Browse Items (849 total)

  • Tags: ground crew

AAdamsCB170802.mp3
Cyril was born in London in 1921 and lived in Battersea with his relatives; he met his wife in 1940 while working at Harrods. His family were killed by bombing after he joined up. Cyril enlisted at RAF Cardington in 1941 and was trained to be a…

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BThomasWKThomasWKv1.pdf
A detailed account of Ken Thomas's life from his early years at school, through his ground crew technical training followed by his aircrew training, operational tour, short post war service and his civilian career, he revised the account in 2005.

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BLazenbyHJLazenbyHJv1.pdf
Harold Jack Lazenby's autobiography.

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ETetleyLMTetleyA[Date]-01.jpg
Letter to his mother from Aircraftsman First Class Leslie Mellor Tetley. He writes about the results of his first examinations at No 6 School of Technical Training RAF Hednesford, the pressure of work and what was expected on the course in future.…

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BDaviesMJDaviesLAv1.pdf
Biographies of navigator Leslie Davies and all his crew. Includes photographs of Lancaster, 50 Squadron, his crew, Leslie Davies himself, training course photographs. Covers his tour from 7 October 1944 to 22 March 1945. List his crew and aircraft…

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AAllenG150917.mp3
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…

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PBlandC1501.jpg
Charles Bland joined the Royal Air Force in February 1942 and went to RAF Halton as an Aircraft Apprentice.
He tells of his training at Halton, and describes the different trades and his exams to become an Leading Aircraftsman 1st Class, where he…

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PBrettDT1501.jpg
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…

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PBryanWA1501.jpg
William Bryan reminisces being hit by a German fighter and anti-aircraft fire while mine laying the Kiel Bay. The rest of the tour was a reasonably quiet time, consisting mainly of operations in the run-up of the Normandy campaign. Describes bombing…

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PLockeBrownK1505.jpg
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…

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PMarchantT1501.jpg
Tom Marchant had always wanted to fly and at eighteen joined the RAF as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner but was remustered as Flight Engineer after his initial postings to Warrington and Squires Gate Airfield, Blackpool. He describes his very first…

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PMillerP1501.jpg
Peter was called up in November 1943 and after basic training was sent to RAF Halton to be trained as a flight mechanic. Whilst there he had several dangerous incidents during small arms training.
Initially posted to 527 Squadron, which was …

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AHextellGJE160104.mp3
George Hextell joined the RAF as a flight engineer and flew operations with 51 Squadron on Halifaxes. After being shot down over Holland, he became a prisoner of war. Gives a detailed account of how his capture, imprisonment and liberation. Describes…

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PStachiewiczM17010028.jpg
Item 1 is a sketch of a red dragon.
Item 2 is a photograph of an airman in an aircraft cockpit.
Item 3 is an airman in a turret of an aircraft.
Item 4 is six airmen, one leaning out of the cockpit and the rest in front of the port engine of a…

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PStachiewiczM17010031.jpg
Photo 1 is a mechanic working on a starboard engine with four men looking on.
Photo 2 is two groundcrew pushing the port main wheel.
Photo 3 is two groundcrew loading a bomb.
Photo 4 is two groundcrew pushing a bomb trolley.

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PStachiewiczM17010035.jpg
Photo 1 is a group of five ground personnel with small bomb containers under a Wellington.
Photo 2 is of four airmen at the nose of a Wellington.

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PStachiewiczM17010036.jpg
Item 1 is a message in German, partly obscured.
Item 2 is a photograph of an officer at a desk signing a document.
Item 3 is a photograph of a Wellington with Polish markings on the nose. A group of men are underneath.

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PStachiewiczM17010041.jpg
Item 1 is a newspaper cutting about Polish aviators.
Item 2 is a Mess bill for Mieczysław Stachiewicz.
Item 3 and 7 are photographs of ground crew working on a Wellington.
Item 4 is a newspaper cutting about 301 Squadron and Polish…

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AGreenKS150713.mp3
Kenneth Green was born on the 17th January 1922 at Pleasley, near Mansfield and worked with the Carlton Auxillary Fire Service before joining the Royal Air Force at the age of 20.
He trained as an engineer after he was unable to fly due to eye…

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PLunnR1601.jpg
Reg Lunn was living in Fulham and working as an apprentice printer when he volunteered for the RAF. He had wanted to be aircrew but he was colour blind and so failed the medical. He joined as an engine fitter and was posted to 48 Squadron at RAF…

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PKirbyH1511.jpg
Harold Kirby joined up the Royal Air Force encouraged by two friends, but ended up training as a flight mechanic at RAF Halton on medical grounds. Harold became them airframe fitter, volunteered as a flight engineer, passed the physical but was then…

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APoynterAD180416.mp3
Having worked in her father’s garage, Audrey was called up, aged 17½, and joined the Royal Air Force. After RAF Padgate, she did some square-bashing at Gloucester before going to RAF Halton. She was taught to change plugs, replace faulty studs and…

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MNorthWA1583475-230802-010001.jpg
A pass stating that Alan North does not have to stand in line to receive his meals.

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EDooleyFHMaintWing420502.jpg
From information provided by the donor. Typed letter from O.C. Maintenance to staff of maintenance wing congratulating them for their work in keeping the aircraft of the training wing sufficiently well repaired to achieve 3400 flying hours in a…

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BPotterPLPotterPLv40003.jpg
Mention action on getting caught in searchlights, effects of altitude on aircrew, avoiding bombs from above, encounters with B-17 while on operations and getting a bottle of Bourbon from the American crew later. Mentions encounter with probable…

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