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Form for purchasing handkerchiefs
An uncompleted form authorising the bearer to purchase handkerchiefs.
A memoir of life in the WAAF during the war
Starts with description of feelings and actions beginning of the war. Mother had tried to persuade her to join land army and mentions brief experience and unsuitability for farming. Decided to join the RAF. Details enlistment and initial training…
My trip from San Francisco to New York, on route to United Kingdom with RAAF 1943
Detailed description of journey by train across the United States with comments about America and descriptions of many towns and cities passed through. Comments on some of his and his companions' activities. Makes several comparisons with Australia.
To Manageress at Salvation Army
A letter to the Manageress of the Salvation Army unit requesting tea and cakes for 30 men 'whose games period has been cancelled and are now engaged in Barrack room cleaning'.
Shefford Laundry
A laundry book used by John whilst at Bassingbourn.
Interview with Roy Monk
Roy Monk remembers days spent in the air raid shelters as a schoolboy during the war. After the war he wanted to be a policeman before he was called to National Service. After training to be a mechanic he was posted to RAF Upwood. Then he was posted…
Interview with Leslie Robert Pearson
Les Pearson was in reserved occupation as an apprentice in general mechanical engineering, but he volunteered as aircrew. He initially trained as a pilot but was remustered as a bomb aimer. He flew operations as a bomb aimer with 153 Squadron from…
Interview with James Wright
Jim was a civil servant before joining the Royal Air Force in May 1941. He carried out two tours on 61, 630 and 97 Squadrons. Although he wanted to be a pilot, there was a shortage of navigators. He was called up to Regents Park and then posted to…
Interview with Peter Steward
Peter Steward was born in 1933 and talks of not seeing his father during the war due to his father's service in the RAF. His uncles and cousins also served. After leaving school at 15, Peter worked at the Woolwich Arsenal factory and joined the RAF…
Squadron Detail 12 August 1944, Serial Number 42
Covers change of command of 44 Squadron to Squadron Leader G A Hildred, discipline in the Sergeants mess, Sick parades orders, and instructions regarding Royal Canadian Air Force personnel bank accounts. Finally discipline fire piquet lists.…
Letter to Geoffrey Norton from Stanley Norton
Stanley Norton comments on Geoffrey Norton's training, he describes his last leave and going to the cinema with Dorothy, to the theatre with Eve, to a dance with Dorothy, lots of domestic activity and news.
Interview with Stanley Shaw
Stanley Shaw was born in 1926 in Derby and, having left school at Easter 1940, he worked in a garage looking after fuel for the nearby camp at Spondon. He saw some soldiers who had returned from Dunkirk, who were reporting to their headquarters.…
Interview with Syd Cooper. Two
Sidney Cooper was born in Blackpool and speaks about his early life there. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1941. He first served as an engine fitter in Fighter Command before remustering as aircrew. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 427…
Interview with Andy Andrews
Andy Andrews worked in a gentleman's outfitters shop and volunteered for the Air Force in 1941. He trained at RAF Cardington and Blackpool and after crewing up he flew operations with 10 Squadron from RAF Melbourne. He discusses the members of his…
The lucky crew
Memoir including photographs of the crew and aircraft. Thomas Jones was a flight engineer on Stirling and Lancaster and completed 64 operations on two tours. Describes early life, joining the RAF, selection and training., crewing up and first posting…
My life in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command
Writes of early life and mentions beginning of the war and volunteering for the air force in January 1940. Continues with account of initial training and mustering as an airframe mechanic and subsequent technical training. Describes first posting to…
My life in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command
Includes several b/w photographs of people and aircraft. Writes of early life and mentions beginning of the war and volunteering for the air force in January 1940. Continues with account of initial training and mustering as an airframe mechanic and…
Tom Whitehead's Wartime log for British prisoners
Belonging to Sergeant Tom Whitehead, B.P.O.W. 1051, Stalag Luft 6. Contains newspaper cutting with news of Tom Whitehead as prisoner of war. Main dates of events and locations from shoot down to liberation. Includes a poem 'Joe', cartoon, diet sheet,…
Ted Neale's training and early operational experiences
An account by Ted Neale of his training in South Africa, subsequent further training in Jerusalem, crew selection and transfer to Italy. He relates early experiences on operations - including Shederevo oil refinery - and losing a Wellington to enemy…
A Gastronomic Journey (Experience)
Ted Neale's recalls his absence of memory of the food at No 1 Aircrew Reception at Lords Cricket Ground, apart from the fresh milk. He was posted to Scarborough where the food was so bad that they ate fish and chips and flapjacks at a nearby cafe.…
Ted Neale's memories of serving in Italy
Ted arrived in Portici, south of Naples from training in Palestine. He recalls a trip to Rome driven by Jesse Owens, the Olympic athlete. Afterwards he was transferred to Foggia to join 37 Squadron. There was a shortage of crews and he did not fly…
Letter from Terry Ford to his parents
![EFordTAFord[Fam]431005-0001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1376/23819/EFordTAFord[Fam]431005-0001.jpg "EFordTAFord[Fam]431005-0001.jpg")
Terry writes about his arrival at Dalcross. He is very impressed with the accommodation and food.
Letter from Terry Ford to his parents
![EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M[Date]-010001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1376/23822/EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M[Date]-010001.jpg "EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M[Date]-010001.jpg")
A letter from Terry Ford to his family, where he writes the training for flying–boats takes 18 months – 2 years. The hut has had to be fumigated after Clem Fletcher reported with mumps. He was hoping to see ‘Dubarry was a lady’ at the Opera…
A Rather Strange Time
Terry Ford's wartime experiences written and read to Avon Talking Magazine for the Blind.
Interview with Bertie Salvage
Bertie Salvage joined the RAF in 1939 as an apprentice and initially began his technical training at RAF Cranwell before training was transferred to RAF Halton and also shortened because of the start of the Second World War. Bertie was present when…