the Royal Naval Air Service. When the Second World War broke out, he…

YMadgettHR1330340v3.pdf
Beginning of the year daily entries describe weather, training and activities at Medicine Hat. Course finished mid February and takes leave to see female friend in United States before travelling to St Johns. Voyage in convoy back to United Kingdom…

PSnookT1801.jpg
Tony Snook was an air gunner and served on 115 Squadron in the later stages of the Second World War. A member of the school air training corps, he had his first experience of flight when his squadron partook in a summer camp. He describes how an…

ATillerF180716.mp3
Fred was too young to get in the Royal Air Force, so he joined the Air Training Corps where they did aircraft recognition and visited various camps. He joined in 1943/44 and went to Lord’s cricket ground where he was evaluated to become an air…

PWilkinsNE1704.jpg
Norman Wilkins was born in West Norwood. At the age of fourteen he joined the Air Training Corps and became a member of Brighton and Hove Air Cadets 176 Squadron. He then joined the University Air Squadron at Oxford, with fees being paid by the…

LSmithEW174520v3.pdf
Pilot’s flying log book for Flying Officer Ernest Smith from 1st July 1944 to 25 July 1945, detailing duties as a flying instructor with No. 3 (later No. 7) Flying Instructor School at RAF Lulsgate Bottom, including attendance at No. 1 Beam…

EDonaldsonFIDonaldsonDW390630-0001.jpg
Catches up with family news, activities and the weather. Mentions visit to Henley to watch brother Ian row.

PSmithJA1505.jpg
13 pilots, standing in front of a Hereford, Ernest Smith second from left. Captioned 'No 16 OTU Upper Heyford Oxon'. Pilots are named on mounting, some with asterisk: 'Sgt Hubbard; Sg Smith; Sgt Hughes; Sgt Day*; Sgt Ivatt*; Sgt Stubbs*; P/O Goode*;…

EDonaldsonGNDonaldsonFI430817-0001.jpg
Writes that holiday in Oxford would not be a good idea and relates recent activities including a trip to Marlow. Catches up with acquaintances news and upcoming leave. Catches up with family news and motorcycling difficulty. mentions that all old…
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