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My life in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command
Includes several b/w photographs of people and aircraft. Writes of early life and mentions beginning of the war and volunteering for the air force in January 1940. Continues with account of initial training and mustering as an airframe mechanic and…
Interview with John Blair
![ABlairJJ-M[Date].mp3](/omeka/application/views/scripts/images/fallback-audio.png "ABlairJJ-M[Date].mp3")
The interviewer states that John Blair is a former lawyer, teacher, air accident investigator, and navigator in bombers during World War Two. He discusses his experiences in the 1930s – 1950s. John also talks to his wife, Margaret, about her…
Account of operations
Mention action on getting caught in searchlights, effects of altitude on aircrew, avoiding bombs from above, encounters with B-17 while on operations and getting a bottle of Bourbon from the American crew later. Mentions encounter with probable…
Description of crew and ground crew
Describes leisure time activities of crew including personal transport and fishing. Mentions groundcrew and their electrician who flew with them on short operations. Page numbered '6-2'.
Kiel Canal operation
Describes operation dropping mines in Kiel Canal. Mentions attack at low level, anti-aircraft fire and lucky not to be hit. Concludes by telling of flying to cover crew who had failed to get back to station in time and refusing a commission. Page…
Pages from memoir
First page titled 'Flying log book' mentions photostats from log book which were record of operations over enemy-occupied territory in 1944. Describes one operation to Aire during which they had to return to base due to violent weather. Continues…
Snippets
Gives account of incidents on operations and in hotels/pubs. Spells out vital actions. Stettin over Sweden 29-8 - describes incident of oxygen starvation. Stuttgart - incident. Ghent 18-18, another John Moore incident - having to leave turret, "Flak…
Peter Potter biography - part
Describes childhood in great detail and work after the war started. Continues with account of training after being called up.
Description of operational flying
Writes of being given their own aircraft with nude lady nose art which survived the war. Mentions icing problem on operation to Saarbrücken. Describes operation to Frankfurt where engaged by Ju-88 where he injured his jaw. Writes that they learn as…
Copy of Peter Potter's flying log book
Flying log book excerpts from P L Potter’s log book, covering the period from 3 May 1944 to 17 December 1944. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Hixon and RAF Wickenby. Aircraft flown in were Wellington and…
Main Ops - with crew only
Starts with account of operation to Paris on 3 May 1944 when attacked by Me 109 and writes of crew actions. Continues with list of operations giving details of target, anti-aircraft fire, flight time, some bomb loads, events, results. From 3 August…
Krefeld
Aerial photograph is a mass of light streaks, nothing else visible. Photograph captioned '1632 FCX 21/22.6.43/NT 8" 19500' 0205 135M KREFELD RDB 2X1000GP 630X4 48X30 P11 S/L DEBENHAM X 10.
After ops
Noted that tour was completed on 17/18 December 1944 and was not called upon to fly again as the war in Europe was nearly over.
Bombing
Highlights some of the issues causing lack of precision with bombing. Also mentions problems of weather meant USAAF results despite their bomb site was rarely better that the RAF. Mentions their most successful operation was dropping mines in the…
Westkapelle
Account of return from an operation to Westkapelle when they flew over authors father's farm and local village where they threw out window.
Leslie Valentines pilots flying log book. Two
Pilots flying log book two for Leslie Valentine, covering the period from October 1943 to 27 November 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and duties with 2nd Tactical Air Force communications flight. He was stationed at RAF Finmere,…
Flying Officer Arthur S Woolf - RAF career and experiences in WW2
First page has head and shoulders portrait of Arthur Woolf wearing uniform tunic with half brevet, medal ribbons and peaked cap. Next page has badges for Bomber Command, 5 Group and 630 Squadron.
Covers joining the RAF at age 19 and training at…
Covers joining the RAF at age 19 and training at…
Letter to Arthur Woolf's father from RAF casualty branch
Writes with regret to inform him that his son was missing as a result of air operations on night 24/25 July 1944 when his Lancaster in which he was wireless operator set out to attack Stuttgart. Inquiries were being made through red cross. Asks if he…
Page of 12 Operational Training Unit's F540
One page of the operations for June 1942, records one Wellington failing to return from operation to Essen on 1/2 June. It also records two Wellingtons successfully attacking Bremen on 25/26 June, one of them was captained by Flight Lieutenant…
Air raid
Two verse poem about bombing.
Armourer
Poem about armourer loading bombs but would not be there when they were dropped.
Loose on the wind
Starts with a poem and then a series of stories which together form the memoirs of Harold Yeoman, an officer who served in Bomber Command during the war, initially as a pilot on Wellingtons and then as an Intelligence Officer. He relates his…
Obituary: Harold Yeoman
Covers education, playing rugby and RAF career. After training as pilot in England and Canada, posted to 12 Squadron at RAF Binbrook flying Wellington. Mentions some of his 14 night operations before he was medically grounded. Continues with postings…
W M Ballantyne pilot's flying log book
Pilots flying log book for W M Ballantyne, covering the period from 3 March 1942 to 18 July 1945. Detailing his flying training, Duties with 267 transport squadron, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at SAAF Wonderboom, SAAF…
Stanley Bradford’s Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s flying log book
Air Gunner’s flying log book for Stanley Bradford covering the period from 8 May 1943 to 8 August 1944. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Stormy Down (7 AGS), RAF Cottesmore (14 OTU), RAF Swinderby (1660…