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Newspaper cuttings - Robert Palmer award of Victoria Cross
Top left - shy but tough V.C. air ace picked for hardest jobs. Gives account of his 110th bombing operation leading a formation of Lancasters on daylight operation to Cologne from which he failed to return and actions resulted in award of VC. Top…
Newspaper cuttings - Robert Palmer award of Victoria Cross
Three newspaper cuttings with varying accounts of background and actions of Robert Palmer leading to award of Victoria Cross. Note that he was missing after this operation which was his 111th operational flight. Headlines - Daily Mail the shy V.C.…
Newspaper cuttings - always selected for vital targets; Palmer V.C bombed and said nothing; Squadron Leader Palmer V.C.
Left - always selected for vital targets - an outstanding pilot. Gives service background and description of action leading to award of Victoria Cross. Mentions 110 completed operations and final attack on Cologne where his aircraft failed to return,…
Newspaper cutting - V.C. for Gravesend Squadron Leader
Sub headlines - great act of heroism and some remarkable tributes. States that Acting Squadron Leader Robert Antony Maurice Palmer had been awarded the Victoria Cross after a hazardous daylight operation over Cologne. Quotes telegram from Sir Arthur…
Newspaper cutting - RAF always chose Kent V.C. for special tasks
States that Acting Squadron Leader Robert Antony Maurice Palmer previously winner of DFC and became Kent's sixth V.C of that war. Gives some personal and operational background and gives account of operation to Cologne which resulted in award of…
Newspaper cutting
Squadron Leader Bob Wareing a prisoner of war. Scunthorpe double DFC baled out from blazing plane. Includes head and shoulders portrait of a man wearing uniform tunic with pilot's brevet. Account of how message got back to his wife and that he was…
News of Pilot Officer George Stone
Five newspaper cuttings. The first refers to the death of George. The second is a list of names and which service they served in. Item 3 refers to George being promoted to Pilot Officer. Item 4 refers to a Remembrance Day service when a plaque was…
My Life and Time by Ken Turnham
The majority of this document is an account of Ken's life written by Ken. After his death a family friend offers a summary of Ken's life.
Memory of Mailly-Le-Camp
Part of a memoir describing the operation to Mailly-le-Camp 3/4 May 1944.
Memories of Past Times
A biography of Ikey Love. Covers pre and post war life as well as training, operations and time as a prisoner of war during the war.
Memories of 578 Squadron at Burn 1944
A document written by Jim Allen's navigator. He describes his early training and difficulties when navigating in the UK, Jim Allen's skills, his own behaviour on the aircraft, flying under a bomber shortly before the target, his relief at surviving…
Memorial and RAF chapel
Top left - memorial stone for RAF Little Staughton 109 and 582 Squadrons 8 Group pathfinder force, bomber command. On roadside with flowers and hedge.
Bottom left - view of altar with colours either side and RAF eagle on front.
Right - memorial…
Bottom left - view of altar with colours either side and RAF eagle on front.
Right - memorial…
Medal ribbons and presentation box
Medal strip with 1939-45 star, Aircrew Europe star, defence medal, war medal 1939-45. Loose ribbons including Distinguished Flying Cross and three metal badges (Pathfinder, Volunteer Reserve and RAF Association). Presentation box.
Medal ribbons and pins
Ribbons for Distinguished Flying Cross and bar, 1939-45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star (with clasp), Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 with clasp. Pathfinder badge, Volunteer Reserve pin and RAF Association badge.
Maurice Stimpson's Path Finder Certificate
A certificate awarding Maurice the Path Finder Badge.
Maurice Stimpson's 1944 Diary
A diary kept by Maurice. It records his operations. (Note the squadron was visited by the King & Queen on 10th February 1944 and he had lunch with them in the mess. He was killed on 15th February 1944 on an operation to Berlin)
Malcolm Staves, 207 Squadron Veteran
Malcolm Staves' life in the RAF, starts with his school reports through his enlistment in 1942. He trained at Bridgnorth then was assigned to 207 Squadron at Spilsby. His colleagues included George Cearns who joined 166 Squadron and Hank Williams who…
Main Ops - with crew only
Starts with account of operation to Paris on 3 May 1944 when attacked by Me 109 and writes of crew actions. Continues with list of operations giving details of target, anti-aircraft fire, flight time, some bomb loads, events, results. From 3 August…
Log book extract
Showing the last operational sorties of the war in Europe by the main force. His pilots on operations were Flight Lieutenant Briant and Flight Lieutenant Sommers.
List of operations
At the top a list of the crew including T Jones - flight engineer. 7 Squadron PFF, 8 Group, RAF Oakington, September 1944, Avro Lancaster BIII PA964 MG-G. Below 65 operations listed both day and night. two tours expired 10 September 1944.
Letter to Wally Layne's wife from Officer Commanding 97 Squadron
Encloses certificate granting her husband the permanent award of the path finder force badge. Warned not to let this matter be mentioned in any correspondence because if it fell into enemy hands it would not improve the position of a prisoner of war.
Letter to Raymond Keating's Sister
A document sent by Channel 4 after a request from Marie Laydon. The document quotes Hamish Mahaddie's comments on bombing during the war.
Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Flight Lieutenant H Goodwin
A Rhodesian flight engineer, he requests information on how to get posted to Cheshire's squadron. Previous tour on 78 Squadron and currently on 425 Squadron, which is becoming all French Canadian. Happy to drop rank but wished to remain with…
Letter to L V Rosser from Johnny Meredith
Writes that he is about to join a Pathfinder squadron despite trying to get on Mosquito, but does not know where yet. Carries on to write of the great difficulty of getting onto a Mosquito squadron. Recommends that if Rosser get posted to main force…
Letter to Jose from Leslie Hay
The letter lists 49 Squadron operations from May 1944 to 10 June 1944 when John Holden died.