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De Havilland Hydromatic Propellers - Notes for Pilots and Ground Staff
This item is available only at the International Bomber Command Centre / University of Lincoln.
Interview with Basil Goldstraw
Basil Goldstraw was classed as medically unfit for aircrew and following training as a fitter, he was posted to 75 Squadron at RAF Mepal. He discusses aspects of his work as a fitter, being bombed, and life on and off the station. He was posted to…
Interview with Frank Lawrence Boutcher
Frank Boutcher worked as a junior clerk for Southend Borough Council before the war. He wanted to join the Royal Navy but they only required able seamen on a long commission, so he joined the RAF instead to train as an engine fitter. After passing…
Interview with William Joseph Longhurst
William Longhurst served as an engine mechanic through the Second World War. He was a member of the Hackney Wick Air Defence Cadet Corps before volunteering to enlist in the RAF after his seventeenth birthday. Following basic training at Skegness,…
Dennis Moore Autobiography
Dennis Moore's autobiography, compiled and edited by his son, Terry Moore.
Corporal Dennis Terry - Fitter IIA Airframe
A note explaining the return of a Temporary Meal Permit Pass.
Don Briggs, a brief description of wartime service
Describes wartime service from 1939 to 1945. Joined as Halton apprentice in September 1939. Posted as fitter engine to RAF Wittering working on Wellington Hampden and Manchester aircraft. Followed by tour at RAF Upper Heyford working on Wellington…
WO Donald Keith Fraser
Memoir describing his life and service career in the RAF. He also gives a list of 29 operations he participated in with notes on specific operations, and recounts a brief history of the Lancaster.
Three Cheers for the Man on the Ground
A poem about ground crew.
Started up without permission
Cartoon showing front of a four engine bomber with port outer engine started and blowing two men off a gantry to front. Pilot looks out of cockpit window. On the reverse 'Taxying'.
Some hours later the undercarriage collapsed
Four engine bomber with undercarriage collapsed with figures of men caught in various predicaments caused by the event. On the reverse '35b Undercarriage lever'.
The memories of LAC Fred Perkins
Covers joining the RAF, training as an engineer and first posting to RAF Christchurch which undertook radar research. Writes of life and flying as observer in Fairey Battle on radar measurement flights. The unit then moved to RAF Defford. Goes on to…
514 Squadron, RAF Waterbeach,1944
A large group of airmen arranged at the front and on top of a Lancaster. The image has a squadron crest at the top. Behind the aircraft is an open hangar.
Page 21 of D C Bradbury Scrapbook
Large group of airmen and ground crew arranged on, around and on top of a Lancaster, in front of a hangar. The photograph is in a mount with the RAF crest at the top and underneath '514 Squadron, RAF, Waterbeach, 1945'.
This item was sent to the…
This item was sent to the…
Interview with Syd Cooper. One
Sidney Cooper was born in Blackpool and 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 Squadron from RAF Leeming. He later…
Interview with Rex Statham
Rex Statham was born in Luton. His father died in a motorbike accident when he was very young. Although Rex had been very keen to join the Navy he volunteered for the RAF as a flight mechanic. When he realised that many trained mechanics were being…
Interview with Leonard Ralph Tyrell
Leonard Ralph Tyrell mentions always being keen on aircraft since he was a boy. He was sent to RAF Syerston near Nottingham for Lancaster Finishing School, and then an advanced flying unit near Wolverhampton, before heading to number 17 OTU at RAF…
Interview with Mieczyslaw Maryszczak
Mieczyslaw Maryszczak was born in Bokyivka, Ukraine and served in the Polish Army and then the Polish Air Force. An early memory of the war is throwing bread to starving Russian prisoners being marched from Lviv to Podlesice. At seventeen he was in…
Instrument course notebook
166 pages of instrument course including notes with details and hand-drawn colour diagrams of aircraft instruments and gauges including pressure gauges, warning systems, clocks, compasses, bomb and gun sights, flight instruments and telecoms…
Camera course notebook
64 pages of course notes. Inside front page ' Bubb G J 1477939, Entry 35, Berryfields, Melksham, Sept 2-21 1943' Contains information of batteries and motors in general then specific notes on F24 camera and controls, night photography MkIII, torpedo…
Instrument course notebook
56 pages of course notes. Contains basic theory of thermometers, electricity, magnets, dynamos and batteries. Has more detailed notes on the atmosphere and gyroscopes followed by detailed description of Mk IV autopilot and all its component systems…
A short history of 640 Squadron
A number of stories, recollections and events remembered by George who was part of the ground crew on the squadron. It also includes press coverage and a programme from an amateur dramatics production Georg appeared in post war.
There is also a…
There is also a…
Interview with Thomas Fisher
Thomas Fisher trained initially as a fitter in the RAF. When the Air Ministry announced that flight engineers were needed from the ranks of the ground mechanics he volunteered for training. The CO was surprised that he volunteered and asked him if it…
Interview with Basil Goldstraw
Basil Goldstraw was born in Buxton, Derbyshire. He joined the RAF at the age of seventeen to do a motor mechanics apprenticeship. He wanted to join aircrew but was grounded due to a medical condition. After training at Number 3 School of Technical…
Interview with James Lamb
Jim joined up as an aircraft technician as soon as war broke out, thinking it would not last long. He joined 75 Squadron at RAF Feltwell on Wellingtons, then went to RAF Mildenhall, returning to RAF Feltwell. He went to RAF Oakington and RAF…