Browse Items · IBCC Digital Archive

French Cemetery

Three photographs of graves.
#1 is a view of graves. In the background a French tricolour is flying. The reverse is blank.
#2 is the grave of Jack's six crew members. Their names are recorded as is the date of their demise. On the reverse…

Tags: aircrew; final resting place; killed in action

Details of operations - of crew of Warrant Officer William Day - air gunner

List containing some some basic service history and some details of flights made by crew of Flight Sergeant A Barford with individual pages for pilot Barford, Warrant Officer William Day - air gunner, Flight Sergeant F Bolan RCAF- navigator, Warrant…

Tags: 15 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; bomb aimer; bombing; Cook’s tour; flight engineer; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; navigator; Operation Dodge (1945); Operational Training Unit; pilot; RAF Mildenhall; training; wireless operator

Lincoln

An aerial vertical photograph of Lincoln, England. Annotated 9 Job 3423 F/5 5/7/44 Jones. Sparse cloud cover. North is towards the bottom of the picture. The centre of the city is to the left of the photograph, showing residential areas. To the top…

Tags: aerial photograph

Aircraft crash aftermath

Two photographs, the first is of fire fighting the burning wreckage, damaged buildings in background. From information kindly supplied by the donor, 'Attempts to put out the fire after the bomb load expired after the crash on take-off. The crash took…

Tags: aircrew; crash; ground personnel; take-off crash

Operational history of Lancaster 1B R5868

List of 135 operations flown by Lancaster R5868 from 8/9 June 1942 until 23 April 1945. List includes pilot, target, bomb load. hours flown and comments. Was with 83 Squadron at RAF Scampton and Wyton then 467 Squadron at RAF Bottesford and then RAF…

V Group News, July 1944

Five Group Newsletter, number 24, July 1944. Includes a foreword by the Air Officer Commanding, and features about second thoughts for pilots, gardening, war effort, signals, armament, war savings, navigation, radar navigation, navigation training,…

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing large bright spot bottom centre. Caption '363, W.S. 4/5.7.44, NT 8", 18250, 348 degrees, 0140, St Leu D'Esserent, T, 1 x 12000, 34 secs, F/O Willsher, T., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/16, APoint'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing many bright spots all over. Caption '352, W.S. 4/5.7.44, NT 8", 18700, St Leu D'Esserent, K1, 1 x 12000, F/L Wilson, N., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/15'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing open countryside on the left with tracer lines and bright spot to the right. Caption '348, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8", St Leu D'Esserent, C, 1 x 12000, F/O Duffy, C., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/14'. A Lancaster at a lower…

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing bright area in the centre. Caption '347, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8". 16450, 246 degrees 0131' St Leu D'Esserent, Z, 1 x 12000, 34 secs, F/L Pryor, Z., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/13'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing bright spot in the middle. Caption '346, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8", 18500, 360 degrees, 0143, St Leu D'Esserent, D1, 1 x 12000, 34 secs, S/L McCarthy, Q., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/12'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing bright spot left centre on edge and another to its right. Tracer lines on the right side. Caption '344, W.S., 4/5 .7.44, NT 8", St Leu D'Esserent, Y., 1 x 12000, F/O Stout, Y, 617'. On the reverse '51:98/11'.'

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing bright areas bottom left and top right with tracer lines bottom left. Caption '342, W.S. 4/5 7.44, NT 8", St Leu D'Esserent, R, 1 x 120'51:98/10'.00, F/Lt Knilans, R., 617'. On the reverse

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing a large flash centre left and other bright spots. Caption '341, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8", 18500, 330 degrees, 0135, St Leu D'Esserent, J, 1 x 12000, 34 secs, P/O Gingles, L, 617'. On the reverse '51:98/9, AP'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing open countryside with a bright area at the bottom left. Caption '339, W.S., 4/5.7.44,NT 8", 17000, 0141, St Leu D'Esserent, V. 1 x 12000, 34 secs, F/O Lee, V, 617'. On the reverse '51:98/8'.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

St Leu D'Esserent

Target photograph showing large bright flashes centre left and right as well as other flashes. Caption '338, W.S., 4/5.7.44, NT 8", St Leu D'Esserent, V., 1 x 12000, F/O Lee, V., 617'. On the reverse '51:98/7'. A Lancaster at lower altitude can be…

Tags: 617 Squadron; aerial photograph; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; target photograph; V-1; V-weapon

5 Group intelligence - P.R.U. St Leu d'Esserent

Gives plots of six Tallboy craters and reports on damage to main railway, roads and access railway.

Tags: 5 Group; 617 Squadron; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Photographic Reconnaissance Unit; Tallboy; V-1; V-weapon

Damage report St Leu D'Esserent

Signal message reports large concentration of craters, damage to entrance of caves and destruction of road rail in the area.

Tags: bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Tallboy; V-1; V-weapon

Crew list for operation against Creil area dumps

Date: 4/5 July 1944, target, zero hour 0130 hours. Lists leader and marker 1, Wing Commander Cheshire flying P-51. Marker 2 in Mosquito and 17 Lancaster carrying one tallboy bomb each.

Tags: 617 Squadron; aircrew; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); Mosquito; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); P-51; Tallboy; target indicator; V-1; V-weapon

Attack on Creil area dumps, 5/5 July 1944. narrative

Notes that despite allied bombing, V-1 campaign against London and South East continues. Notes decision to attack V-1 storage sites. 617 Squadron were to join 5 Group attack and use using 12,000 bombs to collapse roof of caves in which bombs were…

Tags: 5 Group; 617 Squadron; 627 Squadron; bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); Lancaster; Mosquito; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); P-51; Tallboy; target indicator; V-1; V-weapon

Royal Air Force file cover - Creil area dumps 4/5 July

Buff file cover with contents: Photos, Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, Photographic Reconnaissance Unit report

Tags: bombing; bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); V-1; V-weapon

Rear view - Ralph Briars memoir

Starts with tribute to crew and has colour photograph of a 617 Squadron Lancaster over Lincoln. Writes of his joining the RAF, selection as an air gunner and his basic training. Goes on with description of gunnery training, before going to OTU at RAF…

Tags: 1661 HCU; 49 Squadron; 617 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bombing; bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944); 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 Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944); Bombing of the Saumur tunnel (8/9 June 1944); bombing of the Watten V-2 site (19 June 1944); control caravan; control tower; Cook’s tour; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Flying Medal; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Mk 2; Me 109; mid-air collision; Mosquito; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Normandy deception operations (5/6 June 1944); Operational Training Unit; RAF Cottesmore; RAF Dalcross; RAF Fiskerton; RAF Husbands Bosworth; RAF Linton on Ouse; RAF Market Harborough; RAF Winthorpe; RAF Woodhall Spa; Scarecrow; searchlight; service vehicle; Tallboy; Tirpitz; training; V-weapon; Wellington; Window

A bomber pilot’s journey through WWII

Biography of Squadron Leader David James Baikie Wilson, DSO, DFC and Bar (1917 - 1947). He flew operations as a pilot with 214, 196 and 617 Squadrons before becoming Head of Aerodynamic Development and Testing, and Test-Pilot at A V Roe & Co Ltd.…

Tags: 11 OTU; 1660 HCU; 1668 HCU; 196 Squadron; 214 Squadron; 5 Group; 617 Squadron; 8 Group; aircrew; Bennett, Donald Clifford Tyndall (1910-1986); bombing; bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944); 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 Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944); bombing of the Mimoyecques V-3 site (6 July 1944); Bombing of the Saumur tunnel (8/9 June 1944); bombing of the Siracourt V-weapon site (25 June 1944); bombing of the Watten V-2 site (19 June 1944); bombing of the Wizernes V-2 site (20, 22, 24 June 1944); bombing of Toulouse (5/6 April 1944); Boston; C-47; Chadwick, Roy (1893-1947); Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); crash; Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Service Order; final resting place; Flying Training School; Gibson, Guy Penrose (1918-1944); Grand Slam; grief; H2S; Halifax; Halifax Mk 3; Harvard; Heavy Conversion Unit; incendiary device; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Lincoln; Meteor; Mosquito; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Normandy deception operations (5/6 June 1944); Oboe; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; P-51; Pathfinders; pilot; promotion; RAF Bassingbourn; RAF Boscombe Down; RAF Church Lawford; RAF Coningsby; RAF Cranage; RAF Cranwell; RAF Driffield; RAF Leconfield; RAF Stradishall; RAF Swinderby; RAF Syerston; RAF Upavon; RAF Wainfleet; RAF Woodhall Spa; Spitfire; Stirling; Tallboy; Tiger Moth; training; V-1; V-2; V-3; V-weapon; Wallis, Barnes Neville (1887-1979); Wellington