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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…
Interview with Syd Marshall
Sidney Marshall grew up in Lincolnshire and worked as an agricultural engineer. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force at eighteen and trained as a flight engineer. On his first operation to Duisburg one of his Lancaster's engines was hit by shrapnel…
Interview with Syd Marshall
Syd Marshall grew up in Lincolnshire and was working as an engineering apprentice when he decided to volunteer for the RAF. He asked initially to train to be a pilot but when the basis of his apprenticeship became clear it was inevitable he would be…
Letter to T O Prickett from Major C R C Albrecht
The letter accompanies the personal report about the attack on Hamburg.
Interview with Edward Davies
Edward Davies (Sonny) joined the RAF at seventeen as a rear gunner. Having crewed up he joined 103 Squadron and flew on fifty operations. Sonny describes being in the rear turret and how close the crew were, so much that they sang to him on his…
Les Jackson memoir
Les Jackson talks about a visit to RAF East Kirkby and remembers his crew and operations.
Interview with Robert Whymark
Robert Whymark’s father John ‘Jack’ Whymark took part in three tours of operations. Initially Jack was trained as a mechanic and was posted to 17 Squadron at RAF Debden and RAF Martlesham Heath. He then volunteered for aircrew and trained as a…
Interview with Eric Peel
Eric Peel worked in the Cotton Exchange in Liverpool before he volunteered for the RAF. He trained as an armourer and was initially posted to 56 Squadron at RAF Sutton Bridge where he worked on Hurricanes. He then was posted to 103 Squadron at Elsham…
Interview with William Hough
Bill Hough came from a farming background, went to a local grammar school in Northwich and was a member of the Air Training Corps. He joined the RAF in 1943. He describes his initial training at Bridgnorth. Bill then goes into the continuation…
Interview with Martin Edwards
Martin Edwards recounts the war-time stories of his father, Frederick Edwards. Frederick was born in Kent in 1923, and lived on the family farm. He joined the RAF in 1943 as was posted to Canada for training as a navigator. On his return to England,…
In remembrance of S/Ldr Kenneth George Bickers DFC (Age 21)
Squadron Leader George Bickers was brought up in a working class family in Southampton during the 1930’s, attended Bitterne Park Boys School and joined the Royal Artillery where he was promoted to Corporal, having taken control of a searchlight…
Interview with Raymond Race
Raymond Race was born in a family working in the textile industry and joined the RAF in 1943, serving on the metropolitan communications squadron. Tells about his family’s military service: his father joined the Royal Field Artillery; his eldest…
Interview with Ken Marshall
Ken Marshall, grew up in Barton on Humber and enrolled with the ATC before joining the University Air Squadron at Durham University. On one occasion he saw an aircraft on fire at RAF Elsham Wolds and although the crew was rescued it was a reminder of…
Interview with John Charles McAllister
John McAllister tells the story of his family connection with Bomber Command through his uncle who was killed on operations. John is a musician and movingly explains how, through writing songs and putting them on the internet about his uncle and the…
Interview with Peter Parker
Peter Parker grew up in Gainsborough. He had hoped to be a pilot but was unsuccessful, however as he had taught himself Morse code in his shed at home he trained as a wireless operator and became an instructor. He was posted to RAF Yatesbury and…
Interview with Ted Mawdsley
Ted grew up in Essex. Before the war he worked for the Marconi Wireless and Telegraph Company. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and became an instrument mechanic. He was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds in 1942 and overseas the following year. After…
Interview with John Derek "Bill" Bailey. One
John Derek ‘Bill’ Bailey volunteered for the Air Force when he was 18 and trained as a bomb aimer in Canada. When he arrived he caught scarlet fever and spent five weeks in an isolation hospital. He flew operations as a bomb aimer with 103 and…
Interview with John Derek "Bill" Bailey. Two
Part two of the interview with Derek Bailey, a bomb aimer with 103 and 166 Squadrons.
Towards the end of the war, Derek did various bomber instructor courses and became a bombing instructor at RAF Lossiemouth on Wellingtons for Free French aircrew…
Towards the end of the war, Derek did various bomber instructor courses and became a bombing instructor at RAF Lossiemouth on Wellingtons for Free French aircrew…
Harold Dryhurst Service biography
Covers personal details and dates of postings, training, aircraft flown. Details of capture and prisoner of war.
Jack Whymark’s Royal Air Force Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book
Jack Whymark’s Flying Log Book as an Air Gunner from 1st October 1940 until 4th October 1945 when his aircraft crashed in to the Mediterranean Sea.
Initial training at No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School and 225 Squadron. Posted to 149 Squadron for…
Initial training at No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School and 225 Squadron. Posted to 149 Squadron for…
Robert Blamires' South African Air Force observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
R G Blamires Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book covering the period from 25 November 1942 to 10 May 1946, detailing his flying training and operations flown as Navigator. He was stationed at South African AF Port Elizabeth (42 Air…
JH Bird's pilots flying log book. Two
J H Bird's log book from 1 September 1945 to 17 June 1946 including glider tug flights.
Ulm
A vertical aerial photograph taken during an operation at Ulm. Most of the image is obscured by cloud or explosions. It is annotated '4710 EWS 17/18.12.44//NT 7" 12500 118° 1932½ ULM C 1HC 4000IN 15X4 23SEC F/O MORGAN C 103'.
Bochum
A vertical aerial photograph taken over Bochum. No detail is visible due to light flashes.
It is annotated '4565 EWS 4/5.11.44// NT(8") 16500 145° 1944 BOCHUM A/P.A.C. 1HC 4000 [indecipherable] 29 SECS F/O MORGAN O 103'
It is annotated '4565 EWS 4/5.11.44// NT(8") 16500 145° 1944 BOCHUM A/P.A.C. 1HC 4000 [indecipherable] 29 SECS F/O MORGAN O 103'
Ivor Cole's log book
Navigator's, Air Bomber's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book for Ivor Cole, wireless operator. Covers the period from 3 September 1943 to 7 February 1946. Details his training, operations and flight to the Far East. Aircraft flown were Dominie,…