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- Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Yorkshire"
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Interview with Alun Emlyn-Jones
Alun Emlyn-Jones (known as Grem among his RAF colleagues) was raised in Cardiff and attended boarding schools in Oxfordshire. He was working at an office supplies manufacturer when he volunteered to serve in Bomber Command, hoping to avoid being…
Interview with John Bagg
John Bagg worked as a clerk before joining the Royal Air Force, at the age of 20. He was trained as an Instrument Mechanic before re-mustering and completing a specialist camera course. He went on to serve on several training stations. After the war…
Interview with Eric Clarke
Eric was born in Doncaster and had a difficult childhood. He was attracted by nearby RAF Finningley and decided he wanted to join the RAF, when war was imminent. He was registered as an aircraftman second class and trained to be a wireless operator.…
Interview with Joan Ray
Joan Ray was born in Doncaster on the 11th March 1925. She suffered problems with her eyes in her early life and tells of the impact it had, including problems with reading and writing. She spent time in domestic service working at Hesley Hall in…
Interview with Derek Carington Evans
Derek was born on June 20th 1924 in Edlington near Doncaster, volunteering as aircrew at the age of 17. After leaving school at the age of 14, Derek delivered books in and around Doncaster before going down to the Royal Air Force Recruitment Centre…
Interview with Harry Gough
Harry Gough, born in Dewsbury, finished school in 1939 aged 14, joined the Air Training Corps in 1941 and volunteered for the Air Force in 1943. He recalls his training as an air gunner and flying over the North Pole. After flying operations he was…
Interview with Frank Mannion
Frank Mannion was born in Manchester, and after completing his electrical engineering apprenticeship at Metropolitan Vickers he volunteered for the RAF. Initially, he was ready to train as a pilot but having been told there was a shortage of air…
Interview with Len McNamara
Len McNamara was born in Bristol in 1924. While working as an apprentice plumber, he joined the Air Training Corps and volunteered for aircrew. He discusses his initial training at various stations, the gunnery course he passed with merit and…
Interview with Bluey Mottershead
Bluey was 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…
Interview with Joseph Musgrove
Born in York in 1922, Joseph left school at 14 and started work in a chocolate factory, whilst attending two nights of further education per week. In 1936, a fighter aircraft had landed nearby which stimulated his life-long interest in flying. After…
Interview with Ron Tomlin
Ron Tomlin grew up in Birmingham and was an apprentice carpenter before working in a munitions factory. He volunteered for the Air Force aged 18 and, after training, flew operations as a bomb aimer with 10 Squadron. His aircraft was forced to ditch…
Interview with Gordon Topham
Gordon Topham was born in Salisbury, but his family settled in Norwich, Norfolk and he joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 17, qualifying as a flight engineer in July 1944. Gordon’s father used to drive steam wagons and was involved with…
Interview with Ron Wade
Ron was born in Stoke-on-Trent. He left school at 14 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 22 and trained as an air gunner at RAF…
Interview with Olive Crowther
Olive had two brothers and a sister. One of her brothers joined the army and the other was an air gunner on Lancasters. She left school at 14 and went to work as a mender at Albion Mills. When she was 17 she worked on Lancaster navigation panels in…
Interview with Betty Greenwood
Betty Greenwood was born in 1926 in Belton, Lancashire. She attended Princess Mary high school and was privately educated in Paris but returned due to the threat of war. Aged 16, she was offered various jobs but decided to join the Royal Observer…
Interview with Margaret Habberfield
Margaret Habberfield was born in 1923. Aged 16 she joined the Royal Air Force, having declared her age as 18. She began her six-week general training at RAF Harrogate and was billeted with around 20 other girls. Margaret was then posted to RAF…
Interview with Sylvia Trapp
Sylvia was born in Mansfield where her father was a miner and her mother had worked at Lawns Mills. She had two brothers and a sister. Sylvia was 15 when she left school to work at the hosiery mills and recalls the German manager being deported. She…
Letter to Arthur Bailey's Mother
Arthur writes from RAF Riccall. He has been having issues with his wife, Georgie and her mother. The letter is incomplete.
Letter from Arthur Bailey to Doris
He is leaving for a new base at RAF Topcliffe. He has sent a dirty pair of pyjamas for her to wash.
Letter from Arthur Bailey to Doris
He has moved to RAF St Athans. Georgie and baby are well. He is training to be a flight engineer. He asks her to wash his dirty laundry.
Letter from Arthur Bailey to Doris
He thanks her for washing and returning his pyjamas. He is tired from night flying. He is visiting the Halifax factory in Preston for two weeks. He is expecting to be operational after Preston. He asks Doris to look after Georgie and his son, Michael…
Letter from Arthur Bailey to Doris
He has been on operations. He tells her not to worry about her baby.
Letter from Arthur Bailey to Doris
He has been on more operations. He talks about domestic issues and mentions Ralph.
Letter from Arthur Bailey to Doris
He talks about domestic issues and the weather. That evening they are having a big social event in the mess.
Letter from Arthur Bailey to Doris
He talks about domestic issues. The mess social was very good.