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Interview with Jim Penny. One
Jim Penny joined the Air Force in July 1940 when he was eighteen. He recounts the training which he undertook before he became a Bomber Command Pathfinder pilot for 97 Squadron at RAF Bourn. He explains the crewing up process and details those who…
Interview with William Neilson
William Neilson grew up in Edinburgh. After training as a pilot in Canada and the United States he served as a staff pilot at Number 1 Air Armament School RAF Manby. He discusses low level bombing practice. He was demobbed in 1946 and became a civil…
Interview with Kenneth Cook
Wing Commander Kenneth Cook was born in Randwick in Gloucestershire. At Marlings grammar school, he joined the Air Training Corps. On the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Air Force and went to America under the Arnold Scheme for pilot training.…
Bomber Command and Notes of Some of My Experiences During 1941-1945
Reg summarises Bomber Command's role in the war then details his personal experiences from training days. He covers in detail the navigational techniques he used. He describes the operation he was on when he was shot down.
Interview with Bernard Walter Culpin
Bob Culpin worked for the civil service before joining the RAF in 1941. He was posted to Alabama for pilot training but was remustered and instead, completed a navigation course in Miami. When he returned to Great Britain, Culpin formed a…
Interview with Ronald Davies
In spring 1940, Ronald Davies joined the RAF to train as a pilot. Following initial training, he was posted to America but was dismissed after crashing a Cessna. Following Pearl Harbour, he trained as a navigator in Port Albert, Canada, but upon…
Tom Sayer in the United States
Four photographs from left to right.
1. Tom Sayer in khaki uniform with sleeves rolled up standing on grass in front of a building with window and screen door. Captioned 'Me'.
2. Group of four men and two women sitting on grass in civilian…
1. Tom Sayer in khaki uniform with sleeves rolled up standing on grass in front of a building with window and screen door. Captioned 'Me'.
2. Group of four men and two women sitting on grass in civilian…
The Terrel trip
Top left - oblique aerial photograph of a town with river running middle right to top right. On the left part of an aircraft wing. Captioned 'Muskogee' on the reverse 'Muskogee'.
Top right - oblique aerial photograph of open countryside with…
Top right - oblique aerial photograph of open countryside with…
People, places and aircraft
Top left - an airman wearing flying suit standing on a path with buildings in the background. Top middle - an airman wearing flying suit standing with his foot on the landing wheel of a Stearman biplane. Top right - an airman wearing tunic and side…
Scenes around Darr Aero Tech
Top left - an open air swimming pool. Top right - a group of men some sitting against wall and other standing by a building. Left middle - view over airfield of a hangar. Right middle - a Stearman biplane on apron with two story buildings in the…
Stearman trainers
Line of many Strearman single engine biplane training aircraft. In front of the fourth aircraft from right is a car and a man standing on fusealage.
Stearman trainers
Line of Stearman single engine biplane training aircraft parked in a line on a pan in front of a control tower.
First American Instructor
Man wearing flying helmet with goggles and jacket standing in front of a PT-17 Stearman biplane with another aircraft in the background. On the reverse 'My 1st American instructor, Mr J K Don, Carlstom Field, Arkadia, Fla, Feb 1942'.
Pilot Officer Ernest Henry Tansley 149542 VR biography
Covers background, marriage, civilian occupation and family. Followed by service history including basic and flying training in England and the United States and then advanced flying training and operational conversion back home. Posted to 57…
Airmen lined up in front of Stearman biplanes
Line of airmen standing at ease wearing flying overalls and helmets in front of a line of Stearman biplanes. Another line of airmen facing the aircraft with parachutes on the ground. Captioned 'Carlsrom Field circa late 1941, British cadets being…
J E Don flying instructor
A man wearing flying jacket and helmet standing in front of a Stearman biplane. Other aircraft in line behind. Captioned 'Dad's first flying instructor at Carlstrom Field taken in February 1942. Mr J E Don. I thought it might fit in with the one of…
Airman in cockpit of a Stearman
Man wearing flying helmet and goggles sitting in the rear cockpit of a Stearman Biplane. Captioned 'EH Tansley during training at Carlstrom Field, Arcadia, Florida. Early 1942'. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor
No 31 Elementary Flying Training School De Winton, 1942
Four album pages, the first page is captioned 'No 31 E.F.T.S. R.A.F. De Winton, Alberta, Canada. September-November 1942'. It has five photographs.
The first has a Tiger Moth over snow covered expanse, captioned 'Tiger Moth about to take off'.…
The first has a Tiger Moth over snow covered expanse, captioned 'Tiger Moth about to take off'.…
Record of service
Covers all postings in service including training in England and the United States and operations on 158 Squadron flying Halifax after which he was a pilot instructor.
Georgia and Florida
Top left - view of wooden church surrounded by trees. Captioned 'The church, Turner Field, Georgia'.
Bottom right - view from biplane of open countryside. captioned 'The swamps of Florida taken from PT17 in the air'.
Bottom right - view from biplane of open countryside. captioned 'The swamps of Florida taken from PT17 in the air'.
Carlstrom Field
Top left - Stearman biplanes in line and taxiing on airfield. One aircraft airborne. Captioned 'The operation strip Carlstrom'.
Top middle - lines of biplanes and a single engine low wing monoplane in the centre al parked on airfield. Captioned…
Top middle - lines of biplanes and a single engine low wing monoplane in the centre al parked on airfield. Captioned…
Three Stearmans
Three Stearman trainers lined up at Darr, as annotated on the reverse.
Stearman trainers
Top - view along a line of bi-planes parked on airfield. Captioned 'Stearman Trainers in imposing array'.
Bottom left - distant view of airborne aircraft and cumulus cloud. Captioned 'Cumulus cloud and me and my Stearman'.
Bottom right - view from…
Bottom left - distant view of airborne aircraft and cumulus cloud. Captioned 'Cumulus cloud and me and my Stearman'.
Bottom right - view from…
Aircraft on airfield
Top - a single engine high wing monoplane parked outside a hangar. Captioned 'Stinson Reliant at hangar No 3'.
Bottom left - view of a hangar with car front left with people, In the distance a flight-line with Stearman biplanes. Captioned 'Hangar no…
Bottom left - view of a hangar with car front left with people, In the distance a flight-line with Stearman biplanes. Captioned 'Hangar no…
Cochran Field Wings over America
A booklet containing historical images of the USAAF, details about training and photographs of staff and cadets.