Browse Items (79 total)

  • Tags: Defiant

PLunnR1601.jpg
Reg Lunn was living in Fulham and working as an apprentice printer when he volunteered for the RAF. He had wanted to be aircrew but he was colour blind and so failed the medical. He joined as an engine fitter and was posted to 48 Squadron at RAF…

PWakefieldJ1601.jpg
Jack Wakefield grew up in New Zealand and volunteered for the Air Force and the Army. He trained as an air gunner on Defiants before being posted to 75 Squadron at RAF Feltwell where he completed a tour on Wellingtons, flying operations to locations…

AHughesWR150713.mp3
Bob Hughes joined the RAF as war became likely to avoid repeating his father's First World War experience in the trenches and transferred to the RAF Volunteer Reserve when war was declared. He trained on Ansons and then flew in twin-engine Blenheims…

PSmithJJ2001.jpg
John Smith grew up near Corby, surrounded by aerodromes, so was used to the sight of aircraft. He observed Lancaster aircraft practising for the Dambusters raid over Eye Brook Reservoir. He also witnessed glider practice and was impressed by the…

PGardinerEF1701.jpg
Fred Gardiner grew up in Oxfordshire and worked in a furniture factory before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. He flew five operations as a wireless operator/air gunner, from RAF Syerston, before his aircraft was shot down. He gives a detailed…

BArcherSWArcherSWv10001.jpg
Stanley Archer’s account of his training as one of the first flight engineers for Lancaster operations in 1942. First he attended an air gunnery course then transferred to 97 squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa. He comments on a daylight operation on…

MCurnockRM1815605-171114-0910001.jpg
A booklet with silhouettes of aircraft listed for the third grade test of the Royal Observer Corps Club. Each of the 62 aircraft is a black image seen from the side and plan.

MCurnockRM1815605-171114-0920001.jpg
A leaflet with silhouettes of aircraft listed for the second grade test of the Royal Observer Corps Club. There are side, plan and head-on views of 62 aircraft. 53 views are included for the second grade test.

PRosserLV19010020.jpg
Top - b/w recognition card showing front quarter view of an airborne Defiant. Captioned 'Valentine's aircraft recognition card'. Caption underneath 'Jerries nightmare'.
Bottom - b/w recognition card showing side view of an airborne Wellington.…

EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420515-0001.jpg
Bill describes his new location in Scotland as a desolate place, comparing it unfavourably with his previous stations: 'posh hotels, fashionable seaside resorts, country mansions'. Stranraer is about 12 miles away. Mentions that there are Ansons,…

PCavalierRG17010062.jpg
Photographs 1 and 2 are of a Junkers 352 with RAF roundels. Photograph 3 is of a Me 110 radar equipped night fighter with RAF roundels. Photograph 4 is of a Me 262 with radar aerials on its nose. Photograph 5 is a Ju88 night fighter Photographs 6 and…

MCluettAV120946-150515-15.pdf
Royal Air Force notebook for workshop and laboratory records containing a large number of hand drawn wartime cartoons including aircraft caricatures. On the cover '547557 AC2 Johnson' and '1209046 LAC Cluett 1940'.

PBanksP15020011.jpg
Left page: three columns of photographs one each of navy, army and air force with views pf people and equipment all with captions. Centre and right page photographs of Canada, S Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand army personnel. In the centre a…

ANewtonJL[Date]-01.mp3
Jack Newton joined the RAF in 1938. He trained as an air gunner and was posted to 12 Squadron at RAF Binbrook. Just before midnight on the 5th of August 1941 Jack and his crew set off for Cologne. They were attacked by a night fighter. One engine was…

MSoltysiakB781032-170622-040001.jpg
Contains British, American, German and Italian aircraft silhouettes.

MBakerWB1392752-161128-210001.jpg
Joined in 1942 and then details training and tour on 115 Squadron, gunnery course, tours as gunnery instructor. Further tour with 625 Squadron, crashed twice before another instructors tour. Mentions 14 ops on first tour and 20 on second. Comments on…

MRosserLV745193-190517-060001.jpg
List flying hours on Halifax, Whitley, Wellington, Anson, Oxford, Hurricane, Defiant, Martinet, Lysander, Hind and Magister. Provides breakout of 2nd pilot, dual, 1st pilot, day and night, solo and total flying. Last page has additions of hours.

MRosserLV745193-190517-09.pdf
Calculations and total flying hours on all aircraft flown.
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