Cathy Brearley]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Jim Sheach]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Royal Air Force. Transport Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Yorkshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> South Africa]]> South Africa--East London]]> Germany]]> Germany--Osnabrück]]> India]]> 1945-06]]> Cathy Brearley]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sue Smith]]> Julie Williams]]> Steph Jackson]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Brighton]]> Canada]]> Manitoba--Winnipeg]]> Manitoba]]> 1942]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> Gerald (Gerry) was part of the Air Training Corps and Officers’ Training Corps before the war. He volunteered for aircrew in 1942, was interviewed in Oxford and was put on deferred service. Gerry was accepted as an air observer. He was called up in early 1943 and went to the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground. He was sent to an Initial Training Wing in Scarborough, before being posted to Harrogate and Ludlow while waiting for further training overseas.

Gerry sailed to New York and then on to Nova Scotia and Rivers in Canada where he spent six months training to be a navigator at the Number One Central Navigation School. Gerry describes how two or three navigators trained in the back of an Anson with a navigation table. He lists the different subjects they studied, the equipment they required and how they would plot a chart.

On his return to the UK, Gerry was sent to Harrogate and then posted to an Operational Training Unit at RAF Abingdon and its satellite RAF Stanton Harcourt. He was flying on Wellingtons. Gerry explains how they crewed up there. He then went to a Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Lindholme.

Gerry discusses his posting to RAF Ouston for training on Mosquitos, however he failed the night interception radar part. He was posted temporarily to RAF Wigtown for some navigational training before returning to RAF Abingdon.

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Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Sally Coulter]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Lincolshire]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Canada]]> Manitoba]]> Manitoba--Rivers]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]>


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Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Hugh Donnelly]]> Pending review]]> Pending OH summary]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> France]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> Greece]]> Netherlands]]> Norway]]> South Africa]]> England--Essex]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Kent]]> South Africa--Makhanda]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]>
Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> Pending OH summary]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Civilian]]> Royal Canadian Air Force]]> Canada]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> Scotland--Greenock]]> Wales--Vale of Glamorgan]]> Saskatchewan]]> 1938]]> Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> Pending OH summary]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Royal Canadian Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Coastal Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> Scotland--Greenock]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> 1946]]> Dick underwent intensive map training on his return and went to the Advanced Flying Unit in Wigtown on Ansons. He proceeded to the Operational Training Unit at RAF Upper Heyford on Oxfords, where he was introduced to Loran. He had just started a tour as a Mosquito Pathfinder navigator before VE Day. He describes the aircraft, Oboe, and the pattern of their operations. Dick participated in Cook’s Tours to the Ruhr Valley. He was in 608 Squadron but it was disbanded and so he was posted to 692 Squadron, another Group 8 unit, at RAF Gransden Lodge. This was also disbanded, and Dick was sent to RAF Blyton for a re-selection board where he was sent on a flight mechanic engines course at RAF Credenhill. He was posted to the 254 torpedo Beaufighter Squadron at Langham until he was demobilised.]]> Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sally Coulter]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> England--Herefordshire]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> Scotland--Aberdeenshire]]> England--Leicestershire]]> Canada]]> Ontario]]> Ontario--Goderich]]> Alberta]]> Prince Edward Island]]> Prince Edward Island--Charlottetown]]> Germany]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> Ontario--Belleville]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> 1945-05-08]]>
In 1948, Barry was posted to RAF St Athan No. 32 Maintenance Unit. He initially serviced a flight simulator, then moved to the Aircraft Electrical Servicing Squadron. After a year, he was posted to RAF Cranwell, servicing generators and was promoted to corporal. He passed his leading aircraftman examination. He spent two years in Malta before being posted to RAF Honington, where he became a sergeant.

Barry wanted to service flight simulators, did a course and was posted for two years to Fighter Command at Bentley Priory. He had a broad role in aircraft engineering at Command Headquarters.

Barry moved to become an education officer and did a course at the School of Education at RAF Uxbridge. He spent two years in the education branch, initially at RAF Melksham. He was then posted to RAF Halton to teach electrics and electrical mechanics before setting up the basic training for the first ground electrician apprenticeships.

Barry undertook an unaccompanied 12-month tour to RAF Muharraq (Bahrain) and was in charge of the battery charging room. A further twelve months were spent at RAF Benson on 90 Group Tactical Communication Wing before returning to RAF Halton to join the Trade Standards and Testing Board. This moved to RAF Brompton where he wrote skills and knowledge specifications for RAF trades. Barry left the RAF in 1975 and continued in teaching and training roles.
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Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sally Coulter]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Fighter Command]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> Bahrain--Muḥarraq]]> England--Buckinghamshire]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Suffolk]]> England--London]]> Bahrain]]> Bahrain--Muḥarraq]]> 1945-02]]> 1948]]> 1975]]>
Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tilly Foster]]> Jean Massie]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Egypt]]> Great Britain]]> Italy]]> Libya]]> North Africa]]> Egypt--Suez Canal]]> England--Buckinghamshire]]> England--Cornwall (County)]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Somerset]]> England--Oxford]]> England--Shropshire]]> Italy--Naples]]> Libya--Tripoli]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> 1940]]> 1941]]> 1942]]> Chris Johnson]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tilly Foster]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Canada]]> Great Britain]]> England--London]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> India]]> Indonesia]]> Singapore]]> 1944-06-18]]> D A Baker]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--London]]> England--Somerset]]> Scotland--Glasgow]]> D A Baker]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> Zimbabwe]]> Zimbabwe--Manicaland Province]]> 1941-07-24]]> D A Baker]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Bicester]]> Zimbabwe]]> Zimbabwe--Manicaland Province]]> 1941-08-07]]> D A Baker]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Oxford]]> 1941-08-18]]> D A Baker]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force]]> Great Britain]]> England--London]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Oxford]]> Zimbabwe]]> Zimbabwe--Manicaland Province]]> 1941-09-08]]> D A Shortland]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Jayne L Bailey]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Oxford]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Reading]]> 1946-06-21]]> D C Smith]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Jayne L Bailey]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Great Britain]]> England--Wiltshire]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> 1942-10-03]]> D Donaldson]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Frances Grundy]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Norfolk]]> Scotland--Ross and Cromarty]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Suffolk]]> England--Hertfordshire]]> England--Lincoln]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> 1945-03-31]]> 1939]]> 1940]]> 1941]]> 1942]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> D Smith]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sue Smith]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Transport Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Oxford]]> India]]> Burma]]> Burma--Rangoon]]> Vietnam]]> Vietnam--Ho Chi Minh City]]> Singapore]]> South Africa]]> 1945-11-21]]> D W Raettig]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> David Bloomfield]]> Pending review]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Memoir]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> 1941]]> 1941-01]]> 1941-08]]> 1942-02]]> 1942-05-30]]> 1943]]> Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Chris Cann]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Atlantic Ocean--English Channel]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Wiltshire]]> England--Lincoln]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> Germany--Berlin]]> Germany--Essen]]> Germany--Mannheim]]> Middle East--Jerusalem]]> Middle East--Palestine]]> Germany]]> Germany--Kiel Canal]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> 1941-09-01]]> 1942]]> David Donaldson]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Steve Baldwin]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Memoir]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Hampshire]]> England--Hamble-le-Rice]]> Scotland--Easter Ross]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Suffolk]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Exning]]> England--Ely]]> England--Huntingdonshire]]> England--London]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> 1934]]> 1937]]> 1938]]> 1939]]> 1940]]> 1941]]> 1942]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> David Kavanagh]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Ian Whapplington]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> Netherlands]]> Italy]]> England--Kent]]> Wales--Bridgend]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> England--Nottinghamshire]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> Italy--Pomigliano d'Arco]]> Netherlands--Amsterdam]]> 1943-11]]> 1945]]> 1946]]> David Kavanagh]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tilly Foster]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Buckinghamshire]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> Germany]]> Germany--Gelsenkirchen]]> Germany--Stuttgart]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> 1944-06-12]]> 1944-07-25]]> 1944-07-28]]> 1944-08-04]]> 1944-08-08]]> David Kavanagh]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tilly Foster]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Suffolk]]> England--York]]> England--Yorkshire]]> Scotland--Moray]]> France]]> France--Le Havre]]> Germany]]> Germany--Düsseldorf]]> Germany--Hannover]]> Germany--Kiel]]> Germany--Stuttgart]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> 1940-10]]> 1943-04-16]]> 1943-09-28]]> 1944-07]]>