Browse Items (2016 total)

  • Tags: navigator

AMunroKW160522.mp3
Ken was a 456 Squadron Mosquito navigator. He initially joined the Army’s Victorian Scottish regiment but changed to the Royal Air force. He was selected to be a navigator and sailed to Canada. Ken did a course at Edmonton and was made an officer.…

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PKnoxT1901.jpg
Tommy Knox, born in 1924, grew up in northern Glasgow and volunteered at the earliest age of seventeen and one quarter. He then trained in Wales and Devon and flew Stirlings. Tommy was posted to RAF Stradishall for his Heavy Conversion Unit, meeting…

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ADerringtonAP150715-02.mp3
Dr Arnold Pearce Derrington grew up in Cornwall and joined the University Air Squadron at Exeter. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 and completed training at RAF Ansty, South Africa, RAF West Freugh and RAF Moreton in the Marsh, where he trained…

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PBarrJ1506.jpg
Jim Barr grew up in Scotland and worked as an apprentice engineer before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. He trained as a navigator in South Africa and flew operations with 61 Squadron. He describes what it was like to be a navigator with Bomber…

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PStempJ1502.jpg
Joe was a navigator with 578 Squadron and later with 77 Squadron, flying Halifaxes and then Dakotas. Joe has a sister and a brother. His brother ended his service with the Royal Air Force after an accident on a dinghy drill course left him deaf in…

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AHughesWH151021.mp3
Harry Hughes volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1940 and trained in America, where he was washed out as a pilot and then retrained as a navigator in Canada, flying Ansons and Wellingtons. In 1942, he converted to Halifaxes and flew operations…

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MNorthWA1583475-230802-15.jpg
A list of airmen with their number, rank and religion.

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MEdgarAG172180-180704-01.pdf
The memoirs were recorded in 1980 at a reunion at Sudbrooke. He starts by describing crewing up at Silverstone. His opinion of the Stirling was that it was awful on the ground and in the air. His first operation was a second 'dickie' (an observer) to…

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PGreenAW16010001.jpg
A folder containing photographs taken during Alan's training in Canada.

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EGreenAWGreenWH-[Mo]410329.jpg
Alan advises he passed his observer's course and was now studying for an astro-navigation course.

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BMcInnesAMcInnesAv1.pdf
An autobiography by Alan of his time as a prisoner of war. He describes the night they were shot down over Germany. Also his training with his mainly Australian crew. Then he goes into more detail regarding the operation when he was shot down.
He…

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ENorthWANorht[Fa-Mo]440124.pdf
Alan writes about the slowness of mail from the UK. He has completed his exams and has done well. He has qualified as a pilot and completed air bombers and air gunner courses. He enjoyed Christmas. He travelled to Chicago and was impressed with the…

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ENorthWANorth[Fa-Mo][Date]-080001.jpg
Alan writes that he has received a parcel from his parents. He is being kept busy. There is plenty of sport and he has been to communion. He asks for a compass set, ruler, clean rags and pyjamas. The food in the mess is very good.

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ENorthWANorth[Fa-Mo]430315-0001.jpg
Alan thanks his parents for the cake, shoes and pen. No pencils arrived and he asks for them. He asks his parents to thank family and friends for the gifts they sent. He thinks he will spend another six weeks at his present station whilst taking a…

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ENorthWANorth[Fa-Mo]430813-0001.jpg
Alan writes that he is being transferred to Edmonton, Alberta. He will be taking courses in navigation, air bombing and wireless operator/ air gunnery.

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ENorthWANorth[Fa-Mo]440326-0001.jpg
Alan writes thanking his parents for letters and newspapers. His current course is astro-navigation.

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ENorthWANorth[Fa-Mo]440513-0001.jpg
Alan writes thanking his parents for their letters. He is finding the navigation course troubling. He is planning to visit the States and he has not heard from Barbara for a while.

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ENorthWANorth[Fa-Mo]441128.pdf
Alan writes thanking his parents for their letter. [page torn and section missing] The mess is good and he is being kept busy. He has been to plays and films.

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ENorthWANorth[Fa-Mo]460302-0001.jpg
Alan writes that it is snowing heavily. He has met friends from his time spent training in Canada.

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ENorthWAStrongJ451202.pdf
Alan writes that he should be getting leave from 22nd December for 12 days. He has been flying patrols despite the weather.
[some pages are missing]

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ENorthWAStrongJ460131.pdf
Alan writes about his aeronautical adventures. They were sent to deliver equipment in the Ardennes but when they got there the airstrip was deserted. There was no starter for their Mosquito and their battery was flat. They started to charge the…

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AMearsCE170921.mp3
Charles left school with no formal qualifications and was undertaking further education when the Second World War commenced. Being too young to enlist, he joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps and - upon reaching 18 - he eventually was able to join. He…

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AThomsonGB171005.mp3
George Thomson had always wanted to fly. When he volunteered for the RAF he hoped to be a pilot but re-mustered as a navigator. He was posted to 15 Squadron based at RAF Mildenhall. On their first operation they were attacked by fighters three times.…

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AThomsonGB171103.mp3
George Thomson was a navigator with 15 Squadron based at RAF Mildenhall. On their nineteenth operation they came under attack and had to bale out of the aircraft. The pilot and mid-upper gunner both died. When he landed he saw a parachute stuck in a…

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BSmithACSmithACv10001.jpg
The story of Allan's Lancaster after they were damaged by anti-aircraft fire near Berlin. He had a heavy landing and damaged his leg.
The second part of the story is written by a German pilot who was involved in shooting down the damaged…

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