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Half a Life, Half Remembered
From his youth to the award of his DFC by the King.
Halifax Mk 2 with aircrew and ground crew
Aircraft squadron letter J with 11 individuals: front row, kneeling five groundcrew, rear row standing six aircrew.
Handley Page Heyford
A postcard of a Heyford biplane coming into land. On the reverse '1938 The first aircraft Grandad flew as air gunner observer for training. Open cockpits.'
Harry Redgrave's Funeral
A newspaper cutting about the funeral of Sergeant-Observer Harry Redgrave.
Harry Redgrave's Observer Brevet
A brevet worn by Harry Redgrave.
Henry Pollock with 20 Men and One Woman
A mixed group of airmen, two naval officers, soldiers and one woman arranged in three rows outside a building. Henry is second row on far left. On the reverse 'Shawbury 56'.
Henry William Amner Collett's diary
The entries proceed from 1 January 1942 to 24 October 1942.
Homer Lawson and three airmen
Four airmen, including Homer lawson, lined up in their uniforms. Identified by their brevets are an air gunner, flight engineer, observer (Homer Lawson) and the pilot (Canadian).
Homer Lawson DFC
Three images from a photo album.
Photo 1 is a head and shoulders image of Homer Lawson in khaki, wearing an observer's brevet. It is annotated 'With all my Fondest Love Harold xxx'.
Photo 2 is a group of ten trainees arranged in two rows.
Photo 3…
Photo 1 is a head and shoulders image of Homer Lawson in khaki, wearing an observer's brevet. It is annotated 'With all my Fondest Love Harold xxx'.
Photo 2 is a group of ten trainees arranged in two rows.
Photo 3…
In front of a pyramid
A group of five uniformed airmen, all wearing side caps, lined up in front of Great Pyramid of Giza (Pyramid of Khufu) at the Giza Necropolis, Egypt. Jack is standing far left.
Interview with Alan George Buxton
Alan was born in Parramatta, Sydney, in Australia. After going to the Middle East with the army, he returned to Australia, when Japan entered the war, and transferred to the RAF in November 1942.
Alan was posted to Bradfield Park for training and…
Alan was posted to Bradfield Park for training and…
Interview with Alan Payne
Alan Payne was born in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. He volunteered for aircrew with the Royal Air Force and after initial training was sent to South Africa where he trained as an observer. When he returned to the UK, he was allocated the role of bomb…
Interview with Alfie Martin
Alfie Martin was born near Belfast in 1920. He applied for the Air Force but his mother was worried about the dangers and so he withdrew his application. He joined the army and when the RAF advertised for soldiers to transfer the RAF he volunteered.…
Interview with Archie Weir
Archie was born in Ayreshire. He was about 17 when he joined, then went to South Africa to train as a bomb aimer. In February 1943 Archie worked on Halifax Mk 2 before being transferred to Lancaster finishing school at RAF Syerston. In November…
Interview with Bill Moore. One
William Moore was born in Dunoon, Scotland in August 1924 and joined the Royal Air Force after spending some time in the Air Cadet Defence Corps and in the Air Training Corps. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 and completed his…
Interview with Bill Moore. Two
After spending time in the Air Defence Cadet Corps, Bill Moore joined the Royal Air Force, qualifying as an observer. He tells of his family history in wartime and his transatlantic trip, landing in New York before heading to Canada for his training.…
Interview with Bill Thomas
Bill had joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps. He volunteered as a pilot in the Royal Air Force and flew Tiger Moths at RAF Sywell but was re-mustered as a navigator. Bill went to Canada as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme,…
Interview with Bob Smith
Bob Smith was born in Brisbane, Australia. He recalls moving to the family farm in 1932 and being a member of the Air Cadets during his school years. Upon leaving school, Smith undertook training as a bank clerk. Following the events of Pearl…
Interview with Douglas Frank Newham
Douglas Newham enjoyed his career as a navigator. Over his career he saw the development of technology in his chosen field. He and his crew spent some of their time as part of North West African Strategic Air Force. Following time as an instructor at…
Interview with Edward Cayhill
Edward Cayhill was the eldest of eight children and with his father’s encouragement was hoping to go to university. His father died in 1938 which meant that the university dream was cancelled and Edward went to work as a Civil Servant in the…
Interview with Eric Coling
Eric Coling’s father died when Eric was a child which left his mother to cope on her own economically. Eric and his sister were sent to live in an orphanage but their mother was able to visit monthly. When Eric left the orphanage he began working…
Interview with Ernest Davenport
Ernest Davenport was born in Tattenhall, Cheshire in 1923. He joined the Local Defence Volunteers in 1940 and after witnessing the bombing of Merseyside he decided to join the RAF as a pilot. He was accepted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve…
Interview with Ernest Truman
Ernest Truman completed his initial training in Australia as a navigator before arriving in the UK. He was posted to 460 Squadron at RAF Binbrook. One of his ops was to destroy the oil refinery at Merseburg and he recalls the explosion was so bright…
Interview with Frank Leatherdale
Frank was an aircraft spotter for the Local Defence Volunteers and volunteered to join the Royal Air Force as a pilot. He went to Calgary in Canada on the Empire Air Training Scheme, where he few Tiger Moths at the Elementary Training School. He…
Interview with George Royall
George volunteered to be a pilot but settled for Air Observer. He talks about his selection and training in London and then in Stratford-upon-Avon, where enjoyed the theatre and how, at Brighton, illness separated him from the rest of the course. So,…