Browse Items (2055 total)

  • Tags: navigator

CWittyAR-170323-010122.jpg
Details of squadron, aircraft, captain, navigator, date, orders, route and two pages of en-route navigation observations. Note on top right 'Op No. 30'.

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BWittyARWittyARv1.pdf
History of wartime experiences of Ronald Witty. Starts with schooling and early employment just before the war in Hull. Mentions German bombing of Hull and volunteering for the RAF. Describes training in London and Torquay before departing on a troop…

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Says he has been very busy and had not received any airgrams form home recently. Writes that he had had his second air trip and though he would enjoy the job despite much hard work to come. States that an air navigator needs to be good to learn all…

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430413.jpg
Reports arrival of latest mail. Makes comment on war's progress. Now in third week of course and lots to learn. Comments on his third trip and suggest that Norman does not become a navigator as they have to do all the work while pilots sits in…

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Reports that he had received a small batch of letters. Comments on local who have welcomed the RAF students into their homes. Comments on weather at home and much rain in South Africa, Catches up with home news and says things are going well on…

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430504-01.jpg
No 1. Reports arrival of recent mail. Pleased to hear gardening news from home. Says he had passed his first exam and is on his sixth week of fifteen week course. Catches up with news of friends.

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No 2. Writes that he is still spending weekends with local family and sends them their address. Catches up with family news. Reports he has had seven flights so far with another due that night.

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430512.jpg
Writes he is now in seventh week of course and had had his second exam and was confident of result. Catches up with gossip and mail received. Spends a lot of time swotting and now has 30 flying hours. Had not done any night flying yet. Asks after…

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430515.jpg
Writing weekly letter early as would be revising for exam later. Mentions that flying was still going well although last trip was bumpy and he suffered from air sickness. Now had 35 hours but no night flying yet. Comments on latest good war news.

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430525-01.jpg
Airgram No 1. Reports arrival of latest mail and says he is late due to night flying previous day. Catches up with family news and mentions that he had also been gardening with his local hosts over the weekend.

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430525-02.jpg
Airgram No 2. Continuation from no 1. Says he had now taken 4 exams out of 13 or 14 and knows he passed the first three. Catches up with family mail received and news of friends who was over from Queenstown. Mentions catching up with other friends in…

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430531.jpg
Reports arrival of latest mail and sends birthday greetings to mother. Speculates that the course would soon be over in 6 weeks and then wonders what will happen. Catches up with other sad news from home.

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430611-01.jpg
Part 1. Reports arrival of recent mail. Discusses Norman's decision to go for navigator course. Mentions taking another exam with only 8 or 9 more to go in the next 4 weeks. Sad to hear of friend's death in action and complains about poor airgraph…

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Part 2. Discusses mail to and from. Mentions visiting local acquaintances and meeting a friend who is near the end of his course. Comments on going to see a demonstration by local fire service.

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430615.jpg
Discusses mail and getting behind in his airgrams home. mentions Norman re-mustering as air navigator and that he had taken his sixth exam. Wonders about Norman's future activities in the RAF. Catches up with news of other friends.

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Catches up with news of Norman's activities. Mentions hearing on the radio of air attack on Hull and hopes family are safe and well. Mentions the importance of having good friends.

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430625-01.jpg
Part 1. Catches up with family news and comments on time mail takes to reach him. mentions he had heard of heavy air attack on Hull and hopes that they are all OK. Catches up with other news and gossip. Mentions bomb site scroungers and that he is…

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430625-02.jpg
Part 2. Writes of his concern over recent air attack on Hull. Discusses Norman's future training and recommends book on aircraft recognition. Catches up with family news.

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EWittyARWitty[Fam]430702.jpg
Writes that he is still managing to get through exams alright. Comments on news that his friend had failed one of his exams at another station and suggests that this was an example where results of exams did not give guidance to a person's…

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Notes it is quite a while since he received an airgram form him and wondered if he had started his courses or was still waiting which unfortunately was common at that time. However he said that Norman had done the right thing re-mustering as…

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Clarence Keith Bruhn's parents were of German descent. He grew up in Australia and joined the Royal Australian Air Force. After training, he flew operations as a navigator with 463 Squadron. On one operation his aircraft was hit by friendly fire from…

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Colin joined the British Army in December 1941, and eventually moved to his preferred Royal Air Force in March 1943. He went to Number 2 Initial Training School at RAAF Bradfield Park in Sydney as a navigator, graduating in February 1944. His first…

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APughA160625.mp3
Alan was born in Western Victoria in Australia. After two years in the Air Training Corps, he asked to join the Royal Australian Air Force. He was selected to go to Somers No. 2 Initial Training School on No. 46 course. Alan chose to be a…

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Don Southwell grew up in Australia and worked for RKO Radio Pictures and as an Air Raid Precautions Warden before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. After training in Australia and Canada, he flew nine operations as a navigator with 463 Squadron…

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Max Spence grew up in Australia and worked in a hardware store before he volunteered for the Air Force. He recounts his training in Canada and in England and life on an operational station. He flew 18 operations as a navigator with 460 Squadron.

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