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Interview with Eric Coling
Eric Coling’s father died when Eric was a child which left his mother to cope on her own economically. Eric and his sister were sent to live in an orphanage but their mother was able to visit monthly. When Eric left the orphanage he began working…
Interview with Vera Chard
Vera was born in the Myrtha Tydfil area of Wales. Vera went to the grammar school at Chepstow before getting work in the cashier’s office at the Royal Navy Propellant Factory. After joining the Women's Auxilliary Air Force, Vera was posted to…
Interview with Andrew Carswell
Andrew Carswell volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force in his native Toronto. He trained as a pilot and on arrival in the UK and completion of his further training he was posted to 9 Squadron. His first operation was to Berlin. On their final…
Interview with Ken Beard
Ken Beard served as a rear gunner during the Second World War. He has been a member of The Salvation Army all his life and his faith played a huge role in helping him through the horrors of war. Awarded a scholarship at Retford Grammar School, he…
Interview with Robert Barnes. One
Robert Barnes was working in a Reserved Occupation and so knew the only way he could join the RAF was to volunteer for aircrew. Before he volunteered he was also a member of the ARP and Home Guard. Robert trained as a flight engineer and was posted…
Interview with Bettie Bain
Bettie was born in Wakefield. The family moved to Doncaster when she was eleven and at 21 she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service. While in Doncaster she helped at the YMCA café as part of the war effort and that is where she met and married…
Interview with Rex Alan Austin
Rex Alan Austin was born in Werribee, Victoria in Australia on 4th of January 1924. Rex’s father served in World War One in the middle east and then transferred to the Australian Flying Corps, later known as the Royal Australian Air Force. Schooled…
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…
Lancaster PO-Y first operation Bremen
Lancaster PO-Y on end of runway mistakenly captioned '6-10-45' (should be 6-10-44), 'First operation', '4hrs 30mins', 'BREMEN'. Personnel visible in the background.
Interview with Harry Algar
Harry Algar worked as an office boy at Hay’s Wharf in London before the war. He entered the Air Training Corps before joining the RAF when he was seventeen. Started his training on Tiger Moths but was then sent to Canada to remuster as a bomb…
Lancaster PO-Y and runway caravan
Two photographs, one showing starboard side of Lancaster PO-Y, on it's dispersal undergoing servicing. The second showing three aircrew, in uniform smoking with runway caravan and another vehicle in the background.
Lancaster PO-Y
Lancaster PO-Y captioned 'Brand new PO-Y' is parked on taxiway on edge of airfield, wheel covers on, chocks in. Second item is a target photograph with identifying information removed.
Lancaster PO-Y and bombs
Three photographs, one shows a loaded bomb trolley with two ground personnel with four dispersed Lancasters in background. Second shows Lancaster PO-Y on it's dispersal, row of bombs on grass, two dispersed Lancasters in background. Third is a target…
Merseburg
Target photograph of Merseburg. Captioned '3F', '5B', 7549 Wed. 14/15.1.45//NT 8"/O.18400 118 2100 MERSEBURG. S. 1x4000(Min) 9x500 GP (DT. 30secs. F/O CROSS. S. 467'.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of activities on base, rationing and bomber scores.
Air alarms log 10 June 1940 - 31 August 1943
The log covers three years, from 10 June 1940 to August 1943. Initial notes are about civil defence preparedness: posters with black-out instructions are issued, shelters are set up. The first alarm is logged on 22 June 1940, followed by only two…
Air alarms log 31 August 1943 - 21 February 1944
After 8 September 1943, early warnings continue for two days, but nothing is logged until 21 September. Only five bombings are noted, while early warnings decreasing considerably. In October bombings are again on the increase and Pistoia is bombed…
Air alarms log 22 February 1944 to 20 June 1944
Bombing and alarms are on the increase in March 1944, with alarms reported nearly every day in May and June. From mid-May bombings in the whole Pistoia province intensify.
Air alarms log 21 June 1944 to 03 July 1944
Covers a time frame of two weeks: alarms are reported nearly every day.
Air alarms log 3 July 1944 to 5 September 1944
Covers a time frame of two months, with some additional notes about events in spring of 1945. In July, several bombings are logged, while in August they diminish to just three. Notes end on 5 September 1944, three days before the front reaches the…
Telegram No. 809 from the Swiss Government to the Swiss Legation in London
![MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-080001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/165/9046/MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-080001.jpg "MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-080001.jpg")
Telegram No. 809 from the Swiss Government to the Swiss Legation in London (E. 6563), concerning the violation of Swiss airspace on 15th August 1943 (with additional references to the 12/13 July 1943 incident) when Royal Air Force bombers en route to…
Telegram No. 869 from the Swiss Government to the Swiss Legation in London
![MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-080002.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/165/9045/MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-080002.jpg "MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-080002.jpg")
Telegram No. 869 from the Swiss Government to the Swiss Legation in London (A. 3465), concerning the violation of Swiss airspace on 12/13 August 1943, between 11.30pm – 12.00pm by over 50 British aircraft en route to Milan. Regions affected were…
Interview with Jutta Petenati
Jutta Petenati recollects her wartime life in Berlin while she was a young girl. She recounts various episodes: the black market; removing incendiary bombs from her house; seeking shelter in an underground train station instead of her house basement,…