Browse Items (382 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "Zimbabwe"

PMooreWT1508.jpg
William Moore was born in Dunoon, Scotland in August 1924 and joined the Royal Air Force after spending some time in the Air Cadet Defence Corps and in the Air Training Corps. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 and completed his…

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Bill Spence was born in Middlesborough. He abandoned his teacher training and joined the Royal Air Force in 1942, becoming a bomb aimer. He completed 36 operations during his time in Bomber Command. Bill tells of his experiences while training in…

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PRobinsonD1601.jpg
Douglas was in the Local Defence Volunteers before joining the Royal Air Force as a pilot. After RAF Babbacombe, he did initial training at RAF Scarborough and then in Rhodesia. Initial flight training in Harare on Tiger Moths was followed by service…

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LOpenshawB19211117v1.pdf
Record of training navigation star and sun sights from ground and air between April 1943 and February 1944. Locations April to July 1943 at 24 bombing gunnery and navigation school at Moffat Southern Rhodesia on Anson aircraft. December 1943 at No 23…

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SBakerDA19210428v20177.jpg
Informs them that Donald arrived in London and is very fit.

SBakerDA19210428v20071.jpg
Send that parcels of books and cigarettes have been sent to P/O Baker. Asks for prisoner of war number and address.

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ABattyPH161014.mp3
Philip Batty grew up in Walsall. He discusses the death of his older brother Dennis, a wireless operator with 226 Squadron, early in the Second World War. Philip volunteered for aircrew. After training, he was posted to 50 Squadron at RAF Sturgate as…

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Harold Richards, from Lincoln, was working in the health industry before he volunteered for the RAF. After trying to be a pilot he trained as an observer. He was posted to 297 Squadron at RAF Stoney Cross from where he and his crew dropped supplies…

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PJamesHGW1705.jpg
Harry James grew up in Berkshire and, after school, began training as a plumber. He joined the RAF and completed 33 operations as a rear gunner with 166 squadron. He discusses his crew, of their different nationalities, of how the majority of their…

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AHicksDK151103.mp3
Ken sat the RAF aircraft apprentice exam because of his father. He passed and went, aged 16, to RAF Halton. The three-year course was condensed into two because of the war. He describes his training and the aircraft on which he worked. After he…

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PMooreWT1506.jpg
After spending time in the Air Defence Cadet Corps, Bill Moore joined the Royal Air Force, qualifying as an observer. He tells of his family history in wartime and his transatlantic trip, landing in New York before heading to Canada for his training.…

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PPageTJ1606.jpg
Thomas Page grew up in a farming family before joining the Royal Air Force in 1940, training as a flight mechanic. He was, initially, posted to 257 Squadron (Hurricanes) but soon went to Gloucester to train as a fitter, subsequently being posted to…

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PPaineGH1616.jpg
Geoff Paine attended High Wycombe Royal Grammar School and Falmouth Grammar School, joined Air Training Corps and volunteered for the Royal Air Force aged 18. Upon completion of initial training, he was posted to RAF Waltham (100 Squadron) then RAF…

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PWatsonC1704.jpg
Clifford Watson, initially, wanted to join the navy because of a high demand in pilots. After being rejected, he joined the RAF and was sent to Rhodesia for pilot training, but then re-mustered to become an air gunner. He flew 76 operations in total.…

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PWatsonC1704.jpg
Clifford Watson remembers his training as a pilot in Salisbury, Zimbabwe, but being scrubbed at the flying test. He tells of when he flew a Ju-88 at RAE Farnborough and talks about the different wages in various trades. Clifford recalls an emergency…

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SWatsonC188489v1-1.pdf
A memoir written by Cliff Watson divided into 20 chapters.

The Earliest Years.
Born in Barnoldswick, then in Yorkshire, now in Lancashire in 1922. His father ran a wireless business until 1926. He describes his years at schools and a move to…

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BSaundersCSGSaundersJWGv10001.jpg
Recollections of John's service career, by his son Clive, including a letter from 44 Squadron Association. It describes John taking fellow RAF volunteers' compulsary swimming tests in their stead and his initial training in Rhodesia. He flew in…

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SBakerDA19210428v20003-0003.jpg
Writes that he is pleased tobacco prices had been good. Continues with social activities, mentions Bulawayo young peoples club and playing rugby. Concludes writing about his accommodation.

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SBakerDA19210428v20004-0003.jpg
Glad they are well and tobacco prices holding up. Discusses the bad overseas situation concerning Britain, Germany, French capitulation. mentions called for part time training and wishes the air force would call him up. Mentions friend visiting who…

SBakerDA19210428v20005-0001.jpg
Catches up with home news but states unable to get home for weekend because of part time training. Discusses callup situation and that he is hoping to get in with a draft of recruits being sent overseas. Mentions writing to the air force. States he…

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SBakerDA19210428v20007-0003.jpg
Written from No 2 training camp (Royal Air Force Contingent) Bulawayo. mentions his call up and reporting to the RAF. Says they will be sent to England or Canada for training. Writes about pay and allowances and speculates about the future including…

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SBakerDA19210428v20010-0002.jpg
Written via the Rhodesian High Commission in London. Reports he is well but has not heard from her since leaving but had received letters from other relatives in United Kingdom who thought him a hero for travelling so far to join the air force. Glad…

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SBakerDA19210428v20012-0003.jpg
Pleased to receive her letter and news. States he was interviewed and accepted as pilot and would shortly start courses as long as medical was passed. Keen to get at Germans that they hear every night. However, he notes training will take some…

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SBakerDA19210428v20018-0003.jpg
Thanks her for recent letters. Commiserates over bad news about a friend. Catches up with other family news. Mentions that he had a weeks leave and went to Scotland to visit friends and family. Describes visit in some detail and catches up with…

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SBakerDA19210428v20019-0002.jpg
Thanks her for letters and parcel of cigarettes and sweets. Says Christmas parcel she mentioned sent via him to has not arrived yet and advises sending any others direct. Writes of £10 she sent and mentions what he did with it. Still at Paignton and…

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