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Interview with Jeff Hildreth
Jeff Hildreth was born in Huntwood, Derbyshire and studied Electrical Engineering at Worksop Technical College before joining the Air Training Corp, before eventually joining the Royal Air Force as a Wireless Operator.
He did his training at…
He did his training at…
Interview with Jeff Hildreth
Jeff Hildreth grew up in a colliery village where his father was a miner. When he left school he started working at a tailor’s shop. He didn’t enjoy working in the shop and was happy to volunteer for the RAF and was accepted for to train as a…
Interview with Ernie Patterson. One
Ernie Patterson DFM was born in Middleton St George in Darlington. At the age of 14, he left school and took on a job as an apprentice Joiner.
He joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 19 in 1941, but whilst he was waiting to be called up, he was…
He joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 19 in 1941, but whilst he was waiting to be called up, he was…
Interview with Derek Carington Evans
Derek was born on June 20th 1924 in Edlington near Doncaster, volunteering as aircrew at the age of 17.
After leaving school at the age of 14, Derek delivered books in and around Doncaster before going down to the Royal Air Force Recruitment Centre…
After leaving school at the age of 14, Derek delivered books in and around Doncaster before going down to the Royal Air Force Recruitment Centre…
Interview with Colin Farr
Colin was born in Ilford in 1920 and, at the outbreak of war, was working in a London warehouse. Seeing the bomb damage around him he wanted to join the RAF and seek revenge, so he volunteered. Unfortunately, following an accident, he had a plaster…
Interview with Peter Fitt
Peter was born in Norwich. His father was a head gardener and wanted him to follow that occupation and so refused to let him join the RAF. With the advent of war, the situation changed and Peter volunteered at a recruiting station and, after…
Interview with Margaret Horry
Margaret Horry was born in Spalding. She remembers aircraft taking off going on operations, and retells wartime stories of her relatives. Arthur served in Bomber Command as a bomb aimer. Frank was also in Bomber Command. He joined the Royal Air Force…
Interview with Joseph Musgrove
Born in York in 1922, Joseph left school at 14 and started work in a chocolate factory and attended two nights of further education per week. In 1936, a fighter aircraft had landed nearby which stimulated his interest in flying which he retained all…
Interview with William Horace Shaw
Bill was a wireless operator/air gunner. He joined the Home Guard in 1941 and registered for conscription to the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1943. He reported to Lord’s Cricket Ground and went to an Initial Training Wing at RAF Bridgnorth. Bill then…
Interview with Jack Smith
Jack volunteered for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in September 1940. He went to Padgate and then on to Blackpool where he trained as a wireless operator. Jack proceeded to a radio school at RAF Compton Bassett and then RAF Bramcote. He was posted to…
Interview with Reg Spencer
Wembley born but educated in Essex, Reg Spencer left school in 1939. In 1943, on his 18th birthday, he was called up for National Service. Following initial training at RAF Bridlington he was trained as a wireless operator at No. 2 Radio School at…
Interview with Gordon Topham
Gordon Topham was born in Salisbury, but his family settled in Norwich, Norfolk and he joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 17, qualifying as a flight engineer in July 1944. Gordon’s father used to drive steam wagons and was involved with…
Lancaster aircrew positions
Air-to-air photograph of a Lancaster in flight showing crew positions, annotated with the names of Kenneth Pope's crew. Pilot Jim Cross, navigator Darce Edwards, flight engineer Ken Pope, radio operator Bill Maurer, mid-upper gunner Bill Perry, rear…
Charles Henry Clarke's crew and Lancaster
Charles Henry Clarke (standing second from left) with his crew in flying gear in front of a Lancaster.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Syerston LFS
Three photographs, two of four aircrew one of seven. Page captioned 'Syerston L.F.S.', 'The day before we went to a squadron 1944'. The individuals have their given names and crew positions hand written on the photographs.
The crew of Y for York
Seven aircrew in uniform in front of Lancaster rear turret. Page captioned 'Crew of Y for Yoke'. Handwritten note gives nationality, crew position and given names.
The crew
Kenneth Pope's crew in uniform standing in front of Lancaster PO-Y. Captioned 'The Crew', and 'Darcy, Ken, Tom, Vic, Bill, Bill, Jack'.
Kenneth Pope's aircrew and four ground crew
Kenneth Pope's crew in uniform with four members of their ground staff, one with a cigarette. With Lancaster PO-Y in background. Captioned ' The crew and ground staff', 'Darcy Vic Bill Bill Ken Jim Jack'.
The crew and ground staff
Kenneth Pope's crew with three members of their ground crew. The given names of the air crew are hand written above the photograph: 'Ken Darcy Jack Bill Jim Bill Vic'. Lancaster PO-Y in the background. A ground crew member walks along the port wing,…
The Australian members of the crew
Six uniformed men, shrubs and part of a building in background. Captioned 'The Australian members of the crew'. and 'Darcy. Jim. Bill. Bill. Malcolm. Vic.'
Lancaster and aircrew photographs
First photograph, captioned 'PO-Y the second', is Lancaster from port side, parked on dispersal pan, airfield in the the background. The second, captioned 'Bill Maurer W.O.P.' his upper torso in flying kit, including parachute harness and oxygen…
Lancaster and bombs
Three photographs, one captioned 'Bill Maurer W.O.P.' shows him in flying kit, sitting on one of a row of bombs. The second captioned 'Y for Yoke', shows the Lancaster on its dispersal, bomb doors open, group of figures under starboard wing. Third…
Kenneth Pope with two crew members
Two photographs, the first captioned 'Ken', 'Bill W.O.P.', shows Ken with Bill Maurer, in uniform, with a corner of a building in the background. The second, captioned 'The Skipper ''Jimmy" just after his commission', showing his captain, in…
Interview with Fiona Andrews
Fiona mainly lived in Southampton. On leaving school she had a job for two years but as soon as she was 17 and a half she volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and became a wireless operator. She was posted to the far north of Scotland…
Interview with Andy Andrews
Andy Andrews worked in a gentleman's outfitters shop and volunteered for the Air Force in 1941. He trained at RAF Cardington and Blackpool and after crewing up he flew operations with 10 Squadron from RAF Melbourne. He discusses the members of his…