Browse Items (361 total)
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Gilze-Rijen
Target photograph of Gilze-Rijen. Runway running top to bottom of photograph, taxyways visible as are craters and bomb explosions. Centre of photograph obscured by smoke and dust. Red dot centre left. Captioned '3°F', '5B', '2084 SKELL. 15.8.44. …
Bergueneuse
Target photograph of Bergueneuse. Mainly rural, houses visible either side of road, some smoke and dust, craters visible. Captioned '5° F', '5B', '2478 SKELL. 31.8.44. //8" 13000' [arrow] 190° 1819, BERGUENEUSE RD. W. 11X1000. 4X500. C. …
Bremen
Target photograph of Bremen. Edge of city towards rural area. Explosions at top right, bomb craters below on fields. River on left and gas works top left. Flaring on left and right of the photograph. Captioned ' 4804 SKELL. 22.3.45//7". 17000' 070°…
Bremen
Target photograph of Bremen. Explosions in the middle of the frame obscure the road and railway bridges over the river Weser. The photograph covers a largely built-up area: gas works, Bremen Hauptbahnhof and Bremen Neustadt stations are visible, the…
Boulogne
Target photograph of Boulogne. Rural area, smoke and dust obscures much of the photograph, many craters visible. Captioned '8° F', '5B', 2897 SKELL 17.9.44 // 7000' [arrow] 160° 0946 BOULOGNE RD. Z. 11x1000, 4x500. C24secs. F/O FIRMIN G. …
Le Havre
Target photograph of Le Havre. Rural area, centre of photograph obscured by smoke and dust, craters and one dropping bomb visible. Captioned '5° F', '5B', '2625 SKELL. 10.9.44. // 8" 11000' [arrow] 130° 1723, LE HAVRE RD. D. 11x1000. 4x500. …
J/Laroche
Target photograph of Laroche - Migennes. Largely rural but with built up area along canal that runs top to bottom on left side of photograph and also across the top third, street patterns clearly visible. Railway with extensive sidings runs alongside…
St. Cyr
Target photograph of St. Cyr, urban area, street patterns visible although largely obscured by smoke and dust from bomb explosions. Two sets of railway tracks from top right corner, four bomb explosions and many bomb craters. A red dot is visible on…
Interview with Don Watson
Donald Watson was working in the print industry before he joined the Royal Air Force in 1941. After training he served as an armourer with 61 Squadron at RAF Skellingthorpe.
Interview with Arthur Atkinson
Arthur Atkinson was born in Lancaster, and worked in the local Co-Op until he joined the Royal Air Force. He trained as a wireless operator and served at RAF Ringway before being posted to RAF Coningsby and later RAF Skellingthorpe with 61 Squadron.…
John Firth's navigator's, air bomber's and air gunner's flying log book
Navigator's, air bomber's and air gunner's flying log book for Sergeant John Firth from 31 March 1944 to 7 August 1944. Detailing training and operations flown. Served at RAF Wigsley, RAF Syerston, RAF Skellingthorpe. Aircraft flown were Stirling and…
Interview with John Firth
John was called up at 18 and went to Padgate. He did a flight mechanics course at RAF Locking, followed by a Maintenance Unit at RAF Colerne. He was posted to a flight engineers’ course at RAF St Athan. John joined up with his crew at RAF Wigsley…
Reg Freeth's South African Air Force observers or air gunners log book
South African Air Force observers or air gunners log book for Warrant Officer Reg Freeth, bomb aimer, covering the period from 7 February 1942 to 8 October 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations and Instructor duties. He was stationed at…
Interview with Les Rutherford. Three
Les Rutherford joined the army and was in the 51st Highland Division which formed the rear-guard defence, allowing for the evacuation of Dunkirk. He escaped out to sea on a barn door and was picked up and taken to England by a French trawler. He…
Interview with John Tait
John Tait was prompted to join the Royal Air Force, as he was American by birth and therefore he had to report to the police station once a month because he was considered an ‘alien’. He was a wireless operator and gunner, flying in Ansons,…
Interview with John Taylor
John Taylor grew up in Nottingham and was evacuated before he went into sixth form. He left school and started working as an analytical chemist at Boots and although this was a reserved occupation he volunteered for aircrew. After his initial…
Interview with Joe Shuttleworth
Joe Shuttleworth was born and raised in Brisbane but also spent a lot of time with family in the Melbourne area. He volunteered for aircrew and soon began training as a gunner. After initial training he sailed to the United States and on to the UK.…
Interview with Les Rutherford. One
During this interview Les describes his experience as a despatch rider in France in 1940 before escaping from Dunkirk and returning to the United Kingdom, eventually joining the Royal Air Force. He also describes his training in South Africa and his…
Interview with Ronald Rodgers
Ronald Rodgers joined the Royal Australian Air Force aged seventeen, having previously been in the Air Training Corps. He trained as an air gunner and was posted to 460 Squadron at RAF Binbrook but did not fly operationally. On discharge in 1946 Roy…
Interview with Stuart Michael Heaton
Michael Heaton grew up in Worcester and was a member of the Air Training Corps. He worked in a bank before joining the Royal Air Force and trained as a navigator in Canada. He completed 22 operations as a navigator with 50 Squadron from RAF…
Interview with Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray was a farm labourer in Aberdeenshire when he volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He trained to fly in Texas and completed 30 operations as a pilot with 61 Squadron. After leaving the RAF he worked for BOAC flying Yorks and VC10s.
Interview with William Geoghegan
William Geoghegan grew up in Australia and after serving in the army, joined the Royal Australian Air Force. He flew operations as a navigator with 61 Squadron from RAF Skellingthorpe.
Interview with George Crooks
George Crooks was an apprentice electrician before volunteering for the Royal Air Force at the age of eighteen. After his training he served as an armourer with 50 Squadron at RAF Swinderby and later RAF Skellingthorpe. He later worked experimenting…
Interview with Gordon Catling
Gordon Catling grew up in Ipswich and lied about his age to join the Fire Service as a despatch rider. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1943 and flew operations as a rear gunner with 50 Squadron from RAF Skellingthorpe. He was posted to India after…
Six aircrew by the tail of a Lancaster
Six aircrew wearing battledress, four wearing side caps and two wearing flying boots standing in a line by the rear turret of a Lancaster. In the background another Lancaster. On the reverse '10.3.45 Skell, J E Morgan (signature), Bain, Gee, Casey,…