Browse Items (311 total)
- Tags: crewing up
Loose on the wind
Tags: 1 Group; 12 Squadron; 4 Group; 578 Squadron; 78 Squadron; air gunner; Air Transport Auxiliary; aircrew; animal; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; arts and crafts; B-17; B-24; bale out; bombing; bombing of Hamburg (24-31 July 1943); bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); control tower; crash; crewing up; Defiant; faith; fear; final resting place; flight engineer; flight mechanic; forced landing; Fw 190; Gee; Gneisenau; grief; ground crew; ground personnel; Guinea Pig Club; H2S; Halifax; Hampden; Harvard; In the event of my death letter; intelligence officer; Ju 88; killed in action; Lancaster; love and romance; Lysander; Manchester; McIndoe, Archibald (1900-1960); medical officer; mess; military ethos; military living conditions; military service conditions; navigator; observer; operations room; Oxford; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Bassingbourn; RAF Bawtry; RAF Binbrook; RAF Breighton; RAF Finningley; RAF Halton; RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor; RAF Kemble; RAF Linton on Ouse; RAF Little Rissington; RAF Mildenhall; RAF Moreton in the Marsh; RAF St Athan; RAF Sywell; RAF Torquay; RAF Tuddenham; Scharnhorst; searchlight; shot down; Spitfire; sport; Stalag Luft 3; Stirling; Tiger Moth; training; Victoria Cross; Wellington; Window; wireless operator; wireless operator / air gunner; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Me - William Roy Peter Perry DFC
Tags: 106 Squadron; 1654 HCU; 227 Squadron; 29 OTU; 5 Group; Advanced Flying Unit; aircrew; B-17; civil defence; Cook’s tour; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; Flying Training School; Heavy Conversion Unit; Home Guard; Initial Training Wing; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Manchester; Operation Dodge (1945); Operational Training Unit; Oxford; pilot; RAF Ansty; RAF Balderton; RAF hospital Rauceby; RAF Metheringham; RAF North Luffenham; RAF Ossington; RAF Syerston; RAF Wigsley; RAF Woolfox Lodge; Stirling; Tiger force; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington; York
Memoir
Tags: 1669 HCU; 227 Squadron; 4 Group; 5 Group; 582 Squadron; 78 Squadron; aircrew; bombing; crash; crewing up; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; military living conditions; military service conditions; Operation Dodge (1945); Operation Exodus (1945); Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945); Operational Training Unit; RAF Acaster Malbis; RAF Balderton; RAF Graveley; RAF Langar; RAF Little Staughton; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Strubby; RAF Syerston; Tiger force; training; Wellington
Memoirs of Flt/Sgt William Brookes, 78 Squadron, RAF Breighton
Tags: 78 Squadron; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; B-17; bomb struck; bombing; crewing up; fear; forced landing; H2S; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; mine laying; Operational Training Unit; RAF Breighton; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Padgate; recruitment; searchlight; superstition; training; wireless operator / air gunner
Memories of an Airman
Tags: 102 Squadron; 1652 HCU; 19 OTU; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; air sea rescue; aircrew; Anson; Cook’s tour; crewing up; demobilisation; ditching; Dominie; ground personnel; Halifax; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Heavy Conversion Unit; Hurricane; Ju 88; Magister; military living conditions; military service conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Proctor; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Burtonwood; RAF Halton; RAF Hednesford; RAF Kinloss; RAF Madley; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Pembrey; RAF Pocklington; recruitment; Spitfire; training; Wellington
My experience as a prisoner of war in Germany 1943 - 1945
Tags: 428 Squadron; 6 Group; aircrew; bale out; bombing; C-47; crewing up; Dulag Luft; entertainment; escaping; flight engineer; Halifax; Halifax Mk 2; Halifax Mk 5; Heavy Conversion Unit; killed in action; navigator; Operational Training Unit; prisoner of war; RAF Middleton St George; Red Cross; shot down; sport; Stalag 3A; Stalag Luft 3; the long march; training
My life in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command
Tags: 1661 HCU; 44 Squadron; 49 Squadron; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; Battle; bombing; Boston; briefing; crash; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Medal; fitter airframe; flight engineer; flight mechanic; ground crew; ground personnel; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Hurricane; Initial Training Wing; intelligence officer; Lancaster; Lincoln; Manchester; Me 109; memorial; mess; military ethos; military living conditions; military service conditions; mine laying; perception of bombing war; promotion; RAF Benson; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Burtonwood; RAF Cosford; RAF Dunholme Lodge; RAF Fiskerton; RAF High Wycombe; RAF Manston; Raf Mauripur; RAF Padgate; RAF Scampton; RAF Shallufa; RAF St Athan; RAF Stormy Down; RAF Uxbridge; RAF Winthorpe; RAF Wyton; recruitment; searchlight; shot down; Stirling; training
My life in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command
Tags: 1661 HCU; 44 Squadron; 49 Squadron; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; Battle; bombing; Boston; briefing; crash; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Medal; fitter airframe; flight engineer; flight mechanic; ground crew; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Hurricane; Initial Training Wing; Lancaster; Lincoln; Manchester; Me 109; memorial; mess; military ethos; military living conditions; military service conditions; mine laying; perception of bombing war; promotion; RAF Benson; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Burtonwood; RAF Cosford; RAF Dunholme Lodge; RAF Fiskerton; RAF High Wycombe; RAF Manston; Raf Mauripur; RAF Padgate; RAF Scampton; RAF Shallufa; RAF St Athan; RAF Stormy Down; RAF Uxbridge; RAF Winthorpe; RAF Wyton; recruitment; searchlight; shot down; Stirling; training
My Time in the Royal Air Force 1942-1955
Tags: 11 OTU; 1668 HCU; 207 Squadron; 3 Group; 514 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; air gunner; aircrew; Anson; bomb aimer; bombing of Helgoland (18 April 1945); Cornell; crewing up; Dominie; flight engineer; Flying Training School; hangar; Harvard; Heavy Conversion Unit; Initial Training Wing; Lancaster; Lincoln; military service conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; navigator; Operation Dodge (1945); Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945); Operational Training Unit; Oxford; pilot; promotion; RAF Bishops Court; RAF Bottesford; RAF Greenock; RAF Hunmanby Moor; RAF Leconfield; RAF Marham; RAF Methwold; RAF North Luffenham; RAF Oakington; RAF Spilsby; RAF Sywell; RAF Waterbeach; RAF Westcott; recruitment; Spitfire; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington; wireless operator
My War Story
Tags: 1664 HCU; 22 OTU; 420 Squadron; 425 Squadron; 431 Squadron; 434 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; animal; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; arts and crafts; bale out; bomb aimer; C-47; Caterpillar Club; crash; crewing up; Dulag Luft; final resting place; flight engineer; Flying Training School; ground personnel; Halifax; Halifax Mk 3; Heavy Conversion Unit; Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); Hurricane; Initial Training Wing; Ju 88; lynching; mess; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; navigator; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; P-51; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Boscombe Down; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Bridlington; RAF Cosford; RAF Dalcross; RAF Dishforth; RAF Elvington; RAF Gaydon; RAF Horsham St Faith; RAF Inverness; RAF Manston; RAF Tholthorpe; RAF Wellesbourne Mountford; Red Cross; sanitation; service vehicle; sport; Stalag 357; Stalag Luft 3; Stalag Luft 6; strafing; the long march; training; Typhoon; Wellington; Whitley; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Noel Chaffey biography
Pat Hogan's recollection of events on 3/4 March 1945 written to a relative of Flying Officer Alan Shelton
Tags: 466 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; bale out; Bennett, Donald Clifford Tyndall (1910-1986); bomb aimer; bombing; briefing; crewing up; Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain (1926 - 2022); entertainment; faith; final resting place; George VI, King of Great Britain (1895-1952); Halifax; Halifax Mk 3; home front; Ju 88; killed in action; Me 109; military living conditions; military service conditions; navigator; pilot; RAF Acaster Malbis; RAF Church Broughton; RAF Driffield; RAF Lichfield; sanitation; shot down; training; wireless operator
Peter Hazeldene memoir
Flt Lt J B P 'Tuesday' Spencer, 20 years, Pilot from Greenside, Co Durham
Sgt W D E West, 21 years, Mid Upper Gunner, from Barking, Essex
Sgt H…
Tags: 106 Squadron; 14 OTU; 57 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; bomb aimer; bombing; crash; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; final resting place; flight engineer; heirloom; killed in action; Lancaster; navigator; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Operational Training Unit; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF East Kirkby; RAF Husbands Bosworth; Red Cross; Stalag 3A; Stalag Luft 3; Stirling; training; Wellington; wireless operator / air gunner
Philip Hopgood's Second World War Biography
Tags: 1651 HCU; 1652 HCU; 1658 HCU; 1663 HCU; air gunner; aircrew; Anson; bomb aimer; bombing; Cornell; crewing up; flight engineer; Flying Training School; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Initial Training Wing; Lancaster; military living conditions; military service conditions; navigator; Nissen hut; pilot; RAF Catterick; RAF Cottesmore; RAF Graveley; RAF Kirkham; RAF Locking; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Padgate; RAF Riccall; RAF Rufforth; RAF Sealand; RAF St Athan; RAF Torquay; RAF Woolfox Lodge; Tiger Moth; training; V-1; V-weapon; wireless operator
Pilot - face to face
Tags: 625 Squadron; aircrew; bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945); crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; Gneisenau; ground personnel; H2S; Halifax; Hudson; Lancaster; love and romance; Mosquito; navigator; Oboe; Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945); Oxford; Pathfinders; pilot; RAF Ansty; RAF Blyton; RAF Cranwell; RAF Finningley; RAF Hemswell; RAF Kelstern; RAF Leuchars; RAF Sandtoft; RAF Scampton; RAF Silloth; RAF St Eval; RAF Watchfield; RAF Worksop; Scharnhorst; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Pilot to Navigator - Where are we?
Tags: 100 Group; 4 Group; 425 Squadron; 51 Squadron; 77 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; aerial photograph; air gunner; Air Observers School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; B-17; bale out; bomb aimer; C-47; Caterpillar Club; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Service Order; entertainment; evading; flight engineer; Flying Training School; Gee; ground personnel; H2S; Halifax; Halifax Mk 3; Heavy Conversion Unit; Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); Hurricane; Ju 88; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Me 109; Me 110; military service conditions; missing in action; Mosquito; navigator; Nissen hut; Oboe; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Pathfinders; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Abingdon; RAF Acaster Malbis; RAF Bottesford; RAF Cosford; RAF Full Sutton; RAF Manston; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Melbourne; RAF Snaith; RAF St Eval; RAF Stanton Harcourt; RAF Tholthorpe; RAF West Freugh; RAF Wing; Red Cross; Resistance; shot down; sport; Stalag 3A; Stalag Luft 7; Stirling; Sunderland; target indicator; the long march; Tiger Moth; training; V-1; V-weapon; Wellington; Whitley; Window; wireless operator / air gunner; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
RAF Hixon
Tags: crewing up; RAF Hixon; training; Wellington
Rear view - Ralph Briars memoir
Tags: 1661 HCU; 49 Squadron; 617 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bombing; bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944); bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); bombing of the Juvisy, Noisy-le-Sec and Le Bourget railways (18/19 April 1944); bombing of the Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944); Bombing of the Saumur tunnel (8/9 June 1944); bombing of the Watten V-2 site (19 June 1944); control caravan; control tower; Cook’s tour; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Flying Medal; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Mk 2; Me 109; mid-air collision; Mosquito; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Normandy deception operations (5/6 June 1944); Operational Training Unit; RAF Cottesmore; RAF Dalcross; RAF Fiskerton; RAF Husbands Bosworth; RAF Linton on Ouse; RAF Market Harborough; RAF Winthorpe; RAF Woodhall Spa; Scarecrow; searchlight; service vehicle; Tallboy; Tirpitz; training; V-weapon; Wellington; Window
Recollections of a Flight Engineer
He also recounts…
Ronald Saunders memoir
Tags: 114 Squadron; aircrew; Anson; B-26; Boston; Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; Dominie; George VI, King of Great Britain (1895-1952); military living conditions; military service conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; Oxford; Proctor; RAF Madley; RAF Weston-on-the-Green; RAF Yatesbury; training; wireless operator / air gunner
Service History of Benny Goodman
Tags: 617 Squadron; Anson; bombing; crewing up; Flying Training School; fuelling; Grand Slam; ground crew; Harvard; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Martinet; Me 262; military discipline; military living conditions; Operation Catechism (12 November 1944); Operational Training Unit; RAF Abingdon; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Cardington; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Silverstone; RAF Swinderby; RAF Syerston; RAF Woodhall Spa; sanitation; Stirling; Tallboy; Tiger Moth; Tirpitz; training; Wellington
Service record John Henry (Jack) Thomas
Tags: 102 Squadron; 1658 HCU; 21 OTU; air gunner; aircrew; bomb aimer; crewing up; flight engineer; Halifax; Halifax Mk 2; Halifax Mk 3; Heavy Conversion Unit; navigator; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; pilot; RAF Acaster Malbis; RAF Hullavington; RAF Moreton in the Marsh; RAF Pocklington; RAF Riccall; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington; wireless operator
Sparks in the air - Jack Smith's wartime story
Tags: 1661 HCU; 17 OTU; 189 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; aircrew; Anson; Battle; Blenheim; bombing; bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945); Cook’s tour; crewing up; Dominie; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; military living conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; Operation Exodus (1945); Operational Training Unit; Proctor; RAF Bramcote; RAF Compton Bassett; RAF Fulbeck; RAF Llandwrog; RAF Madley; RAF Milltown; RAF Padgate; RAF Silverstone; RAF Syerston; RAF Turweston; RAF Winthorpe; RAF Woodbridge; recruitment; Scarecrow; Stirling; training; Wellington; wireless operator
Sparks in the air - Jack Smith's wartime story
Tags: 1661 HCU; 17 OTU; 189 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; aircrew; Anson; Battle; Blenheim; bombing; bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945); Cook’s tour; crewing up; Dominie; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; love and romance; military living conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; Operation Exodus (1945); Operational Training Unit; Proctor; RAF Bramcote; RAF Compton Bassett; RAF Fulbeck; RAF Llandwrog; RAF Madley; RAF Milltown; RAF Padgate; RAF Silverstone; RAF Syerston; RAF Turweston; RAF Winthorpe; RAF Woodbridge; recruitment; Scarecrow; Stirling; training; Wellington; wireless operator
Teddy's Career in the RAFVR 9th September 1939 - 11th October 1941
Tags: 1 Group; 11 OTU; 12 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; aerial photograph; Air Observers School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; Battle; Blenheim; bomb aimer; bombing; Bombing and Gunnery School; Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crash; crewing up; Defiant; ditching; flight engineer; Flying Training School; ground personnel; Halifax; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Heavy Conversion Unit; Initial Training Wing; Lancaster; meteorological officer; military ethos; military living conditions; military service conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; navigator; observer; Operational Training Unit; pilot; propaganda; RAF Bassingbourn; RAF Binbrook; RAF Evanton; RAF Kinloss; RAF Odiham; RAF Padgate; RAF St Athan; RAF Wickenby; recruitment; sport; Stirling; take-off crash; training; Wallis, Barnes Neville (1887-1979); Wellington; Whitley; wireless operator