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Interview with Ken Macdonald
Ken had been in the Air Training Corps and enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942. He went to No. 2 Initial Training School at Bradfield Park and then to Marborough where he chose to be a wireless operator/air gunner. They flew on Wackett…
Interview with Len Manning
Len Manning grew up in London and worked in a factory before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. He flew operations with 57 Squadron before being shot down over France. He spent three months living with supporters of the Resistance in a small…
Interview with Robert McClements. Two
Robert McClements grew up in Northern Ireland and, after working in various jobs, he volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He flew a tour of operations as a mid upper gunner with 10 Squadron. He discusses the model of his aircraft that a German…
Interview with Robert McClements. One
Robert McClements flew operations as a mid upper gunner with 10 Squadron.
Interview with Gerald McPherson
Gerald joined his brothers in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943, following the Air Training Corps. He went from Melbourne to the Initial Training School in Somers. At the Air Gunnery School in Ballarat, Gerald chose to be an air gunner and was…
Interview with Alexander Lamb. One
Alexander Lamb grew up in Scotland and worked in the civil service before he joined the Royal Air Force. He flew five operations as an air gunner with 15 Squadron.
Interview with Jack Meehan
Jack Meehan grew up in New Zealand and worked on the railway before he volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He flew operations as a wireless operator/air gunner with 75 Squadron at RAF Mepal.
Interview with Rupert Noye
Rupert Noye completed two tours of operations as a rear gunner with 166 and 156 Squadrons.
Interview with Frederick Parker
Fred Parker was born in Skegness and worked with boats and built pillboxes before the war. He later joined the Royal Air Force and served as ground personnel, where he worked at an air gunnery training unit at RAF Silloth, with target tugs. Fred…
Interview with Ronald Rodgers
Ronald Rodgers joined the Royal Australian Air Force, aged 17, having previously been in the Air Training Corps. He trained as an air gunner and was posted to 460 Squadron at RAF Binbrook but did not fly operationally. On discharge in 1946 Roy worked…
Interview with Joe Shuttleworth
Joe Shuttleworth was born and raised in Brisbane but spent a lot of time with family in the Melbourne area. He volunteered for aircrew and began training as a gunner. After initial training he sailed to the United States and on to the UK. While at…
Interview with Jan Black. One
Jan Black flew operations as an air gunner with 300 Squadron. He was badly burned when his aircraft crashed during a training flight and became a member of the Guinea Pig Club. He underwent 10 operations at East Grinstead Hospital. He describes his…
Interview with William Taylor
William Taylor joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 as ground crew. He remustered as an air gunner and flew operations with 103 Squadron from RAF Elsham Wolds, flying Lancasters. His Aircraft was attacked and shot down by a night fighter in July 1944.…
Interview with Eric Varney
Eric Varney completed 28 operations as a mid upper gunner with 207 Squadron from RAF Spilsby. After the war Eric worked as a bus driver, coal miner, long distance lorry driver and coal merchant.
Interview with Jack Wakefield
Jack Wakefield grew up in New Zealand and volunteered for the Air Force and the Army. He trained as an air gunner on Defiants before being posted to 75 Squadron at RAF Feltwell where he completed a tour on Wellingtons, flying operations to locations…
Interview with Peter Watson
Peter Watson was born in South Wales and joined the Royal Air Force in 1943. He wanted to be a pilot but there was a surplus of pilots, so he became an air gunner. He crewed-up and flew with 101 Squadron, a special duties squadron, initially, and…
Interview with Eddie Worsdale
Eddie Worsdale was working as a furniture salesman in Wellington, New Zealand after the Depression era curtailed his education. His brother volunteered for the New Zealand Air Force and so Eddie followed him. After initial training, he continued his…
Interview with Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey was born in Stafford. After finishing school, he went to work for the Post Office Telephones service as a telegram boy. He decided to join the Royal Air Force and began training as a rear gunner at RAF Dalcross. He joined 31 Squadron of…
Pilot Officer Bruce Emmott Watt
Head and shoulders portrait of rear gunner Pilot Officer Bruce Watt.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Sergeant Ronald Cope
Head and shoulders portrait of Ronald Cope, mid-upper gunner. He is wearing a Sidcot suit with his flying helmet over his shoulder.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Sergeant Raymond White
Head and shoulders portrait of Sergeant Raymond White. He is wearing an air-gunner brevet flew on operations as a wireless operator.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Sergeant Raymond Rooney
Full length portrait of Sergeant Raymond Rooney. He is shaking the hand of an American officer and behind is a second officer.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
John Firth's crew
Head and shoulders view of seven aircrew in two rows, three in front and four behind. All are dressed in battledress with aircrew brevet and shirt and tie. John Firth is top right. On the reverse '50 Squadron crew, John Firth top right'.
Jack Hayley's crew and typical bomb load
At the top seven aircrew in line with two slightly forward standing on snow in front of a Lancaster. Aircrew are all wearing battledress and side caps. There is a towing arm to the left. Three of the aircraft engines are visible, all with covers. The…
Jack Hayley and crew
At the top a half length portrait of three aircrew officers in tunic with aircrew brevet and peaked caps. Captioned 'Frank Bryer- Navigator, Jack Captain, Alec Taylor mid-upper gunner'. Below a group of air and ground crew stand in front of a…