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Interview with Muriel Blake
Muriel Blake was born in 1922 in Oakham, Rutland. Being interested in flying and aeroplanes from an early age, Muriel volunteered when her job prospects ended. Called up in 1944, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Being too short for driver,…
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 Vera Clachers
Vera Clachers volunteered for the WAAF for the experience and the adventure. She was selected for training as an electrician and was trained at RAF Melksham. She was posted to RAF North Coates. At first she was given the poorest jobs but then began…
Interview with John 'Snogger' Watkins
John Watkins was working in retail in Rotherham and in 1939 he joined 218 Squadron ATC. He joined the RAF in February 1942 at RAF Cardington, and did his initial training at Blackpool. In December 1942 he did his wireless training at RAF Yatesbury.…
Interview with Patricia Young
Patricia’s family lived in a 500 year old thatched cottage in Waddington. There was a bakery in the grounds, which had been started by her grandparents. Patricia’s father joined the Royal Flying Corp and one of her earliest memories was of him…
Interview with Bert Turner
Bert Turner was a member of the Air Training Corps before the war. He volunteered for the Air Force and was called up 2 August 1942. After training he became a flight engineer with 196 Squadron. He flew some bombing and mine laying operations before…
Interview with Jim Wildes
Jim was born in July 1923 in Burton on Trent and was the eldest of six children. His father served in the First World War. When Jim left school aged 14, he joined the Boys Brigade which had a Royal Air Force section and he had the chance to fly in…
Notes on RAF Foulsham
Squadron Leader A N Banks, Station Intelligence officer, RAF Foulsham notes that the station was engaged on special duties with two squadrons, one of Halifax and the other Mosquito. Halifax was used for dropping window and the Mosquito with radio…
Details of attack on Cologne
Details of attack on Cologne sent by Arthur Bank, brother-in-law to Keith Dexter's mother. Details number of aircraft involved and some details of attack and weather.Arthur Bank was the Intelligence Officer at RAF Foulsham.One Ju-88 claimed probably…
Seven aircrew walking away from a Lancaster
Seven aircrew in flying suits and Mae West carrying parachutes walking line abreast away from a Lancaster. There are three men working on the starboard outer engine, three working on the starboard inner engine and one cleaning the nose turret.
Interview with John Lee
John Lee from Shrewsbury volunteered for the RAF hoping to be accepted as aircrew. However, he failed the altitude test and was posted to the RAF Regiment where he guarded crashed aircraft, protected the airfield and manned an anti-aircraft gun. He…
William Arthur Coulton's wedding
Wedding group of three men and three women. The groom is in Royal Air Force uniform, the bride and bridesmaid are holding floral bouquets. The two non-uniformed men and the woman at the far left are all wearing flowers in their lapel.
William Coulton's wedding
Titled ‘Our Wedding 1st December 1945’. William Coulton is in uniform tunic. The bride is wearing a hat, dark suit and skirt and is carrying a floral bouquet.
Group of airmen
Group of 26 airmen in three rows, the front row is seated, the second is standing and the back row are all standing on a bench. Captioned at the bottom ‘417 1943 July 14’. In the background are wooden buildings.
Aircrew and ground crew at RAF Witchford
Top right - 13 men and one woman stood or sitting in front of the tail of a Lancaster, and dressed in a mixture of civilian and military clothing (six of them are in flying gear). Captioned ‘The “Boys” of A&B Witchford 1945’. Centre - Seven…
32 Squadron at Ein Shemer, Palestine
Group of officers and airmen arranged in three rows. The front row is seated, the second row is standing and the third row standing on a bench. Behind are visible two four bladed propellers of Spitfire aircraft. Captioned ‘32 Sqdn Ein Shemer,…
RAF Aqir
Top left - a group of 13 airmen in tropical uniform on the front of a small fabric covered lorry. There is a Nissen hut in the background. Captioned, ’32 Sqdn Boy’s Aqir’.
Top right - three men in tropical uniform. Two have rifles (with…
Top right - three men in tropical uniform. Two have rifles (with…
Airmen and scenes
Top left - airman is shirt and shorts walking along a path. In the background white Nissen huts. Captioned 'Gilly'. Top right - a straight road running bottom to top. In the middle distance a bus. Captioned 'Haifa road from Ramat David'. Centre an…
Ein Shemer 1946
Top left - two airmen wearing battledress and side caps standing with grounded rifles with one leaning on wall. In the background Nissen huts. Captioned 'Ready for guard'. Top centre - large group of men lined up with donkeys. Nissen hut in the…
Airmen in the Middle East
Top left - nine airmen wearing battledress, laying or sitting in front of a building with one open and one closed window. Captioned 'Some of the boys'. Top right - nine airmen wearing battledress sitting in two rows in front of an open window in a…
The Aircraft by Night and The Crew by Day
Photograph 1 is the nose of a Lancaster. Two airmen are on a platform working on the port engine. it is captioned 'The Aircraft by Night (WS-R) EE136 The boys get "R" Roger ready for a trip'.
Photograph 2 is partly obscured. A group of airmen…
Photograph 2 is partly obscured. A group of airmen…
St Dunstan's week
Photograph 1 is an officer moving a toy horse on a toy race track. He is watched by a group of men. It is captioned 'High Hopes at the Horse Racing (No 5 is a poor starter).
Photograph 2 is a view across airmen watching the horse racing game. It is…
Photograph 2 is a view across airmen watching the horse racing game. It is…
Southern California
Photograph 1 is a motorway, captioned 'Cahuenga Boulevard'.
Photograph 2 is a wooden building, captioned 'Typical Barracks at the Sixth Ferrying Group. Men assigned to the field are quartered in theses two-story structures.'
Photograph 3 is of…
Photograph 2 is a wooden building, captioned 'Typical Barracks at the Sixth Ferrying Group. Men assigned to the field are quartered in theses two-story structures.'
Photograph 3 is of…
Anne Clough's Heart was filled with pride as British Bombers roared into Westover
Details on Anne Clough service in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during the War.