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Interview with Clarence Keith Bruhn
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…
Interview with Charles Philip Blackham
Philip Blackham became an apprentice engineer at diesel engine company, Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day, where he became a sales manager post war. He served in the Home Guard where he became a driver. In the summer of 1940, he enrolled for engineering with…
Interview with Joyce Bell
Joyce Bell grew up in Hertfordshire and joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1940. She served as a clerk in 1 Group Bomber Command where she met her husband and she travelled with him to Canada where he was posted.
Interview with Philip Bates
Philip volunteered for the Royal Air Force in May 1940. After a short time in Blackpool, he was posted to RAF Cosford where he volunteered for training as a flight mechanic and then fitter. At 86 Squadron, Coastal Command, flying Beauford torpedo…
Interview with Herbert Adams
Herbert Adams grew up in New South Wales, Australia and joined the Air Training Corps as soon as it was established. He later joined the Royal Australian Air Force and, after training, he completed a tour of operations as a navigator with 467…
Four airmen by Nissen huts
Three quarters length portrait of four airmen standing in front of two Nissen huts.
Lou Morgan and John Round
Two airmen, one in uniform and one topless standing by a Nissen hut. On the reverse 'Lou Morgan & John Round in Nissen hut'. On the reverse of another copy of the same photograph
'Jack and Lou
[underlined] NOTE [underlined] this was not taken…
'Jack and Lou
[underlined] NOTE [underlined] this was not taken…
Interview with Harold Beech. Two
Harold Beech could see the activity of several airfields and witnessed stricken aircraft flying back to stations near his home. He also witnessed a crash and describes how he hid in a Lancaster, with the help of the engineer who was billeted with his…
Interview with Harry Parkins. Two
Harry shares several memories of his time as a flight engineer in the Royal Air Force. He describes their initial accommodation in luxury London flats, and dinghy training at the local swimming pool. He recounts how, in June 1944, their aircraft was…
Interview with David Sanders
David Sanders flew operations as a flight engineer with 189 and 619 Squadrons. He joined the Royal Air Force as a flight engineer and tells of an operation when they arrived too early over the target; being followed by a night fighter; and having a…
Interview with Philip Batty
Philip Batty grew up in Walsall. He discusses the death of his older brother Dennis, a wireless operator with 226 Squadron, early in the Second World War. Philip volunteered for aircrew. After training, he was posted to 50 Squadron at RAF Sturgate as…
Letter to Mr and Mrs Wright from Arthur Wright
Letter to brother Henry, Lil and Barbara from 75 Air School in South Africa from Arthur Wright. He describes sailing to Durban. He is impressed with the food, the city and the people. Then a 23 hour train journey to the camp. He discusses his social…
Three men, two in swimming trunks, one in airman's uniform
Two men sunbathing whilst an airman is hiding with his head under a tent made from a chair and a towel. They are seated outside a wooden building. On the reverse 'Humewood Port Elizabeth August 1942'.
Married quarters, Seletar
Photograph 1 is the married quarters.
Photograph 2 is three women and Peter in the garden.
Photograph 3 is a man pushing a bike up a path.
Photograph 4 is the married quarters.
Photograph 5 is a man on a path.
Photograph 6 is a woman in the…
Photograph 2 is three women and Peter in the garden.
Photograph 3 is a man pushing a bike up a path.
Photograph 4 is the married quarters.
Photograph 5 is a man on a path.
Photograph 6 is a woman in the…
Married quarters, Seletar
Photograph 1 is of the outside of married quarters. Captioned 'No 96 The Crescent, Seletar. Married quarters 1946'.
Photographs 2,3 and 4 are of the inside of a room with table and rattan furniture. Captioned 'Rattan furniture purchased in…
Photographs 2,3 and 4 are of the inside of a room with table and rattan furniture. Captioned 'Rattan furniture purchased in…
No 2 Senior N.C.O.'s quarters
Photo 1 is of an airman sitting on a bed. Captioned 'F/Sgt Bishop 'Bunkmate''.
Photograph 2 is of two men lying on their beds.
Photograph 3 is of an airman sitting on his bed.
Photographs 4 and 5 are of views in the quarters.
Captioned ' No. 2…
Photograph 2 is of two men lying on their beds.
Photograph 3 is of an airman sitting on his bed.
Photographs 4 and 5 are of views in the quarters.
Captioned ' No. 2…
SNCO's Mess Feltwell
The inside of the SNCO's mess. In the foreground are easy chairs, against the walls tables and chairs and in the background is the horseshoe bar.. It is inside a Nissen hut.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the…
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the…
SNCO's Mess Feltwell
The inside of the Senior NCO's mess, a horseshoe shaped bar with glasses and decanters of water. It is in a nissen hut. Captioned '1944 S.N.C.O's Mess (Nissen Hut) Feltwell'.
Interview with Gladys Gildersleve
Gladys Gildersleve was working for a laboratory when she decided to join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. She began her training at RAF Bridgenorth and at RAF Morecambe. Her first posting was to barrage balloons at Swansea Docks. She eventually…
Interview with Peter Bellingham
Peter Bellingham worked as a post office engineer before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. He trained in Rhodesia and South Africa and completed a tour of operations as a bomb aimer, dropping supplies with 138 Squadron from RAF Tempsford. He…
Interview with Charlie Darby
Charlie Darby joined the Royal Air Force in September 1943 and describes, in great detail, his training as an air gunner/wireless operator on Wellingtons and Ansons at RAF Bridlington, RAF Bridgnorth, RAF Castle Kennedy, RAF Acaster Malbis and RAF…
Interview with Cyril Abbotts
Cyril Abbotts volunteered for the Royal Air Force while he was an engineering apprentice with W T Avery at Smethwick. After his reception and basic training at Lord’s Cricket Ground, he trained as a pilot at RAF Bowden and Moose Jaw in Canada. On…
We were only just beginning to enjoy our teenage years
A poem sent to Betty Turner's friend Billy to celebrate their 80th. Betty describes the wartime hardships she endured, hint at the bereavement after the loss of the men she loved, stresses the sense of duty toward her country, friendship and…
John Baggs off duty
John Baggs is sitting on a bench type bed, in a brick built room, smoking a cigarette in front of a wood burning stove. He is wearing gumboots. Posters, including a pin-up, are on the walls.
Additional information about this item has been kindly…
Additional information about this item has been kindly…
Letter to his wife from George Wilson
Letter from George Wilson to his wife telling her he has arrived at RAF Elsham Wolds with other people who were late. Discuss details of their recent marriage, asks for certain items of clothing to be sent to him and states he has his wife’s…