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Certificate of Competence to undertake First Line serving
A certificate awarded to Richard Vipond permitting him to service certain parts of Lincolns.
Seven members of Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and six airmen in front of an ambulance
Group in front of an ambulance. Five woman in front row, five men and two women standing behind and one man in the driving seat of the ambulance. Behind right a brick building with sign 'Traffic Office' to the left workshop buildings. On the reverse…
Two members of Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and two airmen in front of a lorry and an man on a motorbike
Two members of Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and an airman are standing in front of a small lorry with another airman sitting on the bonnet. All are wearing battledress. A man wearing overcoat and helmet is sitting astride a motor bike to the left of…
Airman and ambulance
An airman wearing battledress and side cap leaning on the headlamp of an ambulance registration 'PMG998'. In the background right, buildings and a mast. On the reverse 'John'.
M.T Section Cardington
Four members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and and an airman all wearing battledress sitting on the running board of a car. In the background houses. On the reverse 'M.T Section Cardington, Pam Hills - "Tony" Parkinson, Ted Lyons, - "Spooky"…
Part of M.T Section Cardington
Four members of Women’s Auxiliary Air Force sitting on the running board of a car. In front sitting on the ground are four airmen. In the background are houses. On the reverse 'M.T Section Cardington - Part Of, back row, Lynn Clark, - "Spooky"…
Standard meteorological air reconnaissance flights performed by the Royal Air Force
Printed map of western Europe and Eastern Atlantic showing tracks for the nine standard meteorological reconnaissance flights flown by RAF. Hand annotated with 517, 518, 519 and 520 squadron tasking.
The code names for the routes are Magnum,…
The code names for the routes are Magnum,…
517 Squadron RAF Chivenor June 1946
Top, the left wing and fuselage of Halifax with members of 517 Squadron, in uniform, one row standing on the wing, two rows standing beneath the wing, one row seated and one row sitting on the ground.
Bottom, shows two men in sports kit, running…
Bottom, shows two men in sports kit, running…
Meteorological office staff
Top, two airmen in uniform, outside on airfield at the meteorological station, slatted instrument housing and aerial in barbed wire enclosure. Mosquito immediately overhead about to land. Captioned 'Leo Cann ', '1946 Chivenor'.
Bottom, an airman…
Bottom, an airman…
Letter to Mrs Hobbs from RAF East Kirkby station padre
Letter from Reverend Squadron Leader G R Cooper RAF East Kirkby to Mrs Hobbs, expressing sympathy that Frank Hobbs was reported missing from air operations over Stuttgart on night 15/16 March 1944. Writes of importance of work a wireless operator and…
Interview with Harold Allen
Harold Allen’s parents travelled to the UK to escape the pogroms in Europe. He lived in London during the Blitz. When Harold volunteered for the RAF he trained as a wireless operator on the ground. He did not want to join aircrew because he was…
Was it all a Dream
Bill Bailey's wartime memoirs, from enlistment, training in UK and Canada and detail of each of 31 operation in Bomber Command. After completion of his tour he was transferred to Lossiemouth to train Free French aircrew. After successful progress he…
Interview with Cyril Bristow Adams
Cyril was born in London in 1921 and lived in Battersea with his relatives; he met his wife in 1940 while working at Harrods. His family were killed by bombing after he joined up. Cyril enlisted at RAF Cardington in 1941 and was trained to be a…
Interview with an Anonymous Interviewee (An00086)
This interviewee was working at Chatham dockyard before he was accepted by the RAF as a mechanic. He then remustered as a flight engineer which fulfilled his hopes to be accepted as aircrew. While waiting for a place on the training course at St…
Interview with an anonymous interviewee (An01137)
Anon, from Scarborough was keen to join the Fleet Air Arm as a pilot. Disappointed that he didn’t meet the height requirement, he joined the RAF and began training as an electrician. His aim was to travel abroad with the service but, to his…
Interview with Frank Gerald Bassett
Frank was brought up in Woolwich. He joined the RAF at the age of 18 and became an armourer. Frank describes the difficult physical work, loading and unloading bombs. He served 617 Squadron and loaded bouncing bombs, which were different. He…
Interview with Peter Cyril Beckett
Peter Beckett grew up in Mildenhall village. He attended the local Air Training Corps which enabled him to visit the airfield and take the opportunity to have air test flights with operational aircrews and help the ground staff with their work. He…
Interview with Gerald Walter Bell
Gerald Bell worked on a poultry farm before being called up in the RAF, where he served as ground personnel. He remembers his training at RAF Finningley and RAF Balderton. Tells of his posting to North Africa in 1942, where he initially was working…
Interview with Violet Bishop
Violet Bishop’s two brothers both volunteered for the RAF. One trained as a bomb aimer and the other as ground crew. Both survived the war. They wrote to each other throughout the war. She was very proud when her brother accompanied her to a dance…
Interview with John Allbon Bonds
John Bonds was brought up in London and remembers bombs dropping near him. He joined the RAF as an engine mechanic and after training worked on Spitfires before being posted to bombers. He was injured in an accident in a hangar and spent some time in…
Interview with Frank Lawrence Boutcher
Frank Boutcher worked as a junior clerk for Southend Borough Council before the war. He wanted to join the Royal Navy but they only required able seamen on a long commission, so he joined the RAF instead to train as an engine fitter. After passing…
Interview with Grace Bradley
Grace Bradley lived on Boothferry Road in Hull and remembers the bombing of Hull during the war. She was a shorthand typist and worked for a local timber importer. She joined the WAAF and as a typist she typed the reports given by the returning…
Wendy Lord
Top, photograph of a Women’s Auxiliary Air Force corporal reaching up to a cable, with meteorological measuring equipment including a weather vane. Captioned 'Wendy Lord', '1946', 'Chivenor'.
Bottom, photograph of an airwoman looking at…
Bottom, photograph of an airwoman looking at…
Meteorology department personnel and a Christmas card
Top right, six ground personnel, three female, two in Women's Auxiliary Air Force uniform, three men in RAF uniform, standing in front of hedge in a country lane. Captioned 'Mary Ozzy Wendy Bish Roy & Liz', '1946', 'Near Chivenor'.
Right, same…
Right, same…
Meteorological staff
Top, 12 airmen and airwomen all in uniform, one holding a balloon, standing in two rows in front of building, captioned 'Met Office Staff', 'RAF Chivenor'.
Bottom left, is of a bride in wedding dress with veil and flowers standing on path in front…
Bottom left, is of a bride in wedding dress with veil and flowers standing on path in front…