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Interview with Harold Kirby. One
Harold Kirby joined up the Royal Air Force encouraged by two friends, but ended up training as a flight mechanic at RAF Halton on medical grounds. Harold became them airframe fitter, volunteered as a flight engineer, passed the physical but was then…
Interview with Jo Lancaster. One
After leaving school, Jo Lancaster was an aircraft apprentice with Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company in Coventry. After volunteering for the Air Force, he trained as a pilot and completed a tour on Wellingtons with 40 Squadron from RAF Alconbury.…
Interview with Ted Stocker. Three
Ted joined the air force in January 1938 as an apprentice at RAF Halton. This was accelerated because of the war, and he was posted to RAF Boscombe Down.
Although he wanted to be a pilot, Ted’s skills were needed as a flight engineer. He was…
Although he wanted to be a pilot, Ted’s skills were needed as a flight engineer. He was…
Interview with Fred Logan
Fred joined the Royal Air Force in Sheffield on 4th December 1940 and was accepted as a direct entry fitter. He went to the training school in Hednesford, where he was taught about engines, and was then posted on Stirlings to 7 Squadron. From RAF…
Interview with Thomas Marchant
Tom Marchant had always wanted to fly and at eighteen joined the RAF as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner but was remustered as Flight Engineer after his initial postings to Warrington and Squires Gate Airfield, Blackpool. He describes his very first…
Interview with Peter Miller
Peter was called up in November 1943 and after basic training was sent to RAF Halton to be trained as a flight mechanic. Whilst there he had several dangerous incidents during small arms training.
Initially posted to 527 Squadron, which was …
Initially posted to 527 Squadron, which was …
Interview with Roy Monk
Roy Monk remembers days spent in the air raid shelters as a schoolboy during the war. After the war he wanted to be a policeman before he was called to National Service. After training to be a mechanic he was posted to RAF Upwood. Then he was posted…
Interview with Thomas James Page
Thomas Page grew up in a farming family before joining the Royal Air Force in 1940, training as a flight mechanic. He was initially posted to 257 Squadron (Hurricanes) but soon went to Gloucester to train as a fitter from where he was posted to 71…
Interview with Hugh Parry. One
Hugh Parry was born in Oswestry and joined the Air Force in April 1943 and volunteered to be an air gunner. Knowing that there was a height restriction on air gunners of six feet he hid his height by wearing baggy trousers. After training, he was…
Interview with Alan Seagger
Before the war, Alan was an electrical apprentice. He joined the RAF and was posted to RAF Binbrook before being posted overseas. He was at RAF Shallufa for a time and was placed with No. 37 Squadron, who moved to Egypt. There were troops of…
Technical certificate
Technical certificate authorising Flight Sergeant Kenneth Pope to refuel and carry out daily inspections on Lancasters, their airframes and their Merlin engines.
Sid Bunce with aircrew and ground crew members
14 airmen standing and kneeling in front of a Lancaster with nose art indicating 29 operations completed.
On the reverse: '115 Squadron, RAF Witchford, Sid Bunce' and 'Sid X'.
On the reverse: '115 Squadron, RAF Witchford, Sid Bunce' and 'Sid X'.
Kenneth Pope's evasion photographs
Five photographs, three head and shoulders portraits of Kenneth Pope, one right side, one from front one looking half right, in jacket, shirt and tie captioned 'Sgt Pope',
Kenneth Pope and an airman in flying clothing with a trolley accumulator and…
Kenneth Pope and an airman in flying clothing with a trolley accumulator and…
Kenneth Pope's aircrew and four ground crew
Kenneth Pope's crew in uniform with four members of their ground staff, one with a cigarette. With Lancaster PO-Y in background. Captioned ' The crew and ground staff', 'Darcy Vic Bill Bill Ken Jim Jack'.
The crew and ground staff
Kenneth Pope's crew with three members of their ground crew. The given names of the air crew are hand written above the photograph: 'Ken Darcy Jack Bill Jim Bill Vic'. Lancaster PO-Y in the background. A ground crew member walks along the port wing,…
Lancaster PO-Y with air and ground crew
Three informal photographs, the first captioned '4 of the crew and 2 ground staff', shows the six, in uniform standing in front of the centre section of a Lancaster. The second captioned 'Some of the crew and ground staff', shows eight individuals,…
Interview with Ron Baker
Ron Baker, originally from Willesden was in the ATC before joining the RAF and trained as a flight mechanic. He was posted to 463 Squadron at Waddington. On one occasion he had to help to remove the body of a gunner who had died during the flight. He…
Interview with Robert Barnes. One
Robert Barnes was working in a Reserved Occupation and so knew the only way he could join the RAF was to volunteer for aircrew. Before he volunteered he was also a member of the ARP and Home Guard. Robert trained as a flight engineer and was posted…
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of meeting the ground crew and of a new aircraft coming to the Flight.
Interview with Raymond Barrett
Raymond Barnes worked in factories before he joined the RAF. He trained as an engine fitter. He was posted to the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Far East. He was servicing Spitfires for 242 Squadron and then Dakotas for 267 Squadron. He was…
Interview with Vera Clachers
Vera Clachers volunteered for the WAAF for the experience and the adventure. She was selected for training as an electrician and was trained at RAF Melksham. She was posted to RAF North Coates. At first she was given the poorest jobs but then began…
Interview with Patricia Young
Patricia’s family lived in a 500 year old thatched cottage in Waddington. There was a bakery in the grounds, which had been started by her grandparents. Patricia’s father joined the Royal Flying Corp and one of her earliest memories was of him…
Seven aircrew walking away from a Lancaster
Seven aircrew in flying suits and Mae West carrying parachutes walking line abreast away from a Lancaster. There are three men working on the starboard outer engine, three working on the starboard inner engine and one cleaning the nose turret.
William Arthur Coulton's wedding
Wedding group of three men and three women. The groom is in Royal Air Force uniform, the bride and bridesmaid are holding floral bouquets. The two non-uniformed men and the woman at the far left are all wearing flowers in their lapel.
William Coulton's wedding
Titled ‘Our Wedding 1st December 1945’. William Coulton is in uniform tunic. The bride is wearing a hat, dark suit and skirt and is carrying a floral bouquet.