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Interview with Patrizia Riviera

Patrizia Riviera (b. 1930) gives a brief account of wartime life in Bergamo. Mentions food shortages, fear of bombings, basements used as shelters. Mentions disrupted schooling after the fall from power of the Fascist regime.

Tags: bombing; childhood in wartime; civil defence; fear; home front; shelter

Bombing of Trieste

Account of the 6 July 1944 bombing of Trieste written by a typist of the Servola ironworks. The first part of the document details the effects of the explosions and mentions some of the impact points: the ammunition dump and the oil refinery. The…

Tags: bombing; civil defence; home front; love and romance; shelter

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

Letter from Malcolm Payne to Doris Weeks

Writes that he got back from Lincoln OK but was disappointed not to see her. Mentions they are standby crew but operations were scrubbed.

Tags: love and romance; military service conditions; RAF Bardney

Frederick Davy's pilot's flying log book. Two

Frederick Davy’s Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 1 April 1943 to 28 March 1945 detailing his further pilot’s training at 15 AFU, 81 OTU, 28 OTU, 1656 HCU, 1 LFS and operational posting to 625 Squadron. Posted to Bomber Command Instructors’…

Gordon Mercier's navigators, air bombers and air gunners flying log book

Navigators, air bombers and air gunners flying log book for Gordon Mercier, air gunner, covering the period from 17 October 1943 to 11 April 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Stormey Down, RAF Abingdon,…

Alfred Sweeney’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book

Alfred Sweeney’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 17 May 1942 to 30 July 1962 detailing training, operations and post-war duties as a pilot and instructor, including VIP duties. (Several logbooks bound into one volume).
He was stationed at RAF…

Tags: 115 Squadron; 1651 HCU; 1653 HCU; 1669 HCU; 216 Squadron; 51 Squadron; 514 Squadron; 84 OTU; Advanced Flying Unit; aircrew; Anson; B-29; bombing; bombing of the Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944); bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944); C-47; Cook’s tour; Flying Training School; Halifax; Halifax Mk 7; Harvard; Heavy Conversion Unit; Horsa; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Lancaster Mk 1; Lancaster Mk 2; Lancaster Mk 3; Lancastrian; Lincoln; Meteor; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Operation Dodge (1945); Operational Training Unit; Oxford; pilot; RAF Aqir; RAF Bassingbourn; RAF Boscombe Down; RAF Carlisle; RAF Church Lawford; RAF Desborough; RAF Feltwell; RAF Langar; RAF Lyneham; RAF Marham; RAF North Luffenham; RAF Syerston; RAF Waterbeach; RAF Watton; RAF Witchford; RAF Wratting Common; Shackleton; Stirling; tactical support for Normandy troops; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington; York

Harry Whittaker's flying log book

Flying log book for Harry Whitaker, bomb aimer and navigator, covering the period from 21 May 1942 to 22 November 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at 10 Advanced flying Unit RAF Dumfries,…

Robert Palmer's pilot's flying log book. Two

Robert Palmer’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 12 May 1942 to 23 December 1944, detailing training and operations as a pilot and instructor. He was stationed at RAF Lossiemouth (No. 20 OTU), RAF Hullavington (No. 3 Flying Instructors School),…

K A L Killeen’s observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book

Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book one, for K A L Killeen, navigator, covering the period from 3 April 1943 to 2 August 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and duties with communications flights. He was stationed at…

W G Didcote’s South African Air Force observer’s or air gunner’s log book

South African Air Force observer’s or air gunner’s log book for W G Didcote, covering the period from 15 December 1942 to 9 November 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and duties with 90, 186, 218 and 83…

Bill Freeman's Log Book

W. Freeman’s RAF Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, from 1st August 1943 to 29th November 1944, detailing training, operations and instructional duties as an air gunner. He was stationed at RAF Stormy Down (No. 7 Air…

Paul Wilson's RAAF pilot's flying log book. One

Flying Log Book for Paul Wilson, pilot. Covers period from 22 October 1942 to 28 March 1946 including his training, operations, Transport Command and post-war civilian flying in Australia. He was based at RAF Lulsgate Bottom, RAF Babdown Farm, RAF…

J S Ross’s pilots flying log book. Two

Pilots flying log book for J S Ross covering the period from 21 January 1943 to 12 March 1946. Detailing his instructor duties, operations flown, flying training and post war duties with 246 Squadron and 511 Squadron. He was stationed at RAF…

Charles Bertram Sandland’s Royal Canadian Air Force pilot’s flying log book

Flying Officer C. B. Sandland’s RCAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book, from June 1942 to 22nd May 1946, recording training, operations, instructional and Transport Command flights to Europe, India, the Middle and Far East.
Based at: Marshall’s Flying…

Bill Eyles observer's and air gunners flying log book

Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for C W Eyles, bomb aimer, covering the period from 9 July 1942 to 14 October 1944. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Dumfries, RAF Abingdon,…

George Bilton - observers and air gunners log book

Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying log book for George Bilton, flight engineer, covering the period from 18 August 1943 to 1 August 1946. Detailing his final flying training, operations flown, instructional postings and flying in transports. He was…

Edward King's RAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book

Edward J King’s Navigator’s Flying Log Book covering the period 30 January 1942 to 18 May 1946. Detailing his flying training and operations flown as Navigator. He was stationed at RAF Prestwick (3 RS), RAF Wrexham and RAF Honiley (96 Squadron),…

J H Bird’s pilots flying log book. One

Pilots flying log book for J H Bird, covering the period from 29 March 1943 to 24 August 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Induna, RAF Kumalo, RAF Gianaclis, RAF Peplow, and Italy.…

Tags: 104 Squadron; aircrew; Albemarle; bombing; Flying Training School; Horsa; Initial Training Wing; Oxford; pilot; RAF Peplow; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington

A K Witty’s observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book

Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for A K Witty, navigator, covering the period from 1 April 1943 to 24 July 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, Instructor duties and post war flying duties with 576 and 50 squadrons.…

Tags: 12 Squadron; 1653 HCU; 1656 HCU; 50 Squadron; 576 Squadron; 84 OTU; Advanced Flying Unit; air sea rescue; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bombing; bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944); bombing of the Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944); bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944); Bombing of Trossy St Maximin (3 August 1944); Cook’s tour; Gee; H2S; Halifax; Halifax Mk 2; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Lancaster Mk 1; Lancaster Mk 3; Lincoln; mine laying; navigator; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Operation Dodge (1945); Operational Training Unit; RAF Chedburgh; RAF Desborough; RAF Fiskerton; RAF Halfpenny Green; RAF Hemswell; RAF Lindholme; RAF Sturgate; RAF Waddington; RAF Wickenby; Stirling; tactical support for Normandy troops; training; V-1; V-2; V-weapon; Wellington

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