Browse Items (837 total)

  • Tags: Anson

PBaileyJD1607.jpg
John Derek ‘Bill’ Bailey volunteered for the Air Force when he was 18 and trained as a bomb aimer in Canada. When he arrived he caught scarlet fever and spent five weeks in an isolation hospital. He flew operations as a bomb aimer with 103 and…

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AWeirA180328.mp3
Archie was born in Ayreshire. He was about 17 when he joined, then went to South Africa to train as a bomb aimer. In February 1943 Archie worked on Halifax Mk 2 before being transferred to Lancaster finishing school at RAF Syerston. In November…

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PMercierCG2101.jpg
Cyril Mercier was born in Jersey in 1925. He joined the Home Guard in 1940 and the RAF in 1943. After initial training, and training on gunnery at Bridgnorth he joined 14 Operational training Unit at Abingdon, where he crewed up. He trained on…

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ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400313-0001.jpg
A letter and envelope from Harry to his wife Jessie. He writes about his trepidation about starting to fly in Ansons and a visit from Air Chief Marshall Sir John Steel over whether their air navigation training was thorough enough.

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ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400315-0001.jpg
A letter and envelope from Harry to his wife Jessie. He discusses his Easter leave travel plans, his results of a maths exam and flying trips taken by a friend at the station.

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ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400405-0001.jpg
A letter and envelope from Harry Redgrave to his wife Jessie. Harry is studying hard for his exams and putting in flying hours in Fokkers. He replies positively to Jessie's mention of starting to 'Dig for Victory' by growing vegetables and suggests…

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ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400428-0001.jpg
A letter and envelope from Harry Redgrave to Jessie. Harry writes about his training at Redbrae including flying Ansons, an ice hockey game in Ayr and worrying about their lack of money.

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ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400504-0001.jpg
A letter from Harry Redgrave to his wife Jessie. Harry writes from Redbrae and gives detailed instructions for Jessie’s train journey to visit him in Scotland.

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PHeathRG1701.jpg
Dick Heath was an apprentice boat builder and joined the Royal Air Force in 1943. He began training as an air gunner but was posted to RAF Fiskerton working in the bomb dump. He was on his way to Canada by ship when the war in Europe ended. After he…

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AWoodhouseRM151001.mp3
Robert Woodhouse was living in Pembroke Dock when the bombing of the town began. The family relocated to Cardiff when they lost their home in the bombing. In Cardiff Robert joined the Air Training Corps. He had a cousin who had already joined the RAF…

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BWagnerHWWagnerHWv10001.jpg
Henry, volunteered for the RAF and learned to fly Tiger Moths at Brough. He then was transferred to South Africa on a troopship. His flying training came to an end after a poor solo flight. He was retrained as a navigator. On completion of his…

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BWagnerHWWagnerHWv1-01.pdf
Hand written by Henry, Part 1 covers his early life and time at university. It goes on to cover in some detail his time in the RAF, his time training in South Africa conversion to the Halifax and operations on 51 Squadron. It also covers his time as…

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SFieldPL907804v10009-0001.jpg
Writes about his training and that he was now operational and describes his aircrew role as rear gunner and second wireless operator in an Anson. Continues with description of his activities in the local town and on base.

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BUreILUreILv1.pdf
A detailed autobiography by Ivan Ure.

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BUreILUreILv2.pdf
A part autobiography of Ivan's pre-war life.

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SBrennanJ1210913v20003-0008.pdf
Text for a lecture. Joined RAF as air observer in June 1941. List initial training postings, conversion to Halifax, crewing up and posting to 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington in May 1943. Describes preparation for operations and lists 6 operations…

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ431031-0001.jpg
He thanks her for her mail. He has left Lethbridge and is now at Edmonton. The food at his new base is good. An Anson crashed killing five crew and trainees.

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EHudsonJDHudsonP-HE400117-0001.jpg
Writes and describes flying all day in Anson which was easier to navigate that the Fokker. Mentions 18 degrees of frost lying on the floor getting drift on the bomb sight. Continues to describe his route and other airborne activity.

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EHudsonJDHudsonP-HE400511-0001.jpg
Writes that he is fed up of having to work seven days a week and no time off for 8 weeks. Mentions having vaccinations and his current activities. Says he has found a reasonable place for meals in the evening but that they had had instructions not to…

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AHendersonIG171017.mp3
Ian Henderson was born in Lockerbie and studied law at the University of Edinburgh for two years before joining the Royal Air Force. He travelled to Canada onboard the RMS Mauretania to train as a pilot, after two months near Edmonton on Oxford and…

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AGoodallOR190510.mp3
Oscar was born in Australia. His father was a machine gunner - he was wounded seven times and died from his wounds two months before Oscar was born. His example influenced him to join the Royal Air Force. As an Air Cadet Corps member, he went to the…

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LRascal-Mascot[Ser#-DoB]v1.pdf
Aircrew Mascots flying log book for Flight Sergeant Rascal, covering the period from 17 November 1942 to 29 March 1945 (pages not all in chronological order). Detailing his flying caeer during training and operations. He was stationed at RAF Kinloss,…

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AAndersonG161122.mp3
George Anderson was born in County Durham and worked in a grocery shop before he joined the Royal Air Force in 1943. He flew operations as a wireless operator at the end of the war, with 101 Squadron from RAF Ludford Magna. In 1959 George and his…

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PCalmanJG1605.jpg
Jim was born in New Zealand but grew up in Australia. He enlisted in Woolloomooloo under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He was sent to the Initial Training School in Somers and then went to the Elementary Flying Training School on Tiger Moths at the…

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PEppelJW1702.jpg
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…

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