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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/753/31388/BCotterJDPCotterJDPv1.2.pdf
51801623ceddc1937a5f993bda2490ef
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Title
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Cotter, John David Pennington
J D P Cotter
Description
An account of the resource
Three items. The collection concerns Wing Commander John Cotter DFC (b. 1923, Royal Canadian Air Force) and contains an oral history interview, his log book and a memoir. He flew operations as a pilot with 158 and 640 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by John Cotter and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2018-08-28
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Cotter, JDP
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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WING COMMANDER JOHN COTTER DFC
EXTRACTS FROM WAR DIARIES AND INFORMATION ON AIRCRAFT CREWS AND LISTS OF BOMBING RAIDS.
ACCOMPANYING ADDITIONS TO ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW 28th August 2018
[page break]
[underlined] A BOMBER CREW [/underlined]
I arrived at 28 Operational Training Unit, Bomber Command on 23rd February 1943.
The OTU was equipped with Wellington 1c aircraft and located at Wymeswold, near the town of Loughborough in Leicestershire. Most of the aircrew on my course were NCO's – sergeants – all the navigators were Canadian (RCAF). They also all wore the 'O' brevet which indicated that they had been trained as observers, i.e. navigators and bomb-aimers combined. But at this time the Air Force was splitting the duties of navigator and bomb-aimer and we had the new trade of bomb-aimer on our course. Initially most bomb-aimers were commissioned, as it was a new trade, and so most, if not all, the bomb aimers on our course were pilot officers.
There was a great deal of networking among the aircrew to sort themselves out into crews but I let matters take their course and eventually I was allocated a crew. So in my diary for 8th March I have put:
“At teatime in the Mess I met my navigator, a Canadian Called Andy Hicks. He seems a decent sort of chap.”
I think Andy must have been the first person crewed with me as it is not until 17th March that an air gunner, Wally Lomax, a wireless operator, Harry Reid and a bomb-aimer Norman Hawkridge, join the crew. We then started flying together – five of us. On 22nd March I was sent solo in the Wellington and the other 4 seemed quite happy with me. By 30th March we were going out in the evenings together as a crew, all except Norman, the bomb-aimer who lived in the Officers Mess. Anyway that evening we four sergeants went into Loughborough together – to the films (we saw a documentary “Desert Victory” and Alan Curtis in “Remember Pearl Harbour”).
The crew was given its first leave on Sunday 11th April and I invited Andy to come and stay at my home in North West London. Although he came from Calgary he had lost his mother in the Spanish flu epidemic of 1920 and the infant child had been brought over to Truro to be looked after by his grandmother: not returning to Canada until he was 8 years old. I think he had been down to Cornwall on a previous leave so he was glad of a break in London. My younger brother was away in the Air Force so Andy borrowed his civilian clothes for our trips into London. The leave was for 7 days and we packed a lot in during that week as the weather was superb. We met two Canadian friends of Andy who were both in the RCAF but were not aircrew. There is a photograph of the four of us at Hampton Court on a lovely sunny day – Andy and I in civilian clothes and Don and Hal in RCAF uniform. I never saw them again after that leave but Andy knew one of them in Alberta for many years after the War. One night we took my mother to dinner in London and then to the theatre to see Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard in “Watch on the Rhine”. We also saw Kay Hammond in 'Blithe Spirit' and a rather weak musical comedy.
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After that leave Andy made my parents' flat his home and he used to spend half his leaves in Cornwall and half with us. When we got to the Squadron in July we found that crews were sent on leave for 7 days every six weeks. So Andy and I would go to my place for 3 days, then he would go to Paddington Station to catch the “Cornish Riviera” express down to Truro for 3 days. On the 7th day we would meet back in London and travel north together, back to the Squadron. We would always take my mother out to dinner and a show on every leave. At that time there was a very famous comedian called Sid Field and we would take Mother to one of his shows whenever he was appearing in London. Sid Field's female lead was Zoe Gail who used to appear on stage dressed in top hat and tails, complete with cane, singing “I'm Going to Get Lit up when the Lights Go On in London”. There was still a blackout throughout the country. Just after the War Sid Field died and then, some 10 years later, his leading lady, Zoe Gail, was crippled in a car accident. The two of us frequented the best restaurants (such as were still open – there was not much choice). Quite often we would dine at the Ritz Hotel which we could quite afford as no restaurant in wartime was allowed to charge more than 5 shillings for a meal. Hotels, such as the Ritz, would levy a cover charge of around the meal price to stop the riff-raff getting in. The only other crew member we would meet in London on our leaves was Bill Griffiths, our mid-upper gunner. Bill lived in Luton and we used to meet him in London or sometimes go up and stay at his parents' house. His mother was a very nice, attractive lady and she used to look after us very well.
The Canadian Forces had a club in London, just off Trafalgar Square, called the Beaver Club. Andy and I used to go there frequently on our leaves. We would quite often run out of money and we would go down to the RCAF accounts headquarters in Kensington. I would wait outside while Andy went in and drew some of his deferred pay to keep us going. On every leave we would pay at least one visit to a Turkish bath. The establishment we frequented was in Northumberland Avenue, just off Trafalgar Square. There, for a few shillings, we would endure a severe pummelling from the masseurs after going through hot, cold and steam baths. This would be followed by a two or three hour snooze followed by a call with tea and hot-buttered toast. We found it a wonderful tonic for a hangover. When my brother Paul had leave at the same time he would join us on our London escapades. Fortunately he had two suits so he and Andy would share the clothes.
Our flight commander at Wymeswold was Squadron Leader Penman and he was the first proper operational veteran that most of us had met. Penman was one of the survivors of a raid, in August 1942, on Augsburg. This was the last daylight raid by Bomber Command for nearly 2 years and had resulted in very heavy losses as only 5 aircraft, from an attacking force of 12 Lancasters had returned. The raid leader, Sqn. Ldr Nettleton, was awarded the VC and Penman received the DSO.
[page break]
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At operational training unit crews finished off their course by undertaking a nickel raid. A nickel raid was a simple thing really although sometimes crews did not return. One's plane was loaded with leaflets and you flew across to France, Belgium or Holland and dropped all the leaflets which, I assume, encouraged all the occupied people to keep their chins up. So a nickel was a crew's operational baptism, although a reasonably mild one. My diary for 4th and 5th May 1943 reads:
“Got up about 11. Then went up and had dinner (lunch). After that went across to the link trainer and did an hour and a half which finishes me off (completes my link trainer programme). Then met Andy and found out that we were on a nickel. I nearly fainted! Bags of briefing and panic! Took off at 2130 and reached the (southern) English coast at 2359 where we wasted about an hour flying up and down trying to find Beachy Head (our departure point). Then crossed over to France. We had to drop leaflets on Rouen and we got caught in searchlights and then flak. Was I on pins! We were holed 5 times. Landed at Cranage (an airfield in North West of England) at 0400. Had no sleep at all. Got up at 0800: that is out of the chair that I occupied in the dump that the boys at this station call a Mess. I am still full of last night. Hung around all morning until at 1230 we got permission to take off. We got back to Wymeswold at about 1400 and after depositing our kit we went to the Intelligence Officer for an interrogation. Then to the Mess to proceed to shoot a line to all the boys. I was dog-tired however so Andy and I went and had a shower and then went to bed. Boy! Our first operation over – the 5 of us are walking around like fairies”.
At this stage our mid-upper gunner (Bill Griffiths) and our flight engineer (Mickey Rooney) had yet to join the crew. Bill Griffiths in fact joined us the next day, 6th May, and flew with us for the first time in place of Wally Lomax. On the Wellington we only had one gunner's turret – the rear – whereas we were obviously destined for Lancasters, Halifaxes or Stirlings all of which had positions for two gunners: a mid-upper and a rear gunner. When we arrived at this OTU we were told it normally supplied the Lancaster bomber squadrons.
On the 14th May 1943 we passed out, as a crew, from 28 OTU Wymeswold and we were off on 14 days leave. My diary stops at this time not to be resumed until September and then only for a short time. Anyway Andy came home with me for half the leave and spent the other half in Cornwall. We were posted to 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor, just outside York. HCU's served to convert crews on to the heavy bombers to be flown on operations and when you passed the HCU course you went straight to your squadron. Marston Moor had been the site of a famous battle. On 2nd July 1644 the Royalist forces of King Charles I had suffered their first major defeat there and, consequently, lost control of York and so the North of England.
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1652 HCU was one of three HCU's to feed 4 Group so we were not going on Lancasters but Halifaxes. No 4 Group was one of the two bomber groups stationed in Yorkshire – the other was 6 Group, the Canadian group. The Canadian stations were north of York and 4 Group was south and to the east. 6 Group was run by the RCAF but there were Australians, New Zealanders and British serving in the Group. 4 Group was RAF but many Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and one or two Americans were among our crews.
I was delayed getting to Marston Moor as I was sick at the end of my leave in London so Andy took charge of the crew. And accounts refused to pay them. Andy then went to the Station Warrant Officer to say the crew had no money and was owed 3 weeks pay but he got short thrift from this gnarled old pre-war NCO who probably thought these pip-squeak young sergeant aircrew were a damned nuisance. Just as Andy was protesting the Commanding Officer's door opened and out came the CO – Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, later a VC. He asked Andy the trouble, then turned to the SWO “See that these men are paid at once”. “Yes Sir!” said the SWO standing to attention. Cheshire at that time was 27 and a renowned bomber ace. He had been sent on a public relations tour of the United States and had come back to England with an American bride. This was Constance Binney who was 17 years older than Cheshire and a well-know Broadway actress. Some of the crew, I think Harry, Wally and Bill, were hitch-hiking back from York one day and they were picked up by Miss Binney whom they described as a very fragrant lady.
When I arrived at Marston Moor the crew introduced me to Mickey Rooney our flight engineer who was just joining us and now the crew was complete. I only had two instructors converting me to the Halifax: Sqn. Ldr Hadyn RAAF and Flt Lt Fisher, both very good. Shortly after we started flying the Halifax all the pilots were loaded into a 15cwt truck and driven east across Yorkshire. We were all going on a real operation that night, flying as second pilots. There were about six of us and one of us was dropped off each at a separate squadron base. Eventually I was the only one left on the truck and I was driven to the most easterly airfield – Lisset the home of 158 Squadron. The raid was to Cologne and I was put with Sgt ‘Bluey’ Mottershead and his crew. I had nothing to do, of course, but to sit in the right-hand seat and watch. Thank goodness our flight was uneventful: the weather was clear, the city was on fire long before we reached it and we did not come across any fighters. But Bomber Command lost 27 aircraft that night with 156 aircrew killed. When we turned for home after bombing I was so exhausted with the tension that I started to fall asleep. Bluey told me to go back and sleep on the rest bed and the next thing I knew was when the wheels touched the runway back at Lisset. Returning westwards in the 15cwt I was eventually joined by the others: we had all come through!
[page break]
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Towards the end of July the course finished and my crew was posted to 158 Squadron where I had just been. Lisset is near the East Yorkshire coast and just south of the seaside resort of Bridlington. We travelled across to Lisset on Thursday 22nd July in another 15cwt truck to start our operational career and it was a nice sunny summer day. I recall we stopped and bought strawberries at a wayside stall on the way over. It was fairly late when we arrived at the Squadron base – I think about 2230. In those days the blackout and the absence of all road signs throughout Britain made road journeys rather long and tedious. Norman went off to the officers’ quarters and we six sergeants were allocated a Nissan hut as our very own. I think all six of us then drifted along to the Mess in search of something to eat. It was quite a sight when we reached it as there had just been a dance. Various chaps were occupying all the mess settees, accompanied by Waafs (Womens Auxiliary Airforce) with greatcoats covering their antics. The floor of the anteroom was covered in debris: cigarettes, glasses and beer spillages. At the far end of the long room a combined snooker and crap game seemed to be in progress with about 20 participants dominated by a tall, blonde flight sergeant dressed in the dark blue of the Australian Air Force. Six weeks later, after the Squadron Commander and one of the 3 Flight Commanders had been lost, that Australian had jumped 5 ranks to Squadron Leader and was our Flight Commander; remaining so nearly until the end of our tour.
Friday 23rd July was spent settling in and flying one of the Squadron aircraft for about 4 hours on a handling flight. Then, the next day, we were off on our first trip for the start of what became known as the Battle of Hamburg. This was the first of 4 successive attacks on the City in 9 days. This operation was notable for a new defensive device carried by the bombers called “Window”. Window consisted of small metallic strips of foil that were thrown out of each aircraft as it approached the target area. Harry, the wireless operator, had the job of throwing out the window strips, thousands came from each of the Wellingtons, Stirlings, Halifaxes and Lancasters taking part in this operation. Window confused the German ground and airborne radar and so we only lost about 12 aircraft that night, including one from our squadron.
We took off around 2200 and Andy expertly navigated us to Hamburg, although once we were within 50 miles of the City the fires on the ground indicated the target. I was the only one of the crew to cause a problem that night on our first proper operation. As we were running in over the target Norman found the bomb release did not work. After we had passed over the City with the bombs still on board Mickey, the engineer, came up to the cockpit to see what was wrong. I had pushed the bomb door lever down instead of pulling it up to open the doors. By now we were well to the north east of Hamburg and heading towards Lubeck. Instead of turning straight for home and safety we turned and completed a large circuit round the burning city and some half hour later we were on our second bombing run and this time I operated the lever correctly. When we bombed everyone else had finished and long since cleared the area. We should have been a
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sitting duck for the night fighters but all those metallic strips floating in the air must have protected us. We took part in all four raids to Hamburg, although we aborted one operation when we turned back with engine trouble.
Lisset was a typical airfield built during the War with accommodation in well-dispersed Nissan huts. We 6 sergeants were in our own hut some half mile from the Sergeants Mess. The hut was heated by a coke-burning stove and was not too comfortable. We were saved by meeting Company Sergeant-Major Albert Hawkins. CSM Hawkins, known to all as 'Q', was in the Tank Corps and he was in charge of an Army sergeants mess located in a very nice house on the seafront in Bridlington. He persuaded his Mess to adopt our crew and from then on we lived and messed with the Army. Q provided us with transport whenever we were needed at the airfield but most of the time we were in Bridlington. By Christmas Day 1943 both Andy and I, as well as Norman, were commissioned but we spent the day with the Army serving Xmas dinners to all the squaddies.
When we arrived on 158 the Squadron was commanded by Wg. Cdr T.R. Hope, DFC. He was a big, bluff, likeable officer : a pre-war civil pilot. But we hardly knew him as some 3 weeks after our arrival he failed to return from a trip to Nuremburg. And, after another 3 weeks Sqn. Ldr Elliott, one of the flight commanders, also failed to return. The new squadron commander was the highly decorated Wg.Cdr. Jock Calder, DSO, DFC.
The station commander was Group Captain John Whitley, DSO. He had been shot down earlier in the War, evaded, and walked across the Pyrenees to Spain and freedom. He used to regale us with the story of the powerful American footballer in his evading party who had collapsed crossing the mountains – [underlined] because he was not fit [/underlined]. To this end he would have us running around the perimeter track on the occasional non-operational day. Fortunately our crew missed most of these exercises as we were probably lurking with the Army in Bridlington.
One crew who had been with us both at Wymeswoold and at Marston Moor had also arrived at 158. This was Sgt Doug Robinson and crew. Our favourite watering hole in Bridlington was the Brunswick and one night our two crews were there together. Doug's navigator was a Canadian, Dave Rosenthal, and he happened to say to me that if he was shot down he would not stand much chance as he was Jewish. It was the first time I began to think about what was happening to the Jews of Europe and then some weeks later Doug and crew failed to come back from Berlin.
By October 1943 our crew had completed 13 operations. I had now been promoted to flight sergeant and very pleased I was: my pay had gone from 12/6 to 16/6d a day. In the middle of that month David Leicester, our flight commander, asked us to travel to an
[page break]
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airfield in the South of England to ferry back an aircraft that had been repaired. We jumped at the chance as this meant a night in London on the way down. My diary again:
“Up at 0830 (in the Army sergeants mess in Bridlington). The weather rotten but we had to go back to camp. Leicester asked me to take the crew down and collect a kite from Middle Wallop. We had to go by train from Hull. Norman went home to Leeds but the rest of the boys came with me. We had to stand in the train all the way from Doncaster to London. Got to London at 1930 and went along to the Regent Palace hotel and booked two double rooms. Bill and I had one room and we smuggled Wally into it and Andy and Harry got Mickey into their room.”
The point of this is that, in those days, a single room in the Regent Palace was 12/6d and a double was 19/6d, so we saved ourselves a few pennies. We slept three to a bed in the two rooms and in the middle of the night the air raid sirens went off. I don't know about Andy's room but in our room there was panic with all three of us trying to dive under the bed. Although my diary does not say as much, I have no doubt that our nerves were brittle because we had been out on the town that night and we probably all were a little smashed. My diary for the following day, Monday 18th October 1943, reads:
“Caught a bus for Andover at 0900 and we had to stand all the way for the two hour journey. At Andover had to find another bus to get us to Middle Wallop which turned out to be a night fighter base. After a lunch and messing about all afternoon found we could not take off. So we all had tea and went down to Andover to the movies. Saw Lana Turner in 'Slightly Dangerous'. Harry and I missed the last bus back to camp and we had to stay in the White Hart Hotel for the night which cost me 12/6d, all the money I had.”
What Harry Reid and I were doing to miss the bus I have forgotten but I expect we were up to no good!!
Diary for the 19th October :
“Harry and I caught the 0825 bus to Middle Wallop and heard that we could take off straight away. Got back to Lisset at 1200 to learn we were on ops. So had dinner and went up to the billet (spelt 'billett' throughout my diaries) to get changed. Wally reported sick so we were given a spare gunner. Got briefed and the target was Augsburg. Had ops meal and then went to locker room. Norman had not turned up but luckily the op was scrubbed. Met Norman on the way to Q's (CSM Hawkins our Army friend in Bridlington) So he came down with us. He had only just got back from Leeds.”
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Another diary entry is for Saturday 30th October 1943. This must have been one of the rare nights the crew slept at the RAF base rather than with the Army in Bridlington:
“Got up at 0610, washed, dressed and had breakfast. Went down to the flights at 0900. Once again there were ops on so went out (to the aircraft) to do my D.I. (inspection). After that went up to the billet and got changed into battledress (obviously when we got up that morning we had dressed in our walking-out uniform expecting to Saturday off and a trip into Bridlington). Then had lunch and went down with Andy to navigation briefing. Once again target was Leverkusen. Went to main briefing at 1400 and then had lunch. Take off was 1630 so we went out to the kite and we were all ready when it was scrubbed. So Any, Wally and I stayed in and lit a fire. Later Andy and I went down to The Bull for a drink. It was more like a brothel than a pub”.
It looks, from the above that we had two lunches that day. In fact the second lunch would have been our take-off meal. Our crew, of course, very rarely used the local pubs in Lisset. The Bull, which I do not remember, must have been packed that Saturday night with Waafs and aircrew.
August 1943 was a bad month for the Squadron with 15 aircraft lost, 9 of these on two raids to Berlin (or the 'Big City' as it was known to the crews). It was an intensive month for Bomber Command with the last of the raids to Hamburg at the start, followed by the attack on the rocket installations at Peenemunde and rounding off with the first Berlin offensive to close. On a beautiful summer evening on 2nd August we were briefed for the 4th successive attack on Hamburg to the announcement that only the brothel and residential areas had not been destroyed and they were our target. Most of us gave a cheer at this news.
I think it is fair to say that most of our crew thoroughly enjoyed squadron life. In wartime Britain operational aircrew lived very well and, provided one could cope with the constant danger, it was a life of Riley. Consider:
Before every operation crews were given a super meal consisting of cholesterol building agents – eggs, bacon, chips etc.
On return from an operation we were greeted in the debriefing room by Waafs with mugs of coffee liberally laced with navy rum. And if you smiled sweetly at the Waafs you might get a second mug at the end of the debriefing.
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If successful in getting the second helping of rum you then tottered out of the briefing room to another meal of eggs, bacon, chips and increased cholesterol.
7 days leave came round ever 6 weeks.
At a time when petrol for pleasure motoring was banned aircrew were an exception as we were allowed enough petrol to run our cars and motor bikes.
Lord Nuffield, the motor magnate, sponsored a scheme whereby aircrew could stay at many of the best hotels in the country at a 50% discount.
In October Andy Hicks was commissioned and my own commission came through a few weeks later. Our final operation for 1943 was an attack on Leipzig on 3rd December (my diary stops in October so I now rely on memory.) Christmas was spent with our Army friends in Bridlington and we were only involved in training flying until the end of the year. Part of this training was to convert to a new Halifax, the Mark 3, which had better engines and an improved performance. 158 squadron consisted of 3 flights and our crew in C Flight was commended by the aforementioned Squadron Leader David Leicester, the blonde Australian flight sergeant we had noticed on our arrival at Lisset the previous July.
At the beginning of 1944 C Flight, together with our new Halifaxes, left 158 Squadron to become A Flight of a new Squadron – 640 – based at Leconfield. We left behind the temporary, wartime airfield at Lisset, with its Nissan huts and winter warmth provided by coke stoves and moved to a pre-war permanent station with brick buildings and central heating. Leconfield is about 30 miles from Lisset near the ancient market town of Beverley with its 10th century minster. At the time of the move our crew was on leave, with Andy and I down in London with my mother. I think we had also spent a night or two of that leave with Bill Griffiths and his parents at Luton, 35 miles north west of London. We came back to our new base, with its creature comforts, where Andy, Norman and I took up residence in one of the pre-war married officers quarters. We had, at this stage, completed 20 operations – more than halfway through our assumed tour of 30. We had to say goodbye to our good friends in the Tank Corps at Bridlington and settle into a new social life centred on Beverley and the North Sea fishing port of Hull a little further away.
Possibly our social life was now more focused on the Officers Mess where there was a lot of activity. Whereas 158 had been the only squadron at Lisset our new base was home to two squadrons: 640 with crew members from the RAF, the RCAF, the RAAF and the RNZAF and even one USAAF officer; and 466 an RAAF squadron with mainly Australian aircrew but a few British, Canadians and New Zealanders thrown in. Our
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station commander was Group Captain Waterhouse who had been one of the 3 officers sent over to Canada in August 1939 to help start the Empire Air Training Scheme. He had come back home with a lovely Canadian wife who lived on base. Our squadron commander was Wing Commander 'Ruby' Eayrs who had returned from a posting in Australia. With 2 squadrons on the base there was a great deal of rivalry that used to culminate in Mess games on non-flying nights.
Our time with 640 included the second Berlin offensive in February, that also included an attack on Leipzig, and the notorious Nuremberg raid at the end of March when the Command suffered very heavy losses. In early March I was called in to see Ruby Eayrs and questioned about my tour up until then. Some two weeks later I had finished a comfortable lunch and was fast asleep in one of the deep mess armchairs when I was woken by Alan Smart. I had just been awarded an immediate DFC, the first decoration to be awarded on our new squadron. A little later I was called once more to see the squadron commander, to be told that my crew had been awarded a further three decorations and I had to recommend the recipients. This was an extremely hard task but I eventually put forward Andy Hicks, Mickey Rooney and Bill Griffiths. So Andy received the DFC and Mickey and Bill the DFM. In truth all the crew had earned these decorations.
Our crew completed 13 trips at Leconfield, finishing with an operation to Düsseldorf on 22nd April. As it was the period just before D-day we completed slightly more operations than the normal 30, our extra sorties being attacks on French targets – mainly rail junctions. Norman Hawkridge, our bomb-aimer , had left us the previous month when he had been sent on a bombing leader's course. This is why Norman does not appear in the crew photograph, taken that April outside the house at Leconfield where Andy and I lived.
The sad thing about that last operation was that two crews were on their final sortie that night. Colin Penfold, a New Zealander, and his crew had joined 158 Squadron at the same time as us and had moved with us to 640. They were lost over Düsseldorf with all the crew killed except the second pilot who managed to bail out just in time.
Looking back there is no doubt that we were blessed with good fortune during our squadron life. We had no serious combats with German fighters and although occasionally coned in searchlights we had always broken free. Colleagues, such as lan Smart had fought off night fighter attacks and sustained severe aircraft damage whereas we were very lucky. We would fly towards or away from the target watching others of our bombers being shot down either side of us.
Quite early on in our tour we had adopted our own tactics which may have helped. A Bomber Command operation in 1943 and early 1944 would usually consist of about six
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waves following the pathfinders who would be in the lead. Waves would be allocated a specific time and height over the target, they would be separated by around 10 minutes and would have a bombing window of about 5 minutes.
After take off aircraft would climb to bombing height and set course from an assembly point: Goole for the northern bomber groups if flying east, or Reading if going south east. Bombing height was around 22000 feet for the Halifax 3 and crews were briefed to fly out at that altitude. However, we usually flew much lower, at about 8000 feet, on the premise that the German aircraft would sooner hunt in the main stream above us than try to pick off the odd single aircraft. Some ten minutes before the target we would climb up to the correct height, bomb and descend when well clear of the area.
Just before our final trip we attended a briefing by an intelligence officer from Command who told us that only three large German cities remained free from attack: Chemnitz, Breslau and Dresden and that all would be bombed eventually. And during the War I never heard anyone, service or civilian, object to the policy of saturation bombing. We all admired our Commander in Chief. He was known to the bomber crews as Butch Harris, not Bomber Harris.
Our crew was now dispersed: I was sent to Scotland to a training unit and Andy went to a similar station in the West Country. But we arranged our leaves to coincide so that Andy spent half of each leave in North London with us and the other half in Truro. When news came through that my brother had been killed at Boundary Bay in Canada I was in the North of Scotland but Andy went to my home immediately to help my mother handle the shock.
In September 1944 I had to attend an investiture for the award of my DFC and, as I was serving in Scotland, the ceremony took place at Holyrood House in Edinburgh while the King was in residence there. I was allowed to invite two guests and Andy brought my mother up from London.
Our last meeting, before Andy returned to Canada, was on 2nd July 1945 when he was best man at my wedding. Bill Griffiths was the only other crew member to attend that day. Andy had been due to return home earlier in the year but he delayed for the wedding. On our wedding night Margaret and I were staying at a London hotel after leaving the reception. When we went out to eat later that evening we found that Andy, together with another guest, Lois Hammerbeck, had come to the West End and tracked us down to the restaurant where they joined us.
After the War the crew went their separate ways:
[underlined] John Cotter [/underlined] remained in the RAF until 1962. He then flew with an airline until finally retiring in 1983. He now lives in Brighton.
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[underlined] Andy (Vic) Hicks [/underlined] returned to Canada and worked in accountancy and the hotel industry. He eventually retired to Calgary where he died in 1997.
[underlined]Norman Hawkridge [/underlined] worked in banking and insurance before retiring to Cumbria. Norman died on 20th May 2005.
[underlined]Harry Reid [/underlined] was demobilized in Rhodesia where he was stationed. He worked on the railways but he and his family returned to the UK in 1961. Harry died in 1998.
[underlined]Mickey Rooney [/underlined] stayed in the RAF and was commissioned. He was killed in an aircraft accident c1950.
[underlined]Bill Griffiths [/underlined] emigrated to Australia in 1961. After some years of ill-health Bill died in 2003.
[underlined]Wally Lomax [/underlined] returned to Lancashire and died in 2001.
Other personalities mentioned:
Sqn. Ldr. Penman DSO, DFC remained in the RAF after the War. He died in 2004.
[underlined] David Leicester DFC* [/underlined] completed his tour 3 weeks before I did. He went straight to a Lancaster conversion unit and then to a pathfinder squadron – No. 35. After completing 68 operations, without a break, he returned to Australia in January 1945. On applying to Qantas he was found to be unfit for civil flying and he left aviation. He is now retired and lives in Adelaide.
[underlined] Wg. Cdr. T. Hope DFC [/underlined] was shot down over Belgium on a raid to Nuremburg. Only 3 crew members survived to be taken prisoner: Hope, his flight engineer and mid-upper gunner. After the War Hope resumed his civil flying career as Chief Pilot with Scottish Aviation.
[underlined] Sqn. Ldr. Neil Elliott [/underlined] was shot down on a raid to Berlin on a night when the Squadron losses were 20%. His 2 gunners were lost and the rest of the crew became prisoners. Neil Elliott stayed in the RAF and when I went through Staff College in 1958 he was on the directing staff. He died of a heart attack in the 1960’s.
[underlined] Wg. Cdr. Jock Calder DSO*, DFC [/underlined] completed his second tour as CO of 158. In 1958 he was on the same course as me at Staff College. He died in 1997.
[underlined] Gp. Cpt. John Whitley DSO [/underlined] retired from the RAF in 1962 as an Air Marshal. I met him several times after the War. A very nice man.
[underlined] Gp. Cpt. Leonard Cheshire VC, DSO** DFC [/underlined] became a legend in Bomber Command and received the VC. After the War he founded the Cheshire Homes. He was the Principal Speaker at the first 4 Group Dinner I attended in 1992. He died a few years later.
[page break]
13
[underlined] Douglas Robinson. [/underlined] Just after the War I was a flying instructor at Moreton-in-Marsh and we were refreshing returned ex-pow pilots. Low and behold Doug Robinson appeared on the course and later, when he worked in teaching, he would bring cadets to the RAF for annual camps and we met a couple of times. He published a book in 1997 from which I found that Doug had had a very tough war – in sharp contrast to my own lucky run. On returning from training in South Africa his boat was torpedoed off the West African coast and Doug spent 8 days in an open boat. Midway through his tour his crew was about to go on leave when they were called out for an attack on Berlin. His aircraft was badly damaged by flak and the crew had to bale out over Holland. The flight engineer’s parachute had been destroyed so Doug stayed with the engineer and crash-landed the aircraft in a field. If anyone deserved a gallantry medal he did, but he did not get one. And he did not have a very pleasant time in prison camp.
[underlined] Dave Rosenthal. [/underlined] After prison camp Dave returned to Canada and I met him again at a 158 reunion in the ‘90’s.
[underlined] ‘Bluey’ Mottershead. [/underlined] ‘Bluey’ completed his tour and was awarded the DFC. After the War he formed the 158 Association and ran the squadron reunions for many years.
[underlined] Alan Smart DFC [/underlined] Alan completed his tour and after the War returned to commerce in the Hull area. Alan died on 3rd October 2002.
[underlined] ‘Ruby’ Eayrs DFC. [/underlined] Retired from the RAF as a Group Captain. He merited a long obituary in the Telegraph when he died in 1992.
[underlined] Crew Operations: [/underlined]
1. 28 OTU 4/5/43 Rouen - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Lomax
2. 158 Sqn 28/6/43 Cologne – Cotter (2nd pilot with another crew)
3. 158 Sqn 24/7/43 Hamburg – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/ Reid/Rooney/ Griffiths/Lomax Log book records – Fighters none seen, Flak negligible, Weather good, Large fires, Bomb Load 1 x 2000 lb. 12 Aircraft lost. Landed Eastmoor short of fuel.
4. 158 Sqn 29/7/43 Hamburg – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax Flack negligible, Heavy concentrations of searchlights, Weather clear over target, Large fires south of City. 30 aircraft lost.
14
5. 158 Sqn. 2/8/43 Hamburg – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. 10/10 cloud over target, Heavy thunderclouds up to 20000 feet, AA barrage, No fighters seen, Fires scattered over target area, Bombed heaviest concentration, Bomb load – 2x1000 48x30 630x4lb 31 aircraft lost
6. 158 Sqn. 9/8/43 Mannheim - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. More than half cloud over target, Fighter encountered over Boulogne, Landed Barford St John fuel short, 16 aircraft lost
7. 158 Sqn. 17/8/43 Peenemunde - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Weather clear, Smoke screen over target, Bright Moon, Flak negligible, Searchlights nil, No combats seen, Bombed @ 0013 – 1x2000 1x1000 6x500lb, Landed Wymeswold, 41 aircraft lost
8. 158 Sqn. 22/8/43 Leverkusen - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Full cloud over target, AA barrage, 2 fighters & 1 combat seen over target. No pathfinder markers seen, 5 aircraft lost.
9. 158 Sqn. 16/9/43 Modane Italy - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Ran into heavy cloud 30 minutes from target. Forced to turn back owing to severe icing over Alps. 5 aircraft lost.
10. 158 Sqn. 22/9/43 Hannover - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Large concentrations of searchlights ringed round target. Flak heavy in cones, 5 British aircraft seen going down over target, weather good, large fires. 31 aircraft missing.
11. 158 Sqn. 23/9/43 Mannheim - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Searchlights heavy, flak cooperating with them, many fighters over target, heavy fires seen, weather good, 2 engines cut on landing approach, fuel short. 37 aircraft missing.
12. 158 Sqn. 27/9/43 Hannover - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Good weather, searchlights and fighters cooperating effectively over target, 38 aircraft missing, landed at Downham Market.
13. 158 Sqn. 29/9/43 Bochum – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax/plus Sgt Cipriani as 2nd pilot. Good visibility over target, heavy concentrations of searchlights, little flak, no fighters seen, heavy fires in target area, 8 aircraft missing.
[page break]
14. 158 Sqn. 3/10/43 Kassel - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Weather clear, defences weak over target, attack well concentrated, 24 aircraft missing.
15. 158 Sqn. 4/10/43 Frankfurt - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Cloudy over continent, target clear, large numbers of searchlights surrounding target, successful prang, 12 aircraft missing.
16. 158 Sqn. 23/10/43 Kassel - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus Flt Sgt Vicary as 2nd pilot. Flying in cloud most of way but target clear, defences moderate, no combats seen, landed Catfoss, 44 aircraft missing.
17. 158 Sqn. 3/11/43 Dusseldorf - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus Flt Sgt Edwards as 2nd pilot. Full cloud en route but target clear, no flak, searchlights weak owing to ground mist, many combats sighted, fires well concentrated, 19 aircraft missing.
18. 158 Sqn. 22/11/43 Berlin - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus Sqn. Ldr. McCormack as 2nd pilot. Full cloud below us over whole of Germany, heavy flak at defended areas along the route, especially Hannover, bombed on Wanganui flares, 26 aircraft missing.
19. 158 Sqn. 25/11/43 Frankfurt - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Full cloud over target, flak nil, no fighters seen, fires rather scattered, 13 aircraft missing.
20. 158 Sqn. 26/11/43 Stuttgart - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus F/O Thompson supernumerary. Heavy searchlight defences over Frankfurt, many combats sighted, also combats over Frankfurt, heavy flak over target, flak damage sustained over Saarbruken, landed Tangmere, 32 aircraft missing. (Flying Officer Thompson was a schoolmaster and officer in the Air Training Corps and he had a gammy leg due to a World War I wound. The crew thought he was pretty brave to come on an operation like this as a volunteer).
21. 158 Sqn. 3/12/43 Leipzig - Cotter/Hicks/Portsmouth/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus Sgt Wisbey as 2nd pilot. Many combats sighted en route out, full cloud over target, accurate flak over Dessau, 24 aircraft missing.
16
22. 640 Sqn 30/1/44 Berlin – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Wong/Salvoni/Lomax. Full cloud over target and all Europe, many rockets seen over target but no combats, number 5 and 6 tanks froze up, (water in fuel) landed Little Snoring, have lost 247 gallons, 33 aircraft missing.
23. 640 Sqn 15/2/44 Berlin – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus F/O Cameron as 2nd pilot. Full cloud over target, bombed on Wanganui flares, no combats, flak ineffective, very quiet for Berlin, bomb load all incendiaries, 43 aircraft missing.
24. 640 Sqn 19/2/44 Leipzig - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus Flt Sgt Burke as 2nd pilot. Full cloud over target, ran into heavy searchlight at Emden, missed markers and hit Berlin, many combats seen, 79 aircraft missing.
25. 640 Sqn 20/2/44 Stuttgart – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Stilliard. Moderate cloud over target, fires well concentrated, flak moderate, quiet trip, 10 aircraft missing.
26. 640 Sqn 24/2/44 Schweinfurt - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus Lt Kornegay USAAF as 2nd pilot. Clear over target, fires well concentrated, flak heavy, searchlights weak, combats seen en route, 35 aircraft missing.
27. 640 Sqn 6/3/44 Trappes – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. No opposition at all, Bombed railway lines with 12,000lbs HE, aiming point photograph.
28. 640 Sqn 7/3/44 Le Mans – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. A little heavy flak over target, bombed railways through heavy cloud cover, bomb load 11,500lbs.
29. 640 Sqn 15/3/44 Stuttgart – Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Austen plus Flt Lt Cassells as 2nd pilot. Much cloud en route, heavy opposition from fighters, landed at Westcot, 40 aircraft missing.
[page break]
17
30. 640 Sqn Nuremberg – Cotter/Gray/Sproulle/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Half cloud cover en route, fighter opposition heavy in extremes, opposition fierce over target, coned at Calais on home route, 96 aircraft missing. *See note.
31. 640 Sqn Paris – Cotter/Hicks/Sproulle/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Full moon, attacked marshalling yard at Villeneuve, souther suburbs, flak moderate, 11 aircraft missing.
32. 640 Sqn Tergnier – Cotter/Hicks/Broadbent/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Full moon, clear over target, no fighters seen, rocket flak bursting at 12,000ft on route out. 22Aircraft missing.
33. 640 Sqn Tergnier - Cotter/Hicks/Broadbent/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax. Marshalling yards bombed, aiming point on photo, rockets seen in bomber stream, 14 aircraft missing.
34. 640 Sqn Dusseldorf - Cotter/Hicks/Sproulle/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax plus P/O Maxwell as 2 nd pilot. Searchlights numerous but no flak, no combats, weather good, 42 aircraft lost.
[underlined] Aborted Operations [/underlined]
1. 27/7/43 Hamburg - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax
Turned back before enemy coast with one engine surging badly.
2. 24/8/43 Berlin - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax
Turned back before enemy coast with rear gunner's oxygen supply unserviceable.
3. 8/10/43 Hannover - Cotter/Hicks/Hawkridge/Reid/Rooney/Griffiths/Lomax
An engine failed just after take-off
The second pilots shown above were new arrivals on the Squadron and the procedure was they were sent out on one trip with an experienced crew before operating on their own. Also, a number of other crew members flew with me during the tour and all non-regular crew members are shown below:
18
Sgt Cipriani RAF - Later killed in action 22/10/43
F/Sgt Vicary RAAF – Later bailed out over UK 16/2/44 and left the Squadron
F/Sgt Bush RAAF – Shot down, POW 31/3/44
P/O Portsmouth RAF – Completed tour
F/Sgt Edwards RAAF – Later killed in action 20/12/43
S/Ldr McCormack RAAF – Shot Down, POW, 29/1/44
F/O Thompson ATC – Schoolmaster
Sgt Wisbey RAF – Killed in action 28/6/44
Sgt Wong RAF – Completed tour
F/O Salvoni RAF – Killed in action
F/O Cameron RCAF Killed in action 17/6/44
F/Sgt Burke RCAF – Killed in action 31/3/44
Sgt Stilliard RAF – Killed in action 31/3/44
Lt Kornegay USAAF - Completed tour
F/Lt Cassels RAF – Completed tour
F/O Austen RAF – Shot down, POW, 31/3/44
W/O Gray RCAF – Completed tour
F/Lt Sproulle RAF – Completed tour
F/Sgt Broadbent RAF - Completed tour
P/O Maxwell – Not known
[underlined] Note. Nuremburg. [/underlined] Once again we had a trip without running into any opposition. Norman had gone off on his bombing leaders' course so Tommy Sproulle, the Squadron Bombing Leader, came with us. Andy was also away and was replaced by a Canadian navigator on his first trip. It was a moonlight night and all the way out and back we saw combats to the east of us with our aircraft invariable going down in flames. Because I had the Bombing Leader on board I flew at the briefed operating height, mixed in with the stream. Shortly before we reached the final turning point for Nuremburg the navigator was unsure of his position. Then I saw target indicators going down ahead and told the crew that I had Nuremburg in sight, even though we were some 15 minutes ahead of ETA. Tommy bombed on the markers and we set course for home for a personally uneventful return. Then as we flew north over Lincolnshire all the airfield lights were out and at Leconfield the Drem flarepath had to be turned on for us. We were 30 minutes ahead of ETA because we had bombed Schweinfurt instead of Nuremburg. Our squadron lost 3 aircraft with 18 killed. All the Captains were RCAF including Jim Laidlaw, married the month before, and F/Sgt Burke who had flown with me only a few weeks earlier. In total the Command had 545 men killed.
JDC/Revision 2/Jun 05
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Extracts from war diaries and information on aircraft crews and lists of bombing operations
Description
An account of the resource
Describes training and crewing up at operational training unit on Wellingtons. Mentions staying in London on leave with RCAF colleague, using the Canadian forces club London and dining at the Ritz. Includes diary entry describing operational baptism. Continues with coverage of training at heavy conversion unit and eventual posting to 158 Squadron. Describes first operations to Hamburg n detail as well as life at RAF Lissett. Relates story of being detailed to ferry an aircraft back from an airfield in the south of England and spending a day in London. Continues recounting other events from diary and mention that squadron lost 15 aircraft in August 1943. Mentions last operation in 1943 and getting his commission, converting to new Halifax and transfer to 640 Squadron at RAF Leconfield. Writes of life on new station and in officers mess. Comments of some of the operations flown and awards of decorations to him and his crew. Mention his last operation to Düsseldorf. Writes about his crew's tactics and dispersal of crew after finishing his tour of operations and their subsequent history. Covers history of other individuals named in the memoir. List crew operations with comments on losses. Follows a list of non-regular crew members he flew with during his tour. Concludes with account of his operation to Nuremburg including mention of aircraft lost.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
J D Cotter
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-08-28
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Nineteen page printed document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
BCotterJDPCotterJDPv1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
United States Army Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
England--Truro
England--Leicestershire
France
France--Rouen
England--Yorkshire
Germany
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Peenemünde
Germany--Leverkusen
Italy
France--Modane
Germany--Hannover
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Schweinfurt
France--Soligny-la-Trappe
France--Le Mans
France--Paris
France--Tergnier (Canton)
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
England--Cornwall (County)
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
2018-08-28
1942-08
1943-02-23
1943-03
1943-05-05
1943-05-14
1943-08
1943-12-03
1943-06-27
1943-07-24
1943-07-29
1943-08-02
1943-08-09
1943-08-17
1943-08-22
1943-09-16
1943-08-22
1943-08-23
1943-08-27
1943-08-29
1943-10-03
1943-10-04
1943-10-23
1943-11-03
1943-11-22
1943-11-26
1943-12-03
1944-01-30
1944-02-15
1944-02-19
1944-02-20
1944-02-24
1944-03-06
1944-03-07
1944-03-15
1944-03-30
1944-04-09
1944-04-10
1944-04-17
1944-04-22
1943-07-27
1943-08-24
1943-10-08
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Jan Waller
158 Squadron
1652 HCU
28 OTU
4 Group
466 Squadron
640 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
bomb aimer
bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944)
crewing up
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Medal
Distinguished Service Order
Halifax
Heavy Conversion Unit
mess
military living conditions
navigator
observer
Operational Training Unit
RAF Leconfield
RAF Lissett
RAF Marston Moor
RAF Wymeswold
searchlight
training
Wellington
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1845/36469/LJonesFT1717191v1.2.pdf
6867e6c93a249bf579a340beb35fb563
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jones, F T
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-05-15
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Jones, FT
Description
An account of the resource
32 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant F T Jones (b. 1923, 1717191, 186036, Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, diary and photographs. He flew 38 operations as a flight engineer with 420 Squadron from RAF Tholthorpe.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Chris Jones and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
F T Jones’ navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Conforms To
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Pending review
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LJonesFT1717191v1
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Description
An account of the resource
Navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book for F T Jones, flight engineer, covering the period from 12 December 1943 to 15 September 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Topcliffe, RAF Tholthorpe and RAF Wombleton. Aircraft flown in were Halifax, Lancaster, Oxford, and Mosquito. He flew a total of 38 operations with 420 Squadron, 9 daylight and 29 night. Targets were Augsburg, Frankfurt, Berlin, Essen, Nuremburg, Paris, Ghent, Lens, Dusseldorf, Karlsruhe, Aulnoye, Somain, St Ghislaine, Louvain, Merville-Franceville, Le Mans, Bourg Leopold, Au-Fiere, Houlgate, Coutance, Cambrai, St Pol, Boulogne, Nouvelle Bois, St Martin, Bientiques, Thiverny, Caen, Fermes de Forestal, <span>Œuf-en-Ternois</span>, Foret de Nieppe, Bois de Cassan, St Leu D’Esserent and La Hague. Four post-war Cook's Tour flights are recorded. His pilots on operations were Flight Sergeant Keegan and Flying Officer Ward.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944-02-25
1944-02-26
1944-03-22
1944-03-23
1944-03-24
1944-03-25
1944-03-26
1944-03-27
1944-03-30
1944-03-31
1944-04-09
1944-04-10
1944-04-11
1944-04-18
1944-04-19
1944-04-20
1944-04-21
1944-04-22
1944-04-23
1944-04-24
1944-04-25
1944-04-27
1944-04-28
1944-04-30
1944-05-01
1944-05-02
1944-05-12
1944-05-13
1944-05-19
1944-05-20
1944-05-22
1944-05-23
1944-05-27
1944-05-28
1944-05-31
1944-06-01
1944-06-05
1944-06-06
1944-06-07
1944-06-09
1944-06-10
1944-06-12
1944-06-13
1944-06-14
1944-06-15
1944-06-17
1944-06-18
1944-06-21
1944-06-23
1944-06-24
1944-07-12
1944-07-18
1944-07-20
1944-07-23
1944-07-24
1944-07-25
1944-07-26
1944-07-30
1944-07-31
1944-08-01
1944-08-03
1944-08-04
1944-08-05
1944-08-07
1944-08-08
1944-08-09
1944-08-10
1945
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
Belgium--Ghent
Belgium--Leopoldsburg
Belgium--Louvain
Belgium--Mons
England--Yorkshire
France--Avesnes Region (Nord)
France--Beauvais Region
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Caen
France--Cambrai
France--Cape La Hague
France--Coutances
France--Creil Region
France--Houlgate
France--Le Mans
France--L'Isle-Adam
France--Merville-Franceville-Plage
France--Neufchâtel-en-Bray
France--Nieppe Forest
France--Normandy
France--Paris
France--Pas-de-Calais
France--Dunkerque
France--Somain
Germany--Augsburg
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Essen
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Karlsruhe
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Netherlands
Netherlands--Hague
France--Œuf-en-Ternois
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
1659 HCU
1666 HCU
420 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944)
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944)
Cook’s tour
flight engineer
forced landing
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 3
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Mosquito
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Oxford
RAF Tholthorpe
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Wombleton
tactical support for Normandy troops
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1532/24184/PChadwickR19040010.2.jpg
dcbbfb6abc844d456f60c438a8bcfd07
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1532/24184/PChadwickR19040011.2.jpg
85d4c43df49b7085e36c9856fda071a7
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chadwick, Roy. 1940s
Description
An account of the resource
69 items. Photographs of people, places and aircraft
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of Delphine S Stevens who has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0) permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Five men standing under an Avro Nene Lancastrian
Description
An account of the resource
Five men standing in line. The two on the left wear overalls and the second from left is shaking hands with Roy Chadwick wearing coat and hat in the centre. To the right another two men both in overalls. The man on the far right is wearing side cap. Above is a jet engine outboard of a propeller engine. In the background left a man standing by a fuel bowser. On the reverse 'Roy Chadwick the designer saying thankyou after first Nene Jet flight to Paris 1946, on a Lancastrian. First flight of an "Airliner" powered by jets between two countries, London - Paris Nov 1946. [pencil note] 'VH742 Lancastrian Nene 1, 8 Aug 1946, first flight by Sqn Ldr R Shephard' and 'Roy Chadwick's writing of the date'.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Charles E Brown
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-10
1946-08-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PChadwickR19040010, PChadwickR19040011
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
France
France--Paris
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-10
1946-08-08
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of Delphine S Stevens who has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0) permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Chadwick, Roy (1893-1947)
Lancastrian
petrol bowser
service vehicle
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1801/32064/MStewartEC87436-170727-02.1.pdf
ba150c34c0e26764b6fb67ddd8726a08
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Stewart, Edward Colston
E C Stewart
Description
An account of the resource
272 items. The collection concerns Edward Colston Stewart DFC (b. 1916, 87436 Royal Air Force) and his wife, <span>Flight Officer </span>Ann Marie Stewart (nee Imming, b. 1922, 5215 Royal Air Force). It contains his log books, documents, bank notes and photographs. He flew 50 operations as a pilot with 1446 Ferry Flight and 104 Squadron. After the war they served in the Far East. <br /><br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2013">Ann Marie Stewart collection</a><br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2012">Bank notes</a><br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Paula Cooper and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-02-24
2022-06-21
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Stewart, EC
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[front cover]
[page break]
1/9.
F/LT L.C. PIPKIN
BOMBER COMMAND
[underlined] LONDON [/underlined]
[table]
[crest]
[page break]
NOT P/WAR LECTURE – NO NEED TO GO TO A CAMP.
A TALK ON MY EXPERIENCES WHICH MIGHT HELP YOU.
[inserted] IF YOU KEEP FIT [/inserted]
FEEL SURE YOU CAN ALL EVADE THESE COWARDLY STUPID PEOPLE.
LECTURES.
IMPRESSED UPON ME:- GETTING FAR AWAY FROM CHUTE OR AIRCRAFT ON FIRST NIGHT.
BEST IS SAFE HIDING PLACE FROM SEARCH LASTS 0600 – MIDDAY OVER VAST AREA.
[underlined] STARTING FROM BEGINNING. [/underlined]
[page break]
[blank page]
[underlined] FIRST NIGHT [/underlined]
FIGHTER ATTACK
LOSING BOOT AND SEARCH LIGHT
SEARCH POCKETS AND £5
ALL CLEAR
MEETING SENTRY – RETRACE STEPS –
CROSSING FIELD – FARMER SHOUTING.
RHUR WIRE DEFENCES – CUTS – TREATMENT.
CLOTHS [sic] WET DUE TO DEW
CYCLISTS ON ROAD 0530 GREETINGS
[underlined] FIRST DAY [/underlined]
MAKING FOR WOOD AND SEEING TROOPERS
TO COPPICE
SENTRIES AT 0600
COMMANDER SHOUTING ORDERS
TROOPS OVER HEAD
THE SEARCH
15 HOURS UNCOMFORTABLE WAIT
DURING DAY SINGING GERMANS
UNABLE TO RECCO [sic] DUE TO SENTRIES
KNEW VILLAGE NEAR BY CHILDREN.
[page break]
[blank page]
[underlined] SECOND NIGHT [/underlined]
FIRST ATTEMPT TO MOVE (TROOPERS)
GET AWAY
BUILT UP ROAD AND DITCHES
FIGHT WITH TROOPERS
GET AWAY
DRY MOUTH AND EXHAUSTION (ENDURANCE TABLETS)
CAMP UP OTHER SIDE OF ROAD AND CAMP
[underlined] THIRST [/underlined]
HORLICKS – CABBAGE – DEW
LIGHTS AND FARMERS GUARDING FIELDS
UNIFORMED CYCYLISTS [sic] ON ROAD AT 0400
[underlined] SECOND DAY [/underlined]
BLISTERS ON FEET VERY PAINFUL
SLEPT IN DITCH UNDER TREE BY RAILWAY AND WOOD
THIRST AND MILKING COW ATTEMPT
RECCO SAW SENTRIES ON RAILWAY LINE
INSECT PEST
[page break]
[blank page]
[underlined] THIRD NIGHT [/underlined]
WALKING DIFFICULT USED HANDKERCHIEF.
CABBAGE FIELDS AND THIRST
GETTING TIRED USED ENDURANCE TABLETS
MAIN ROAD RELIEF TO FEET AND SEEING TWO UNIFORM MEN ACCROSS [sic] FIELDS TO HAYSTACKS
ATTEMPT TO GET WATER DOG
WATER IN CABBAGE FIELD
RUBBER BAG AND CHLORINE TABLETS
[underlined] DAY [/underlined]
SLEPT IN UNDERGROWTH
GERMAN TROOPS SINGING
PEOPLE WORKING IN FIELDS
NOTHING EXCITING.
[page break]
[blank page]
[underlined] 4th NIGHT [/underlined]
UNDER THE WEATHER
DIFFICULT TO WALK
PASSED TROOPER AND GIRL IN LANE
RESTED AT BASE OF HAYSTACK (ENDURANCE TABLETS)
MUST GET TO BELGE OR WATER AND FOOD
MEASURED DISTANCE ON MAP IC FOR POSITION
[underlined] 4th MORNING [/underlined]
IN HOLE BY BUSHES IN SAND OUTSIDE FARM.
OLD FARMER STARTLED
WONDERFUL FAMILY
(POOR) FOOD THEY OFFERED BUT THEIR BEST (BREAD UGH!!)
BANDAGE AND WASHED FEET
PROPAGANDA [deleted word] LEAFLETS
WIRELESS UPSTAIRS
COUNTING CATTLE – EGGS ETC.
ADMIRED MY FLYING CLOTHS [sic]
[underlined] FIFTH NIGHT [/underlined]
[underlined] ENGLISH SPEAKING MAN AND SUGGESTION OF ROUTE TO FOLLOW [/underlined]
SLEEP IN BED
[page break]
[blank page]
5th MORNING
LOUNGE COAT OVER UNIFORM UNDER SHIRT
CROSSING MAAS AND CYCLES TO HOLLAND
MEETING DUTCH FAMILY
MORE PROPAGANDA PAPERS
DIEPPE RAID
GERMAN SOLDIERS STAND AT DOOR
[underlined] 6th NIGHT [/underlined]
WALK TO ANOTHER FARM NEAR BELGE FRONTIER
INTERVIEW WITH [deleted word] GOVERNOR AND TALKS OF VENLOW – COMMANDOES – OSNABROOK – ROTTERDAM – DUSSELDOLF
I LOVE HITLER TALE
[underlined] 6th DAY [/underlined]
SLEEP WITH GERMANS EATING
BELOW
MEETING FRENCH PRISONERS
[page break]
[blank page]
[underlined] 7th NIGHT [/underlined]
WALK TO COLLECT BYCYCLES [sic]
MEETING SENTRY ON ROAD
CROSSING FRONTIER ON BYCYCLES
[underlined] IN BELGIUM [/underlined]
CYCLING WITH GERMAN TROOPS ON BYCYLES
LEAVING CYCLES AND WALKING TO AN ORGANISATION
TORCH SHONE ON US BY TROOPERS
[underlined] SEVENTH MORNING [/underlined]
TRAVEL WITH WORKERS TO LIEGE
[underlined] LATER [/underlined]
TRAIN TO BRUSSELLS
WORKING IN ORCHARD AND GARDENS
SEEING THE TOWN
JOURNEY TO LILLE AND PARIS
CUSTOMS BARRIER
TROOPS PUSHED IN TRAIN AT LILLE
FOOD AND BEER AT LILLE
(OVER)
[page break]
[blank page]
[underlined] PARIS [/underlined]
PROPAGANDA POSTERS
METRO – PICTURES – SHOW – VISITING FRIENDS
CHURCHILL – ENGLAND DAGULLE [sic]
COLONIES AND PROPAGANDA BY GERMANS
WIRELESS MUSICAL BOX
[underlined] CROSSING TO SPAIN [/underlined]
GUARDS RIVER ON FRONTIER
SHEEP WITH BELLS
KEEP FIT FOR THE JOURNEY
LIGHTS AS GUIDE TO TOWNS
CIVIC[deleted letter] GUARDS – GRAY UNIFORM – GESTAPO
DANGER OF RAIL TRAVEL
COSTOME [sic] OF PEOPLE – COAT SHOULDER – ADIOUS
BANANAS AGAIN
[page break]
[blank page]
[underlined] SUMING [sic] UP [/underlined]
RAILWAYS: CAREFUL OF SENTRIES
ROADS:- CURFEW AND GUARDS
FIELDS:- FIELD GUARDS - GERMAN BAD
[underlined] OCCUPIED GOOD [/underlined] – MAYBE!!
POLICE IN TOWNS:- OLD GOOD – YOUNG DOUBTFUL
INSTANCE IN PARIS
ON TRAINS:- CONTROLLER GUARDS USUALLY GOOD IF NOBODY NEAR
HELP IN TOWNS:- PROSTITUTES – ELDERLY WOMEN – JEWS
IDENTY [sic] CARDS: DIFFERENT IN BELGE AND FRANCE
[inserted] GUNNER:- [/Inserted]
CONVERSATION WITH BELGE PILOT:- STOMAR B.B.B F.F.F
HEIL HITLER NOT USED
HORLICKS – CHLORINE – ENDURANCE TABLETS
MAPS AND COMPASS NEED FOR ALL CREW TO USE COMPASS
NEED FOR: MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN PARACHUTE FOR SORE FEET – SCRATCHES – INSECTS.
[underlined] SOAP [/underlined]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Flight Lieutenant LC Pipkin's Diary
Description
An account of the resource
A diary kept by LC Pipkin and subtitled Bomber Command, London. It records his time after baling out of aircraft after a fighter attack. He managed to evade capture and reached Spain.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
LC Pipkin
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One handwritten diary
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Diary
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MStewartEC87436-170727-02
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Netherlands
France--Dieppe
Belgium
Netherlands--Venlo
Germany--Osnabrück
Netherlands--Rotterdam
Belgium--Liège
France--Lille
France--Paris
Spain
Germany--Düsseldorf
France
Germany
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Sue Smith
bale out
Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)
evading
Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945)
propaganda
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/89/870/MCalvertRA1488619-151208-01.2.jpg
86f86a7716997d8041fa7c77ed479f41
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Calvert, Roger
R A Calvert
Description
An account of the resource
Seven items. The collection consists of an oral history interview with Flight Lieutenant Roger Alfred Calvert (b. 1923, 1488619; 152814), his logbook, navigators training course class book and 3 photographs. Roger Calvert was a navigator with 141 Squadron at RAF West Raynham flying Mosquitos on night intruder operations. For most of his operational career his pilot was Flight Lieutenant John Thatcher.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Roger Calvert and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-04-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Calvert, R
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Photograph of Roger Calvert]
[underlined] Flight Lieutenant Roger Alfred Calvert – 152841[/underlined]
Roger Calvert was born on 1st April 1923 in Ripon, Yorkshire and was educated at Ripon Grammar School.
He joined the R.A.F.V.R. in April 1942 and trained at 4. A.O.S. London, Ontario, Canada where he passed out as a Navigator and was commissioned.
He trained at 62 O.T.U. Ouston on the Navigator (Radio) course and in March 1943 went to Cranfield 51 O.T.U. where he met Flight Lieutenant John Thatcher. On becoming his Navigator/Radio they trained on Beau fighters here and at Twinwoods Farm
In July 1944 they were posted to 141 Squadron at West Raynham, Norfolk flying Mosquitoes on night patrols and intruder operations until in March 1945 when he was in hospital for a period.
During that time Thatcher and Calvert flew on 31 operations including Leipzig, Dresden and Stettin.
On one operation to Zeist (near Leipzig) an engine caught fire over the target and Flight Lieutenant Thatcher flew the aircraft back to Woodbridge on one engine, an operation of over six hours.
On a patrol south of Paris in August 1944 an ME110 was shot down and claimed as damaged.
On returning to the Squadron after illness he completed one more operation with F/O Rimer intruding an airfield at Schlesvigland - before the European war ended.
After operations he spent a period in Egypt in charge of Base Personnel Office before demobilisation.
After being articled he became a Chartered Accountant and work with the National Gas and Oil Engine Co Ltd (in the Hawker Siddeley Group), Arnold G Wilson Ltd., a motor distributor and at Castle Howard in various Accounting and Finance Directorship positions before retiring.
Through his interest in golf he has undertaken work as Treasurer, Secretary and Captain of clubs of which he has been a member.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Flight Lieutenant Roger Alfred Calvert – 152814
Description
An account of the resource
Biography of Roger Calvert detailing his training as navigator in Canada and the United Kingdom and his operational career flying Mosquito aircraft on night intruder operations. The account includes brief details of two significant events, losing and engine over Zeist and claim of shooting down an Me 110 near Paris. Goes on to briefly describe his pre-demobilisation postings, his subsequent career as an accountant and interest in golf. A small head and shoulders photograph of Roger Calvert in uniform with peaked cap included at the top.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page memoir
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text. Memoir
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCalvertRA1488619-151208-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Canada
England--Norfolk
France--Paris
Netherlands--Zeist
Netherlands
France
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Bloomfield
Roger Dunsford
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-04
1943-03
1944-07
1944-08
141 Squadron
Air Observers School
aircrew
Beaufighter
bombing
Me 110
Mosquito
navigator
Operational Training Unit
RAF Cranfield
RAF Twinwood Farm
RAF West Raynham
RAF Woodbridge
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2180/38317/S102SqnRAF19170809v10011.1.pdf
0a1b647b1cd64f31a915f72051e3a2c0
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
102 Squadron Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Thirty-one items.
The collection concerns material from the 102 Squadron Association and contains part of a Tee Emm magazine, documents, photographs, accounts of Ceylonese in the RAF, a biography, poems, a log book, cartoons, intelligence and operational reports, an operations order and an account by a United States Army Air Force officers secret trip to Great Britain to arrange facilities for American forces.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Harry Bartlett and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-05-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
102 Squadron Association
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Flight Sergeant Walsh navigator's air bomber's and air gunner's flying log book
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending review
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
S102SqnRAF19170809v10011
Description
An account of the resource
Flight Sergeant Walsh’s Navigator’s Flying Log Book detailing operations flown covering the period 01 September 1944 to 30 March 1945. He was stationed at RAF East Kirkby (57 Squadron) and RAF Fulbeck (189 Squadron). Aircraft flown in was Lancaster. He flew 8 night and 4 day operations with 57 Squadron and 16 night and 2 day operations with 189 Squadron. Targets were Deelen, Darmstadt, Stuttgart, Bremerhaven, Boulogne, Wilhelmshaven, Walcheren, Brunswick, Nurembourg, Bergen, Dusseldorf, Gravenhurst (2), Duren, Heilbron, Giessan, Heinbach, Horrten, Houffalize, Siegen, Karlsruhe, Politz, Dresden, Rasitz, Bohlen, Sassnitz, Dortmund, Lutzkenorf, Wesel and Paris.His pilots on operations were Flying Officer Clarke, Flying Officer Mayor and Flying Officer Smith.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Cara Walmsley
Terry Hancock
Mike Connock
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Belgium--Houffalize
England--Lincolnshire
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Paris
Germany--Altenburg (Thuringia)
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Bremerhaven
Germany--Darmstadt
Germany--Dortmund
Germany--Dresden
Germany--Düren (Cologne)
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Giessen (Hesse)
Germany--Halle an der Saale
Germany--Heilbronn
Germany--Hörstel
Germany--Karlsruhe
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Sassnitz
Germany--Siegen
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Wesel (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Netherlands--Arnhem
Netherlands--Walcheren
Norway--Bergen
Norway--Horten
Poland--Police (Województwo Zachodniopomorskie)
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-09-03
1944-09-11
1944-09-12
1944-09-13
1944-09-17
1944-09-18
1944-09-19
1944-10-05
1944-10-07
1944-10-14
1944-10-15
1944-10-19
1944-10-20
1944-10-25
1944-10-26
1944-11-02
1944-11-03
1944-11-06
1944-11-07
1944-11-16
1944-12-04
1944-12-05
1944-12-06
1944-12-07
1944-12-08
1944-12-28
1944-12-29
1944-12-31
1945-01-01
1945-01-02
1945-02-01
1945-02-02
1945-02-03
1945-02-08
1945-02-09
1945-02-13
1945-02-14
1945-02-15
1945-03-05
1945-03-06
1945-03-07
1945-03-12
1945-03-13
1945-03-23
1945-03-24
1945-03-31
1945-04-01
189 Squadron
57 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945)
Lancaster
navigator
RAF East Kirkby
RAF Fulbeck
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/774/30939/BWoolfASWoolfASv1.2.pdf
f62f9d2147ca2ccc8cd92af5c543242e
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Woolf, Arthur Sidney
A S Woolf
Description
An account of the resource
23 items. An oral history interview with Flying Officer Arthur Woolf (1922 - 2021, 1579552, 157533 Royal Air Force) his log book, a memoir, correspondence, documents, a newspaper cutting and photographs. He flew operations as a wireless operator with 630 Squadron and became a member of the Guinea Pig Club.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Arthur Woolf and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-06-29
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Woolf, AS
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Air Crew Association Badge]
ROYAL AIRFORCE [sic] CAREER & EXPERIENCES IN WORLD WAR TWO.
F/O ARTHUR S. WOOLF.
No. 630 Squadron, No. 5 Group.
BOMBER COMMAND.
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[photograph]
R.A.F. CAREER AND EXPERIENCES IN WW2.
F/O ARTHUR S. WOOLF.
630 SQUADRON. No.5 GROUP.
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[Bomber Command Crest]
[5 Group Headquarters Crest] [630 Squadron Crest]
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R.A.F. CAREER AND EXPERIENCES IN WW2.
F/O ARTHUR S. WOOLF.
As a youngster I was always thrilled by the thought of flying, so volunteered for aircrew and eventually in 1941 reported to Padgate R.A.F. Recruitment Centre at the age of 19. I was very much a home-loving boy from a close-knit family of just four, my older brother being already in the R.A.F. was serving in the Middle East.
I was first posted to Blackpool for 'square bashing', morse code training etc. Then on to Yatesbury in Wiltshire, No.2 Radio School, after which, due apparently to a 'log jam' of trainees (or a cock-up of some sort!) we were all individually posted out to various U.K. R.A.F. stations for "Radio experience". In my case this was to Martlesham Heath, an old pre-war airfield a few miles north of Ipswich on the east coast, where I became one of the station's Signal Section, though I still wore my white flash in my forage cap and was still untrained aircrew. It was here that I 'cadged' my very first and very unofficial flight, it was on one of my off duty days. Of all things it was in an old Walrus aircraft of the Air-Sea Rescue Squadron based there. I was crammed into the tiny space available and we chugged down the East coast just a few feet above the sea. I was thrilled to pieces!.
My second flight, this time semi-official, was in a Hampden on a practice bombing trip to Orford Ness bombing range just off the east coast, when I was supposed to try to fix a u/s radio. My, I was really progressing. From a Walrus to a Hampden! I must have been mad to go anyway near either of them, but where ignorance is bliss.......
After seven or eight months at Martlesham I was posted to the Aircrew Reception Centre at St. Johns Wood, London, much to my disgust. This seemed very much like a backward step in my R.A.F. career, just doing more 'square bashing' in the local streets, but it only lasted a couple of weeks or so, when I was then moved to I.T.W. at Bridgenorth. At the end of this course, at the Passing-Out Parade, it was announced that I had achieved the highest pass marks in all the various subjects ever attained since this course had commenced and I was presented with two hundred cigarettes to mark the occasion. Being a non-smoker at that time my colleagues benefited [sic]!
My next posting was to Yatesbury again, but this time on a more advanced signals course which included flying, officially this time, on air signals training, first in De Haviland Dominies, and later in Proctors. I continued obtaining high marks in virtually all subjects and just prior to the final tests and in the middle of lectures one morning I was told to
R.A.F. Career and Experiences in WW2. Page 1
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report to the Adjutant. Without being told why, I was questioned by him at length about my family background, my education and further studies, my interests etc., and then dismissed back to normal training with the rest of the squad. At the end of this course and before being posted to A.F.U. at Dumfries in Scotland, we were given our three stripes, although it was stressed that we were still under training and we were not to think that we could go throwing our weight around as "real sergeants"!
The A.F.U. course at Dumfries, where we flew in Ansons, lasted some two months or so and followed by O.T.U. at Upper Heyford, flying in Wellingtons, the faithful old "Wimpeys". It was here that we crewed up and it was done in the following manner. Each category of aircrew was told that they had so many days in which to find a crew, otherwise they would be "appointed" and teamed up with the "leftovers". We all felt that this would be a bit of a scourge and was to be avoided at all costs. In my own case, that evening I got talking to a Navigator type who said that he had just teamed up with the 'Yank' Pilot, Bill Adams who had crossed over from the U.S.A. into Canada to join the R.C.A.F. before the U.S. entered the war. Needless to say I agree to be their Wireless Operator and in no time at all we had a full crew, comprising a 'Yank' Pilot, and a 'Yank' Mid-Upper Gunner who had also crossed into Canada to join the R.C.A.F., a 'Canadian' Bomb Aimer (commissioned), a 'Canadian' Rear-Gunner, and three 'Brits'., one of whom was a 'Welshman' in fact.
Before we had even begun our 'Wimpey' circuits-and-bumps I was, for the second time in my R.A.F. training career, told to report to the Adjutant, where I was told, to my great astonishment, that I had been awarded my Commission. I was given a travel warrant, countless clothing coupons and a 48 hour pass to get home to Birmingham to buy all my Officer requirements, – a very extensive list was provided. For the next few weeks I almost felt like a Blackpool 'sprog' again, walking around in my brand new Pilot Officer uniform, especially in the Officer's Mess, but before too long I became Flying Officer, my uniform got to look more 'seasoned' and I became more used to the required "Officer and Gentleman" code.
After finishing our Upper Heyford O.T.U. course, during which as a crew we became quite 'bonded', possibly due as much to our off-duty time together (i.e. drinking sessions and such) as to our actual flying and training together, we were posted to Scampton.
Here, among much else, I attended courts martial, strictly under instruction I hasten to add!
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Our next move, as a crew, was to Conversion Unit No. 1654 at Wigsley, flying four-engined aircraft for the first time, the dreaded Stirling. We duly experienced here the usual type of problem that seemed to be associated with this aircraft when all flying was cancelled for a few days because of undercarriage problems. This was whilst an Air Ministry modification requirement was incorporated into all the Stations' Aircraft. It was at this time that I learned how to "play the dice" (the game of crap) from my American and Canadian co-trainees and enjoyed quite a slice of beginners luck.
Finally our last posting in training was to No.5 Lancaster Flying School at Syerston for a surprisingly rather brief conversion on to Lanc's., consisting of only sixteen hours flying training in this beautiful aircraft, over a period of two weeks. During this time I did however, on one of our training flights out over the Wash, manage to wangle a "go" in the rear turret for the one and only time and to fire off the guns into the sea.
Then we waited with somewhat bated breath and some excitement to hear which Squadron in No.5 Group we were to go to. This was to be No.630 Squadron at East Kirkby in the fenlands of Lincolnshire, about 14 miles from Boston; we were driven off in a van with all our gear, joking and laughing but all of us I think, wondering what the immediate future held.
We were allocated to 'B' Flight and the first week was spent in settling in and on day and night checks and training flights, during which time Bill Adams, our Pilot, went as "second dickie" on an operational flight. Then came our first "trip", which was to Saumer in central France to bomb an important railway junction, a flight of about 6½ hours. Boy! did that aircrew breakfast in the Mess (with an egg!) taste good after debriefing. It was a good feeling with our first "op" safely under our belt, and our initial fears now faced up to and if not overcome, then at least dealt with.
So we settled into a[deleted]n[/deleted] very busy and very exciting life. We were involved just a few hours before the D-day landings, bombing a heavy coastal battery in a bid to help to weaken the enemy defences against our invading forces.
At the briefing we were given dire warnings not to stray from the unusually circuitous route and we guessed that this was "it", the long awaited invasion of Europe, which was confirmed on awakening the following day.
In our first three weeks of action we did nine operational flights and the last of these, which was to Wesseling, just south of Cologne, to bomb a synthetic oil plant, was the "hairiest". From the time we crossed the Dutch coast to the target and back again we continuously encountered German
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night fighters, searchlights and/or heavy ack-ack, we saw many aircraft going down in flames in the darkness.
Of the thirty or so aircraft despatched from East Kirkby (Nos. 630 & 57 Squadrons) eleven were lost (77 men)!
Our ops. continued, to many varying types of targets. During one of these, on our return journey we were attacked from below by a Junkers 88 being used as a night fighter; although we immediately went into the conventional corkscrew avoiding action, his first gunburst caused some damage to the rear of the aircraft and the rear turret was put completely out of action. We were a sitting duck but either by complete luck or by brilliant shooting, Johnny Keisow, our U.S.A. Mid-Upper Gunner, scored "a Hit" although he was catching only occasional brief glimpses of the JU 88 due to the corkscrew action of our aircraft. The attack on us immediately ceased and the enemy aircraft started pulling away on a long sweep on to a reciprocal course away from us. We were able to resume normal flight and from the astrodome I was able to watch as the JU 88, now with flames coming from it, gradually lost height and after a while disappeared into the cloud-base below. We felt like giving three cheers over the intercom but it was strictly necessary to be particularly alert at this possible vulnerable time in case [inserted] any [/inserted] of the JU 88's "mates" were in the vicinity.
Our 13th op. was a daylight raid on vital bridges and German troop concentrations at Caen, where the Allied ground advance had been seriously held up. It was exciting being able for the first time to see "what was going on" in the lovely dawn sunrise, though again the ack-ack was extremely formidable and I saw a Lanc., flying in alongside us, across the French coast, receive a direct hit and just disintegrate into fragments, and any member of the crew possibly surviving was out of the question. It came as something of a shock, actually seeing the moment of destruction so close at hand, it was a case of "There [inserted] but [/inserted] for the grace of God go I".
The 14th trip was, surprisingly, also a daylight op., this time to an aircraft factory at Thiverney, a few miles north of Paris.
So on to the night of 24/25th July 1944, our 16th op., which was to Stuttgart. All went well until we were approximately over the French/German border when we were suddenly attacked by a night-fighter and suffered very considerable damage, which included the loss of our port inner engine and, not least of all, yours truly. I had been hit in the left hip and buttock and quite soon was losing blood at quite a rate. We were in some trouble and our Pilot quickly decided that we must abort the op., ditch the bombs, then head back, hoping to reach Allied Forces territory in northern France on
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which to crash-land, or to bale out. Soon however, flames began licking from the damaged engine and within a very short time the flames grew and spread rapidly and we were told to bale out. I was by now, not in a very good condition and I remember wondering whether I was going to "make it". I remember virtually nothing of getting out of the aircraft or of my parachute descent but the next thing I knew was coming-to in a field in the dark, with my parachute all around me and in addition to earlier wounds, an absolutely agonising pain in my left thigh.
On hearing voices I shouted and it proved to be a French farming family out looking for survivors of the stricken aircraft. I was carried on a step-ladder which was used as a stretcher, to a barn and there laid on straw. The French lady was extremely caring, constantly bathing my forehead and also feeding me soup.
Sometime after daybreak a French gendarme arrived and after earnest conversation with my "hosts" departed and it was not too long after there was the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside, followed by the appearance of a German soldier in the doorway. My heart sank into my shoes! I was taken in a small truck to a P.O.W. hospital in Nancy, in eastern France, where, I learned much later, I was the first 'Brit' to arrive, the other existing patients being mainly French Colonial troops, many of them originally captured in North Africa.
My first week there is more than a little vague in my mind, during which I was, apparently, somewhat delirious, due to delayed treatment for my broken femur, and probably my other wounds. Later, though still painful, my leg was put in traction by means of weights suspended from cords on pulleys over the end of my bed from a 'pin' through my knee. The resulting agony if anyone as much as brushed by [inserted] the [/inserted] weights was intense! Eventually however, after some weeks, my leg was put into what should have been plaster but was actually more like concrete, and with no padding.
This cast covered my lower torso from the waist and then on down to the ball of my left foot and on drying out became extremely tight around my ankle, I was unable to get the staff even to examine it, so I had to put up with the agony I was in.
Food was very poor, consisting largely of black beans and some sort of macaroni just boiled in water. How I longed for the lovely breakfasts and meals we had in our mess in "Blighty". We did get some Red Cross parcels which were a Godsend.
Then, suddenly, after all sorts of rumours about how near the Allied Forces were, the Germans decided to evacuate the whole hospital to Germany, with the exception of four of us, who they considered were too ill to move. We four were moved down into a cellar below the hospital and a French
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Army doctor and a French Colonial orderly were left to look after us.
One of the other three 'types' was Dickie Richardson, an R.A.F. Wireless Operator, who had been transferred from another hospital, and was very severely burned over much of his body, – he was blind, and had a hand amputated. In spite of all this and being bandaged literally from head to foot he was a wonderful character. He was a Midlander, from Worcester, knew Birmingham, and there was something of a natural affinity between us in the particular circumstances. We spent about 10 days in the cellar, fed by local nuns. Towards the end of that period shell-fire broke out on the town above (at our ceiling level), which was later followed by small-arms fire, and then we could hear tremendous cheering; the Yanks (General Patton's U.S. Third Army) had arrived!
Within a short time a U.S. infantry lieutenant had somehow been directed to us in the cellar. Cigarettes were the first order of the day. Soon after his departure U.S. 'medics' arrived to give us some basic and much needed medical attention.
Within an hour army ambulances had arrived and we were transported to a field hospital, all under canvas and a few miles from Nancy.
Subsequent transfers to other field hospitals again under canvas, took us further west during the next few days but to my dismay 'Dickie' and I became separated and I was quite upset because I somehow felt 'responsible' for him. During these moves, and much to my utter relief, my 'plaster' cast was removed by the U.S. medics, the old one was replaced by a much better quality padded cast, only to reveal two very large gangrenous-like wounds on the instep and heel of my foot, caused by the too-tight cast.
I was eventually flown back from Verdun to an airfield somewhere near Reading. I was the only 'Limey' in the hospital plane, a Dakota, the rest being all U.S. infantry stretcher cases, virtually straight from the front lines. In due course I arrived at R.A.F. Hospital, Wroughton, near Swindon, where I was treated for about two months before being transported to the Queen Victoria Hospital at East Grinstead in Sussex, the hospital base of the world famous plastic surgeon, Archibald McIndoe (later knighted), the most impressive and wonderful person I ever met and knew in my whole life. To my surprise and delight I was settled into a bed just next-but-one to 'Dickie' Richardson!
Although by comparison to most of the other patients here, who were all fliers, my medical problems seemed small, as they mostly had all been terribly burned. Even so, the gangrenous matter in my foot had eaten through three of the tendons and I came close to having the foot amputated, but in the end this was avoided and I underwent numerous skin-
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grafting operations and duly qualified as one of Archie McIndoe's (the Boss) Guinea Pigs, a matter of which I am very proud.
My hospital treatment lasted some fifteen months in all. Following this I was medically discharged from the R.A.F. but my Guinea Pig friends have remained my dearest and closest over the ensuing years since 1944 and our Annual Reunions in East Grinstead, lasting for three or four days, are something special, though only about 25% of us still survive, of which some sixty or so are now fit and well enough to attend. 'Dickie' Richardson remained a very wonderful friend and character in spite of his blindness and all his other incapacities until he passed away three years ago in 1997.
Just a few years ago after the end of the war, having through the International Red Cross, traced the whereabouts of the French farming family Dupré, who had found me and looked after me that night in 1944, I wrote to them, sent them parcels, later motored across France with my wife, on route to an Italian holiday, to meet them again and to thank them. I was greeted with flags and bunting strung across from building to building in this so very rural and tiny hamlet of Tramont Lassus in eastern France and though there were some language problems, with the aid of books, paper, arms, hands, my whiskey and their home-made Mirabelle spirit, a great time was had by all! During the day I was taken to the barn in which I had lain and also some distance across the fields etc. was shown the site of our Lanc's final demise, there still, though a little overgrown were the five indentations in the earth of our aircraft's nose and four engines, with small pieces of metal still around, one of which I was able to bring home as a souvenir. I still have it.
Many years later in the mid-1980's I had the irresistible urge to trace my old surviving crew-mates again, our two Gunners, Ross Lough (Canada) and Johnny Keisow (U.S.A.) both having been killed when we were shot down.
What a task it turned out to be and in all took me over three years. My file just grew and grew as I corresponded with all sorts of organisations, associations, groups and individuals in the U.S.A., Canada and the U.K. and finally succeeded as follows:-
Pilot, Bill Adams (U.S.A.): Died in Boston U.S.A in 1979.
Flt/Eng. Trev. Tanner: Although Welsh, settled in Western Canada and just after the war and together with my wife, I visited him on two or three occasions prior to his death in 1998.
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After our 'set-to' in 1944, shortly after bailing out, the above two teamed up and were taken under the wing of a French family, again farmers, and awaited the arrival of the Allied troops pushing east. They eventually reached the U.K. safely.
Bomb Aimer, Eddie Wood ("Woodie") (Canada): Lives in Hamilton, Ontario, and I am in regular touch, having also visited him, in the company of my wife.
Navigator, R.A. ("George") Toogood: lives in Radstock, near Bath, the nearest, yet was the most difficult to trace. We are now in regular touch and meet once or twice a year with our wives.
These two also got together after safely bailing out and undertook the very daunting and sometimes dangerous walk to neutral Switzerland, where they were interned, in reasonable conditions, until they were repatriated to the U.K.
So to the present and our autumn years. My wife and I live quietly and contentedly. I am Member (No. 1367) of the Aircrew Association, Solihull Branch, whose monthly meetings I attend as often as possible and at whose request I have put my memories on paper.
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[photograph]
A/C Arthur Woolf age 19 years in 1941
[photograph]
Flying Officer A.S. Woolf recovering in an R.A.F. hospital in the West Country. November 1944.
[page break]
[photograph]
Photograph taken in the 1950's at Tramont Lassus, Eastern France with the French family Dupré, my 'saviours' on 24/25th July 1944.
From left to right
Rose, Myself, Charles, Henri with Mère in front.
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Flying Officer Arthur S Woolf - RAF career and experiences in WW2
Description
An account of the resource
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 Blackpool, Yatesbury as radio operator and subsequently at Martlesham and Bridgnorth. Crewing up at RAF Upper Heyford while on OTU flying Wellington. This was followed by four engine training on Stirling then Lancaster before posting to 630 Squadron at RAF East Kirkby. Describes operations mentioning types of target, losses, attack by Ju-88. Continues with account of daylight operation to Caen and later Paris. Describes operation to Stuttgart in July 1944 when they were attacked by night fighter and badly damaged as well as he being injured. After aborting the operation fire forced them to bale out. Continues with account of his injuries, capture, transfer to and experiences at POW hospital near Nancy. Describes liberation by American forces and being flown back to England and then to RAF Hospital. Concludes with account of 15 month hospital treatment, discharge from the RAF, membership of the Guinea Pig Club and trying to trace members of his crew in the mid 1980s. At the end photographs of Arthur Woolf, of him in hospital and of the French family who helped him after he was shot down and injured.
Creator
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A S Woolf
Format
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Thirteen page printed document with b/w and colour photographs
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Photograph
Text. Memoir
Identifier
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BWoolfASWoolfASv1
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
United States Army
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lancashire
England--Blackpool
England--Shropshire
England--Suffolk
Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Lincolnshire
Germany
Germany--Cologne
France
France--Caen
France--Paris
Germany--Stuttgart
France
France--Nancy
France--Verdun
England--Berkshire
England--Reading
France--Meurthe-et-Moselle
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-07-24
1944-07-25
1941
1944-11
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
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Babs Nichols
5 Group
630 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
bale out
bombing
C-47
crewing up
Dominie
Guinea Pig Club
Hampden
Heavy Conversion Unit
Initial Training Wing
Ju 88
killed in action
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
McIndoe, Archibald (1900-1960)
military discipline
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operational Training Unit
prisoner of war
Proctor
promotion
RAF Bridgnorth
RAF Dumfries
RAF East Kirkby
RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF Scampton
RAF Syerston
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Wigsley
RAF Wroughton
RAF Yatesbury
shot down
Stirling
training
Walrus
Wellington
wireless operator
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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1554/27645/SMcDermottC1119618v10012.1.pdf
eac93ce36a19f28b79878d327e7560ea
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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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McDermott, Colin
C McDermott
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2016-11-03
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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McDermott, C
Description
An account of the resource
87 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Colin McDermott (1119618 Royal Air Force). He served as an air gunnery instructor and flew operations as an air gunner with 98 Squadron. Contains his log book, papers and photographs and includes issues of 'Evidence in Camera'. <br /><br />The collection also contains albums of photographs from his training at <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/1696">Evanton</a> in 1943, taken during his service in <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/1699">Denmark </a>and some <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/1698">duplicate </a>photographs.<br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Barbara Bury and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Folies Bergere Programme
Description
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A programme for the revue complete with details of the acts and performers. Also included are adverts for perfume and drinks.
Format
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16 page booklet
Language
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fra
Type
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Text
Identifier
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SMcDermottC1119618v10012
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Paris
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
entertainment
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1532/24351/PChadwickR19040109.1.jpg
034be0eda4c718fe65a8decac0a8659c
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1532/24351/PChadwickR19040110.1.jpg
927736adf61cff99b663827ae85604a5
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chadwick, Roy. 1940s
Description
An account of the resource
69 items. Photographs of people, places and aircraft
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of Delphine S Stevens who has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0) permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Four men in a cockpit
Description
An account of the resource
Two pilots wearing flying helmets are at the front of cockpit looking back at a man on the left with earphones and Roy Chadwick on the right wearing a coat. On the reverse 'Please keep very safely. Roy Chadwick in cockpit of 1st Nene Lancastrian our first ever Jet Airliner Nov 1946, flight bewteen 2 countries (London - Paris), A delightful photo (much used). The only photo'.
Publisher
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Charles E Brown
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-11
Format
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One b/w photograph
Type
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Photograph
Identifier
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PChadwickR19040109, PChadwickR19040110
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
France
France--Paris
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-11
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of Delphine S Stevens who has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0) permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Chadwick, Roy (1893-1947)
Lancastrian
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1993/41338/LHowkinsF1576710v1.1.pdf
152cfcf74ea85cc9ba9c191962c4cb30
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Howkins, Frank
F Howkins
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-11-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Howkins, F
Description
An account of the resource
Four items. The collection concerns Frank Howkins (1546410 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, flying programme and photographs. He flew operations as a wireless operator with 467 and 617 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Keith Howkins and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Frank Howkins’ navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
Navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book for F Howkins, wireless operator, covering the period from 29 April 1943 to 30 August 1953. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, and post was flying with number 5 Reserve Flying School. He was stationed at RAF Yatesbury, RAF Bobbington [aka RAF Halfpenny Green], RAF Lichfield, RAF Wigsley, RAF Syerston, RAF Waddington, RAF Woodhall Spa and RAF Castle Bromwich. Aircraft flown in were Dominie, Proctor, Anson, Wellington, Halifax and Lancaster. He flew a total of 48 operations. 36 with 467 Squadron, 5 daylight and 32 night operations, and 12 with 617 Squadron, 11 daylight and one night operation. Targets were Frankfurt, Toulouse, Tours, Juvisy, Leipzig, Lille, Bourg Leopold, Duisburg, Brunswick, Eindhoven, Nantes, Saumur, Ferme D’Urville, St Pierre du Mont, Argentan, Rennes, Orleans, Gelsenkirchen, Limoges, Prouville, Vitry, Beauvoir, St Leu D’Esserent, Villeneuve St Georges, Nevers, Thiverny, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Pas De Calais, Brest, L’Isle Adam, Darmstadt, Dortmund-Ems Canal, Westkapelle, Kembs Dam, Tromso, Urft Dam, Bielefeld Viaduct and Bremen. His pilots on operations were Wing Commander Tait and Flight Lieutenant Sayers.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
Netherlands
Norway
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Atlantic Ocean--North Sea
Belgium--Leopoldsburg
England--Birmingham
England--Lincolnshire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Staffordshire
England--Wiltshire
France--Abbeville Region
France--Argentan
France--Beauvoir-sur-Mer
France--Brest
France--Creil
France--Kembs
France--Lille
France--Limoges
France--L'Isle-Adam
France--Nantes
France--Nevers
France--Orléans
France--Paris
France--Pas-de-Calais
France--Paris Region
France--Rennes
France--Saint-Pierre-du-Mont (Landes)
France--Saumur
France--Toulouse
France--Tours
France--Valognes Region
France--Vitry-sur-Seine
Germany--Bielefeld
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Bremen
Germany--Darmstadt
Germany--Dortmund
Germany--Dortmund-Ems Canal
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Gelsenkirchen
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Urft Dam
Netherlands--Eindhoven
Netherlands--Walcheren
Norway--Tromsø
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHowkinsF1576710v1
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944-04-03
1944-04-04
1944-04-05
1944-04-06
1944-04-10
1944-04-11
1944-04-18
1944-04-19
1944-04-26
1944-04-27
1944-04-28
1944-04-29
1944-05-10
1944-05-11
1944-05-12
1944-05-19
1944-05-20
1944-05-21
1944-05-22
1944-05-23
1944-05-24
1944-05-25
1944-05-27
1944-05-28
1944-05-31
1944-06-01
1944-06-03
1944-06-04
1944-06-05
1944-06-06
1944-06-07
1944-06-08
1944-06-09
1944-06-10
1944-06-11
1944-06-21
1944-06-22
1944-06-23
1944-06-24
1944-06-25
1944-06-27
1944-06-28
1944-06-29
1944-07-04
1944-07-05
1944-07-07
1944-07-08
1944-07-14
1944-07-15
1944-07-16
1944-07-19
1944-07-25
1944-07-26
1944-07-28
1944-07-29
1944-07-30
1944-07-31
1944-08-01
1944-08-14
1944-08-18
1944-08-25
1944-08-26
1944-09-23
1944-09-24
1944-10-03
1944-10-07
1944-10-29
1944-11-12
1944-12-08
1945-02-14
1945-02-22
1945-02-24
1945-03-13
1945-03-14
1945-03-21
1946
1951
1952
1953
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
1654 HCU
27 OTU
467 Squadron
617 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
Air Gunnery School
aircrew
Anson
bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944)
bombing of the Juvisy, Noisy-le-Sec and Le Bourget railways (18/19 April 1944)
bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944)
Dominie
Halifax
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
Mosquito
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operation Catechism (12 November 1944)
Operational Training Unit
Proctor
RAF Castle Bromwich
RAF Halfpenny Green
RAF Lichfield
RAF Syerston
RAF Waddington
RAF Wigsley
RAF Woodhall Spa
RAF Yatesbury
Tallboy
Tirpitz
training
Wellington
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2470/43360/LWilliamsonF2-1061862v1.2.pdf
3ef25b6187e97a32748c53f3aa176c34
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Williamson, Frank-862
Description
An account of the resource
Four items. The collection concerns Frank Williamson (b. 1920, 1061862 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books and correspondence. He flew operations as a pilot with 102 Squadron.
The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Susan Ledger and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-06-21
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Williamson, F-2
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Frank Williamson’s RAF pilot’s flying log book. One
Description
An account of the resource
Frank Williamson’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 15 December 1940 to 25 February 1943 detailing training, operations and instructional duties as a pilot. He was stationed at RAF Desford (No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School), RAF Shawbury (No. 11 Service Flying Training School), RAF Abingdon (No. 10 Operational Training Unit), RAF Leeming (No. 10 Squadron), RAF Dalton and Topcliffe (102 Squadron), RAF Melbourne (10 Squadron Conversion Flight, No. 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit) and RAF Riccall (No. 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit). Aircraft in which flown: DH82 Tiger Moth, Oxford, Whitley, Halifax.
Records 27 operations (26 night, one day, several abandoned for various reasons) on the following targets in Belgium, France and Germany (some targets not named when duties not carried out): Boulogne, Bremen, Brest, Cherbourg, Cologne, Duisberg, Essen, Hamburg (abandoned), Hamburg, Nantes, Ostend, Paris, Rostock, St. Nazaire, Stettin, Vichy, and Warnemunde. His first pilot on first four operations were Pilot Officer Godfrey, Sergeant Robertson and Pilot Officer Joyce. Also includes technical notes, several personal notes (including a poem), and two endorsements, one in green.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Text. Poetry
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LWilliamsonF2-1061862v1
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
England--Leicestershire
England--Oxfordshire
England--Shropshire
England--Yorkshire
Belgium--Ostend
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Brest
France--Cherbourg
France--Nantes
France--Paris
France--Saint-Nazaire
France--Vichy
Germany--Bremen
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Essen
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Rostock
Poland--Szczecin
Poland
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941-09-11
1941-09-12
1941-09-20
1941-09-21
1941-09-29
1941-09-30
1941-10-01
1941-10-16
1941-10-17
1941-10-28
1941-10-29
1941-10-31
1941-11-07
1941-11-08
1941-12-27
1942-01-06
1942-01-07
1942-01-08
1942-05-05
1942-05-06
1942-05-07
1942-05-08
1942-05-19
1942-05-20
1942-05-30
1942-05-31
1942-06-01
1942-06-02
1942-06-03
1942-06-05
1942-06-06
1942-06-25
1942-06-26
1942-06-27
1942-06-28
1942-07-02
1942-07-03
1942-07-08
1942-07-09
1942-07-13
1942-07-14
1942-07-21
1942-07-22
1942-07-29
1942-07-30
1942-07-31
1942-08-01
1942-08-03
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
10 OTU
10 Squadron
102 Squadron
1658 HCU
aircrew
bombing
bombing of Cologne (30/31 May 1942)
Flying Training School
Halifax
Halifax Mk 1
Halifax Mk 2
Heavy Conversion Unit
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
RAF Abingdon
RAF Dalton
RAF Desford
RAF Leeming
RAF Melbourne
RAF Riccall
RAF Shawbury
RAF Topcliffe
Tiger Moth
training
Whitley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/632/26893/LRichardsonF146443v1.1.pdf
d8bc882744ba1ecd94a0fc58929c9193
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Richardson, Frederic James
F J Richardson
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Richardson, FJ
Description
An account of the resource
13 items. An oral history interview with Flight Lieutenant Frederic Richardson ( - 2020, 1234575, 146433 Royal Air Force), his log books and photographs. He flew operations as a pilot with 207 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Frederic Richardson and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-06-08
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Fred Richardson's pilots flying log book. One
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LRichardsonF146443v1
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One Booklet
Description
An account of the resource
Pilots flying log book for F J Richardson, covering the period from 4 November 1941 to 23 February 1943. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at No.1 British Flying Training School Terrell, RAF Long Newton, RAF North Luffenham and RAF Langar. Aircraft flown were PT-18, BT-13A, AT-6A, Oxford, Wellington and Lancaster. He flew a total of 3 operations, one with 29 Operational Training Unit and 2 with 207 squadron. Targets were Paris and Lorient. The log book also contained a picture with crew names of a Lancaster depicting their raid to Lorient.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941
1942-11-06
1943-02-13
1943-02-14
1943-02-16
1943-02-17
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Great Britain
United States
England--Wiltshire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Rutland
France--Lorient
France--Paris
1 BFTS
207 Squadron
29 OTU
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
arts and crafts
bombing
British Flying Training School Program
C-47
Flying Training School
Lancaster
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 3
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
RAF Gamston
RAF Langar
RAF North Luffenham
RAF Ossington
Stearman
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2513/43535/LDavyFR1108748v2.2.pdf
5676b500bdc68f33ff059b8472e06acc
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Davy, Frederick R
Davy, F R
Description
An account of the resource
21 items. The collection concerns Frederick R Davy (b. 1912, 1108747 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books, documents and photographs. He flew operations as a pilot with 625 Squadron.
The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Frederick Popoff catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-05-30
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Davy, FR
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Frederick Davy's pilot's flying log book. Two
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LDavyFR1108748v2
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Description
An account of the resource
Frederick Davy’s Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 1 April 1943 to 28 March 1945 detailing his further pilot’s training at 15 AFU, 81 OTU, 28 OTU, 1656 HCU, 1 LFS and operational posting to 625 Squadron. Posted to Bomber Command Instructors’ School in December 1944. Served at RAF Tatenhill, RAF Grove, RAF Ramsbury, RAF Castle Coombe, RAF Tilstock, RAF Wymeswold, RAF Castle Donnington, RAF Lindholme, RAF Kelstern, RAF Hemswell, RAF Finningley. Aircraft flown were Oxford, Wellington, Anson, Whitley V, Horsa, DC3 Dakota, Halifax, Lancaster. Conducted 3 leaflet drops with 28 OTU to Rouen and Orleans. Then 16 day and 17 night bombing operations with 625 Squadron to Boulogne, Domleger, Rheims, Ligescourt, Vaires - Paris, Siracourt, Vierzon, Orleans, Foret du Croc, Tours, Sannerville, Gelsenkirchen, Wizernes, Kiel, Ardouval, Stuttgart, Foret de Nieppe, Œuf-en-Ternois, Douai, Brunswick, Volkel, Stettin, Raimbert, Gilze Rijen, Le Havre, Frankfurt.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-03-24
1944-03-25
1944-03-26
1944-03-27
1944-03-29
1944-03-30
1944-06-15
1944-06-16
1944-06-22
1944-06-23
1944-06-25
1944-06-27
1944-06-29
1944-06-30
1944-07-01
1944-07-04
1944-07-05
1944-07-06
1944-07-12
1944-07-13
1944-07-18
1944-07-19
1944-07-20
1944-07-23
1944-07-24
1944-07-25
1944-07-28
1944-07-29
1944-07-31
1944-08-01
1944-08-10
1944-08-11
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-15
1944-08-16
1944-08-17
1944-08-26
1944-08-27
1944-08-29
1944-08-30
1944-08-31
1944-09-03
1944-09-05
1944-09-06
1944-09-08
1944-09-12
1944-09-13
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England
England--Leicestershire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Oxfordshire
England--Shropshire
England--Staffordshire
England--Wiltshire
England--Yorkshire
France
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Douai
France--Le Havre
France--Nieppe Forest
France--Normandy
France--Orléans
France--Paris
France--Pas-de-Calais
France--Reims
France--Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais)
France--Forêt du Croc
France--Siracourt
France--Somme
France--Tours
France--Vierzon
Germany
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Gelsenkirchen
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Stuttgart
Netherlands
Netherlands--Tilburg
Netherlands--Uden
Poland
Poland--Szczecin
France--Œuf-en-Ternois
France--Domléger-Longvillers
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Nick Cornwell-Smith
1656 HCU
28 OTU
625 Squadron
81 OTU
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
bombing of Luftwaffe night-fighter airfields (15 August 1944)
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Flying Training School
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 3
Heavy Conversion Unit
Initial Training Wing
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 3
Magister
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
RAF Castle Donington
RAF Cranwell
RAF Finningley
RAF Hemswell
RAF Hullavington
RAF Kelstern
RAF Kirmington
RAF Leconfield
RAF Lindholme
RAF Tilstock
RAF Torquay
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Wymeswold
tactical support for Normandy troops
Tiger Moth
training
V-1
V-2
V-weapon
Wellington
Whitley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2058/33867/PDoxseyJA18010053.2.jpg
160aa3ad0d75abb1d075dcbb03756a0a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Doxsey, JA, Photograph album
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-09-20
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Doxsey, JA
Description
An account of the resource
54 items comprising fifty-two pages and cover of album containing photographs of aircraft, people and places in Europe and Africa during and after the Second World War.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
French views
Description
An account of the resource
Top left - view of sun over sea with building bottom left. Captioned 'Sun rising over sea at Beaulieu, Nice, French Riviera, Oct 46'.
Bottom left - view inside Eifel tower leg. Captioned 'Looking down pylon of Eifel tower, Paris, Nov 46'.
Bottom right - View over bay of headland. Captioned 'Coast near Beaulieu, Nice, Oct 46'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-10
1946-11
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-10
1946-11
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Nice
France--Paris
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Three b/w photographs mounted on an album page
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PDoxseyJA18010053
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/759/17786/BCruickshankGCruickshankGv3.1.pdf
728703bdda7927598c8967bdddcdd767
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cruickshank, Gordon
G Cruickshank
Description
An account of the resource
76 items. Concerns the life and wartime career of Flight Lieutenant Gordon Cruickshank DFM who joined the Royal Air Force in 1938. After training as an air gunner he flew 52 operations on Manchester and Lancaster with 50, 560 and 44 Squadrons. Collection consists of a 1956 memoir with original photographs donated separately, a memoir of his life on squadron from December 1941, his logbooks. a further notebook with memoir, playing cards annotated with his operations, official documents, lucky mascots, medals and badges, dog tags, memorabilia, crew procedures, as well as photographs of aircraft, targets and people.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Linda Hinman and catalogued by Nigel Huckins
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-04-28
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cruickshank, G
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[page break]
1
Both my Mother [sic] and Father [sic] were married twice, my Mother [sic] a widow with eight children – and my Father [sic] a widower with three – the oldest George being killed in action during the 1914/18 war.
When my Mother [sic] met Father [sic], who was [smudged] Scottish [/smudged], stationed then at the Verne Portland Dorset, with the Army - they married, and had three more children, I was the middle one – now the youngest, the other dying when aged about 2 years.
Born at Portland November 25th 1918, my life was hard – during my school days I had gardening to do – then go out and sell to people localy [sic], on leaving school my first job was to help my brother-in-law with his window cleaning – later I got myself a shop assistants job in Weymouth, some 5 miles away cycling everyday – my pocket money was 2/- [?] per week.
It was late 1935 when I applied to join the Army – 4th Queens Own Hussars and January 2nd 1936 I was sworn in – and was to be stationed at Warbury Barracks Aldershot, after 6 months foot drill – and 9 month [sic] horse riding I became a trained trooper.
After my Fathers [sic] death – my Mother [sic] claimed me out on compassionate grounds being the only son in England at that period, my other brothers in the Royal Navy overseas
My life soon changed, and during the crisis of 1938 I rejoined the services – this time the R.A.F.
[page break]
2
After completing my training to become a Group II Balloon operator A.C I later after a short trade test became L.A.C. the war was on, we were busy putting the Balloons up around London – later I was posted to Felixstowe.
Having then being made Corporal, but keen on more action I applied for airgunnery [sic] – and in 1941 was accepted – being posted to Evanton Scotland for the Airgunnery {sic] course, after 4 weeks – not forgetting my 7 hrs flying time I became a Sgt Airgunner – my pay of 6d aday [sic] more than I had been getting as a Corporal.
My next station was 11 O.T.U. Abingdon – when my flying hrs increased by 5 hrs and became fully trained, and now ready for operations – but where?
It was December of 41 when my posting came through!! 50 Sqdn, then stationed at Swinderby – Near [sic] Lincoln, Having [sic] packed my kit – said my farewells to my friends, we, that is those who were also going to the same Station [sic] – Ginger Dacey, Colin Gray – Vic Greenwood, Smithy who was going to Binbrook.
Very late when we arrived at Swinderby – 8 miles to Lincoln, 8 miles to Newark, blimey what a dump!!
[page break]
3
We had been sent for crewing up on the Manchesters, but 50 Sqdn still had Hampdens – and still had for 3 more months after {smudged] arrival [/smudged].
Things got very boring waiting around, and more so depressing when detailed for bearers of one of our fellow aircrew who had been killed & was to be buried nearby at Bassingham
Then the Manchesters started arriving, Colin Gray & myself were crewed up with Norman Goldsmith D.F.C, Terry Tuerum [sic] was nav, later he flew with Gibson on the now famous damn [sic] raids, after a few hours of flying together we were ready for operations – and my grand total was now 32 hrs.
On the 15.4.42 my first operation – St Nazaire Height 800FT 4 [one indecipherable word] for gardening, time 6.15 very quite [sic] nothing unusual, 4 more days later – another gardening raid Ameland, 22.4.42 Gardening [sic] Kiel Bay Ht 1,000 3 [one indecipherable word]. On 24.4.42 Manchester L5786 – Second pilot Leslie Manser, who later won the V.C.
We set off for our first bombing operation target Rostok [sic], [encircled] 14 [/encircled] 250 inc[en]d[iary] bombs Ht 5000 ft.
[page break]
4
Good raid and plenty of Rostok [sic] hit – time 7.45.
This was most of the crews last trip – Colin & myself needed a new pilot ex [sic], would we be with Leslie Manser? no, we were to be crewed with Roy Calvert, Alan Conner, Lew Austin, Bert Branch ex.
It was 2 months later before we came operational – this time Lancasters, but first let me tell you of Leslie Manser, one of the greats – who gave his life without question.
On May 30th of 42 the crew lists up, a buss [sic] around it being a large raid – it was the first 1,000 bomber raid, and the target – Cologne.
Unfortunately Les, Jack Mills, Ben Naylor, and others got caught by enemy searchlights on approaching the target area – then it happened, hell let loose, when hit by intense & accurate anti aircrafts fire, the rear gunner wounded, they pressed on in great difficulties to bomb there [sic] objective – still cault [sic] in the searchlights & flak, when fire broke out, after awhile [sic] this was mastered with efforts of all – but it had left its mark.
A badly burnt wing & the engines
[page break]
5
Failing the Manchester began loosing [sic] height, Less [sic] held on & give orders for his crew to bail out at a very low height 1,000 ft.
Desdained [sic] the alternative of parachuting to safety himself – held on for all to get safely out, but to [sic] late for himself it plunged to earth and burst into flames with a man of great courage and strength
Flying Officer Leslie Manser was awarded the V.C. Posthumously [sic].
And the crew – well all but one , came back to England via the underground in “aprox” 21 days and today are still alive & kicking
[page break]
6
The boys of 50 Sqdn were a grand lot – who kept changing as the lose’s [sic] increased – Such men as Micky Martin, Spam Spafford – Toby [one indecipherable word], Dan Shannon, Boy Wonder Everett, Roy Beattle Oxly, Trevor Roper, Dave Abercrombie King Cole & a host of others.
Time, when not on flying – consists of bar drinking – cards, tossing the coins, or [one indecipherable word] playing – but the raids still kept coming, Frankfurt – Bremen, Wolholmshaven [sic], Essen, Wismar!!
Then Low [sic] level training, not forgetting Beatle Oxley’s remark at briefing, now lads remember don’t [sic] go mingling with the traffic in the streets when you goover [sic] the towns or Cities [sic]
It was now 17-10.42 [sic] briefing over, the daylight exspected [sic] on – a low level raid on Le Creucot [sic], 94 Lancasters[sic], to be led by Wing Commander Gibson – good quite [sic] raid, time 10 hrs 20 mins.
[page break]
7
Shortly afterwards another low-level Daylight [sic] this time Milan (Italy)
After crossing France at tree tops we started to climb for crossing over the Alps – this was a lovely sight – once over we started coming down for a low-level attack on Milan – we did drop our fire bombs at a very low height with great success afterwards shooting up a train & gun post with great success – but not a fighter in sight.
Time 9hrs 20 mins.
Around this period we were busy bombing Wismar, Genoa and I cannot recall ever bombing over [smudged] 10,000 [/smudged] FT – sometimes after droping [sic] the bombs putting the nose down and heading home at tree top level to dodge radar, I didn’t [smudged] mind [/smudged] this for flying rear and being around 14 Stone [sic] couldn’t get in the rear with full flying cloths [sic] – so hence I used the top parts – flying boots & a blanket around my legs this way I felt much freeor [sic]- and happier!!
My friend [smudged] Dacey was [/smudged] posted missing, Ken Smith, Vic Greenwood, to my dismay were killed in action.
[page break]
8
It was November 5th of 42 when I received a postagram
My Warmest [sic] congratulations on the award of your Distinguished Flying Medal
Signed H.T. Harris
A.C.C. Bomber Command.
It was on November 9th 1942 when I looked up the crew list & saw our crew were on.
So making my way out to our Aircraft[sic] – “S” for sugar & Give [sic] my turret and Brownings the once over – a short NFT with the crew and later atending [sic[ briefing.
The Target Hamburg with 100 Lancasters of Bomber Command.
It was dusk when we climbed aboard, Skipper Roy ran up the engines – I closed the fuselage door, climbed back to my turret, got in and closed doors, pluged [sic] in intercom – connected oxygen, reported rear gunner OK Skipper.
We set off for the runway in use & given the all clear – engines cleared, and steady increasing speed we were on our way for a perfect
[page break]
9
take off.
3,000 ft oxygen on – and after pin pointing we set course for enemy territory, once over the sea – Crooky, here Skipper!! OK? to test guns, all clear for shipping Nav – nothing around here Skipper!! OK Crooky test your guns, with a couple of bursts reported back OK Skipper guns OK.
From then on one keen look out for fighters – enemy coast ahead Skipper, OK bomb aimer, sharp look out now everyone.
It was not long before we approached the target area – which was 7/10 cloud, things seemed quite [sic], this was broken by the nav, target on your right Skipper – new course, bomb aimer getting ready up front, OK Skipper all set – plenty of searchlights about must be Hamburg below!!
OK Skipper bomb doors open – Left[sic] – Left [sic] Steady [sic], but that was it, hell let loose, - where am I upside down or the right way up
God I dont [sic] know – but I do know
[page break]
10
thiers [sic] a hell of lot of holes in us.
And an intense smell of cordite around – no intercom & both turret and guns out of action, all I could do was to hold on and pray – which I did.
Those boys on the ground certainly had us for target practice – and I was still looking for fighters – why I dont [sic] know, it was some 2 hrs before a knock on the rear door – Alan with a note come up front.
Say what a mess – holes back, left & centre I wondered how we made it, Alan said Roy’s wounded and the Nav also Lew, badly wounded, we learnt later he had been killed instantly.
Real cold now – [smudged] no [/smudged] windows in and I was nursing Lew not knowing he was dead
Then word we were well over the North Sea – then a sudden up lift, whats [sic] that – bombs away? [smudged] Blimey [/smudged] dont [sic] say we went through all that lot with a full bomb load – afraid we did Chum
Shall be damned glad to have my two feet again on firm ground
[page break]
11
Good old England soon [smudged] came [/smudged] up – no wireless or nothing, but with flying a [smudged] triangle [/smudged] up poped [sic] searchlights showing us the way for a crash landing.
O.K. lads here we go – crash positions, this is it – down – down – down to a perfect crash landing – good show Roy, what a crew.
After my leave found me stationed at Westcott an O.T.U., there I met Bob Weathershall, George Cleary, Rory Calhoun, Patteson, & a grand lot from another group – Bob was later crewed with Sqdn /Ldr Frazer [sic] Barron [smudged] DSO [/smudged] DFC DFM but I heard all got killed in a head on crash with another bomber over Paris.
Soon I was iching [sic] to be back – and late 43 found myself crewed with Flying Officer Flynns [sic] crew – a new crew who had never been on ops before lacking a mid upper gunner – we were posted to 44 Sqdn under Nettleton V.C.
He went missing on one of Italian raids
[page break]
12
Our new C.O. came, Wing commander Bows [sic]
Had Pat Dorhill in 44 Sqdn here for his [one indecipherable word] now with B.O.A.C.
[one indecipherable word] crew were fated in the first raid “Cassel” approaching enemy coast – when Nav shouts out, Sorry Skipper I cannot coup [sic], Pilot to Crooky whats [sic] the gen!! well Skipper how much off route – and our timing! I’ll check, well off route & running late, best to turn round Skipper – drop our bombs in the sea make our way back the best we can, we did, Nav was court martialed [sic] L M F on records and reduced to the ranks.
We had a succesful [sic] raid on Dusseldorf = another Berlin, and the next Berlin a near repeat of the first
My Warrant Officer through – about [smudged] the [/smudged] first airgunner W/O in the RAF unheard of before,
Terry said – sorry Crooke I am taking a complete new crew, felt sorry at the time – but learnt later he went missing on his 19th trip.
My good wife was relieved.
[page break]
13
Heard Roy Calvert was returning to ops – I’ll give him a ring, OK Crooke I’ll fix you up, and a few days later we were at 630 Sqdn East Kirkby – Alan Conner too, three of the regulars
Titch Freeman, Moody ex [sic] made up the crew.
Operations began rolling in Berlin – Schweinfurt, Stuttgart, Clermont Ferrand, Stuttgart Frankfurt – Berlin & Essen.
Then Briefing [sic] for Nurberg, on approaching enemy coast reported dozens of aircraft being shot down – your [sic] seeing things Crooke, but I knew different!! they did next morning when told about 144 [smudged] Lancs [/smudged] had been downed – us and another crew were only ones back from our lot, we lose [?] 10 aircraft
Sorry Crookes – but I’ll never forgive them. The losses were getting to [sic] high for my liking – wont [sic] be sorry to see my last trip – which was getting near now – so I was keeping my fingers crossed.
[page break]
14
After Toulouse-Montraudan, Danzig – Paris & Brunswick, this raid we were shot up by a night fighter – right action & timing we got away with slight damage and my 50th raid.
Had heard that Terry Taerum , Trevor Roper ex [sic] Gibson VC s crew had gone down on a raid on the Dortmund Ems Canal, Micky Martin & crew returning only out of 4 from 617 Sqdn
One of our crews had tried to take off without success – after leaving the ground plunged to the ground the rear turret breaking off and the rest blowing to pieces over a large Area [sic] – and the rear gunner the only one alive – later I learnt on returning off a raid – the pilot ordered bail out lads your [sic] over England, on going for his chute found it in complete ribbons – the other gunner said never mind we’ll go together with {smudged] [two indecipherable words] [/smudged] – but on pulling the cord the sudden jerk he let go & fell to his death below.
[page break]
15
Munich was always known to be a hard target to hit – [smudged] Cheshire [/smudged] said, give me one sqdn of PFF and 5 Group I’ll show you it can be –
He did 24.4.44 when we were briefed for Munich – we were in the last raid.
And on approaching the target – which was well ablaze now, we had our own run in and just released our bombs when caught by searchlights & four enemy night fighters, with good evasive action we downed one & damaged another down & down we went – say Skipper we dont [sic] want to be mixed up in these fires below, or the people [smudged] either [/smudged], dont [sic] think we’ll be welcomed [sic] guest right now
O.K Nav give me a course for home – soon we was clear of Munich and on the way once again for home – a very good raid, Lenord [sic] Cheshire awarded V.C. after that raid.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
G Cruickshank Memoir
Description
An account of the resource
Describes life with family from 1918. Joined Army – 4th Queen's Own Hussars on 2nd January 1936. Joined RAF 1938 and trained as balloon operator then applied as air gunner, arriving at RAF Swinderby in December 1941. Took part in 50 Squadron operations to St Nazaire, Rostock and Cologne. Mentions Leslie Manser V.C. Took part in daylight operation on Le Creusot then Milan, Wismar and Genoa. Mentions postagram re DFM - from A.T. Harris, Bomber Command. Took part in “S” Sugar on Hamburg and on the 24th April 1944, operation on Munich. Many mentions of his crew and colleagues.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
G Cruickshank
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942
1944
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Judy Hodgson
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
15 page handwritten exercise book
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
BCruickshankGCruickshankGv3
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
British Army
Royal Air Force. Balloon Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Dorset
England--Portland
England--Hampshire
England--Aldershot
England--Suffolk
England--Felixstowe
France
France--Saint-Nazaire
France--Paris
France--Clermont-Ferrand
France--Toulouse
Germany
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Rostock
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Wismar
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Munich
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Schweinfurt
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Essen
Germany--Dortmund-Ems Canal
Italy
Italy--Milan
Italy--Genoa
Poland
Poland--Gdańsk
Scotland
Scotland--Ross and Cromarty
England--Berkshire
England--Buckinghamshire
France--Le Creusot
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-04-15
1942-04-24
1942-05-30
1942-10-17
1942-11-05
1942-11-09
1944-04-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
44 Squadron
50 Squadron
617 Squadron
630 Squadron
air gunner
Air Gunnery School
aircrew
bombing
Bombing of Augsburg (17 April 1942)
bombing of Cologne (30/31 May 1942)
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992)
crash
Distinguished Flying Medal
Gibson, Guy Penrose (1918-1944)
Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984)
lack of moral fibre
Lancaster
Manchester
military living conditions
military service conditions
mine laying
RAF Abingdon
RAF East Kirkby
RAF Evanton
RAF Swinderby
RAF Westcott
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/759/17789/MCruickshankG629128-150428-01.1.pdf
88af35156645f0f986b15c6b1c90d57b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cruickshank, Gordon
G Cruickshank
Description
An account of the resource
76 items. Concerns the life and wartime career of Flight Lieutenant Gordon Cruickshank DFM who joined the Royal Air Force in 1938. After training as an air gunner he flew 52 operations on Manchester and Lancaster with 50, 560 and 44 Squadrons. Collection consists of a 1956 memoir with original photographs donated separately, a memoir of his life on squadron from December 1941, his logbooks. a further notebook with memoir, playing cards annotated with his operations, official documents, lucky mascots, medals and badges, dog tags, memorabilia, crew procedures, as well as photographs of aircraft, targets and people.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Linda Hinman and catalogued by Nigel Huckins
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-04-28
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cruickshank, G
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
G Cruickshank operations playing cards
Description
An account of the resource
52 playing cards listing 53 individual operations. The 52nd card (10 of diamonds) shows promotions from A.C. 1 to Pilot Officer. Operations 32, 35 and 38 are all listed on the four of hearts.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942
1944
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
52 playing cards with handwritten annotation
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Physical object
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCruickshankG629128-150428-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Saint-Nazaire
Netherlands
Netherlands--Ameland Island
Germany
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Rostock
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Osnabrück
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Augsburg
Germany--Saarlouis
Germany--Karlsruhe
Germany--Bremen
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Germany--Essen
Germany--Wismar
France--Le Creusot
Italy
Italy--Genoa
Italy--Milan
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Schweinfurt
Germany--Stuttgart
France--Clermont-Ferrand
Germany--Nuremberg
France--Toulouse
Poland
Poland--Gdańsk
France--Paris
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Munich
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1944
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
air gunner
aircrew
bombing
mine laying
superstition
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/191/3554/POHaraHF16010023.2.jpg
874327742bb34be67bd512bc39333c01
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/191/3554/POHaraHF16010024.2.jpg
185ee185100a510c15a99abf8a9f0b91
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
O'Hara, Herbert
Paddy O'Hara
H F O'Hara
Description
An account of the resource
59 items. The collection concerns the wartime career of Flight Sergeant Herbert Frederick O'Hara (1917 – 1968, 655736, 195482 Royal Air Force). Herbert O'Hara served on 12 Squadron at RAF Wickenby between February and May 1944. His aircraft was shot down over France in May 1944 and he evaded until he was liberated in September 1944. He was then commissioned. The collection contains service records and two logbooks, notification of him missing as well as correspondence from and photographs of French people who helped him evade. In addition there is an account of travelling across the Atlantic for flying training in Florida as well as notes from his aircrew officers course at RAF Credenhill. Finally there are a number of target and reconnaissance photographs and six paintings.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Brian O'Hara and catalogued by Nigel Huckins and IBCC staff.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-11-21
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
O'Hara, HF
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Gennevilliers
Description
An account of the resource
Vertical aerial photograph of Gennevilliers. The image is of factories and dockyards. Annotated ‘Column of smoke from Goodrich factory’, ‘Power station’ and ‘Craters?’ Captioned ‘1. O (X4) 12 NT 29/30/4/42 F/8” [arrow] TX’. On the reverse 'P/O Richardson’.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
POHaraHF16010024, POHaraHF16010023
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Geolocated
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
O’Hara, Paddy. Folder POHaraHF1601
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-04-29
1942-04-30
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Paris
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-04-29
1942-04-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
aerial photograph
anti-aircraft fire
bombing
target photograph
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2047/33336/LBiltonGHA175723v1.1.pdf
16f63e7fb0b27a19684d3564ed2f2c0a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Bilton, George Henry Albert
G H A Bilton
Description
An account of the resource
Nineteen items. The collection concerns George Henry Albert Bilton (b. 1923, 175723 Royal Air Force) and contains an oral history interview, his log book, correspondence and photographs. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 428 and 434 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Anthony Bilton and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-09-14
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Bilton, GHA
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
George Bilton - observers and air gunners log book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LBiltonGHA175723v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending temporal coverage. Allocated
Pending review
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Description
An account of the resource
Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying log book for George Bilton, flight engineer, covering the period from 18 August 1943 to 1 August 1946. Detailing his final flying training, operations flown, instructional postings and flying in transports. He was stationed at RAF Croft, RAF Topcliffe, RAF Middleton St George, RAF Woolfox Lodge, RAF Warboys, RAF Upwood and RAF Wyton. Aircraft flown in were Halifax, Lancaster, Anson, Wellington and C-47. He flew a total of 34 operations with 428 and 434 Squadrons. Targets were Dusseldorf, Ludwigshaven, Stuttgart, Berlin, Kiel, La Rochelle, Copenhagen, minelaying, Trappes, Aulnoye, Lille, Villeneuve, St Ghislian, Le Crepiet, Disemont, Boulogne, Beinnies, Caen, Hamburg, Acquet, Foret de Nieppe, Paris, St Leu d'Esserent, Foret de Chantilly, La Breteque, Brunswick, Falaise and Brest. His pilot on operations was Wing Commander Watkins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Terry Hancock
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-06
1944-07
1944-08
1943-11-03
1943-11-18
1943-11-26
1943-11-27
1944-01-20
1944-01-21
1944-02-03
1944-02-04
1944-02-15
1944-02-16
1944-02-21
1944-02-22
1944-02-25
1944-02-26
1944-03-03
1944-03-04
1944-03-06
1944-03-07
1944-03-22
1944-03-23
1944-03-25
1944-03-26
1944-04-09
1944-04-10
1944-04-26
1944-04-27
1944-04-29
1944-04-30
1944-05-01
1944-05-02
1944-05-07
1944-05-08
1944-05-27
1944-05-28
1944-06-15
1944-06-16
1944-06-21
1944-07-01
1944-07-06
1944-07-18
1944-07-28
1944-07-29
1944-08-01
1944-08-03
1944-08-04
1944-08-05
1944-08-08
1944-08-09
1944-08-10
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-14
1944-08-25
1944-08-26
1945-06-05
1945-06-08
1945-06-23
1945-06-29
1945-08-17
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Denmark
France
Germany
Great Britain
Denmark--Copenhagen
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Yorkshire
France--Aulnoye-Aymeries
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Brest
France--Caen
France--Creil
France--Falaise
France--La Rochelle
France--Lille
France--Nieppe
France--Paris
France--Soligny-la-Trappe
France--Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
156 Squadron
1651 HCU
1659 HCU
1664 HCU
29 OTU
428 Squadron
434 Squadron
aircrew
Anson
bombing
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
C-47
Cook’s tour
flight engineer
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 3
Halifax Mk 5
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 3
mine laying
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operation Dodge (1945)
Operational Training Unit
RAF Croft
RAF Middleton St George
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Upwood
RAF Warboys
RAF Woolfox Lodge
RAF Wyton
tactical support for Normandy troops
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/892/26017/LHuttonGR1586017v1.2.pdf
7424f2584be4289534e54d097dbb6ce8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hutton, George
G Hutton
Description
An account of the resource
35 items. An oral history interview with George Hutton (b. 1921, 1586014 Royal Air Force), his log book, photographs and documents. He flew operations as a mid upper gunner in 199 and 514 squadrons. The collection also contains an album of photographs of George Hutton's service and telegrams about his wedding.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by George Hutton and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-05-26
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Hutton, GR
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
George Hutton’s navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
G.R. Hutton’s Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, from 19th May 1943 to 24th August 1945, detailing training, operations and instructional duties as an Air Gunner. He was stationed at RAF Pembrey (1 AGS), RAF Waterbeach (1651 HCU and 514 Squadron), RAF Lakenheath (199 Squadron), RAF Andreas (11 AGS), RAF Fersfield (2 Group Support Unit) and Melsbroek and Achmer air bases (180 squadron). Aircraft in which flown: Blenheim, Wellington III, Wellington X, Stirling, Lancaster II, Martinet, Anson, Mitchell II and Mitchell III.
He completed his first tour of duties with 199 and 514 squadrons, a total of 30 night operations (plus three ‘boomeranged’), on the following targets in Belgium, France, Italy and Germany: Aachen, Angers, Berlin, Bordeaux (mining), Brunswick, Cape Griz Nez, Cologne, Courtrai, Essen, Fougeres, Frankfurt, Friedrichshafen, Hanover, Kassel, Laon, Leipzig, Modane, Mont Lucon, Nantes, Nuremburg, Ouistrehan (near Caen), Paris, Rouen, Schweinfurt, Stuttgart, Trappes and Turin.
On 6 June 1944 he noted “PASSENGER - BRITISH WAR CORRESPONDANT”.
He completed a second tour of 10 daytime operations with 180 squadron on the following targets in France, Netherlands and Germany: Arnhem, Cloppenburg, Dunkirk, Lubeck, Oldenburg, Sogel, Soltau and Voorst. His pilots on operations were Flight Lieutenant Waterfield, Flight Sergeant Ashpitel, Pilot Officer Woods, Pilot Officer Crombie, Pilot Officer Duncliff, Warrant Officer McGowan and Flight Lieutenant Barlow.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHuttonGR1586017v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
Italy
Netherlands
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Norfolk
England--Suffolk
Wales--Carmarthenshire
Germany--Lower Saxony
Great Britain Miscellaneous Island Dependencies--Isle of Man
Italy--Po River Valley
Belgium--Brussels
Belgium--Kortrijk
France--Angers
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
France--Caen
France--Opale Coast
France--Dunkerque
France--Fougères (Ille-et-Vilaine)
France--Laon
France--Modane
France--Montluçon
France--Nantes
France--Paris
France--Rouen
France--Yvelines
Germany--Aachen
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Cloppenburg
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Essen
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Friedrichshafen
Germany--Hannover
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Lübeck
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Oldenburg
Germany--Schweinfurt
Germany--Sögel
Germany--Soltau
Germany--Stuttgart
Italy--Turin
Netherlands--Arnhem
Netherlands--Voorst
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944
1945
1943-08-01
1943-08-02
1943-08-10
1943-08-11
1943-08-12
1943-08-13
1943-08-16
1943-08-17
1943-08-23
1943-08-24
1943-08-27
1943-08-28
1943-09-15
1943-09-16
1943-09-17
1943-09-27
1943-09-28
1943-10-03
1943-10-04
1943-10-05
1943-12-16
1943-12-17
1943-12-24
1943-12-25
1944-01-14
1944-02-19
1944-02-24
1944-02-25
1944-03-01
1944-03-02
1944-03-26
1944-03-27
1944-03-30
1944-03-31
1944-04-11
1944-04-12
1944-04-18
1944-04-19
1944-04-20
1944-04-21
1944-04-23
1944-04-24
1944-05-07
1944-05-08
1944-05-10
1944-05-11
1944-05-28
1944-05-29
1944-05-30
1944-06-04
1944-06-08
1944-06-09
1945-04-03
1945-04-08
1945-04-10
1945-04-11
1945-04-12
1945-04-17
1945-04-19
1945-04-21
1945-05-01
1945-06-04
1651 HCU
180 Squadron
199 Squadron
514 Squadron
air gunner
Air Gunnery School
aircrew
Anson
B-25
bale out
Blenheim
bombing
bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944)
bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944)
Cook’s tour
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Mk 2
Martinet
mine laying
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
propaganda
RAF Andreas
RAF Lakenheath
RAF Pembrey
RAF Waterbeach
Stirling
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/39/288/PHillierD1609.2.jpg
6d11a46afddc67693885720946883540
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Williamson, George Reid
George Reid Williamson
G R Williamson
Description
An account of the resource
Seven items. The collection consists of documents and photographs related to Sergeant George Reid Williamson being shot down over occupied France on 3/4 May 1944, during an operation to Mailly-le-Camp. Items include a memoir of his escape as well as photographs and names of helpers in the French resistance. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Don Hillier and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-07-01
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Williamson, GR
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
George Reid Williamson on a rooftop
Description
An account of the resource
George Reid Williamson, smartly dressed in civilian clothes with a tartan tie, stands on a rooftop looking at the camera. Trees and buildings are seen in the background.
Tentaively identified as Paris by Cunin Yves and Charles Woodham of the Finding the location WW1 & WW2 Facebook group.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PHillierD1609
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Paris
evading
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/39/287/PHillierD1607.2.jpg
ecc2dfccb268c10fcd5b51c343a45b0a
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/39/287/PHillierD1608.2.jpg
d52900a8e367c65ddb797dedf69eaeeb
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Williamson, George Reid
George Reid Williamson
G R Williamson
Description
An account of the resource
Seven items. The collection consists of documents and photographs related to Sergeant George Reid Williamson being shot down over occupied France on 3/4 May 1944, during an operation to Mailly-le-Camp. Items include a memoir of his escape as well as photographs and names of helpers in the French resistance. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Don Hillier and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-07-01
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Williamson, GR
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
George Reid Williamson reading a newspaper in the Bois de Boulogne
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Description
An account of the resource
George Reid Williamson dressed in a pinstriped jacket and dark trousers, leaning against a wood and wire fence, whilst reading a newspaper and smoking a cigarette. A wooded area is in the background. On the reverse ‘In the Bois de Boulogne during occupation, if you could read the paper it showed the date', '2.2.45' and 'George Reid Williamson'.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France--Paris
France
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PHillierD1607
PHillierD1608
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
evading
Resistance
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1407/26672/SSimpsonHEW180633v20001.2.jpg
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Simpson, Henry
Henry Evan Wade Simpson
H E W Simpson
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-03-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Simpson, HEW
Description
An account of the resource
42 items. Collection concerns Henry Evan Wade 'Harry' Simpson DFM (1806333 Royal Air Force) a flight engineer on Lancaster of 166 Squadron whose aircraft failed to return on 7/8 June 1944. Collection contains his flying logbook, correspondence, documents and photographs. <br /><br />Additional information on Harry Simpson is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/121329/">IBCC Losses Database.</a><br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jean Simpson and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
German documents listing killed RAF crew
Description
An account of the resource
Stamped Dulag Luft Wetzlar and lists Sgt L M Baker, G L M Norbye and Simpson Henry, Evan Wade at St Cyr L'Ecole, Lancaster aircraft gives other details of personnel and includes Ratcliff L.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-11-07
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four page printed document
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SSimpsonHEW180633v2
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Paris
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-06-08
1944-11-07
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription. Other languages than English
Dulag Luft
killed in action
Lancaster
prisoner of war
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1912/36023/NHayhurstJM170725-020001.2.jpg
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hayhurst, Jose Margaret
J M Hayhurst
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-25
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
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Hayhurst, JM
Description
An account of the resource
108 items. The collection concerns Sergeant Jose Margaret Hayhurst (2073102 Royal Air Force) and contains decorations, uniform, documents and photographs. She served as a radar operator in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Andrew Whitehouse and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
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German War Over
Description
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A newspaper with details of the end of the war with Germany.
Date
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1945-05-07
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Great Britain
England--London
England--Manchester
England--Croydon
Switzerland
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Portugal--Lisbon
England--Henley-on-Thames
Germany--Kiel
France--Dunkerque
Austria--Vienna
Tunisia
France--Paris
France
North Africa
Germany
Austria
Portugal
England--Oxfordshire
England--Lancashire
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Civilian
Language
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eng
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Text
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Five printed sheets
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NHayhurstJM170725-020001, NHayhurstJM170725-020002, NHayhurstJM170725-020003, NHayhurstJM170725-020004, NHayhurstJM170725-020005
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
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1945-05-07
Bismarck
bombing
Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)
Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945)
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
sport
Stalin, Joseph (1878-1953)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/759/17785/BCruickshankGCruickshankGv2.1.pdf
2c5d353b28d829b82630caa64328bb57
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Cruickshank, Gordon
G Cruickshank
Description
An account of the resource
76 items. Concerns the life and wartime career of Flight Lieutenant Gordon Cruickshank DFM who joined the Royal Air Force in 1938. After training as an air gunner he flew 52 operations on Manchester and Lancaster with 50, 560 and 44 Squadrons. Collection consists of a 1956 memoir with original photographs donated separately, a memoir of his life on squadron from December 1941, his logbooks. a further notebook with memoir, playing cards annotated with his operations, official documents, lucky mascots, medals and badges, dog tags, memorabilia, crew procedures, as well as photographs of aircraft, targets and people.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Linda Hinman and catalogued by Nigel Huckins
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2015-04-28
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Cruickshank, G
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Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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[underlined] I flew rear [/underlined]
It was December of 1941, when I was told that my squadron was to be number 50, then stationed at Swinderby in Lincolnshire.
Having packed my kit and set off from Abingdon a O.T.U, having now become a fully trained airgunner.
It was late when we arrived at Swinderby several other gunners & myself!! we were posted in for crewing on the Manchester bombers – the sqdn were flying Hampdens at that time, but it was many weeks after before they arrived, so our life was one long rest! and was feeling pretty browned off, and more so when detailed for a bearer of one of our fellow aircrew who had been killed, he was one of the many that I knew – who was to get killed in action.
On the arrival of the Manchesters I was crewed with Flying Officer Norman Goldsmith & crew, they were a grand lot of chaps & soon settled down & wondering when I would start
[page break]
on operations – then on 15/4/42 in Manchester L7516 we started, our target “St Nazaire!! a trip of 6 hrs 15 mins – very quite [sic] I thought.
The Manchesters were rotten – and losses among them heavy, infact [sic] I hated them!! we were pleased when the news came through that we were going on “Lancs” the new four engine bombers
In the meantime we had to put up with what we had, after only a few raids – learnt that we were on a bombing raid in Germany & the target
“Rostok”[sic]
Our second pilot was Leslie Manser, who was one of those chaps one always took an instant liking too!! and hoped that when Norman finnished [sic] he would take over our crew, the raid went off well, and although we couldn’t get much height – did manage to bomb at 5,000 ft, will alway [sic] remember this particular raid – for not only was it my first bombing raid on Germany, but because of those I flew with, & who later were to be killed in action.
[page break]
The months went by, and early July Norman Completed [sic] his tour – and our new pilot was Reg Calvert, with him I was to do a good number of operations!!
First [underlined] let me [/underlined] tell you about Leslie Manser It was May 30th of 42 the crew list up – and a buss [sic] around about it being a large force!! it was, the first 1,000 bomber raid & the target was
[underlined] Cologne [/underlined]
Leslie Manser & Crew [sic] were on, also mine !!
Less [sic] & crew got caught by searchlights on approaching the target area – then it happened!! hell let loose when hit by intense & accurate anti aircraft [smudged]fire [/smudged], the rear gunner being wounded, they pressed on in great difficulties to bomb there [sic] objective still caught by searchlights & flak – when fire broke out, after [smudged] awhile [sic] [/smudged] this was mastered with efforts of all, but it left its mark
A badly burnt wing & the engines failing the Manchester began losing height Less [sic] held on & gave orders for his crew to bail
[page break]
Out at very low height of 1000ft.
Disdained the alternative of parachuting to safety himself – held on for all to get safely out!! but to [sic] late for himself & plunged to earth and burst into flames with a man of great courage & strength
Flying Officer Leslie Manser was awarded the V.C Posthumously [sic]
The boys of 50 Sqdn were a grand lot but kept changing as the losses increased, one [smudged] would [/smudged] go on leave for a short period – on returning find quite a few new faces around!! & so & so missing
Time, which we had plenty in between raids were spent – either drinking, carding or both most of the night – or day, but the raids keep piling up – Frankfurt, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven, Essen, Wismar!! Then low level training – and our Cos remark!! now remember lads dont [sic] go mingling with the traffic in the streets
Then came the expected, a daylight low level raid on “Le creusot [sic] in France, led by Wing Commander Gibson, who later had my
[page break]
Navigator Terry Teurum [sic], and did the Dam [sic] raid – Winning the V.C.
Shortly after another Daylight [sic] on Milan Italy, back on nights with, Genoa, Genoa, Genoa – blimey dont [sic] they know any other place!! They did – Hamburg!!
It was November the 9th when I looked up the crew list & saw our crew were on, made my way out to my aircraft & give my guns (brownings) [sic] the once over, checked my turret ex [sic] & later after the N.F.T. atended [sic] briefings
The Target Hamburg
This was the last of my first tour – so I hoped for a quite [sic] one!!
It was dusk when we climbed aboard, Skipper ran up the engines, I closed the fuselage door & Climbed [sic] back rear – pluged [sic] in intercom & reported, we made our way to the runway in use when [smudged] given [/smudged] the O.K – cleared engines and we off on our way!! 3,000 ft, oxygen on – set course
[page break]
for Germany.
From then on one keen look out for fighters ex [sic] Enemy [sic] coast ahead – sharp look out now Crooky!! things seemed quite [sic], then this was broken by the Nav, target up on the right – new course, bomb aimer now getting down front – O.K Skipper all set, plenty of Searchlights [sic] about – and built up area below this must be Hamburg Skipper? OK bomb doors open – Left, [sic] left, steady – but that was it!! Hell let loose on use [sic], where am I upside down or the right way up, God, I dont [sic] know!! just kept hold tight & prayed – a strong smell of cordite around, [smudged] no [/smudged] [one indecipherable word] intercom [smudged] must [/smudged] [one indecipherable word] quite lonely [?] without it, & the holes in us, these boys on the ground certainly had us taped – but I just kept where I was, still looking for fighters!! not that it mattered for both turret & my guns were completely out of action, time seemed endless
[page break]
before a knock on my turret – Alan out other gunner with a note come up front, say what a mess – holes everywhere, I wondered how did they miss us!!
Alan said Pilot wounded, Nav wounded, & wireless operator badly wounded we were to learn later that he was killed instantly when flak hit him in the [one indecipherable word], real cold now, most of the windows [smudged] were [/smudged] blown out!! then word were [sic] clear of the enemy coast & over the North sea, then a sudden up lift – blimey that our bomb load? had we gone through that lot with a full bomb load! gee wont [sic] I be damned pleased to place my two feet on firm ground again – Good old England soon [smudged] popped [/smudged] up!! [smudged] no [/smudged] wireless ex [sic], hope they dont [sic] start shooting at us, then the coast, & Roy started flying in a traingle [sic]!! Up poped [sic] our searchlights showing us [?] a way for the next dreaded moment & crash landing
[page break]
Crash positions – this is it lads, and down & down we went to a perfect crash landing, good [one indecipherable word] Roy, what a pilot, what a crew!!
It was some months later, and I was now an instructor stationed at Westcott an O.T.U, and still feeling the effects of that raid, & much the worse for ware [sic], late of 1943, found myself going back for yet another tour of operations, and a new crew who had never been on operations before!! Gee its Just [sic] my luck to click [?] a pupil crew for my second time!!! my new Sqdn was to be 44, under Nettleton V.C. just a few miles from home & my dear wife, some luck anyway, Terry Flynn turned out a darned good pilot – but due to one or two misadventure after only 4 operations with him – he decided to take over a new crew - & me, I phoned up Roy!! & within days was with him as his gunner at 630 sqdn then stationed at East Kirkby, Lincs.
Operations soon started rolling in - & lots of aircrew out – for the losses were high
[page break]
now, 78, 83, 67-97, boy things are hot – Germany must be feeling the full strength of Bomber Command too? Berlin, Berlin, & Berlin again, Essen, “ Nurnburg”, Paris, Brunswick – then Munich, that was the night of April 24th of 44, Group Captain L. Cheshire was to lead us on that night, he was awarded the V.C. for that raid.
We were in the last wave - and on arriving at the target – which was now well on fire, & life was no piece of cake!! for plenty of night fighters were around, started our run in – searchlight soon got hold of us as we started evasive action!! Then fighters – four of them at us, we opened fire one damaged, one down, possible one more – but down and down we came, Say [sic] we down [sic] want to end up in Munich main street, the fires looked to [sic] hot for me!! & don’t think we’ll be welcomed [sic] guest with the people below – once clear of searchlights our hearts [smudged] felt [/smudged] lighter, and when the nav give the new heading knew we were on our way home
[page break]
once more.
Just two more, then I could say goodbye they came shortly after – “Schweinfurt”, Clermont – ferrand [sic]!! my last!! boy I feel 10 years younger, but looking back!! would I do it again? well the answers Yes!!
Hast ever flown deep into Hunland, [?] where the cold searchlights shimmer & shake, where like pink snakes the tracor [sic] uprises [sic] and life is no helping of cake
Where the heavy flak rattles and rends you, while Messerchmitts [sic] queue for a shot [smudged] and [/smudged] you’ve only your guns to defend you?
You haven’t?
Then you’ve missed a lot!
[page break]
After my reserve finished [sic] in 1960 – had very little contact with the R.A.F, until I received an invitation to atend [sic] for the [smudged] purpose [/smudged] of Cyril Manser to hand over his brother’s V.C. for keeping with 50 Sqdn – this was great thing to do, and Cyril’s a grand chap, it was our first meeting – also part of Mansers crew – who I hadn’t seen for 24 years
Last year another reunion – this time the squadron’s 50th birthday, a great reunion
Now ready for the coming “Royal Standard” in June, Her Royal Highness Th [sic] Princess Marinia [sic]
Which will no doubt bring to a close memories of 50 Sqdn and all who flew with it.
June the 15th of this year brought that day – and I attended with my wife & three daughters
[page break]
[underlined] I flew Rear [/underlined]
1
22 NOV 1967
It is 1940, and I find myself a corporal Group II Balloon operator – stationed at Felixstowe, single – with 8/3 per day, but restless, so I put my name forward for aircrew – and during the summer of 41 found myself packing, and on my way to number 8 gunnery school Evanton.
After only 4 weeks of training – I passed out to become a Sgt airgunner!! with a 6d aday [sic] rise in pay, not forgetting my 7hrs 25 mins flying time – was soon on my way to O.T.U, after leave I found myself at 10 O.T.U Abingdon flying rear on Whitleys – then early 1942 with a grand total of 23 hrs I am stationed at Swinderby with 50 Sqdn of 5 Group Bomber Command, with the Hampden Bombers.
At the mess I meet new & old friends – Ginger Dacy, Colin Gray – Hagin Mason & others, and informed my old pal Smithy was at Binbrook, and Vic Greenwood at 44 Sqdn Waddington – we were for crewing up on Manchesters, but it was some weeks before there [sic] arrival at the station – and things got very boring – more so when detailed for bearers
[page break]
2
of a fellow aircrew who had been killed during a raid.
Then the Manchesters started arriving – Colin Gray & myself were [smudged] crewed [/smudged] up with[?] Norman Goldsmith, Terry Tuerum [sic] was our “Nav” – later he flew with Gibson on the now famous dam raids
After a few hours of flying together we were ready for operations – and my total increased to 30 hrs. 15.4.42 the crew lists up – we’re on, a short NFT – no snags, a briefing ex [sic] and my first thought a keen look out Crooke for nightfighters.
St Nazaire” Gardening, Height 800 ft with 4 [one indecipherable word] – time 6.15, nothing unusual – quite [sic], four days later another gardening trip Ameland – shortly after on 22.4-42 [sic] again gardening!! This time Kiel Bay Ht 1,000 ft
A couple of days later on Manchester [smudged] L5786 [/smudged] found us on our first bombimg operation – the target Rostok [sic] north Germany.
[page break]
3
Our Second [sic] Pilot was Leslie Manser – who very soon after won the V.C.
The raid was good – but the aircraft bad – and very soon after they were all grounded – as death traps.
Leslie Manser had his crew – and Colin Gray – myself, were looking foranother [sic] Pilot, Norman had completed his first tour Having leave ex [sic] find we are crewed with a Pilot Officer Calvert, Alan Conner, Lew [?] Austin Flt/Sgt Stevens Sgt Branch – a grand lot, and I was proud to be a member of it.
It was some weeks later before we were operational – this time the Lancaster, but first let me tell you about Leslie Manser & crew; we knew them personaly [sic] – good chaps.
Its May 30th 1942 the crews are listed for operations – a buss [sic] around camp of a large force taking part!! it was, the first 1,000 Bomber raid – target Cologne.
[page break]
4
Unfortunately Leslie got caught by searchlights on approaching the target area – then it happened, hell let loose, when hit by intense and accurate anti aircraft fire – the rear gunner wounded – they pressed on in great difficulties to bomb there [sic] objective – still caught in the searchlights & Flak [sic], when fire broke out, after awhile [sic] this was mastered with efforts of all – but it had left its mark
A Badly [sic] burnt wing, and the engines failing – the Manchester began losing height, Les held on - & gave orders for his crew to bail out at a very low height of 1,000 ft.
Desdained [sic] the alternative of parachuting to safety himself – held on for all to get safely out – but to [sic] late for himself it plunged to earth and burst into flames with a man of great courage and strength
Flying Officer Manser was awarded the V.C. Posthumously
And the crew, all but one returned back to
[page break]
5
England via the underground in ‘approx’ 21 days
The boys of 50 Sqdn were a grand lot – but kept changing as the loses [sic] increased – we had Micky Martin & crew, Boy [sic] wonder Everett, Dave Abercrombie, King Cole, Trevor Roper Undry, Roy Beattle Oxley – and a host of others
Soon after the raids started coming fast – Frankfurt, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven, Essen, Wismar.
During the summer of 42 we had returned from a raid – dibriefing ex [sic], a meal, then to bed, but after being asleep some hours was woke up to be told we were on again – but not to worry our aircraft would be NFT & serviced for snags – but later was a worry,
We were on route to the target – and over the north sea – called up Roy for permission to check my guns – OK Nav, no [smudged] ships [/smudged] about – OK Skipper, OK Crooks check guns, but on doing so – found none working, after carefull [sic] checking found to my dismay all the breech blocks were in the wrong guns – but
[page break]
6
desided [sic] to put them right, but the cold was intense – and with a struggle managed to get two working before gaining to [sic] much height, after sometime I managed to win – even now I recall myself sweating – and the weather about 50 below, after that I checked my guns daily flying or not.
With still more [smudged] raids [/smudged], Saarbrucken, Kaslimen [?] Bremen, Duisburg, Frankfurt & Dusseldorf – find my hours creeping up –
Then we start low level training and Beatle Oxleys remark at briefing – now lads remember dont [sic] go mingling with the traffic in the streets when you go over large towns or city's
Its now 17.10.42, with briefing over – the daylight expected is on, a low level on Le Creucot [sic] 94 Lancasters to be led by Wing Commander Gibson a good quite [sic] raid – but 10 hrs 20 mins in the rear turret was to [sic] long, and shortly afterwards another Daylight [sic]– this time Milan, Italy.
After crossing France at low level we started
[page break]
7
to climb for crossing the Alps – this was a lovely sight, once over we started coming down for a low level attack on Milan – we did drop our fire bombs at a very low height with great success – afterwards shooting up a train & gun ports – but not a fighter in sight. time [sic] 9hrs 20 mins.
Around this period we were busy bombing Wismar, Genoa, and I cannot recall ever bombing above 10,000FT., sometimes after dropping we would put the nose down and hedge hop home – this I didn’t mind for flying rear and being around 14 Stone [sic] couldn’t get into the rear turret with full flying clothes – so hence I used the top parts & a blanket[?] around my legs, this way I felt freer [?] & happier
My friend Dacey was killed – Vic Greenwood, & Smithy also, not forgetting those on my own sqdn.
Nov 5th of 42 when I received a postagram
My Warmest Congratulations on the award of your Distingushed [sic] Flying medal.
Signed H.T.Harris
A.O.C. Bomber Command
[page break]
8
November 9th 1942 when looking up the crew lists seen our crew was on, making my way out to our aircraft – ‘S’ for sugar give my brownings the once over, a short NFT with the crew & later attending briefing.
The target Hamburg – my last for my first tour.
It was dusk when we climbed aboard, Skipper Roy run up the engines, I closed the fuselage door, climbed back rear – closed the doors, pluged [sic] in intercom – connected up my oxygen ex [sic], reported to Skipper rear gunner OK.
We set off for the runway in use, given the all clear from the control tower, cleared engines, and at a steady increasing speed down the runway we were on on [sic] way for a perfect take off.
3,000Ft oxygen on, after pin pointing we set course for Hamburg, once over the sea – Crooke here Skipper!! OK to test guns, any ships about Nav’ – nothing around Skipper, OK Skipper, with a
[page break]
[underlined] 9 [/underlined]
couple of short bursts – reported back guns O K Skipper.
From then on – a keen look out for fighters, enemy coast ahead Skipper, OK bomb aimer – sharp look out now everyone – OK back there [smudged] Crooke [/smudged] – OK Skipper!!
Soon we were approaching the target area which was about 7/10 cloud, things seemed qiute [sic], this was broken bye [sic] the “Nav”!! target on your right Skipper, new course – bomb aimer ready Skipper, plenty of searchlights about – must be Hamburg below.
OK Skipper bomb doors open – left left, steady!! but that was it – hell let loose, where am I upside down – or the right way, God I dont [sic] know, but I do know that theirs [sic] a hell of a lot of holes in us.
And an intense smell of cordite around – no intercom, both my [smudged] turret [/smudged] & guns are out of action, and all I could do is to hold on and pray – which I did!!
[page break]
10
Those boys on the ground certainly had us for target practice, & I was still looking for night fighters – not that I could of [sic] done anythink [sic] if I had – still its [sic] was my job, it was some considerable time before a knock on the rear doors – Alan, with a note to come up forward, thought what a relief for I was cold back there with no heat on.
Say what a mess, holes – left, right & centre & wondered how we made it, Alan said Roy’s wounded, also Nav & Lews in a bad way.
Real cold now, no windows & I was nursing Lew not knowing of course that he was dead, then word we are over the North Sea – then a sudden up lift, whats that, OK Crooke, only dropping our bombs – Blimey dont [sic] say we went through that lot with a full bomb load – afraid we did mate
Shall be damned glad to get my feet on solid ground again, my wish soon came!!
Good old England soon came up – no wireless or nothing – but with flying a triangle, soon up (one indecipherable word] came friendly searchlights showing us a place to crash land.
OK lads here we go – crash positions!! this is it, down – down – down to a perfect crash landing
[page break]
11
Good show Roy – what a crew.
After my leave I was posted to Westcott an OUT, then I met Bob [smudged] Wetherall [?] [/smudged], George Cleary, Rory Calhoune – Patteson[?], Frazer [sic] Barron DSO D.F.C D.F.M.
Bob went back on operations with Frazer [sic] barron – bur on a raid on Paris hit head on with another Lancaster – poor Bob I’ll always remember.
I was married now and liked to get home as much as possible – but was also itching to get back on ops, and late 1943 was being crewed with a Flying officer Flynn a crew who had never been on ops before – just my luck, but I got the Sqdn that I asked for, 44 Rhodesia, Nettleton V.C. at Waddington – which moved to Dunholme Lodge, what luck a couple of miles from my wife & son
Nettleton V.C. He went down on one of the Italian raids, our new C.O. was Wing Commander Bows [sic] – Pat Dorkell [?] was also back on his second tour, and my warrant officer was through – a thing unheard of with gunners at that time of the war.
[page break]
12
I was now flying as a mid upper with point spires [?] felt more happier then – you could have the feeling of turning the turret & looking forward – instead of just sides and rear
Our crew were fated – the first raid Cassel [sic], having made a good take off, and making height to some 19 - 20,000 ft we headed for enemy territory
[ two indecipherable words]
We had crossed the enemy coast – when up shouts the Nav – sorry Skipper I can’t coup [sic]!! Pilot to Crooke, I was known throughout 5 Group as Crooke – my name being Cruickshank.
Whats [sic] the Gen [sic]?, well Skipper lets [sic] know how much off course – and how late we’ll be at the target area – I’ll check!!
After what seemed ages were off route & running late!! best to turn back Skipper than be cault [sic] on our own, we did, dropped our bombs in the sea and pin pointed our way back to base
The Navigator was later Court Marhold [sic] and reduced to the ranks
After a couple of raids Dusseldorf, Berlin ex [sic] the next raid a near repeat to Cassel [sic] – so Terry decided on a complete new crew – felt sorry at the time – but pleased when I later heard he gone down on his 19th trip – because I would of [sic] gone to [sic].
[page break]
13
I didn’t care for being a spare! [one indecipherable word] So I give Roy Calvert a ring – going back on ops Roy – yes Crooke, want me? of course I do – leave it to me Crooke!! O K Roy.
A few days later I was on my way to East Kirkby – 630 Sqdn, Alan Conner was also there – Titch Freeman, Moody ex [sic] brought in made up our crew, Roy now a Sqdn / Leader
Operations started rolling in – Berlin, Schweinfurt, Stuttgart, Clermont- Ferrand, Stuttgart Frankfurt – Berlin & Essen, the losses up around the 80’s per raid.
Then on 30-3 44 [sic] we were briefed [smudged] for [/smudged] Nurnberg, on approaching enemy coast I reported of aircraft being shot down - your [sic] seeing things Crooke, but somehow I knew different, and they did next day when Bomber Command had lost 144 Lancasters – of our 12 taking part only 2 crews returned [smudged] ours [/smudged] was one.
Sorry Crooke – you was right, I knew that – but never forgive them, Bomber Command losses were high – to [sic] high for my liking still not many more now before my last, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
[page break]
14
I was now commissioned, Gibson V.C. was Wing Commander flying for our area – he went down shortly afterwards.
After Toulouse – Montraudan [sic], Danzig & Paris, Brunswick – this raid we were shot up by a night fighter, right action & timing we got away with Slight [sic] damage – this my 50th raid.
After the damns [sic] – Terry Tuerum [sic], Trevor Roper & rest of Gibsons crew went with a Sqdn/Ldr Holden, But [sic] heard whilst at 630 Sqdn they had all gone down on the Dortmund Ems Cannel [sic] raid, Micky Martin the crew coming back out of 4 from 617 Sqdn
One of our crews had tried to take off without success, after leaving the ground had plunged to the ground – the rear turret breaking off, and the rest blowing to pieces – and all killed except the rear gunner, later I learnt that he still carried on – But [sic] on returning from a raid – they were so badly shot up that the Pilot ordered them to Bail [sic] out, on going for his chute the rear gunner found it in ribbons – the Mid [sic] upper saw this, said come on – we’ll go together with mine – they did but on pulling the cord the sudden jerk he let goand [sic] fell to his death below.
[page break]
15
Munich was always a hard target – Cheshire said, give me one sqdn of P.F.F. and 5 Group I’ll show you it can be, they did.
On the 24.4.44 we were briefed for Munich, and we were in the last wave.
The target was [smudged] ablaze [/smudged] when we arrived – we had our run in – just released our bombs, when we caught by searchlights & four enemy night fighters, with good evassive [sic] action – and shooting from both gunners we downed one – damaged one, and down – down – down we went, say Skipper we dont [sic] want to be mixed up in those fires below, or the people either, dont [sic] think we’ll welcomed guest right now
OK Nav give me a course for home – with the new course & burning Munich behind us we headed for home.
On seeing the raid photos – Cheshire s [sic] aircraft was below the roofs of some Munich buildings, after that he was awarded the V.C.
Soon after, a raid on Schweinfurt – then Clermont Ferrand my last trip, and I was’nt [sic] sorry [smudged] either [/smudged]
[page break]
Hast ever flown deep into Hunland, where the cold searchlights shimmer & shake, where like pink snakes the tracer uprises [sic] and life is no helping of cake.
Where the heavy flak rattles and rends you, while Messerchmitts [sic] queue for a shot and you’ve only your guns to defend you!!
You have’nt [sic]
Then you’ve missed a hell of a lot.
[page break]
G. Cruickshank DFM
14, Somerville Close
Waddington
Lincs
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Gordon Cruickshank life on squadrons 1940-1944
Description
An account of the resource
Mentions time as a balloon operator at Felixstowe and then training as an air gunner. First tour on 50 Squadron RAF Swinderby on Manchesters, but had to wait for aircraft to arrive as squadron still flying Hampden when he arrived later transferred to Lancaster. First operation Gardening off St Nazaire. Mentions first 1000 bomber peration and story of Leslie Manser VC. Lists operations on first tour including Guy Gibson and daylight operation to Le Creusot. Story of last trip on first tour to Hamburg on 9 November 1942- some crew wounded and killed. crash landed on return. Posted to 44 Squadron for second tour and later to 630 Squadron, Lists operations and events. Mentions Leonard Cheshire led attack on Munich and his award of Distinguished Flying Medal. Mentions post war events and 50 Squadron reunions. Many mentions of crew and colleagues as well as losses.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
G Cruickshank
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Judy Hodgeson
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Fifteen page handwritten notebook
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
BCruickshankGCruickshankGv2
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force. Balloon Command
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending review
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Berkshire
France
France--Saint-Nazaire
France--Clermont-Ferrand
France--Paris
Italy
Italy--Milan
Germany
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Germany--Rostock
Germany--Bremen
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Germany--Essen
Germany--Wismar
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Munich
Germany--Schweinfurt
Italy--Genoa
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Saarbrücken
France--Toulouse
Poland
Poland--Gdańsk
England--Suffolk
England--Felixstowe
France--Le Creusot
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1940
1941
1942
1943
1943
1944
1942-04-15
1944-04-24
1967-10-22
1944-03-30
1941-12
1942-04-22
1942-05-30
1942-11-05
1942-11-09
1943-03-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
44 Squadron
5 Group
50 Squadron
617 Squadron
630 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
bombing
Bombing of Augsburg (17 April 1942)
bombing of Cologne (30/31 May 1942)
bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944)
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992)
crash
Distinguished Flying Medal
Gibson, Guy Penrose (1918-1944)
Hampden
Lancaster
Manchester
military living conditions
military service conditions
mine laying
Pathfinders
RAF Dunholme Lodge
RAF East Kirkby
RAF Felixstowe
RAF Swinderby
RAF Westcott
searchlight
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/759/17788/LCruickshankG629128v2.1.pdf
a75bdc43555d2ac4328ddd3906ece5a9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cruickshank, Gordon
G Cruickshank
Description
An account of the resource
76 items. Concerns the life and wartime career of Flight Lieutenant Gordon Cruickshank DFM who joined the Royal Air Force in 1938. After training as an air gunner he flew 52 operations on Manchester and Lancaster with 50, 560 and 44 Squadrons. Collection consists of a 1956 memoir with original photographs donated separately, a memoir of his life on squadron from December 1941, his logbooks. a further notebook with memoir, playing cards annotated with his operations, official documents, lucky mascots, medals and badges, dog tags, memorabilia, crew procedures, as well as photographs of aircraft, targets and people.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Linda Hinman and catalogued by Nigel Huckins
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-04-28
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cruickshank, G
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Gordon Cruickshank's flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers. Two
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LCruickshankG629128v2
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending review
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Description
An account of the resource
Duplicate copy of air observers and air gunner’s flying log book for Gordon Cruickshank covering the period from 30 May 1941 to 19 July 1957. Detailing his flying training and operations flown and post war flying. He was stationed at RAF Evanton (8 AGS), RAF Stanton Harcourt (10 OTU), 50 Squadron (RAF Swinderby and RAF Skellingthorpe), 11 OTU (RAF Westcott), 44 Squadron (RAF Dunholme Lodge and RAF Spilsby), 630 Squadron (RAF East Kirkby), 17 OTU (RAF Silverstone) 49 and 100 Squadrons (RAF Waddington), 7 Squadron (RAF Upwood) and 199 Squadron (RAF Hemswell). Aircraft flown in were Botha, Whitley, Manchester, Lancaster, Wellington and Lincoln. He flew a total of 30 night-time operations and one daylight operation with 50 Squadron, targets were St Nazaire, Rostock, Duisburg, Wilhemshaven, Essen, Wismar, Kiel, Le Creusot and Genoa. He also flew four night-time operations with 44 Squadron, targets Kassel, Dusseldorf, and Berlin and 18 night-time operations with 630 Sqn to Berlin, Schweinfurt, Augsburg, Stuttgart, Clermont-Ferrand, Frankfurt, Berlin, Essen, Nurnburg, Toulouse, Danzig, Paris, Brunswick and Munich. Total 53 operations. His pilots on operations were Flying Officer Goldsmith, Squadron Leader Calvert DFC, Wing Commander Russell DFC, Flying Officer Flynn and Flight Lieutenant Weller.
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Germany
Great Britain
Italy
Poland
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
England--Buckinghamshire
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Northamptonshire
England--Oxfordshire
France--Clermont-Ferrand
France--Le Creusot
France--Paris
France--Saint-Nazaire
France--Toulouse
Germany--Augsburg
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Essen
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Munich
Germany--Schweinfurt
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Germany--Wismar
Italy--Genoa
Poland--Gdańsk
Scotland--Ross and Cromarty
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941
1942
1943
1943-10-22
1943-10-23
1944
1944-03-30
1944-03-31
1944-04-05
1944-04-06
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1957
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Terry Hancock
10 OTU
100 Squadron
11 OTU
17 OTU
199 Squadron
44 Squadron
49 Squadron
50 Squadron
630 Squadron
7 Squadron
air gunner
Air Gunnery School
aircrew
bombing
bombing of Kassel (22/23 October 1943)
bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944)
bombing of Toulouse (5/6 April 1944)
Botha
Lancaster
Lincoln
Manchester
mine laying
Operational Training Unit
RAF Dunholme Lodge
RAF East Kirkby
RAF Evanton
RAF Hemswell
RAF Silverstone
RAF Skellingthorpe
RAF Spilsby
RAF Stanton Harcourt
RAF Swinderby
RAF Upwood
RAF Waddington
RAF Westcott
training
Wellington
Whitley