Browse Items (1240 total)

  • Tags: military living conditions

PCameronD2008.jpg
A large group of airmen in column led by colour party marching to the right with two story barrack blocks in the background. Submitted with caption 'Urner Field 1942 sixth rank second file Don Cameron'.

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EDorricottLWVarious41-42.pdf
Note book containing 84 pages of letters covering the period 1 September 1941 to 4 July 1942. It covers his training in the UK, Canada and the USA. He describes, in detail, his social life and eating arrangements but very little about the actual…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]411108-0001.jpg
A detailed letter from Bill to his family, explaining life and events in the RAF Camp.

Includes orderly room administration duties, being captain of squadron running team, being issued with flying kit (which he details), exams, his visit to an…

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EDexterKIDexterPC410810-0001.jpg
Letter from Cadet Dexter to Phyl giving his new address at initial training wing, Babbacombe, Devon. Describes his hasty preparations, before leaving home, items left behind to be sent on, concerns of the welfare of another female friend, standards…

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ELampreyPGuntonWXX0310.pdf
Peter Lamprey writes that he has received no letters for three weeks from usual correspondents. He mentions the weekly film night and that he hopes to leave Tiree soon and return to Inverness.

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SGillK1438901v30013-0001.jpg
Writes that he was still OK. Describes operation to Essen on previous night. Mentions a little about life on camp. Comments that they had many new crews and he did not know half the squadron. Mentions another crew took their aircraft to Hamburg so it…

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SGillK1438901v30015-0001.jpg
Writes that he had been busy, operation to Berlin previous night. Describes life in the officers' mess. Mentions that Tom says he will come to Leeds and act as groomsman.

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EHarrisonFMyersW420325.jpg
Asks how she was doing after illness. Relates visiting Tel Aviv where he has an English lady friend. Mentions current weather.

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EGortonHGortonLCM441010.jpg
Harold Gorton writes about his wife's departure and a party she missed.

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EPriceAPPrice[Mo]421029-0001.jpg
Writes about his boxing match and playing rugby. Mentions weather, low temperatures and recent snow blizzard. Expresses that he is not impressed with Canada and has little news to report. Catches up with home news and reports that he is getting on…

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EPriceAPPrice[Mo]430426-0001.jpg
Writes of arriving at new camp where they were forming a new squadron. Notes that three others who trained with him in Canada had also arrived. Mentions dispersed nature of camp and distances he had to walk to facilities and other sections. Says he…

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EPriceAPPrice[Mo]430506-0001.jpg
Writes that he has settled in and has a bike and uses it to to get around and go to local village for dances and local pub. Mentions that they now have three Lancasters. Says he had gotten over a bad throat. Catches up with gossip and mentions…

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SGillK1438901v30063-0001.jpg
Transcription of letter from Ken Gill's pilot. Writes of snow clearing activities. Catches up with news of brothers and family's activities. Mentions recent snowy weather and a difficult flight when they had difficulty finding somewhere to land.…

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EAkrillWE[Recipient]H420308-0001.jpg
From Bill Akrill who is undergoing training at No.1 Elementary Air Observer School, Eastbourne, congratulating him on the birth of his son and saying how good the food is.

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EAkrillWE[Recipient]H430113-0001.jpg
Describes life at RAF Upper Heyford including visiting servicemen living locally and bemoaning the posting of a colleague to another Operational Training Unit. Remarks that neither Harry nor the 'censor gentleman' will find the letter particularly…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420524-0001.jpg
Bill mentions that he was disappointed not to go overseas for training but that his mother would be pleased he is staying for home training. Writes of enjoying Eastbourne but is now at new completely different type of location at West Freugh.…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420808-0001.jpg
Catches up with news and apologises for not visiting while on leave.

Bill says he enjoyed his last leave, although he mentions that the nearby aerodrome is expanding and aircraft going overhead. He did, however, managed to get a trip in an…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421130-0001.jpg
Bill catches up with family news. Mentions going home on recent 48 hour leave. Writes of course progress and compares current base with previous in Scotland. Despite being near three towns, has only get into Oxford once, although he was impressed by…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421123-0001.jpg
Bill writes that he really enjoyed recent 48 hour leave and describes a difficult journey back to Upper Heyford and that many of the men are now on 'jankers' for getting back late. Continues to enthuse over recent leave and home food. Now on last…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430311-0001.jpg
Bill thanks everyone for the letters and wishes his father happy birthday. Forgot it was his own birthday and describes all his letters and presents. Thanks everyone. Will send washing home soon. Pilot has gone for x-ray.

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo][Date]-030001.jpg
Bill writes to his mother mentioning no leave over Christmas and about his excitement at being selected to go to an Elementary Flying Training School near Aberdeen and if he makes the grade, the opportunity to go to the USA, possibly California. He…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo][Date]-040001.jpg
Bill writes home describing saying goodbye to everyone at the chapel, his experience of Christmas 1941 and the antics of his fellow cadets. He writes 'Christmas in the RAF seems to be summed up in the one word "BOOZE"'. He didn't join in at all but…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo][Date]-060001.jpg
Last letter before leaving West Freugh. Writes about potential choice next courses as navigator or bomb aimer. Chooses navigator course at Upper Heyford. Considered navigator as harder job. Catches up with news and writes in pencil at the end that he…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]4208XX-0001.jpg
Writes of insect bite and catches up with family news.

Excited that cadets now have own mess and, although not popular with the ground crew, aircrew need a special diet. Food is now much better and describes meals. Writes of flight up to near…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]410921-0001.jpg
Bill is at the Receiving Centre in London. He writes that he has had a good Sunday with going to a Baptist Chapel and being invited for tea by the pastor and meeting up with another cadet - 'I can say my first Sunday in the RAF has been splendid'. …

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