Gerald (Gerry) was part of the Air Training Corps and Officers’ Training Corps before the war. He volunteered for aircrew in 1942, was interviewed in Oxford and was put on deferred service. Gerry was accepted as an air observer. He was called up in early 1943 and went to the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground. He was sent to an Initial Training Wing in Scarborough, before being posted to Harrogate and Ludlow while waiting for further training overseas.

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

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

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

]]>
Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Sally Coulter]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Lincolshire]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Canada]]> Manitoba]]> Manitoba--Rivers]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]>
David Kavanagh]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> Netherlands]]> England--Herefordshire]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Northamptonshire]]> England--Suffolk]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-12]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> Rod Pickles]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Graham Emmet]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Gibraltar]]> Morocco]]> Tunisia]]> Tunisia--Tunis]]> Italy]]> Italy--Sicily]]> Italy--Salerno]]> North Africa]]> 1943-09]]> 1943-10-01]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> eng]]> Text]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1959-02-13]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> eng]]> Text]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1958-12-19]]> Great Britain. Royal Air Force]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Mike Connock]]> Pending review]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Log book and record book]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Belgium]]> France]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> Italy]]> Atlantic Ocean--English Channel]]> Belgium--Haine-Saint-Pierre]]> Belgium--Hasselt]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> England--Leicestershire]]> England--Worcestershire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> France--Dunkerque]]> France--Le Creusot]]> France--Paris Region]]> Germany--Berlin]]> Germany--Bochum]]> Germany--Dortmund]]> Germany--Düsseldorf]]> Germany--Essen]]> Germany--Hamburg]]> Germany--Krefeld]]> Germany--Mönchengladbach]]> Germany--Nuremberg]]> Italy--Turin]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> 1942]]> 1943-05-23]]> 1943-05-24]]> 1943-05-25]]> 1943-05-26]]> 1943-05-27]]> 1943-05-28]]> 1943-06-12]]> 1943-06-13]]> 1943-06-19]]> 1943-06-20]]> 1943-06-21]]> 1943-06-22]]> 1943-07-29]]> 1943-07-30]]> 1943-08-02]]> 1943-08-03]]> 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]]> 1943-08-30]]> 1943-08-31]]> 1943-09-01]]> 1944-05-08]]> 1944-05-09]]> 1944-05-10]]> 1944-05-11]]> 1944-05-12]]> 1944-05-28]]> 1944-05-29]]> 1944-05-31]]> 1944-06-01]]> 1945]]>
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.]]>
Great Britain. Royal Air Force]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Lynn Corrigan]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Log book and record book]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay]]> Atlantic Ocean--English Channel]]> Atlantic Ocean--North Sea]]> Bangladesh]]> Bangladesh--Comilla]]> Belgium]]> Burma]]> Burma--Moʻ pī]]> Burma--Magwe]]> Burma--Meiktila]]> Burma--Rangoon]]> Burma--Toungoo]]> Europe--Frisian Islands]]> France]]> France--Brest]]> France--Calais]]> France--Cherbourg]]> Germany]]> Germany--Helgoland]]> Great Britain]]> England--Leicestershire]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Northamptonshire]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Great Britain Miscellaneous Island Dependencies--Channel Islands]]> Malaysia]]> Malaysia--Butterworth (Pulau Pinang)]]> Netherlands]]> Singapore]]> South Africa]]> South Africa--East London]]> 1944-04-21]]> 1944-03-22]]> 1944-04-27]]> 1944-04-28]]> 1944-04-29]]> 1944-04-30]]> 1944-05-10]]> 1944-05-11]]> 1944-05-27]]> 1944-05-28]]> 1944-05-31]]> 1944-06-01]]> 1944-06-02]]> 1944-06-02]]> 1944-06-03]]> 1944-06-04]]> 1944-06-05]]> 1944-06-09]]> 1944-06-10]]> 1944-06-11]]> 1944-06-12]]> 1944-06-13]]> 1944-06-14]]> 1944-06-15]]> 1944-06-16]]> 1944-06-17]]> 1944-06-18]]> 1944-06-19]]> 1944-06-23]]> 1944-06-24]]> 1944-07-07]]> 1944-07-08]]> 1944-07-10]]> 1944-07-11]]> 1944-07-14]]> 1944-07-15]]> 1944-07-16]]> 1944-07-17]]> 1944-07-18]]> 1944-07-19]]> 1944-07-20]]> 1944-07-21]]> 1944-07-23]]> 1944-07-24]]> 1944-07-26]]> 1944-07-27]]> 1944-07-28]]> 1944-07-29]]> 1944-08-06]]> 1944-08-08]]> 1944-08-10]]> 1944-08-12]]> 1944-08-13]]> 1944-08-25]]> 1944-08-26]]> 1944-08-27]]> 1944-08-29]]> 1944-08-30]]> 1944-09-01]]> 1944-09-05]]> 1944-09-06]]> 1944-09-09]]> 1944-09-11]]> 1944-09-13]]> 1944-09-14]]> 1944-09-15]]> 1944-09-16]]> 1944-09-17]]> 1944-09-21]]>
Great Britain. Royal Air Force]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Terry Hancock]]> Trevor Hardcastle]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Log book and record book]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> France]]> Great Britain]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> England--Huntingdonshire]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Wiltshire]]> England--Worcestershire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> France--Aulnoye-Aymeries]]> France--Boulogne-sur-Mer]]> France--Nord-Pas-de-Calais]]> Germany--Berchtesgaden]]> Germany--Berlin]]> Germany--Bottrop]]> Germany--Bremen]]> Germany--Dessau (Dessau)]]> Germany--Dortmund]]> Germany--Düsseldorf]]> Germany--Essen]]> Germany--Karlsruhe]]> Germany--Kassel]]> Germany--Kiel]]> Germany--Nuremberg]]> Germany--Osnabrück]]> Germany--Potsdam]]> Germany--Schweinfurt]]> Germany--Stuttgart]]> Germany--Wuppertal]]> Germany--Zweibrücken]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Scotland--Moray]]> Germany]]> 1944-01-24]]> 1944-02-03]]> 1944-02-15]]> 1944-02-20]]> 1944-02-23]]> 1944-03-13]]> 1944-03-22]]> 1944-03-24]]> 1944-03-26]]> 1944-03-30]]> 1944-04-11]]> 1944-04-20]]> 1944-04-22]]> 1944-04-24]]> 1944-04-26]]> 1944-04-27]]> 1944-05-01]]> 1944-05-03]]> 1944-05-08]]> 1944-05-15]]> 1944-05-20]]> 1944-05-21]]> 1944-05-31]]> 1944-06-02]]> 1944-06-03]]> 1944-06-05]]> 1944-06-06]]> 1944-06-09]]> 1944-06-12]]> 1944-06-14]]> 1944-06-15]]> 1944-06-18]]> Served at RAF Dumfries, RAF North Luffenham, RAF Swinderby, RAF Syerston, RAF East Kirkby, RAF Woodhall Spa. Aircraft flown were Tiger Moth, Anson, Botha, Wellington, Lancaster. Carried out a total of 39 operations. One night propaganda leaflet drop with 29 OTU, 11 night operations with 106 Squadron, 11 night operations with 630 Squadron, 9 day and 7 night operations with 617 Squadron. Targets included Paris, Berlin, Nuremberg, München Gladbach, Munich, Kassel, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hannover, Dusseldorf, Toulouse, Saumur Tunnel, Le Havre, Boulogne, Watten, St Omer, Wizernes, Rilly la Montagne, Siracourt, Etaples, Brest. His pilot on operations was Flying Officer Cheney.

This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.]]>
Great Britain. Royal Air Force]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Nick Cornwell-Smith]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Log book and record book]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Nottinghamshire]]> England--Rutland]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Germany]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> Germany--Berlin]]> Germany--Düsseldorf]]> Germany--Frankfurt am Main]]> Germany--Hannover]]> Germany--Kassel]]> Germany--Mönchengladbach]]> Germany--Munich]]> Germany--Nuremberg]]> Germany--Stuttgart]]> France]]> France--Boulogne-sur-Mer]]> France--Brest]]> France--Etaples]]> France--Le Havre]]> France--Marne]]> France--Paris]]> France--Saumur]]> France--Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais)]]> France--Siracourt]]> France--Toulouse]]> France--Watten]]> Atlantic Ocean--English Channel]]> 1943-07-01]]> 1943-07-02]]> 1943-08-23]]> 1943-08-24]]> 1943-08-27]]> 1943-08-28]]> 1943-08-30]]> 1943-08-31]]> 1943-09-03]]> 1943-09-04]]> 1943-09-06]]> 1943-09-07]]> 1943-10-03]]> 1943-10-04]]> 1943-10-05]]> 1943-10-07]]> 1943-10-08]]> 1943-10-18]]> 1943-10-19]]> 1943-10-22]]> 1943-10-23]]> 1943-11-04]]> 1943-11-05]]> 1943-11-23]]> 1943-11-24]]> 1943-11-26]]> 1943-11-27]]> 1943-12-02]]> 1943-12-03]]> 1943-12-16]]> 1943-12-17]]> 1943-12-20]]> 1943-12-21]]> 1943-12-24]]> 1943-12-25]]> 1943-12-29]]> 1943-12-30]]> 1944-01-01]]> 1944-01-02]]> 1944-01-03]]> 1944-01-20]]> 1944-01-21]]> 1944-01-28]]> 1944-01-29]]> 1944-04-05]]> 1944-04-06]]> 1944-04-10]]> 1944-04-11]]> 1944-06-05]]> 1944-06-06]]> 1944-06-08]]> 1944-06-09]]> 1944-06-14]]> 1944-06-15]]> 1944-06-19]]> 1944-06-22]]> 1944-06-24]]> 1944-07-17]]> 1944-07-20]]> 1944-07-21]]> 1944-07-25]]> 1944-07-31]]> 1944-08-01]]> 1944-08-04]]> 1944-08-05]]> 1944-08-06]]>
Great Britain. Royal Air Force]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Mike Connock]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Log book and record book]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> Italy]]> Scotland]]> England--Leicestershire]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Nottinghamshire]]> France--Modane]]> Germany--Berlin]]> Germany--Bremen]]> Germany--Dortmund-Ems Canal]]> Germany--Hannover]]> Germany--Leipzig]]> Germany--Magdeburg]]> Germany--Wesel (North Rhine-Westphalia)]]> Germany--Würzburg]]> Italy--Bari]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Germany--Böhlen]]> Germany--Braunschweig]]> Germany--Düsseldorf]]> Germany--Frankfurt am Main]]> Germany--Nordhausen (Thuringia)]]> France]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> 1942]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> 1946]]> 1943-10-18]]> 1943-11-03]]> 1943-11-10]]> 1943-11-11]]> 1943-11-18]]> 1943-11-19]]> 1943-11-22]]> 1943-11-26]]> 1943-11-27]]> 1943-12-02]]> 1943-12-03]]> 1943-12-20]]> 1943-12-21]]> 1943-12-29]]> 1943-12-30]]> 1944-01-02]]> 1944-01-03]]> 1944-01-14]]> 1944-01-15]]> 1944-01-20]]> 1944-01-21]]> 1944-01-21]]> 1944-01-22]]> 1945-02-19]]> 1945-02-20]]> 1945-02-21]]> 1945-02-24]]> 1945-03-14]]> 1945-03-15]]> 1945-03-16]]> 1945-03-17]]> 1945-03-22]]> 1945-03-23]]> 1945-04-04]]> 1945-04-05]]> 1945-04-06]]> 1945-04-08]]> 1945-04-09]]> 1945-04-26]]> 1945-05-06]]> 1945-05-12]]> 1945-05-14]]> 1945-07-17]]> 1945-09-09]]> 1945-10-16]]> 1945-10-20]]> 1945-12-14]]> 1945-12-20]]> ]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sue Smith]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-05]]>
Bill says he enjoyed his last leave, although he mentions that the nearby aerodrome is expanding and aircraft going overhead. He did, however, managed to get a trip in an aircraft over his local area. He continues with more home news, especially commenting on the way his family clearly worked hard to give him the best possible things to eat when he was on leave. Writes that camp food has improved in the last week, but his mother's food parcels are very welcome.

Discusses a new church minister at home, who Bill is yet to meet. Remarks that previous minister was very influential in Bill's christian conversion and church membership. Catches up with course progress and describes some trips briefly. Notes that the church at the station is having a community singing evening and it will be broadcast on the radio.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-07]]> 1942-08]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Jan Morgan]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]>
Excited that cadets now have own mess and, although not popular with the ground crew, aircrew need a special diet. Food is now much better and describes meals. Writes of flight up to near Aberdeen and about their weekly service in the 'Scotch Hut' which was to be broadcast on the BBC.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Robin Christain]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-08]]>

Describes journey to Scotland and few spare minutes in London. Bill remains disappointed at not going overseas. Catches up with home news and asks in a PS if they can get a lock for his bike, which he wants to get to West Freugh as it will be the only way to get about and into Stranraer. ]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Atlantic Ocean--Irish Sea]]> 1942-05]]>

Concludes with three cartoons. First of 'Reveille 6.30', getting out of his bunk bed; second of students at desks entitled 'Gunnery Lectures'. Third cartoon shows farm scenes with people animals and buildings with aircraft flying overhead with figure looking out. Entitled 'I'll be popping over to have a look at you one of these days'.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Artwork]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-05]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-06]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> Scotland--Western Isles]]> 1942-06]]>
Describes what the local farmers are working on presently and would really like to help them, but he has not got to know anyone yet. Has managed to do quite a lot of bicycle rides around the area. Also describes the local wild flowers and wild 'rockeries' on the seashore, which he would like to take home with him.

Problem with having a bicycle with him is that everyone wants to borrow it. Doesn't mind this occasionally, but if asked too often can be a bit awkward having to refuse.

Discusses washing and sending money etc home.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-06]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-06]]>
He has no definite news on leave but longs to come home where he can eat well and have uninterrupted sleep.

The boys from his former offer have sent him a large bundle of magazines which have been greatly appreciated by the men.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-06]]> 1942-07]]>

Weather is cold and showery and looking forward to leave. About to go into an ENSA concert (adds a note that it was a good musical show). PS bemoaning the fact that he has to put 'props' on his uniform and lots of buttons need sewing on.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-07]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-07]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-07]]>