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Tribute to a Pathfinder captain
Tribute to Squadron Leader William G Neal Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross, Croix de Guerre, 1912-2001. Describes how Don Briggs met and was crewed with Bill Neal’s crew who having completed one tour had been selected for a…
More war memories. The RAF bombing raids on Revigny
Describes how his aircraft was shot down on an operation to Revigny by an Me 110 night fighter. He baled out. and was captured. After being interrogated he became a prisoner of war. In February 1944, as the Russians advanced, he and his fellow…
Interview with Charlie Darby
Charlie Darby joined the Royal Air Force in September 1943 and recounts in great detail, his training as an air gunner/wireless operator on Wellingtons and Ansons at RAF Bridlington, RAF Bridgnorth, RAF Castle Kennedy, RAF Acaster Malbis and RAF…
Interview with Lawrence Larmer
Lawrence Larmer was born in Australia in 1920. After completing school he went to work on the Beaufort aircraft in the Department of Aircraft Production. He was called up in 1942 and volunteered for the Royal Australian Air Force to avoid the army.…
Letter to Mrs Hobbs from RAF East Kirkby station padre
Letter from Reverend Squadron Leader G R Cooper RAF East Kirkby to Mrs Hobbs, expressing sympathy that Frank Hobbs was reported missing from air operations over Stuttgart on night 15/16 March 1944. Writes of importance of work a wireless operator and…
An airman to his mother
Letter found amongst the personal belongings of a Royal Air Force pilot recently reported missing believed killed, to be sent to his mother if he were killed. Letter talks about the importance of his role, admiration for his mother, sacrifice for…
Interview with Harry Hacker
Harry Hacker first came into contact with aeroplanes at the age of sixteen whilst working as an apprentice for Rootes Motor Group who were making Wellington aircraft. He was a member of the Home Guard and after applying to join the RAF went for…
Interview with Janet Hughes, One
Janet Hughes’ father, Reginald Charles Wilson, volunteered for the RAF in August 1941. In January 1942, he was posted to America under the Arnold training scheme and was later re-mustered to train as a navigator in Canada. After forming a crew at…
Interview with Charles Mears
Charles left school with no formal qualifications and was undertaking further education when the Second World War commenced. Being too young to enlist, he joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps and - upon reaching 18 - he eventually was able to join. He…
Interview with Gerard Norwood
Gerard’s father died when he was very young and was so raised by his mother and his stepfather, who he and his brother disliked. He was working at an engineering factory when the war broke out and continued until 1942, at which point most of his…
Letter from Padre RAF Binbrook to Mrs K Wynn
Letter of sympathy that her husband is reported missing from operations.
Letter from padre at RAF Binbrook to Mrs K Wynn
Thanks her for her letter and includes details of other member of her husbands crew.
Ian Archer Wynn memorial book
An album book containing: 1. Photographs of Ian Wynn, his family and his first crew captain. 2. A history of his first captain. 3. Letter of sympathy and memorial scroll. 4. A diary of events from joining the air force up to first operation fully…
Interview with Hayden Philip Rose
Hayden Philip Rose was born on the 27th of July 1924. After leaving school he worked in the Simmonds factory office before joining the RAF in 1943, training as an engineer. His brothers also joined, becoming a pilot and a navigator. Upon meeting his…
Interview with James Sampson
James Sampson volunteered for the RAF, trained as a navigator and became a specialist on H2S. He survived three write-offs of his aircraft, including once when the wheels had been shot away. His bomb aimer had a very near miss when shrapnel hit the…
Interview with George Patrick Smith-Leach
George was born in Chelmsford, Essex. He then moved to Clacton-on-Sea where he went to school before going to a seminary catholic college. When war broke out, he and two other boys aged 15 or 16 ran away from college and went to Ipswich to join the…
Interview with John Henry Thomas
John Thomas was born in Australia and joined the RAF in 1943. After doing his initial training in Australia he travelled to the UK via America. Further training, including an accident and night vision tests, led to 102 Squadron and a full tour of…
Letter to David Donaldson from M H Edwards
Letter to David Donaldson from his father-in-law Chaplain-in-Chief Royal Air Force M H Edwards congratulating him on achievements. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Letter to David Donaldson from Chaplain at Warboys
Letter to David Donaldson from Chaplain J M Bullen based at RAF Warboys responding to a letter from David who had expressed concern about the welfare of the family of a Royal Air Force person. Bullen writes that the benevolent fund could help and…
Photograph of Fifteen personnel and identity card for Section Officer J Donaldson
Top - eight members of Women's Auxiliary Air Force and seven Royal Air Force officers in two rows. Seven sitting in front and eight standing behind. All are wearing tunics and peaked hats. Joyce Donaldson is third from the right back row. There is…
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Top - eight members of Women's Auxiliary Air Force and seven Royal Air Force officers in two rows. Seven sitting in front and eight standing behind. All are wearing tunics and peaked hats. There is one padre in back row. Joyce Donaldson is third from…
Royal Air Force personnel
Top - formal portrait of four aircrew officers, two sitting in front and two standing behind. All are wearing tunic and peaked cap. Front centre man has pilot brevet, the others half brevet. Bottom - eight members of Women's Auxiliary Air Force and…
Letter to David Donaldson from A McHardy
A padre thanks David for a very good evening at a dance. He and Chaplain-in-Chief were impressed by spirit of friendship. Wishes family well for Christmas.
How we took the good news from Grosse Tychow to Fallingbostel
A diary of the forced march undertaken by prisoners of war 6 February 1945 to 26 April 1945
Dafoe Digest
The first issue of The Dafoe Digest, a magazine produced by No 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe. Each section on the base has had a chance to write a short article about their activities.