Browse Items (39 total)
- Collection: Potter, Peter
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My finest memory
Story of Price Albert and his stutter causing him to be unable to issue command and author having to strike him on the back to force out the necessary order.
Interview with Peter Potter
Peter Potter was born in Fobbing where his grandfather had three farms in Shell Haven. He ran away from home at age 15 and got a job before volunteering for aircrew after falsifying his date of birth. He talks about his time in London, visiting…
Copy of Peter Potter's flying log book
Flying log book excerpts from P L Potter’s log book, covering the period from 3 May 1944 to 17 December 1944. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Hixon and RAF Wickenby. Aircraft flown in were Wellington and…
Fuel economy etc
Mentions combustion engines, pre-war driving and war-time personal transport. Describes handling aircraft engines and getting very economic miles per gallon. As result the flight engineer was promoted and put in charge instructing his method to…
Bridlington, Lindholme and Sandtoft
Describes training at Bridlington, Lindholme and Sandtoft including navigation, Morse code, wireless and radio, basic piloting and gunnery as well as physical training. Mentions move to Bridgnorth. Finally to Pembrey for training on aircraft, moving…
Memories
Gives account of time at Bridlington which included training on basic navigation, bomb aiming, wireless operating and morse code. Also included physical training and drill. Mentions training on machine guns and then moved on to Lindholme, Pembrey,…
Account of operations
Mention action on getting caught in searchlights, effects of altitude on aircrew, avoiding bombs from above, encounters with B-17 while on operations and getting a bottle of Bourbon from the American crew later. Mentions encounter with probable…
Air crew
States aircrew were different and explains why he though this. Mentions training, attitude to discipline and that they were reliant on each other. Numbered '9-2'.
Description of crew and ground crew
Describes leisure time activities of crew including personal transport and fishing. Mentions groundcrew and their electrician who flew with them on short operations. Page numbered '6-2'.
Peter Potter biography - part
Describes childhood in great detail and work after the war started. Continues with account of training after being called up.
On take off
Account of crew actions during take off and one particular time when aircraft ahead slewed when tire burst half way down the runway. Luckily they were able to get airborne and avoid the other aircraft.
Joining up/Training
Account of Peter Potter's experiences following signing up to join the RAF.
Kiel Canal operation
Describes operation dropping mines in Kiel Canal. Mentions attack at low level, anti-aircraft fire and lucky not to be hit. Concludes by telling of flying to cover crew who had failed to get back to station in time and refusing a commission. Page…
Pages from memoir
First page titled 'Flying log book' mentions photostats from log book which were record of operations over enemy-occupied territory in 1944. Describes one operation to Aire during which they had to return to base due to violent weather. Continues…
Snippets
Gives account of incidents on operations and in hotels/pubs. Spells out vital actions. Stettin over Sweden 29-8 - describes incident of oxygen starvation. Stuttgart - incident. Ghent 18-18, another John Moore incident - having to leave turret, "Flak…
Fotheringay-Jones
Apocryphal tale of a spitfire pilot's misdemeanours on arrival at a station and after rudeness to authorities was found to be nephew of secretary of state for air.
Description of operational flying
Writes of being given their own aircraft with nude lady nose art which survived the war. Mentions icing problem on operation to Saarbrücken. Describes operation to Frankfurt where engaged by Ju-88 where he injured his jaw. Writes that they learn as…
Friendly fire
Tells story of taking girlfriend to a pub while on leave and misadventures on bicycle on return journey. Concludes with her trying to get into her parents locked house and encounter with her angry father.
Letter of appreciation
![EHMGovPotterWL[Date].jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/630/30881/EHMGovPotterWL[Date].jpg "EHMGovPotterWL[Date].jpg")
Letter from King George to WL Potter thanking him for work with GHQ Auxiliary Unit, submitted as; 'Secret Army Letter'.
Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Main Ops - with crew only
Starts with account of operation to Paris on 3 May 1944 when attacked by Me 109 and writes of crew actions. Continues with list of operations giving details of target, anti-aircraft fire, flight time, some bomb loads, events, results. From 3 August…
After ops
Noted that tour was completed on 17/18 December 1944 and was not called upon to fly again as the war in Europe was nearly over.
Claim for campaign stars and/or defence medal
Part made out for Warrant Officer P L Potter qualified for 1939/45 star.
Bombing
Highlights some of the issues causing lack of precision with bombing. Also mentions problems of weather meant USAAF results despite their bomb site was rarely better that the RAF. Mentions their most successful operation was dropping mines in the…
Bridlington
Tells story of comrade who got drunk on pub crawl and fell into an emergency static water tank on his way back to camp and resulting events.
Two stories from Pembrey
Tells story of a one comrade who did not take part in Christmas festivities due to his being excessively religious and resulting events. Second risqué story about innocent comrade.