The interview begins with some details of Fred’s life before being called up for service, including that his brother became a prisoner of the Japanese captured Hong Kong. Fred joined the Boy Scouts aged 11 years, and then the Air Training Corp…
Fred Hooker was a mid-upper gunner on 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington, where he flew three operations before being shot down. Born in Hartley Wintney in 1924, Fred’s first experience of the RAF was visiting RAF Odiham as a member of the Air…
12 trainee airmen arranged in two rows. Fred Hooker is second from left, seated. They have a board with 'No 127 Course Air Gunners Squad 15, 3-1-44 B G'. On the reverse are signatures of all 12 men.
Copies of two air to air photographs of different marks of Halifax, photographs of mid upper and rear turret plus a short cutting about the Halifax on a scrapbook page.
A mocked up membership card and photograph of pin issued to Sergeant Fred Hooker. It is captioned 'Ervin [sic] Parachute Company Issue Original Membership Club Card Mislaid Pin kept with medals'.
Photo 1 captioned 'View of Sleeping Bunks', shows three tiers of bunks.
Photo 2 captioned 'Table and Bench Seat' shows two men at the table, one seated.
Photo 3 is of a church, captioned 'Converted Hut by Russian POW for Worshipping'.
Photo 4 is…
A sketch map of the route taken by the prisoners from Stalag Luft 7. It names the towns passed through, the numbers of prisoners killed and their rations for 21 days.
A map of Stalag Luft 7 drawn by D G Gray and dated December 1944. It shows a compound of huts, one of tents and one under construction. The Russians have a separate, smaller compound as do the Germans.
Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring resigns as Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe for health reasons. His replacement is [Robert Ritter] von Greim. Setbacks described in multiple locations: lower Oder; northern Italy; several places in south, with…
Fred Hooker, in uniform and Charlie Waterman in a suit and tie (and with corsage). It is captioned 'Charlie Waterman who saved me from burning aircraft'.