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Lancaster parked on airfield
A Lancaster with light paint scheme parked on hard-standing with bomb bay doors open. In the foreground and airman (Arthur Pearce) wearing battledress with half brevet, ribbons and pathfinder badge holding barrel of an aircraft machine gun with butt…
Two men in front of a tree
On the left Warrant Officer Arthur Pearce wearing tunic with half brevet, medal ribbons and Pathfinder badge with cigarette in his right hand. He is arm in arm with a men on the right wearing a civilian suit and floral buttonhole. Behind them a tree…
Four airmen
Four airmen all wearing battledress, two with side caps. The three on the right have visible half brevet and the one on the left sergeant stripes. Two have pathfinder badges. Arthur Pearce is on the right with hands in pockets. In the background tall…
Two airmen eating
Three quarter length portrait of two airmen in khaki uniform eating sandwiches. Arthur Pearce is on the left wearing air gunners brevet, medals ribbons and pathfinder badge. He has warrant officer rank badge on wrist band. In the background a table…
Arthur Pearce Diary 1944
Memorandum items addresses of friends and acquaintances, mentions many days/evenings out and what sort of time he had in Belfast, Lincoln, Gainsborough and many others. Mentions various journeys and postings, lists birthdays. Jots down daily…
Arthur Pearce award of Pathfinder force badge
Certifies that Flight Sergeant A J Pearce is permanently awarded Pathfinder force badge.
Award of La Croix du Combattant de L'Europe
Certificate of award of La Croix du Combattant de L'Europe. Awarded by the European Veterans' Confederation to Arthur James Pearce DFM PFF.
Pathfinder badge
Golden eagle pathfinder badge front and rear.
156 Squadron
Aircrew from 156 Squadron in three rows in front of a Lancaster. Captioned 'No 156 (Pathfinder) Squadron, RAF Wyton, Huntingdon, September 1945'
Service record from August 1942 until November 1946 November
Starting with conscription in 1942 as a flight mechanic at RAF Skegness. Working up to a flight engineer but failing as he started working at RAF Halton training as a flight mechanic, then attending a fitter course. Volunteered for the flight…
Goodwill tour of United States
Top left - eight Lancasters parked in pairs on airfield with runway behind them. In the foreground a hangar. To the left three B-17s. Top right - newspaper cutting 'Chosen for U.S. Goodwill tour'. Two local men chosen to take part names as W.O Arthur…
Goodwill tour of United States and Victory Fly-Past
Top right - newspaper cutting titled 'Gen Spaatz welcomes RAF' with three photographs. Top left photograph of General Spaatz at microphone welcoming RAF to Andrews Field. Also in background Lord Inverchapel, British Ambassador, Col Curtis D Sluman…
Famed RAF Squadron to visit Lowry
Top - newspaper cutting with two photographs - left air-to-air view showing three Lancasters and on the right an air-to air view of three Lancasters in echelon starboard. Text states that this page has several pictures of Lancasters from famed 35…
Goodwill visit to United States
Newspaper cutting with three air-to-air view photographs of Lancasters.
Article states that 16 Lancasters of 35 Pathfinder Squadron will arrive 27 July 1946 on three day visit to Denver area. They arrived in the United States at Mitchel Field New…
Article states that 16 Lancasters of 35 Pathfinder Squadron will arrive 27 July 1946 on three day visit to Denver area. They arrived in the United States at Mitchel Field New…
Southwark 'Pathfinder' on goodwill mission
Top left - Arthur Pearce in the rear turret of a Lancaster.
Bottom right - Arthur Pearce leaning out of the rear door of a Lancaster rear turret which is rotated fully to port.
Bottom left - newspaper cutting title 'Southwark "Pathfinder" on…
Bottom right - Arthur Pearce leaning out of the rear door of a Lancaster rear turret which is rotated fully to port.
Bottom left - newspaper cutting title 'Southwark "Pathfinder" on…
Bombing and people
Top left - target photograph showing open countryside with many bomb craters.
Top right - Arthur Pearce in uniform holding hand of young child on the left. Another child is partly visible to the left of the photography. In the background a tree…
Top right - Arthur Pearce in uniform holding hand of young child on the left. Another child is partly visible to the left of the photography. In the background a tree…
They Refused to Fly
An article about a navigator and a bomb aimer who destroyed their maps on two occasions. They were charged with Lack of Moral Fibre.
A second article titled 'Norton Camp, Sheffield' is about a punishment camp where the writer was sent after cycling…
A second article titled 'Norton Camp, Sheffield' is about a punishment camp where the writer was sent after cycling…
Harold Kirby’s flight engineers log book
Flight engineers log book (Copy) for H Kirby covering the period from 26 April 1944 to 24 May 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Winthorpe, RAF Syerston, RAF Waddington and RAF Coningsby. Aircraft flown…
Gordon Cruickshank life on squadrons 1940-1944
Mentions time as a balloon operator at Felixstowe and then training as an air gunner. First tour on 50 Squadron RAF Swinderby on Manchesters, but had to wait for aircraft to arrive as squadron still flying Hampden when he arrived later transferred to…
The Lancaster which knew its way home
Story of Lancaster Number R 5868 once the gate guard at RAF Scampton. Relates that it flew 137 operational sorties and suffered only minor damage. Served on 83 Squadron in 1942 at RAF Scampton and mentions some of its operations including…
Ops are on. Maximum effort
A memoir by Joe Harrison of his first operation in 1943. He describes the initial briefing, the events during the bombing run, the damage to their aircraft and his subsequent illness. Includes descriptions of the post-op analysis and good crew…
A miraculous escape from certain death in world war 2
An account of operation as Pathfinder against German naval and submarine base at Kiel when his aircraft was shot down by 'Schräge Musik' equipped night-fighter which cause the aircraft to break in two. Describes crew actions during bomb run and…
Operations June 1944
A short memoir about operations over France before and after D-day. Includes how he received his award (as a D-Day veteran) of the Légion d'Honneur in Canberra.
582 Squadron Battle Order
A battle order for 13th September 1944 signed by PH Gribb.
Pathfinder Club tie
Red and gold Pathfinder club tie made by Ryder & Amies, Cambridge. Wool, 128 cm with golden embroidered eagles.