Browse Items (188 total)
Sort by:
Interview with Ken Hayton
Ken Hayton’s father, George Stanley Hayton (Stan), worked worked for Lloyds Bank. In 1940 Stan left his post to join the Royal Air Force; Ken recalled going to Durham station to see his father off, travelling to start basic training at RAF Padgate.…
Interview with Colin Cole
![SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v240002.mp3](/omeka/application/views/scripts/images/fallback-audio.png "SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v240002.mp3")
Colin Cole took part in the attack that sunk the Tirpitz. He describes how the aircraft was adapted for the operation and flew via Lossiemouth. Colin disposed of the Upkeep 'bouncing bombs' as part of his service with the RAF. They were dropped on…
Interview with John Bell
John Bell completed a tour as a bomb aimer with 619 Squadron. The crew decided they would like to continue flying and so volunteered to join 617 Squadron. They were interviewed by Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire and accepted on to the squadron. When…
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Writes that he had arrived safely at his new station and describes accommodation, food and daily transport. Speculates that he would be seeing a lot of Germany.
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Catches up with gossip and family news. Writes of visiting friends at Bardney and hoped for more opportunities in future.
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Writing while suffering from attack of dysentery. Tries to remember a joke about a chemist. Catches up with family news and gossip.
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Still waiting to find out if he would get any leave. Catches up with family/friends news. Writes of not feeling well and speculates on causes. Continues to catch up with home news and gossip.
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his wife
Thanks her for recent letter. Writes that he was now doing daylight operations during which he felt safe as they were well protected. Catches up with family news and gossip. Hopes he might manage to get home. Mentions he was out celebrating but did…
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Writes that he was unlikely to get leave over Christmas and mentions other activities. Comments on poor weather and mentions an operation to the Baltic which was his 6th trip. Hoping for leave in January. Catches up with family news.
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Writes about poor weather and having to do snow clearing. Had not done any more operations and comments on Russian's war progress. Catches up with family news.
Letter card from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Catches up with friends/family news. Mentions he would be home in March. Compares British and Italian work rates on snow clearing. Continues with family gossip,
Letter card from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Reports he arrived back safely. Comments that he was now one trip behind his crew. Catches up with family gossip.
Letter card from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Reports that he arrived back safely and that he had had a good leave. Catches up with family news and gossip.
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Writes after recently arriving at new station. Comments on weather. Writes about his crew, pilot from New Zealand, engineer and wireless operator from London, bomb aimer from Derby and gunners from Hull and Preston. Comments that none of his old crew…
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Writes that he had now recovered from illness and had recently done a seven mile route march. Catches up with news of friends and family and researching Navy matters. Continues with family gossip which reminded him of books he had read and comments…
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Complains about lack of action at his new station. Catches up with family news and mentions sending photographs of crew on return from Tirpitz operation to his wife. Writes about son Derek. Mentions getting second class navigator certificate.
Part of a letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
First page only. Mention recent operation to e-boat pens which was reported in newspapers. Mentions a friend's accident.
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Comments that Christmas was over and weather had precluded operations. Writes about Christmas meal and other activities. Mentions boxing day activities. Continues with comment planned dining in night to say farewell to Wing Commander Tait. Catches up…
Letter from Kenneth Gill to his parents
Writes about a bombing operation on new year. Mentions speaking to a railway signalman whose daughter possibly taught his younger brother. Writes of other family acquaintances. Continues with other family news and gossip. Catches up with other news…
Letter from Flight Lieutenant K W Hole to unspecified respondent at 617 Squadron
From officer at Royal Aircraft Establishment Farnborough. Thanks respondent for memorandum and goes on to discuss that operational efficiency of Bomber Command could be greatly enhanced by maintenance in good order of automatic pilot.
Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Squadron Leader L P Moyna
From Officer at RAF Film Production Unit enclosing three reels of 16 mm Kodachrome for use with squadron. Gives advice on using film and invites Cheshire to his unit.
Interview with Charles Henry Clarke. One
Charles volunteered for the RAF when he was 17 and trained as a bomb-aimer at RAF North Luffenham. After qualifying, he was posted to 619 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa. He was shot down on his 18th operation and he became a prisoner of war. He talks…
Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Flight Lieutenant Noel Holland
Concerns a tracing of a night job done on behalf of squadron. Addressed from Type 16 Beachy Head.
Interview with Les Munro
John Leslie Munro was born in the area of Gisborne, New Zealand. He only completed two years of secondary education because of the economic slump and, in 1936, began work on a sheep ranch and then a mixed farm. On the outbreak of the Second World…
Interview with Colin Cole
Colin Cole was brought up and schooled at Twickenham, and worked for a time at W H Smith before joining the Royal Air Force. He trained as a wireless operator/air gunner at RAF Yatesbury and RAF Barrow in Furness. He then served with 617 Squadron,…