Browse Items (120 total)

  • Tags: 97 Squadron

PPennyJ1501.jpg
After volunteering for the RAF Jim Penny began his training which also took him to USA. He was present when the announcement of Pearl Harbour was made and all RAF trainees could openly wear their uniforms as the two countries were officially Allies.…

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APearsonBM180312.mp3
Her brother-in-law William Mollison Walton, after training to be a pilot in Canada, was based at RAF Swinderby with 97 Squadron. In 1944 his aircraft was attacked and he baled out. He spent two days on a small island where he buried his parachute,…

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LBattyPH220759v1.pdf
Flying log book for navigator’s, air bomber’s, air gunner’s, flight engineer’s for Philip Batty, wireless operator, covering the period from 7 February 1944 to 31 October 1949. Detailing his flying training, post war flying and instructor…

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PLambertRW1801.jpg
In 1943, when Richard was 17 and a half, he cycled into Guildford to sign up to volunteer for the Royal Air Force. He reported to Lords cricket ground to collect his uniform and gear and then went for training at RAF Hednesford for a six-month…

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PHaytonK1701.jpg
Ken Hayton’s father, George Stanley Hayton (Stan), worked worked for Lloyds Bank. In 1940 Stan left his post to join the Royal Air Force; Ken recalled going to Durham station to see his father off, travelling to start basic training at RAF Padgate.…

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PFearnsH1701.jpg
Harry Fearns was born and lived in Barnsley South Yorkshire. He left school at 16 and joined the Prudential Insurance Company as a door to door premiums collector before joining the Royal Air Force in 1944 as a flight engineer. Following initial…

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BCopusPJCopusPJv.pdf
Account of Jim Copus's last operation to Frankfurt during which his 97 Squadron Lancaster was shot down by a Me 110 night fighter. Includes the task of air gunners, the engagement by the night fighter which disabled all hydraulics including those to…

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PKettleboroughML1801.jpg
Michael Kettleborough lived in Woodhall Spa during the war. His mother billeted RAF crew members in her home. One of them Jack Gibson asked for an early Christmas as there were some big operations coming up. Shortly before Christmas 1941 the…

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PWrigleyJ17040014.jpg
Photograph 1 is a side view of a Lincoln, captioned ''Dirty Dog' (Lincoln RF505 'D') 97 Sqdn Karachi, Pakistan, 1948.'
Photograph 2 is ten airmen arranged in two rows, the front row of six is seated with four men standing behind. It is captioned…

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PWrigleyJ17040013.jpg
Photograph 1 is an air-to-air view of a flying Beaufighter, captioned 'Beaufighter formation, Negombo, Ceylon, 1948.'
Photograph 2 is an air-to-air view of a Spitfire taken from a Lincoln, captioned 'Spitfire breakaway, Shallufa Egypt…

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PWrigleyJ17040011.jpg
Photograph 1 is a front view of a Beaufighter.
Photograph 2 is the nose of a Spitfire.
Photograph 3 is a Vampire flying by.
Photograph 4 is front view of a Lincoln.
They are captioned 'Open Day, Tengah, Singapore 1948. Beaufighter, Spitfire,…

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OWrigleyJ1029740-170709-020001.jpg
Form 543 with details of length of service, training units, squadrons and airfields.

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LWrigleyJ1029740v1.pdf
Flying log book for Warrant Officer James Wrigley, wireless operator, covering the period from 17 November 1942 to 30 June 1954. Detailing training, operations and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Yatesbury, RAF Pembrey, RAF Whitchurch…

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LRascal-Mascot[Ser#-DoB]v1.pdf
Aircrew Mascots flying log book for Flight Sergeant Rascal, covering the period from 17 November 1942 to 29 March 1945 (pages not all in chronological order). Detailing his flying caeer during training and operations. He was stationed at RAF Kinloss,…

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LMaltbyDJH60335v1.pdf
Royal Air Force pilot's flying log book for Squadron Leader David Maltby covering the period from 20 August 1940 to 13 September 1943. Detailing his flying training and operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Uxbridge, RAF…

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AWrightJDFC150608.mp3
Jim was a civil servant before joining the Royal Air Force in May 1941. He carried out two tours on 61, 630 and 97 Squadrons. Although he wanted to be a pilot, there was a shortage of navigators. He was called up to Regents Park and then posted to…

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PLashamB1501.jpg
Bob Lasham began an electrical engineering apprenticeship with British Thomson-Houston before volunteering for the RAF in 1941, aged 20. He trained at Babbacombe and Wilmslow before continuing to Clewiston, Florida, to complete his training as a…

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PPennyJ1501.jpg
Jim Penny joined the Air Force in July 1940, aged 18. He recalls his training prior to becoming a Bomber Command Pathfinder pilot for 97 Squadron at RAF Bourn. He explains the crewing up process and details those who were in his crew. He gives…

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PKirbyH1511.jpg
Harold Kirby joined the Royal Air Force, encouraged by two friends, but ended up training as a flight mechanic at RAF Halton on medical grounds. Harold became an airframe fitter, volunteered as a flight engineer, passed the physical but was then…

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PLockeBrownK1505.jpg
Kenneth Locke was born in 1923 and wanted to join the Royal Air Force, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a First World War Pilot. Between leaving school and joining the Royal Air Force, Kenneth worked as a bank clerk, before signing…

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PHatchM1501.jpg
Maurice Hatch was training as a chartered accountant when he volunteered to be a pilot but was, instead, enlisted as a navigator. After initial training at Torquay, Brighton and Eastbourne he went to South Africa for a year. On his return, he crewed…

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ADobleRG151117.mp3
Ron Doble grew up in London and joined the Air Training Corps and the fire watchers, when war was declared. He volunteered for the Air Force when he was 18 and trained as an air gunner. He talks about the conditions in his turret and the mishaps he…

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BCopusPJCopusPJv10009.jpg
Jim Copus was born in Watlington and volunteered for the Royal Air Force when he was 18. After training, he flew operations as a mid-upper gunner with 97 Squadron from RAF Bourn. On one operation he realised that it was very quiet so, being unable to…

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BCopusPJCopusPJv10009.jpg
James Copus grew up in Oxfordshire. He volunteered for aircrew and, after training, became a mid-upper gunner and flew operations with 97 Squadron. He recalls a crash while taxiing to take-off, baling out of his empty Lancaster and how he kept…

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ACanningsDP150811.mp3
Percy Cannings was born in Stedham, near Midhurst, West Sussex and joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, reporting for duty in 1943. Percy served with 100 and 97 Squadrons as a mid upper gunner on Lancasters. He tells of his two brothers who…

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