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Pilot's Notes
Notes recorded by Maurice during his pilot training.
Maurice Stimpson's 1942 Diary
An intermittent record of Maurice's year. It starts with some time in the UK then he travels to Perth then the US for pilot training.
Maurice Stimpson's 1944 Diary
A diary kept by Maurice. It records his operations. (Note the squadron was visited by the King & Queen on 10th February 1944 and he had lunch with them in the mess. He was killed on 15th February 1944 on an operation to Berlin)
Interview with Philip Freeman
Philip Freeman was a young child in Gainsborough during the Second World War. His brother Desmond left Gainsborough to work for Lord Londonderry in London. From there he volunteered for the RAF and trained as a pilot. He was a fighter pilot but was…
Interview with David Bowker
David Bowker joined the Air Force and was originally training to be a wireless operator / air gunner but remustered as a pilot. He discusses rudder lock on early versions of Halifax. Jacqueline Bowker his wife, discusses her life during the war and…
Stuart Boynton Interview
During 1939 Stuart left grammar school and joined the Air Training Corps. After about half a year he volunteered for air crew and was accepted. He and his girlfriend were married in February 1943. Stuart was posted to South Africa working on Ansons…
Interview with William Bryan
William Bryan reminisces being hit by a German fighter and anti-aircraft fire while mine laying the Kiel Bay. The rest of the tour was a reasonably quiet time, consisting mainly of operations in the run-up of the Normandy campaign. Describes bombing…
Interview with Jack Cranston
Jack joined the Royal Air Force in Leeds. After going to St. John’s Wood in London, he trained in Rhodesia where he passed out as a pilot. His training was on Tiger Moths and Oxfords before he was posted to a Wellington RAF station. Jack went on to…
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 Ian Hawkins
Ian Hawkins was training to be a teacher when he decided to volunteer for the RAF, joining in 1941. He commenced training under the Arnold Scheme in Canada and the United States and passed the course as a pilot. He returned to England as a sergeant…
Interview with Harry Hooper
As a child, Harry Hooper enjoyed watching the planes at Heston Airfield. He volunteered for the RAF in 1939 and began training to be a pilot. He flew with 115 Squadron and undertook operations over Northern France and Germany using Gee, including…
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 Cyril Peters
Cyril Peters joined the Royal Air Force at Cambridge in 1940 and trained as a pilot in Canada and the United States. On his return to Great Britain he served as an instructor before flying operations as a pilot with 77 Squadron. He became a teacher…
RAF 18 OTU Bromcote
Item 1 is a chit stating that Mieczysław Stachiewicz has applied for an Identity Card, dated 1.11.41
Item 2 is a photograph of a Wellington in flight.
Item 3 is a sketch for a flight from Bromcote to Yorkshire (Gool), Carlisle, Isle of Man, North…
Item 2 is a photograph of a Wellington in flight.
Item 3 is a sketch for a flight from Bromcote to Yorkshire (Gool), Carlisle, Isle of Man, North…
Chart of Central England
A chart of central England used for navigation. It is annotated with navigational fixes. The position of a dinghy is marked with the date 23/6/42.
In the top corner is a photograph of an airman in the cockpit of his aircraft.
There is a yellow post…
In the top corner is a photograph of an airman in the cockpit of his aircraft.
There is a yellow post…
Operations Crew List and Wellingtons
An operations crew list for 25th July 1942, 301 Squadron at Hemswell. It includes F/O “Mieczysław Stachiewicz. There are also two photographs of his Wellington, GR-O, Z1259.
Chart of North West France
A navigational chart of North West France with planned routes marked.
There is also a photograph of a pilot in a Wellington cockpit.
There is also a photograph of a pilot in a Wellington cockpit.
Two Polish Airmen
Photographs and short obituaries of P-1611 Niemczyk Maksymilian and P-1591 Balicki Roman.
Proposal for Mieczysław Stachiewicz to receive Virtuti Militari
The Polish language proposal is for Mieczysław Stachiewicz to receive Poland's highest military award, the Virtuti Militari. It details his 25 operations, including the first 1000 bomber operation, on Cologne. There is also a list of medals awarded…
Batiuszka Cywiński przy Wellingtonie
Item 1 is an annotated chart for an operation to Cologne. There are areas highlighted in red around major cities.
Item 2 is a photograph of a Wellington framed by the entrance to the hangar.
Item 3 is a photograph of Batiuszka Cywiński standing…
Item 2 is a photograph of a Wellington framed by the entrance to the hangar.
Item 3 is a photograph of Batiuszka Cywiński standing…
Interview with Henry Harris
Please note: The veracity of this interview has been called into question. We advise that corroborative research is undertaken to establish the accuracy of some of the details mentioned and events witnessed.
Interview with Pat Rumfitt
Pat Rumfitt was born in 1927 and experienced a privileged upbringing living in Kent as an only child before the war. She describes the resilient attitude to bombing in Bromley, walking to their flooded Anderson Shelter in her dressing gown and…
Conversation with Hamish Mahaddie
Conversation recorded for the Nanton Lancaster Society.
Hamish Mahaddie, the recruiter for the Pathfinder Force recalls the life of Ian Willoughby Bazalgette VC who plagued him weekly for the opportunity to join the Pathfinders. He had been posted…
Hamish Mahaddie, the recruiter for the Pathfinder Force recalls the life of Ian Willoughby Bazalgette VC who plagued him weekly for the opportunity to join the Pathfinders. He had been posted…
Interview with David Rayner Fox
David Rayner Fox grew up in New Zealand and joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942. After training, he flew operations as an air gunner with 75 Squadron from RAF Mepal. During one operation his pilot, Dave Moriarty was terribly injured when a…
Interview with Ivon Warmington
Ivon Warmington was working for the Post Office in his native Cornwall before he volunteered for the RAF. After pilot training he flew a tour of operations with 166 Squadron from RAF Kirmington. His first operation was to Mailly le Camp where the…