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Interview with Fay Price
Fay Price was nine at the outbreak of the Second World War living in Grimsby. A twin, they were the youngest of six siblings. Her memory of the start of the war was the ending of birthday parties. Her father was a fish merchant and was able to…
Interview with Carolyn Pritchard
Carolyns father, Arthur, joined the Royal Air Force on his 18th birthday. Following his training as a flight engineer, was posted to RAF Winthorpe. He was allocated to a crew consisting entirely of Australians. In February 1944 the crew were posted…
Interview with George Patrick Smith-Leach
George was born in Chelmsford, Essex. He then moved to Clacton-on-Sea where he went to school before going to a seminary catholic college. When war broke out, he and two other boys aged 15 or 16 ran away from college and went to Ipswich to join the…
Interview with Eddy Smythe. One
Eddy Smythe’s father, Johnny Smythe was a navigator on a Lancaster. He was originally from Sierra Leonne. On one operation he was injured when anti-aircraft fire damaged the aircraft but they continued to target. One engine had been damaged and so…
Interview with John Tipton
John Tipton grew up in Tenby and studied law at University College London. He volunteered for the RAF and trained as a navigator. He was posted to 40 Squadron where he began operational flying before the squadron were posted to Malta. After his tour…
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 Ernie Patterson. Two
Before joining the Royal Air Force on 4 February 1942, Ernie worked as an apprentice joiner. On being called up he went to RAF Blackpool for training, which included Morse code. Following training at different places he then attended the advanced…
We're On Tonight
A description of what happened before and during and operation. The battle order was posted, the crew checked over their aircraft, the bomb load was planned, the crew received their briefing, dinner was eaten (bacon and eggs), they dressed,…
Memoir Flight Lieutenant Gordon Cruickshank D.F.M. RAFRO
Memoir written in 1956 by Flight Lieutenant Cruickshank. It starts with his early childhood and family life. It includes his early time in RAF after enlisting in December 1938 with first job as balloon operator and then training as an air gunner;…
G Cruickshank operations playing cards
52 playing cards listing 53 individual operations. The 52nd card (10 of diamonds) shows promotions from A.C. 1 to Pilot Officer. Operations 32, 35 and 38 are all listed on the four of hearts.
Wallet
Wallet containing keepsakes/lucky-charms, and service insignia, brevet and medal ribbons.
Wooden Elephant
Wooden elephant keepsake, The elephant is symbol of 44 Squadron RAF with which Gordon Cruickshank served. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Rabbit's foot
Lucky Rabbit's Foot.
Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Key ring with keepsakes
Key ring with keepsakes/pendants:
- a small humanoid figurine,
- an anchor with a cable wrapped around it,
- a blue enamelled 3-leafed clover,
- a small black wooden pig,
- a very small metal book with photographic pages of Lincoln…
- a small humanoid figurine,
- an anchor with a cable wrapped around it,
- a blue enamelled 3-leafed clover,
- a small black wooden pig,
- a very small metal book with photographic pages of Lincoln…
Gremlin Who's Who
A collection of 13 cartoon drawings depicting gremlin characters by Sergeant William Akrill. Referred to in letter #18081.
1. Gremlin photoflash (Will Gremlin)
2. Gremlin crews for the convenience of Mark VIII (Georgie Gremlin)
3. Gremlin…
1. Gremlin photoflash (Will Gremlin)
2. Gremlin crews for the convenience of Mark VIII (Georgie Gremlin)
3. Gremlin…
Gremlins in the fog
Girl in overalls and head scarf with finger to lips. In the background a cloud with a number of gremlin figures as well as building, tree windmill and gate. One gremlin has rope to girls left ankle while three others pull back on rope to left ankle.…
Letter from Billy Akrill to his father
Writes about Stainless Stephen, a thunderstorm ('mother covered up the mirror and fender') and the garden and includes a number of drawings of people and coloured flowers.
Wedding of Bruce and Margaret Wilson
Wedding of Bruce Wilson and Margaret - he trained with Ralph White who is far left.
Photograph shows groom in uniform, two other airmen, bride with long white dress, veil and bouquet and holding horseshoe charm on a ribbon; two bridesmaids in…
Photograph shows groom in uniform, two other airmen, bride with long white dress, veil and bouquet and holding horseshoe charm on a ribbon; two bridesmaids in…
Leather pouch and contents
Brown leather pouch with snap fastener. Contents: 1 - small white elephant on boot lace. 2 - small white figure with brown stripes. 3 - brown fur rabbit foot.
Four Airmen and a Mascot
Four airmen at the rear hatch of a Lancaster. Two are seated in the entrance to the hatch and the other two are standing. One man, a bomb aimer, is holding a mascot doll.
Interview with Jeff Mackay
Jeff Mackay was born in 1922 in Ballarat, Australia and was working as a cadet engineer. He joined the Army but decided to join the RAAF when the Japanese entered the war in 1941. After boarding a ship he trained as a navigator in Canada and then…
Letter and transcript of telephone interview
Letter encloses a transcript of telephone interview and ask Mr Chandler to check for accuracy and asks specific questions about window, operation briefings, bird strike, being coned on Karlsruhe operation, overcoming fear and did he feel operations…
Wedding Invites, Telegrams, Cards and Mementos
32 items from an album.
Item 1 is an invitation to George and Barbara's wedding.
Item 2 is a sprig of white heather.
Item 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21 are congratulations telegrams.
Items 6, 7, 8, 10 - 15, 22, 23, 25-30 are gift tags.
Item 9,…
Item 1 is an invitation to George and Barbara's wedding.
Item 2 is a sprig of white heather.
Item 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21 are congratulations telegrams.
Items 6, 7, 8, 10 - 15, 22, 23, 25-30 are gift tags.
Item 9,…
Keith Ganney's After Lunch Speech
A speech given by Keith. He recalls his 30 operations and his time training at Scarborough, Brough and Canada. Initially a pilot he was reassigned as a bomb aimer. He was posted to East Kirkby. He details some of his operations.
