Browse Items (1245 total)
- Temporal Coverage is exactly "1944"
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Interview with William Anderson
Flight Officer William Anderson began his service in the Royal Air Force at the age of eighteen when he signed up in Edinburgh. In this interview he speaks about his training, reporting to Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, being paid at the London…
Interview with Derry Derrington
Dr Arnold Pearce Derrington grew up in Cornwall and joined the University Air Squadron at Exeter. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 and completed training at RAF Ansty, South Africa, RAF West Freugh and RAF Moreton in the Marsh, where he trained…
Interview with Dirk Bosch
Dirk Bosch was eight years old when the German army occupied his home town of Amsterdam. In this interview he describes what life was like for him during this time. He refers to seeing Dutch Jews rounded up and deported. He describes the hunger of…
Group portrait with a Lancaster
Group photograph of 133 men and women in front of a Lancaster, some on the wings and the fuselage, some arranged in three rows on the ground. A civilian building is visible in the background.
On the reverse 'Blyton - Bomber Command - 1944'
On the reverse 'Blyton - Bomber Command - 1944'
Interview with James Flowers
Horace James Flowers was born and grew up in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire. He became an apprentice butcher before being released to volunteer for the Royal Air Force in 1944. He trained as an air gunner at RAF Bridgnorth, RAF Wigsley and RAF Syerston…
Interview with Jim Auton
Jim Auton grew up on Royal Air Force stations and joined the Royal Air Force at seventeen. He trained as a pilot navigator and bomber at RAF Ansty near Coventry, then in South Africa under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He trained on B-24s at Lidder…
B-24 in flight over Italy
A B-24 in flight over land with a river flowing parallel to the vertical margin. On the fuselage, code letter 'H' and barely legible serial number 'KH205' [?]. Captioned on the reverse 'F. J. Auton 178 Sqdn. Italy 1944'.
Interview with Eraldo Bessone
Eraldo Bessone (b. 1925) describes the bombing of an industrial area close to the Lingotto district in Turin. Remarks that it was completely unexpected and stresses how the population was totally unprepared . Describes his attempt to reach a shelter,…
George Reid Williamson reading a newspaper in the Bois de Boulogne
George Reid Williamson dressed in a pinstriped jacket and dark trousers, leaning against a wood and wire fence, whilst reading a newspaper and smoking a cigarette. A wooded area is in the background. On the reverse ‘In the Bois de Boulogne during…
Interview with Maria Luisa Verniconi
Maria Luisa Verniconi (b. 1930) recalls her youth in wartime, stressing how difficult it was for her mother to look after the family. She recollects adults listening to Radio Londra while the youths were on lookout. She stresses the violent behaviour…
Interview with Itala Coriddi
Itala Coriddi (b. 1928) recalls wartime hardships in the Rome countryside where she lived in a straw hut. Mentions a railway tunnel used as shelter, describes the Anzio landing and recalls looking for shell cases to be used for hiding food. Remembers…
Interview with Corrado Marenco
Corrado Marenco (b. 1940) describes various wartime anecdotes: a makeshift shelter dug in his garden where he and other children had fun despite the danger of 'Pippo'; how his father had to hide inside the bell tower of a church to escape from German…
Interview with Albino Ristorto
Albino Ristorto (b. 1938) remembers the bombing of Dronero in 1944 when he saw a formation of aircraft approaching from the north, coming from Turin (Torino)
airport. He describes how one them made a swooping manoeuvre and mentions how the pilot…
airport. He describes how one them made a swooping manoeuvre and mentions how the pilot…
Interview with Albino Ristorto
Albino Ristorto (b. 1938) remembers the day he challenged the president of the local partisans association, who was reluctant to admit their involvement in the bombing of Dronero. He reports the widely held belief that the partisans asked the Allies…
Albemarle in flight
Air-to-air view of an Albemarle glider tug flying above cloud. It carries invasion stripes and code-letters '9W- N'. This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form: no better quality copies are available.
Albemarle in flight
Air-to-air view of an Albemarle glider tug banking to port over a field landscape; its code-letters are 'Q-9W' and it carries invasion stripes. This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form: no better quality copies are…
Albemarle towing Horsa glider
An Albemarle has just taken off from a runway towards the camera, towing a Horsa glider; both carry invasion stripes. In the background a long line of Albemarles on the ground. This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form:…
Jim Ross in the gun turret of an Albemarle
Sergeant Jim Ross, wearing a Mae West and jacket with a whistle attached to the collar, is standing inside the gun turret of an Albemarle, the two machine guns are pointing at the camera. In the background, on the left, there is a parked Albemarle…
Gliders and tugs at RAF Tarrant Rushton
Oblique aerial photograph of the may runway running left bottom to top right; on the southern end are two lines of sixteen Hamilcar gliders with further Hamilcars dispersed in the background. On the grass each side of the runway are parked fourteen…
History of RAF Hemswell
Outlines the history of RAF Hemswell starting from its origin as RAF Harpswell in 1918 until peacetime operations in the the 50s. The station was equipped with Ansons, then Blenheims. Part of No 3 Group, 61 and 144 Squadrons. Changed to No 5 Group,…
Ferdinand II being serviced
Two identical photographs of Halifax Ferdinand II being serviced. In the top left corner one ground crew is standing at the top of a ladder looking at the nose of the aircraft. The nose has nose art of a cartoon character of a bull and the title…
Ferdinand II on ground
Two identical photographs of Halifax Ferdinand II on ground with tyre covers. Shows port side of aircraft and up to inboard engine on starboard wing. Nose art shows Ferdinand II and cartoon painting. Eight rows of bomb 10 bomb symbols are painted…
Ferdinand II in flight
Air-to-air view of Halifax Ferdinand II photographed from another Halifax. On the reverse 'John’s Halifax Bomber.'
John Young and John Hartley
Two identical photographs of Sergeant John Young standing with wireless operator John Hartley. Both are wearing Mae Wests, parachute harnesses and flying boots. In the background two bicycles are leaning against a low structure. On the reverse of…
First day in the Canadian squadron 432
Line group of seven aircrew, all in uniform either battledress or tunics with appropriate brevets. Sergeant John Young is standing is on the extreme right. Captioned ‘Sgt Stedman P. F/O Gapes N. F/O Fox O/B W/O Hartley W/AG Sgt Cambell M/U Sgt…