Browse Items (87 total)
- Spatial Coverage is exactly "Switzerland"
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Interview with Guido Dell’Era
Guido Dell’Era recollects daily life in wartime Milan, stressing inadequate war preparation. Describes a disciplined, regimented society which later turned to disillusionment. Recollects the declaration of war, the fall of the fascist regime and…
Interview with Sara Ventriglia
Sara Ventriglia, the daughter of a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, recalls her early life in wartime Milan. She describes the alarm being sounded, she and her family getting quickly dressed to reach a nearby shelter. She recollects moments…
Tags: bombing; childhood in wartime; faith; fear; grief; Holocaust; home front; Pippo; shelter; strafing
Interview with Enrica Mariani
Enrica Mariani recollects her wartime experiences in Milan: her brother dying of bronchitis after spending too much time in the shelter and her father working in an armaments factory. The aggressive fascist militiamen and the long hours she spent in…
After the last fly-over of British planes
A communique written by the Swiss authorities after a mass fly over of RAF aircraft. Two aircraft crashed, bombs and propaganda leaflets were dropped. The area most affected was Fribourg but three other areas reported bombing - Riggisberg, Flammart…
Tags: bombing; incendiary device
Interview with Jim Wright. One
Jim Wright was born in 1932. He was evacuated from West Ham during the Second World War along with his mother and two brothers. His father joined the Royal Air Force as an Observer Bomb Aimer with 207 Squadron. His aircraft was shot down over…
Ron Carr's Bale-out
The report describes how Ron Carr and his crew baled out over Switzerland after their aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire en route to Augsburg. He was arrested but eventually transported back to the UK via Paris, Madrid and Gibraltar.
Aerial violation of Swiss airspace
Report form the Commander, District 1, Land Division regarding violations of Swiss airspace on night of 12/13 July 1943 when all areas covered by the Territorial Inspectorate of District 1 received alerts which began at 00.06 and continued until…
Tags: bombing; crash; incendiary device
Telegram No. 787 from the Swiss Government to the Swiss Legation in London
Telegram No. 787 from the Swiss Government to the Swiss Legation in London (A. 3080), concerning the violation of Swiss airspace on 13/14 July 1943, between 12.04am – 01.00am. Over 100 British aircraft flew over southern Switzerland, covering the…
Tags: bombing; crash; incendiary device
The funeral of the English airmen tragically killed in Thyon and Le Bouveret
Details of the funeral of the airmen at Vevey. A large number of wreaths adorned the coffins. A crowd described as 'extensive' attended. Annotated with 'Cost to Govt sf 7447.40 ED412 'O'
sf 300 ED 531
7747.40
sf 553.36 per man!'
On the second…
sf 300 ED 531
7747.40
sf 553.36 per man!'
On the second…
Letter from Armee Suisse to Department politique federal
The letter refers to a map found in the remains of the aircraft at Bouveret. The map indicates a route via Annecy and a second to the west of Lyon.
Included is the map with the routes marked on.
Included is the map with the routes marked on.
Tags: bombing
Extracts from 'Nouvelliste Valaisan'
27 pages transcribed from a local newspaper covering the night 100 bombers overflew Switzerland leading to two being shot down. Bombs were dropped on Swiss territory.
14 airmen were buried at Vevey and the funeral is described. There is repetition…
14 airmen were buried at Vevey and the funeral is described. There is repetition…
Tags: bombing; crash; final resting place; killed in action; shot down
Rows of graves in a cemetery
Rows of graves in a cemetery. St Martins, Vevey. Captioned 'Ronald Oswald Bret (indecipherable)
31 RAF graves. Killed on raids'.
On the reverse 'Foulks - N2.
1944 412471
F/Lt WR Esquilant AFC 37. 24/8/46
31 RAF graves. Killed on raids'.
On the reverse 'Foulks - N2.
1944 412471
F/Lt WR Esquilant AFC 37. 24/8/46
Lancaster wreckage on a Swiss hillside
The wreckage of Lancaster ED412Q at Bouvertet Switzerland shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Switzerland 12 July 1943. The pilot was Pilot Officer Horace Badge.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Tags: anti-aircraft fire; crash; Lancaster; shot down
Aircrew being laid to rest
Seven coffins being lowered into graves by military and civilians at Vevey, Switzerland. The two photographs are the same but the second is captioned 'July 1943 "Our Crew" being laid to rest Semper Paratus'.
Burial Service of airmen at Vevey
Two photographs of the burial of British airmen at Vevey. The coffins have union flags draped over. There is a large attendance in the background. One photograph is annotated 'First photo of 14 graves taken by Mrs Desborough, Vevey Burial service in…
Swiss anti-aircraft gun
An anti-aircraft gun manned by seven men. On the reverse '75mm AA gun Schneider-Cleusot 3 batteries of this type were on the Jura mountains and shot more than 400 times in the night 12/13.7.43. The people around are Swiss soldiers and not Germans'.
Tags: anti-aircraft fire
Airmen coffins at Vevey
14 coffins of RAF airmen a Vevey. Union flags are draped over them at the start of the funeral service. On the reverse 'Vevey 12/13 July 1943'.
Swiss anti-aircraft gun and airmen's funeral at Vevey
Photograph 1 is a Swiss anti-aircraft gun manned by seven soldiers. It is annotated '75mm AA gun 3 batteries on Jura mountains fired 400 times night 12/13.7.43'
Photograph 2 is 14 airmen's coffins annotated 'ED412 'O' rear row ED 531 'T' front. I…
Photograph 2 is 14 airmen's coffins annotated 'ED412 'O' rear row ED 531 'T' front. I…
Airmen's funeral at Vevey
Airmen and soldiers at the funeral of 14 Royal Air Force airmen at Vevey, Switzerland. The coffins are draped with many wreaths. On the reverse 'Vevey'.
Airmen's funeral at Vevey
Airmen and soldiers at the funeral of the two Lancaster crews at Vevey, Switzerland. In the foreground are the wreaths on top of the coffins. In the background tall trees and mountains. On the reverse 'Vevey-St. Martins 101 & 166 sqn funerals'.
Airmen's funeral at Vevey
Coffins with union flags and many wreaths are surrounded by mourners, two soldiers with drums, soldiers and two Royal Air Force officers.
Airmen's funeral at Vevey
Chaplains, Royal Air Force officers and airmen, Swiss military and civilians stand by the graveside. Behind are houses and mountains.