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Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of his move to RAF Turweston, his training schedule and Winston Churchill’s speech.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of the lack of flying and the weather.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of his promotion to flight lieutenant and his duties on parade.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of the weather and his orderly officer duties.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of a journey through Birmingham and of domestic arrangements.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of training lectures at RAF Fiskerton and of his social activities.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of his flying over Nottingham and activities at RAF Fiskerton.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
Harold Gorton writes about his wife's departure and a party she missed.
Interview with Joyce Colley
Joyce Colley grew up in Leicestershire and Somerset. She was working as a trainee hairdresser before she was conscripted into the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1944. After training she worked as a teleprinter operator in an underground bunker. She…
Interview with Stanley Ernest Jeffrey. One
Stan Jeffrey was a flight mechanic at RAF Pocklington. He discusses the camaraderie between the ground and air crews. He would stick chewing gum to the undercarriage as a good luck charm. Shortly after the end of the war, the ground crew were taken…
Interview with Muriel Blake
Muriel Blake was born in 1922 in Oakham, Rutland. Being interested in flying and aeroplanes from an early age, Muriel volunteered when her job prospects ended. Called up in 1944, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Being too short for driver,…
Interview with John Shipman
John Shipman was born in Stathern, Leicester and as a teenager would cycle to Melton Mowbray to attend ATC meetings. He joined the RAF and started training as a flight mechanic. He joined a troop ship to start his posting and the journey took a very…
Interview with Peter Zolty
Peter was born in Erdington, Birmingham. He joined the RAF and was trained at the Empire Air Training School in Canada. He re-mustered as a navigator and was with 49 Squadron for a short time. Peter then joined 106 Squadron and did a tour of 34…
Harry Brabin memoir
Harry joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 25 June 1942 as a wireless operator/air gunner and received his initial training in Australia before going to Canada for his trade training.
He sailed on the SS Johan Van Barneve to San Francisco and…
He sailed on the SS Johan Van Barneve to San Francisco and…
To Jessie from Harry Redgrave
Three-page handwritten letter from Harry Redgrave to his wife Jessie. He writes about having more kit issued, a walk into Hastings and back and having large amounts of drill.
To Jessie from Harry Redgrave
A letter from Harry to his wife Jessie relating his day-time flights over the Scottish islands, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Lake District.
Interview with Ted Mawdsley
Ted grew up in Essex. Before the war he worked for the Marconi Wireless and Telegraph Company. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and became an instrument mechanic. He was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds in 1942 and overseas the following year. After…
Interview with Alma Leedham
Alma Leedham grew up in London and worked for Hawker aircraft on the Hurricane at the start of the war . She later trained as a driver in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She served at RAF Scampton driving tractors taking bombs to the aircraft.…
Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents
Writes from Medicine Hat thanking them for letters and asking them to continue writing; he is unable to reciprocate due to work load. Started flying Harvard and does not think it is worth waiting for next course on Oxford. Writes about flying,…
Interview with Alan Seagger
Before the war, Alan was an electrical apprentice. He joined the RAF and was posted to RAF Binbrook before being posted overseas. He was at RAF Shallufa for a time and was placed with No. 37 Squadron, who moved to Egypt. There were troops of…
Pilot to Navigator - Where are we?
Henry, volunteered for the RAF and learned to fly Tiger Moths at Brough. He then was transferred to South Africa on a troopship. His flying training came to an end after a poor solo flight. He was retrained as a navigator. On completion of his…
Henry Wagner's life story. Part one
Hand written by Henry, Part 1 covers his early life and time at university. It goes on to cover in some detail his time in the RAF, his time training in South Africa conversion to the Halifax and operations on 51 Squadron. It also covers his time as…
Herbert O'Hara diary and account of Atlantic crossing in 1941
Lambeth notebook with daily diary covering 25 to 30 June 1941 during journey from Iceland towards Canada on HMS Ranpura. Followed by account crossing from Greenock, Scotland to Iceland on ship Royal Ulsterman, stopover in Iceland, journey on HMS…
Letter from Ian Hay to his grandmother
Written from RAF North Coates. Describes camp location and aerodrome. Points out that location is closest in country to Germany. Describes air raid shelter and accommodation. Mentions E.N.S.A. concert.
Letter from Ian Hay to his grandmother
Describes a little of his daily activities including a display of 15 types of aircraft they might see in the local area. Describes some of his guard duties. Writes that he has been posted with all wireless operators to Yatesbury. Describes expected…