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Charles Godfey's observer's and air gunner's flying log book

Observer's and air gunner's flying log book for Pilot Officer Godfrey from 3 of February 1941 to 25 of September 1945 detailing training schedule, instructional duties and operations flown. Aircraft flown were Dominie, Proctor, Wellington, Hampden,…

Tags: 11 OTU; 15 OTU; 20 OTU; 37 Squadron; 635 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bombing; bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944); Bombing of Trossy St Maximin (3 August 1944); C-47; Cook’s tour; Defiant; Dominie; evading; Hampden; killed in action; Lancaster; Martinet; missing in action; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Operation Dodge (1945); Operation Exodus (1945); Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945); Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Pathfinders; Proctor; RAF Abingdon; RAF Andover; RAF Bassingbourn; RAF Blyton; RAF Brize Norton; RAF Carlisle; RAF Church Fenton; RAF Cottesmore; RAF Cranwell; RAF Downham Market; RAF Graveley; RAF Hampstead Norris; RAF Harwell; RAF Hemswell; RAF Ingham; RAF Leconfield; RAF Leeming; RAF Linton on Ouse; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Manby; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Melton Mowbray; RAF Middleton St George; RAF Moreton in the Marsh; RAF Newmarket; RAF Skipton on Swale; RAF St Eval; RAF Sywell; RAF Upavon; RAF Upper Heyford; RAF Upwood; RAF Waddington; RAF Warboys; RAF Westcott; RAF Wittering; RAF Wyton; shot down; Stirling; tactical support for Normandy troops; training; Victoria Cross; Wellington; wireless operator

Charles Godfrey's operations notes

Lists of crew and positions with some extra notes. First operation as crew 6 May 1944. Night operations May and June. July targets included Kiel, Stuttgart, Hamburg. Mentions crews missing. Daylight operationd to Trossy St Maximin and provides some…

Tags: bale out; bombing; Bombing of Trossy St Maximin (3 August 1944); evading; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); P-47; shot down

Interview with Margaret Horry

Margaret Horry was born in Spalding. She remembers aircraft taking off going on operations, and retells wartime stories of her relatives. Arthur served in Bomber Command as a bomb aimer. Frank was also in Bomber Command. He joined the Royal Air Force…

Trossy St Maximin

Vertical aerial photograph over Trossy St Maximin. The top and bottom sections are largely obscured by cloud and bomb explosions. Two Lancasters are visible, one directly below and one diving away in the bottom left corner of the…

Tags: 460 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; Bombing of Trossy St Maximin (3 August 1944); Lancaster; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); RAF Binbrook; target photograph

George Toombs’ flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers

Flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers for George Toombs, flight engineer, covering the period from 1 May 1944 to 7 October 1944. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF…

Tags: 1667 HCU; 460 Squadron; aircrew; bombing; bombing of Luftwaffe night-fighter airfields (15 August 1944); Bombing of Trossy St Maximin (3 August 1944); flight engineer; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; mine laying; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); RAF Binbrook; RAF Hemswell; RAF Sandtoft; tactical support for Normandy troops; training

George Holmes sortie record sheet 9 and 50 Squadrons

A Sortie Record Sheet dated from 3 June 1944 to 14 August 1944. Relating to Pilot Officer George Holmes’ service as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner with 9 and 50 Squadrons. The sheet records 15 operations, seven with 9 Squadron, and the other eight…

Tags: 50 Squadron; 9 Squadron; bombing; bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944); Lancaster; Lancaster Mk 3; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); tactical support for Normandy troops

Walter John Smith’s navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book

Navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book for Walter John Smith, flight engineer, covering the period from 22 April 1943 to 7 March 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Lindholme,…

Royal Air Force file cover - Creil area dumps 4/5 July

Buff file cover with contents: Photos, Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, Photographic Reconnaissance Unit report

Tags: bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); V-1; V-weapon

Attack on Creil area dumps, 5/5 July 1944. narrative

Notes that despite allied bombing, V-1 campaign against London and South East continues. Notes decision to attack V-1 storage sites. 617 Squadron were to join 5 Group attack and use using 12,000 bombs to collapse roof of caves in which bombs were…

Tags: 5 Group; 617 Squadron; 627 Squadron; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); Lancaster; Mosquito; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); P-51; Tallboy; target indicator; V-1; V-weapon

Crew list for operation against Creil area dumps

Date: 4/5 July 1944, target, zero hour 0130 hours. Lists leader and marker 1, Wing Commander Cheshire flying P-51. Marker 2 in Mosquito and 17 Lancaster carrying one tallboy bomb each.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aircrew; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); Mosquito; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); P-51; Tallboy; target indicator; V-1; V-weapon

Damage report St Leu D'Esserent

Signal message reports large concentration of craters, damage to entrance of caves and destruction of road rail in the area.

Tags: bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; V-1; V-weapon

5 Group intelligence - P.R.U. St Leu d'Esserent

Gives plots of six Tallboy craters and reports on damage to main railway, roads and access railway.

Tags: 5 Group; 617 Squadron; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Photographic Reconnaissance Unit; Tallboy; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing large bright flashes centre left and right as well as other flashes. Caption '338, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8", St Leu D'Esserent, V., 1 x 12000, F/O Lee, V., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/7'. A Lancaster at lower altitude can be…

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing open countryside with a bright area at the bottom left. Caption '339, W.S., 4/5.7.44,NT 8", 17000, 0141, St Leu D'Esserent, V. 1 x 12000, 34 secs, F/O Lee, V, 617'. On the reverse '51:98/8'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing a large flash centre left and other bright spots. Caption '341, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8", 18500, 330 degrees, 0135, St Leu D'Esserent, J, 1 x 12000, 34 secs, P/O Gingles, L, 617'. On the reverse '51:98/9, AP'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing bright areas bottom left and top right with tracer lines bottom left. Caption '342, W.S. 4/5 7.44, NT 8", St Leu D'Esserent, R, 1 x 120'51:98/10'.00, F/Lt Knilans, R., 617'. On the reverse

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing bright spot left centre on edge and another to its right. Tracer lines on the right side. Caption '344, W.S., 4/5 .7.44, NT 8", St Leu D'Esserent, Y., 1 x 12000, F/O Stout, Y, 617'. On the reverse '51:98/11'.'

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing bright spot in the middle. Caption '346, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8", 18500, 360 degrees, 0143, St Leu D'Esserent, D1, 1 x 12000, 34 secs, S/L McCarthy, Q., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/12'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing bright area in the centre. Caption '347, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8". 16450, 246 degrees 0131' St Leu D'Esserent, Z, 1 x 12000, 34 secs, F/L Pryor, Z., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/13'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing open countryside on the left with tracer lines and bright spot to the right. Caption '348, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8", St Leu D'Esserent, C, 1 x 12000, F/O Duffy, C., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/14'. A Lancaster at a lower…

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing many bright spots all over. Caption '352, W.S. 4/5.7.44, NT 8", 18700, St Leu D'Esserent, K1, 1 x 12000, F/L Wilson, N., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/15'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing large bright spot bottom centre. Caption '363, W.S. 4/5.7.44, NT 8", 18250, 348 degrees, 0140, St Leu D'Esserent, T, 1 x 12000, 34 secs, F/O Willsher, T., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/16, APoint'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Reconnaissance photograph showing a wooded area running top to bottom on the left with a road, railway to its left. On the right two roads run from the bottom joining top centre. There are a large number of craters to the left of the river and top…

Tags: aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); reconnaissance photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Reconnaissance photograph showing open countryside with fields. Road railway runs top right to bottom right. Road runs from bottom centre/right and splits, one going top top centre and the other to top left. There are a large number of craters on…

Tags: aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); reconnaissance photograph; V-1; V-weapon

Subsequent fate of Lancasters

List of aircraft with aircraft letter, what happened to the aircraft, and some with hours or number of operations..

Tags: crash; ditching; Lancaster; missing in action; RAF Lakenheath; shot down

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