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On take off
Account of crew actions during take off and one particular time when aircraft ahead slewed when tire burst half way down the runway. Luckily they were able to get airborne and avoid the other aircraft.
Mulheim/Essen airfield
Top - oblique aerial photograph of an airfield with many bomb craters. Two wide grass runways forming a “V” at bottom left, with taxi-track running left to right across centre of photograph. Hardstanding leads off at top right with two or more…
Morlaix airfield
Aerial vertical photograph of open countryside with an airfield marked out on the left side. A perimeter track runs from middle left around the airfield ending at bottom left. There is a loop taxiways from the top right of perimeter track leading to…
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of arrangements for his pending 48 hour leave, flying activities and the weather.
Leonard Cheshire on a bicycle
In the foreground, Leonard Cheshire in shirt sleeves riding a bicycle along the perimeter track. Behind on the left a car a a small lorry, on the right another servicemen wearing tunic. A Lancaster on dispersal can be seen in the background on the…
Lancasters lined up on perimeter track
Many Lancasters lined up on peritrack. Taken from cockpit of lead aircraft looking back. To the left airfield boundary and fields beyond. To the right the aerodrome. On the reverse 'Lancasters of 463 RAAF Squadron in line, on the perimeter track…
Lancasters in the snow
Snowy landscape, taken from an elevated view point showing large number of Lancasters lined up either side of the cleared taxiway or perimeter track. Some personnel are standing in the snow. Engine trestles, bomb trolleys with bombs, and hangars in…
Lancasters
Three Lancasters preparing to take off. One is lined up on the runway.
Lancasters
Three Lancasters preparing to take off, taken from another aircraft .
Lancaster Paintings
Two paintings of a Lancaster from an album. In the first, by David Shepherd, the Lancaster is being readied for an operation with bombs being loaded and a fuelling truck waiting. In the second three Lancasters are taxying for take off.
Lancaster over RAF St Mawgan
Air-to-air view of Lancaster TL-B in light paint scheme flying right over an airfield with runway running from middle right to bottom.
Kelly Field
Air to ground view of Kelly Field taken from turret. Barrel of gun visible top left. Hangars on the ground bottom left with aircraft parked on their right.
J S Ross’s pilots flying log book. One
Pilots flying log book for J S Ross, covering the period from 19 July 1941 to 23 December 1942. Detailing his flying training and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Peterborough, RAF Little Rissington, RAF Upavon, RAF Church Lawford, RAF…
Interview with William Joseph Longhurst
William Longhurst served as an engine mechanic through the Second World War. He was a member of the Hackney Wick Air Defence Cadet Corps before volunteering to enlist in the RAF after his seventeenth birthday. Following basic training at Skegness,…
Interview with Rusty Waughman. Two
Russell (Rusty) Waughman was born in Shotley Bridge, County Durham. Due to serious poor health as a child, his education was interrupted. He describes his training with the Empire Training School in Canada. He was posted to 101 Squadron which was a…
Interview with Ron Baker
Ron Baker, originally from Willesden was in the ATC before joining the RAF and trained as a flight mechanic. He was posted to 463 Squadron at Waddington. On one occasion he had to help to remove the body of a gunner who had died during the flight. He…
Interview with Peter Charles Hearmon
Peter was born in London and evacuated for part of the war. For National Service, he was taken on by the Air Force for a short time engagement and subsequently accepted a permanent commission.
After RAF Padgate, Peter was selected as…
After RAF Padgate, Peter was selected as…
Interview with Percival Robert Court
Percival Robert Court joined the Air Training Corps in March 1941, volunteering for the Royal Air Force at the earliest age of seventeen and a half. Training at RAF Cardington, he became a flight mechanic. He then moved to Skegness to continue into…
Interview with Margaret Hourigan
Margaret Hourigan grew up in and around Nottingham. Despite holding Labour principles she volunteered for the WAAF’s as soon as War was declared and was called up in January 1940. Margaret served as a plotter in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force,…
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 Eppel
John Eppel grew up in Australia and joined the Royal Australian Air Force. After training, he completed 30 operations as a navigator with 550 Squadron. He describes initial training in Australia and the journey by sea via the United States, then…
Interview with Fred Hooker. One
The interview begins with some details of Fred’s life before being called up for service, including that his brother became a prisoner of the Japanese captured Hong Kong. Fred joined the Boy Scouts aged 11 years, and then the Air Training Corp…
Interview with Edward Allan McDonald. Two
Allan McDonald was born in Hull and watched Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus as a child. He worked as an apprentice electrician before joining the Air Force. He served as ground personnel in Northern Ireland until he passed the exams to become aircrew…
Interview with Bernard Charles Mabey
Bernard Mabey was born in London and experienced the Blitz at first hand. He was a member of the Air Training Corps in 1941, before volunteering for the RAF. He trained as an air frame mechanic at RAF Locking. His first posting was RAF Marston Moor…
Interview with Benny Goodman. Two
Benny Goodman grew up in London and hoped to become a pilot. He volunteered for the Air Force and was, originally, posted to RAF Abingdon as a ground gunner before beginning his flying training. After qualifying as a pilot in Canada, he became an…