Browse Items (3650 total)
Sort by:
Lecture - "PRESS ON"
Text for a lecture. Joined RAF as air observer in June 1941. List initial training postings, conversion to Halifax, crewing up and posting to 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington in May 1943. Describes preparation for operations and lists 6 operations…
John Dent engineer course notebook
Covers Merlin engines, airframes, hydraulics, instruments and electrics. Detailed handwritten notes and diagrams of Lancaster aircraft systems, some b/w photographs and printed pages cut out, wiring circuit diagrams, emergency equipment,…
Seeding the Storm
Account of John Mitchell's career in the Royal Air Force from Oct 1934 until November 1957. Writes of his early ambitions to fly, and joining the RAF as a wireless operator. Describes his training and early postings to Worthy Down on Vickers…
Notes on clearing and treating aircraft surfaces
Process check on protective treatments to D.T.D.902"A", "B" & "BE" Shops. Includes details for Hampden and Lancaster components, aileron structures and remarks. Two versions of same item.
Process check on assemblies and subassemblies
States that assemblies and subassemblies from Lancaster and Hampden that were repaired or salvaged. Comments on repairs and process.
Memories of 405 Pathfinder Squadron and the last flight of HOMEBY S/L John Roberts
Account of the last crew from 405 Squadron flying home from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Tells the story of an airman groundcrew plucked to replace a flight engineer who had been taken ill and subsequently being transformed into aircrew. Mentions Operations…
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…
Captain's account of operation to Leipzig in February 1944
Tells of engagement by enemy Me-110s in area of Stendal when the flight engineer, mid upper gunner, navigator and wireless operator were wounded. The aircraft suffered damaged and suffered further attacks but one enemy fighter was probably destroyed.…
History of 115 (B) Squadron
A four-page personal history of 115 Squadron written by J L Dixon, covering formation in 1917, to the end of hostilities in 1945. It is typed on Registration Research headed notepaper.
Joan Layne's diary covering the period her husband Wally was a prisoner of war
![YLayneAJ[Ser#-DoB]v1.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1765/30842/YLayneAJ[Ser -DoB]v1.jpg "YLayneAJ[Ser#-DoB]v1.pdf")
Starts with a letter to him after she finds out he is a prisoner telling how she felt when he was missing and how happy she was with the news that he was a prisoner. After a day by day diary of her feelings, activities, news of friends and…
Letter to Leonard Cheshire from J R Campbell
On headed note paper J Craven and Co Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia. Writes that he was glad that Cheshire had been able to find a pewter mug in memory of son. Notes they have had other bad news in that daughter's fiance Bruce Davies an air gunner on…
Application for secondment to B.A.O.C
Application made out for W/O Lee J R. Records having flown Lancaster, Manchester and York. Details of education and remarks of squadron commander. Ex RAF apprentice.
J R Lee German notebook
Notebook issued in Berlin in 1933 but used by J R Lee. Contains banknote, German text, handwritten annotations, identity document for a German man, German stamps, English and Scottish addresses, some telephone numbers. At the end a list of James…
The great raids - Peenemunde 17 August 1943
Annotated copy of The great raids - Peenemunde 17 August 1943 by Air Commodore J Searby.
Book includes:
Handwritten note on front 'In memory of Fred Dunn, killed Nov 22/23 1943'.
Telegram to Mr A C Dunn regretting to inform him that his son Sgt…
Book includes:
Handwritten note on front 'In memory of Fred Dunn, killed Nov 22/23 1943'.
Telegram to Mr A C Dunn regretting to inform him that his son Sgt…
Bob Burns (1525609)
Account of last operation to Schweinfurt on 25 April 1944. Describes attack by night fighter. Aircraft spinning down and Bob eventually blown out of aircraft by explosion and parachuted to safety. Initially evaded but captured while injured. Recalls…
1311249 Flt Sgt Williamson, Air Gunner Lancaster
A biography written by his son.
Lancaster Bomb Load Notes
A sheet prepared by Jack with notes on his bomb and fuel load.
The Diary of an Airman
Jack's record of events after his aircraft was shot down over France.
Jack Warner's account of first ten operations
First operation to Montluçon 15 September 1943. Briefed as easy trip with little opposition. Arrived early and waited for Pathfinders, bombed from 8000 ft. Wing Commander Smith missing from operation reported hit by bombs. Operation 2, Mondane 16…
Target Frankfurt
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…
Interview with Ian Henderson
Ian Henderson was born in Lockerbie and studied law at the University of Edinburgh for two years before joining the Royal Air Force. He travelled to Canada onboard the RMS Mauretania to train as a pilot, after two months near Edmonton on Oxford and…
Interview with Alexander Lamb. Two
Alexander Lamb left school in Edinburgh and became a messenger for the War Department. He then took a clerical post with the Department before reaching the age to volunteer for the RAF. He trained as an air gunner and was posted to RAF Mildenhall…
Interview with Horace Robertson
Horace Robertson was working with his father as a shoe repairer in Edinburgh before he joined the RAF. He trained as an electrician and his first posting was at RAF Finningley where he worked on Hampdens. He was then posted to a salvage unit and…
Interview with Eric Wilkin
Erik Wilkin worked on the railways before he joined the RAF. Initially he wanted to be a pilot but it would be a significant wait for training. He trained as an air gunner and was posted to 115 Squadron. On one occasion his aircraft made an emergency…
Interview with Oscar Goodall
Oscar was born in Australia. His father was a machine gunner - he was wounded seven times and died from his wounds two months before Oscar was born. His example influenced him to join the Royal Air Force. As an Air Cadet Corps member, he went to the…