Browse Items (65 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway"

EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420619-0001.jpg
Bill describes how his flying hours are going and (they are really 'navigating' most of the time, if the pilot co-operates) how they will be going on to reconnaissance flights and aerial photography next. Reassures his mother that it is safe for him…

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Catches up with news of family and friends. Mentions dairy farming in local area. Describes photo reconnaissance work and other flying activity. Talks of journey home on next leave. Writes of bad news on Libya and good news on RAF bombing operations.

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420701-0001.jpg
Bill opens with finance matters (it is pay day) and that he is doing the same old routine flying over north-western Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and Wales. Would like to fly nearer Lincoln (home) occasionally. Now on bombing course…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420706-0001.jpg
Bill catches up with domestics, family and friends news. Describes station parade of 2000 men. Now devoting one afternoon a week to station defence. Mentions Winston Churchill and A Sinclair passing through Stanraer. Mentions American in local area…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420710-0001.jpg
Bill is delighted to receive his mother's parcel and letter, and especially the home-made fruit pies which reminded him strongly of home. He includes a cartoon of him eating one with a house and farm behind him. States that the entire station has…

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Bill writes of the dreadful journey back to West Freugh after leave. Nearly had to report sick due to wasp sting on hand which had swelled up badly. Feels better for leave but seemed to go really quickly and journey back terrible. Catches up on news…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420729-0001.jpg
It is pay day, so Bill is sending money home and asking his mother to send his comb and diary which he left there.

Now senior course so lots of cross country flights. Dropped his first bombs, which he describes in some detail. Continuing with…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420807-0001.jpg
Bill thanks her for her parcel and letter. Shocked by story of bombs jettisoned by friendly aircraft but shouldn't judge until know the facts. Worried about Lancaster base being so close to home ('Those Lancasters and the drome are a menace').…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420808-0001.jpg
Catches up with news and apologises for not visiting while on leave.

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…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420812-0001.jpg
Bill catches up with family news and comments on the wet weather. States food is now better, although not as when first improved. Catches up with more news of farm and friends as well as family fund-raising for dinghies. Outlines what they do for…

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Bill hopes harvest is going well and complains about food in the camp.

He gives a vivid description of dinghy drill, which was very funny to watch, but got on well with his own swimming and went on to Girvan where he describes what they did on…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420828-0001.jpg
Catches up with news and tells his mother not to worry about him.

Bill is interested to hear about the 'fellows in the caravan', who seem to be conscientious objectors. Says he has sympathy for people with genuine objections and has talked with…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420902-0001.jpg
Wishes her happy birthday, no news of next leave. Is now ready to leave West Freugh with its eternal training. - the Operational Training Unit must be better. Notes Scottish band passing by 'they are for ever making no end of a wild din dancing…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420904-0001.jpg
Bill writes that it was good to find her parcel and letter when he landed last night and has been eating the plums, tomatoes and cake.

After catching up with home news, pleased to report that they now have good news on leave: since the photography…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420909-0001.jpg
Bill writes they are still waiting to find out what is happening to them. Catches up with friends news who went abroad for training. Discusses which crops have been successful this year and how good the tomatoes she sent were (although some were…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420918-0001.jpg
Bill thanks his mother for parcel with food and letter - tomatoes and cucumbers arrived in good condition this time. Mentions harvest at home and compares to local area, where they stack their crops quite differently.

Nothing definite on leave,…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421001-0001.jpg
Bill writes that he returned safely to West Freugh. They were recalled from leave because they were to be posted at the weekend but it was decided they needed to do more bombing trips. Bill had already done enough successful ones, so did not need to…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421003-0001.jpg
Describes preparation for leaving course but cancelled at last minute and no idea when will be posted. Very cheesed off as could have been passed out and sent on leave, but are just hanging around. Plan to go to pictures in Stranraer. Misses bike…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421007-0001.jpg
Bill writes he is home again after just a week but has to return to West Freugh to pass out with 37 out of 40 students. Moans about the total confusion and having to return there unnecessarily. Found his bicycle at the station when he got back so…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420527.jpg
Writes of sending cash and asks about getting savings certificates.

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PAkrillWE1913.jpg
Fourteen airmen sitting and standing in two rows. All are wearing tunic with half brevet and side caps. Captioned '45 Course Bomb Aimers'. Names of men written on their photographs. On the reverse 'Part of 13 Course 4.A.O.S, West Freugh'.

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MSearleROJ615463-170725-130001.jpg
A pass issued to Rex Searle

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LHazeldenePV553414v1.pdf
Peter Hazeldene's air gunner’s flying log book covering the period from 28 August 1940 to 13 May 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown as air gunner. He was stationed at RAF West Freugh (4 BGS), RAF Upper Heyford (16 OTU), RAF…

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Owen Cox went to a grammar school in York and joined the Home Guard when the war started. At 18 he joined the Royal Air Force, although his parents were not keen. His initial trade was ground wireless operator (Morse), waiting to attend a gunnery…

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LFranklinRH178702v1.pdf
Wireless operators flying log book for Richard Franklin covering the period from 17th February 1943 to 19th July 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Madely (4 Radio School), RAF Wigton…

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