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Interview with John Harrison
John Harrison grew up in Yorkshire and worked in the Civil Service before joining the Royal Air Force at 18. After training, he flew operations as a mid-upper gunner with 106 Squadron from RAF Metheringham before being shot down over Leipzig and…
Interview with James Swaffield
James Swaffield was born and grew up in West London and flew as a navigator in the RAF. He discusses with the interviewer his life before, during and after the war. Highlights include: remembering his father, who served during the First World War and…
Interview with James Calman
Jim was born in New Zealand but grew up in Australia. He enlisted in Woolloomooloo under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He was sent to the Initial Training School in Somers and then went to the Elementary Flying Training School on Tiger Moths at the…
Interview with James Albert Dellow
James ‘Jim’ Albert Dellow had to register the start of the war he as he was 18 years old. On being asked which service he would prefer, he opted for the Royal Air Force as a pilot. Whilst waiting for his call up, he worked in an insurance office…
Interview with Harold Stanley Gardner
Harold Gardner was a navigator on 106 Squadron based at RAF Metheringham during the final months of World War 2. Known throughout his RAF career as Stan, he was born in Brighton. In 1937 when 14-years-old, his father arranged employment for him with…
Interview with Graham Allen
Graham Allen joined the Royal Air Force aged 19. He trained as a mechanic and worked on inspection and recovery of Spitfire aircraft. He later volunteered to be a flight engineer, and flew a tour of operations with 106 Squadron. His first operation…
Interview with Gilbert Gray
Gilbert Gray grew up in Dunfermline, joining the Air Training Corps before enlisting in the Royal Air Force as a flight engineer in 1940, aged 18 years. He trained at RAF St Athan in Wales, graduated as a sergeant and was posted onto Lancasters. He…
Interview with Eric Brown
Eric left school at 14 and worked in a bakery and then in accountancy. Aged 17 he volunteered for aircrew and trained as a flight engineer. He became a pathfinder and carried out operations to Hamburg, Karlsruhe, and Dortmund, flying from RAF…
Interview with Eddie Edmunds
Eddie Edmunds was born in Walthamstow and was educated at a grammar school, then joined an oil company. He eventually moved to the Electric Supply Company and became an accountant. Eddie had always wanted to fly so he initially joined the reserve and…
Interview with David Jackson
David Jackson tells of his father, Norman Jackson VC, born in Ealing, London in 1919 and who worked in an engineering company when the war broke out. After initially trying to join the navy, he then joined the RAF and classified as a fitter on…
Interview with Colin Wood
Colin Wood grew up in Sheffield and worked as a plumber until he volunteered for the RAF. He trained in Canada and flew operations as a navigator with 106 Squadron from RAF Metheringham. On arrival at the station his pilot and three others made their…
Hudson parked in front of a hangar
A RAF Hudson of 1 PRU (squadron code LY with early style roundel and tail fin markings) parked on hardstanding at RAF Wick with hangar in the background. Submitted with description 'RAF Hudson of No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit in front of…
History of RAF Syerston
History of the station from December 1940 including resident squadrons and aircraft , royal visit and other points of interest after the war up to the current day.
History of 106 Squadron
A short history of 106 Squadron. Covers formation in world war one. Reformed in 1938 with Hinds and Battles. Equipped with Hampden at beginning of the war. Initially a advanced training unit. Became operational in September 1940. Describes early…
Hampdens and Lancasters
Top - air-to-air photograph of two Hampdens in formation. Submitted with description 'Aerial photo of two 106 Sqn Hampdens - ZN-K and ZN-F'.
Bottom - three Lancaster parked on dispersal with another two visible in the distance. Submitted with…
Bottom - three Lancaster parked on dispersal with another two visible in the distance. Submitted with…
Hampden cockpit interior
The cockpit and instrument panel of a Handley Page Hampden. On the reverse '"The Office" of the Handley Page "Hampden" with which 106 is now re-armed. Note all the levers, nobs, handles, buttons, switches, tits, and so on, which one is expected to…
Groundcrew, Lancaster and bomb
In the foreground a 4000 MC bomb on trolley. Behind, four airmen wearing battledress and side caps standing in line. In the background a Lancaster with two men on scaffolding working on starboard inner engine. Submitted with description 'Ground crew…
Gennevilliers
Top - target photograph showing tracer lines and explosions. Caption too faint to read. Submitted with description 'Target photo of Gnome-Rhone factory at Gennevilliers on 9/10 May 1944. Photo taken from Lancaster ND682, ZN-K. Captain: P/O…
From Hackney lad to air bomber
Written by his nephew, a narrative of Reg's early life, his participation in student exchanges in Germany, joining the Royal Air force, training, life on the station and the crash in which he died, together with air gunners Sergeant Leslie Johnson…
Four photographs of RAF men
Top left - three airmen wearing battledress and side caps standing in line with trees in the background. Submitted with description 'Three airmen in uniform, standing in front of hedge. Left to right: P/O Roberts - rear gunner, F/O Bob Wake - bomb…
Four Lancasters
A port side view of four Lancasters of 106 Squadron.
Four aircrew
Damaged photograph of four aircrew wearing battledress with brevet standing in front to a brick wall. Dustbin visible lower left. Submitted with description 'Copy of a damaged, undated, original photograph showing four members of F/Sgt L J Burpee's…
Flight Lieutenant Freddie Spencer DFC
A biography of Freddie Spencer. Details his training and operations with 106 Squadron and 630 Squadron.
F Williamson’s observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for F Williamson, air gunner. Covering the period from 27 December 1942 to 27 June 1944. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Morpeth, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Fulbeck,…
F Williamson Notes
A brief explanation about the newspaper cuttings.