Interview with John 'Snogger' Watkins
John Watkins was working in retail in Rotherham and in 1939 he joined 218 Squadron ATC. He joined the RAF in February 1942 at RAF Cardington, and did his initial training at Blackpool. In December 1942 he did his wireless training at RAF Yatesbury. His first role was as a ground personnel wireless operator at RAF Scampton in 1943. He next went to RAF Madeley to complete his aircrew training and then to 10 Gunnery School in Barrow in Furness. In early 1944 he went to the USA, via Canada. He was posted to 111 OTU in Nassau in the Bahamas to train on Liberator and Mitchell aircraft. On his return to the UK he converted to the Catalina and later the Sunderland flying boats. His original crew set off from Northern Ireland to fly to India, but due to a medical issue he didn’t fly with them and his crew were killed enroute. He finished his career flying on operations for Coastal Command in India and the Far East. He was personally upset by the condition of the ex-prisoners of war of the Japanese he and his crew ferried from bases.
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2018-08-02
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01:02:00 audio recording
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AWatkinsJ180802, PWatkinsJ1801
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Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
Incomplete letter in which he writes of a B-17 landing at Cark.
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1944-01-16
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One handwritten sheet
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EGortonHGortonLCM440116-0001
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Letter from Leonard Cheshire to Messrs William Lawson Ltd
Requests supply of two dozen chamois leathers at price quoted of 45 shillings per dozen.
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1944-01-16
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One-page typewritten letter
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SCheshireGL72021v10014
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Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula
Writes that he has been promoted to flight sergeant and warrant officer and change in RAF allowances and other financial details. Continues with news of work on new house and catches up with news of family and friends. Mentions she dreams of him coming home and describes her, daughters and other family recent activities. Concludes with more financial matters.
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1944-01-16
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Two page typewritten letter
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EValentineUMValentineJRM440116
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Postcard from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 146-3. List her letters that have arrived. Anxious for news of new house. Mentions weather and seeing British medical officer. Feels fit despite lack of exercise.
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1944-01-16
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Two sided handwritten postcard
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EValentineJRMValentineUM440116
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Practice Bombing Log Sheets
Log sheets prepared by John.
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1944-01-16
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Five printed sheets with handwritten annotations
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MLeadbetterJ163970-160421-180001, MLeadbetterJ163970-160421-180002, MLeadbetterJ163970-160421-180003, MLeadbetterJ163970-160421-180004, MLeadbetterJ163970-160421-180005
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Record of service for Squadron Leader Robert Antony Maurice Palmer VC DFC* AE (115772) RAFVR
Gives personal details, service as an airman, commissioned service with promotions, postings including 75, 149 and 109 Squadrons, honours and awards including Victoria Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross and bar, mentioned in despatches, and air efficiency award.
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1984-01-19
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Two printed pages on two album pages
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PPalmerRAM17010018, PPalmerRAM17010017
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Ron Riding's Royal Canadian Air Force observers and air gunners flying log book
Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for R H Riding, navigator, covering the period from 5 January 1942 to 25 April 1948. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and post war flying with 1332 Heavy Conversion Unit, 242 Squadron and 230 Operational Conversion Unit. He was stationed at RCAF St Johns, RCAF Caron, RCAF Mont Joli, RCAF Rivers, RCAF Summerside, RCAF Greenwood, RAF Thornaby-on-Tees, RAF Blida, RAF Protville, RAF Gibraltar, RAF Northolt, RAF Dishforth, RAF Longtown, RAF Oakington, RAF Abingdon and RAF Lindholme. Aircraft flown in were Anson, Battle, Hudson, Baltimore, Wellington, C-87, York, Liberator, Stirling, Dakota, Oxford, Skymaster, RY3, Halifax and Lancaster. He flew a total of 54 daylight operations, 6 with 500 Squadron, 47 with 52 Squadron and one with 69 Squadron, on which he was shot down and evaded for 10 weeks. His pilot on operations was Flying Officer Merrill. Targets are listed as convoy escort, anti-submarine patrols, U-boat hunt, air sea rescue, including Sardinia, Civitavecchia, Spezia, Ustica, Alicudi islands, Gozo, Catania, Sicily, Anzio and Gibraltar.
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One booklet
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LRidingRH1525125v1
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