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Interview with Jan Black
Jan Stangrycuik (Black) was born and raised in Poland. When he was a teenager, his family emigrated to Argentina for a better life. When the British Embassy called for volunteers to join the war effort, Jan answered the call and sailed, with seven…
An Airmans Tale
Geoff Payne's autobiography divided into five chapters.
Chapter 1. Under Training.
Having been assessed in Birmingham Geoff sets off to London in August 1942 for training, at Lords. Initial training was at Bridlington then gunnery school at…
Chapter 1. Under Training.
Having been assessed in Birmingham Geoff sets off to London in August 1942 for training, at Lords. Initial training was at Bridlington then gunnery school at…
Navigation log and charts for operation to Chapelle Notre Dame
Form 441 and chart for operation.
Hamburg operation and combat report
Left - extract from "Raider" by Allen Jones [sic]. Extract from book gives account of Ned Sparkes aircraft during operation including description of attack by Junker 188 which hit a fuel tank which exploded and subsequent spin, regain control and…
Letter from Leonard Cheshire to Wing Commander J Collier
To Air Ministry concerning bombing results. 700 bombs being plotted possibly undershooting. Request they must get Mosquito by next moon.
Letter from Leonard Cheshire to Barnes Wallis
Thanks him for copies of plots. Hopes to have more plots of live bombing shortly.
Letter to Barnes Wallis from Leonard Cheshire
Writes he is enclosing two further bomb plots and requesting copies.
Letter from Leonard Cheshire to Barnes Wallis
Thanks him for bombing charts.
Peenemünde
A description of the briefing by 'Bomber Harris' and attack on Peenemünde on 17 August 1943.
George Dunn's log book extract
An extract from George's logbook with a summary of his flying in the RAF. It includes aircraft type, where and hours flown.
Blood-Red Pall over the Heart of Nazi Germany
A newspaper cutting referring to an attack on Berlin. Peter Twinn and Alec Gilbert have been quoted with comments on the cold and the fires in Berlin.
The day I reviewed the German army
The memoir details the events after Sergeant George Reid Williamson baled out of his Lancaster over Chateau-Thierry. After hiding in a wood for a few days, he met a local farmer who took him back to the farmhouse for food and a large overcoat. While…
1st Allied Airplane Crashed in Haute-Marne, Bomber Halifax Mk II DT515
An account of the crash written by the pilot, George Thom. The report includes part of a police report.
George Thomas Hagues’ diary
Air Force diary for 1944 containing names and addresses, records of lectures attended, letters received, his movements and comments about operations.
Images of the years of occupation Boxtel 1940-1944
Details effect of bombing war on the Netherlands. While many overflights on the way to Germany some Netherlands targets were hit. This included the Phiips factory in Eindhoven. Includes account of events in Boxtel while the Eindhoven attack in…
Interview with Harold Beech. One
Harold Beech was born in Middle Rasen, Lincolnshire. He was six when war was declared and saw the construction of many airfields near his home. As a schoolboy he also watched aircraft being transported on the back of Queen Marys. A lodger with his…
Interview with Thomas Charles Arthur Long
Thomas Charles Arthur Long was born in Quorn, England. He was in the Home Guard and worked at Brush as a draughtsman, also gaining a Higher National Certificate from Loughborough College. He decided to join the RAF being that the only way to get out…
Interview with Walter Morris
Walter Morris was born in Kettering and started employment in 1939; after a while, older workers disappeared mostly to join the Territorial Army. He enlisted in the Air Training Corps, 101 Squadron, based at RAF Grafton Underwood. Walter reported to…
Interview with Adriano Landini
Adriano Landini (b. 1930) recalls his childhood living in the poor Santa Croce neighbourhood in Reggio Emilia. Describes the profound sense of solidarity in wartime, stressing the community spirit among the so-called "popol giost" (the salt of the…
Interview with Marina Zucco
Marina Zucco recalls wartime memories in Monfalcone: how her father rented a flat conveniently located above a shelter, in which they remained for hours eating food they had brought from home; the day the ‘all clear’ sounded immediately before a…
Interview with Giglio Mazzi
Giglio Mazzi (b. 1927) recalls his early life in Reggio Emilia, born in a family with strong anti-fascist sentiments. Describes his first job at the Reggiane works, then at the local labour inspectorate where he was attached to a debris clearance…
Interview with Hugh Parry. Two
Hugh Parry was a member of his local ATC and was awaiting the time when he would be able to volunteer for the RAF. His slightly older friends had qualified to train as pilots, navigators or bomb aimers, but because of a backlog of trades they were…
Interview with John Benjamin Beeching
John Beeching was born in London and joined the RAF in 1941. His initial training was in Canada. After several escapades John joined 169 Squadron as a night fighter pilot and worked in electronic countermeasures as well as training crews in air…
Interview with Ralph Brumwell
Ralph Brumwell volunteered for the RAF Voluntary Reserve in 1939. When war was declared he was immediately called up and was posted to 218 Squadron at RAF Marham. Returning from an operation they were shot down by an intruder Junkers 88. On landing…
Interview with Bruce Cunningham
Bruce Cunningham was born in New Zealand. After initial training as a pilot he was posted to RAF Wescott Operational Training Unit and flew operations with 514 Squadron at RAF Waterbeach. His first operation was over Berlin. On one operation they…