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Seven aircrew and five ground crew in front of a Halifax
Air and ground crew posing in two lines in front of a Halifax. Aircrew wearing parachute harness stand in the rear and aircrew squatting down in front.Dennis W Raettig is front row second from left. Aircraft has heart with reclining lady nose art and…
Air and ground crew in front of a Halifax
Six aircrew standing in back row wearing battledress or tunic. Seven airmen squatting in front wearing battledress. In the background the front of a Halifax with nose art of a lady reclining in a heart. Underneath are bomb symbols. Dennis W Raettig…
Group of air and ground crew standing on a Halifax
Large group of air and ground crew standing on the port wing and forward fuselage of a Halifax. One aircrew is standing with foot on a chock by the port undercarriage. There is one man looking out from a cockpit window. The aircraft has nose art of a…
Group of air and ground crew in front of a Halifax
Seven aircrew stand in back row wearing Mae Wests and parachute harnesses. Five wear side caps and two peaked caps. Twelve airmen are sitting or squatting in front wearing battledress or cold weather clothing. In the background the front of a Halifax…
A large group of airmen and one Woman's Auxiliary Air Force member in front of a Halifax
A large group of airman standing and sitting in rows in front of the port wing of a Halifax. There is a single Women's Auxiliary Air Force member sitting in the middle of the front row. There is one officer with peaked cap sitting behind and slightly…
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 John Derek "Bill" Bailey. One
Derek was in the Air Training Corps before enlisting at 18. He was given deferred service, eventually reporting to the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground. He proceeded to Ludlow and an Initial Training Wing at Paignton. Derek was…
Interview with David Bowker
David Bowker joined the Air Force and was originally training to be a wireless operator / air gunner but remustered as a pilot. He discusses rudder lock on early versions of Halifax. Jacqueline Bowker his wife, discusses her life during the war and…
Stuart Boynton Interview
During 1939 Stuart left grammar school and joined the Air Training Corps. After about half a year he volunteered for air crew and was accepted. He and his girlfriend were married in February 1943. Stuart was posted to South Africa working on Ansons…
Interview with Dennis Brett
Dennis was born in 1924 and joined the Royal Air Force in November 1942. He trained as a flight mechanic airframe at RAF Locking and was responsible for the whole of the aircraft, apart from the engines and the guns. Dennis explained the emergency…
Dr Maurice Brook Interview
Maurice grew up Rothwell in Yorkshire, joined the Air Training Corp, and then joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, after spending time with Cambridge University Air Squadron. He completed his pilot training in Canada before going to the…
Denis Clyde-Smith's pilot's flying log book. Two
Pilot's flying log book for Denis Clyde-Smith covering the period from 1 June 1942 to 19 July 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations and test pilot duties. He was stationed at RAF Honington, RAF Wigsley, RAF Waddington, RAF Boscombe Down.…
Interview with Percy Cannings
Percy Cannings was born in Stedham, near Midhurst, West Susses and joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, reporting for duty in 1943. Percy served with 100 and 97 Squadrons as a mid upper gunner on Lancasters.
He tells of his two brothers who…
He tells of his two brothers who…
Interview with Tom Coles
Tom Coles was born in Watford and signed up for the Royal Air Force at the age of 18. He went to Canada for training, a period saddened by the loss of his sister who was in the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force. Tom flew Manchesters, then went to 158…
Halifax on airfield pan
Halifax LW125 parked on a concrete pan. Surrounded by onlookers and numerous servicing personal in shorts and tropical uniform. In the background right some low buildings.
Halifax on Brooklyn airfield, Cape Town
Halifax parked on a pan on an airfield. The legs of a man can be seen under the rear fuselage. In the background mountains. On the reverse '[.....], On arrival at Brooklyn Cape Town, 4/12/44'.
Interview with Richard Curnock
Richard Curnock was born in Grantham and joined the Royal Air Force in 1941.He achieved the rank of warrant officer and served in 425 Squadron. Richard tells of how he followed his two older brothers into the services, and his time serving in the Air…
Eight men standing in front of a Halifax
A line of men, four wearing uniform with shorts, two wearing uniform with long trousers and two in civilian suits standing in front of a Halifax. The aircraft has 'Sarie Marais' painted on lower nose. The aircraft is standing on a concrete pan with…
Interview with George Dunn
George was born at Whitstable and was 17 when war was declared. He joined the local Defence Volunteers which became the Home Guard. When he reached 18 he volunteered for air crew. He was interviewed at Chatham and sat an exam and selection board to…
Interview with George Dunn
George Dunn DFC joined the Royal Air Force in June 1941 and initially trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, before training in Canada as a Pilot. He flew aircraft such as Avro Ansons and Airspeed Oxford.
He tells of his experiences as ‘second…
He tells of his experiences as ‘second…
Halifax parked on pan outside terminal buildings
Halifax parked on concrete pan surrounded by onlookers. In the background airport buildings.
Halifax bomber tour
Newspaper article about Halifax on tour of Rhodesia and South Africa via Bulawayo, Ndola, Nairobi, Khartoum, Cairo and Rome. Mentions demonstration flights in South Africa and that the aircraft was commanded by Squadron Leader Clyde-Smith…
Halifax parked on airfield pan
View of the top of a Halifax parked on a concrete pan. There are several groups of men wearing uniform standing all around the aircraft looking at various parts.
Interview with Benny Goodman. Two
Benny Goodman grew up in London and hoped to become a pilot. He volunteered for the Air Force and was originally posted to RAF Abingdon as a ground gunner before beginning his flying training. After qualifying as a pilot in Canada, he became an…
Interview with Kenneth Locke Brown
Kenneth Locke was born in 1923 and wanted to join the Royal Air Force, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a First World War Pilot. Between leaving school and joining the Royal Air Force, Kenneth worked as a bank clerk, before signing…