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Interview with Rex Searle. One
Rex Searle joined the RAF in 1938 as an air frame fitter. He was based at Hendon and then at Biggin Hill with 601 Squadron before the squadron was split and he moved with them to France. He was evacuated back to the UK via Boulogne as the German army…
Interview with Rex Searle. Two
While Rex Searle was an air frame fitter with 601 Squadron he was evacuated from France at the start of the war. He returned home for a short leave but didn’t want to wake the family so waited patiently from 4am until 6am when his mum started her…
Lincoln being serviced
Lincoln RF445, R-MG on the ground, surrounded by grass, background indistinct. Some individuals working on aircraft, another is on horseback wearing topee.
Interview with Victor Stapley
Victor Stapley was born in Ilford in Essex, where he was fond of playing cricket. He left school at fifteen and worked at a tobacco company. He then became a shipping manager, a job which involved shipping spaces whilst not having any telephones in…
Interview with Rex Statham
Rex Statham was born in Luton. His father died in a motorbike accident when he was very young. Although Rex had been very keen to join the Navy he volunteered for the RAF as a flight mechanic. When he realised that many trained mechanics were being…
Interview with Bernard Sterry and Cecilia Pearson
Bernard Sterry and Cecilia Pearson, both born in Hull, talk about their lives as evacuees during the war. Bernard, who was 10 years old when war broke out, was evacuated from Hull to North Lincolnshire until September 1944, when he came back home at…
Interview with Ted Stocker. Two
Edward Ernest Stocker (Ted) began his service with the RAF as a flight engineer on Halifaxes. He came to the attention of his Commanding Officer on his second operation when, before departure, he warned that they were carrying insufficient fuel to…
Interview with Henry Townsley
Henry Townsley was born near Workington and left school at fourteen years of age and started work as an apprentice vehicle fitter. After a spell as a junior engineer in the Merchant Navy he volunteered, in April 1940, for the RAF, rather than the…
Interview with Leonard Ralph Tyrell
Leonard Ralph Tyrell mentions always being keen on aircraft since he was a boy. He was sent to RAF Syerston near Nottingham for Lancaster Finishing School, and then an advanced flying unit near Wolverhampton, before heading to number 17 OTU at RAF…
Interview with Vivian David Williams
Vivian joined the Royal Air Force in July 1938 as a flight mechanic and served for seven and a half years. After square drills at RAF Uxbridge and a course at RAF Manston, he did a basic engineering course at RAF Henlow. After six months at RAF St…
If you can't take a joke...
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.
Letter from Ian Wynn to his wife
Catches up with family news. Writes of new flight and aircrew taking ground crew for a drink in Grimsby along with an amusing incident. Reminisces and thinks about after the war.
Airmen and Lancaster
A large group of airmen arranged in five rows at the front of a Lancaster. A sixth row is standing on its wing.
Interview with Geoffrey Charles Spencer
Geoffrey Spencer grew up in Birmingham and worked with his father in tool making, carrying out fire watching as a youngster. He joined the Air Force in August 1943, aged 18. After training, he served as a flight mechanic and fitter with 49 Squadron…
Lancaster
A side view of a Lancaster under service. Nose art indicates 33 operations. Four men are visible on the ground.
B-29 lower gun turret
Four ground crew plus a sergeant inspecting the lower gun turret of a B-29 with it's cowling off. Three of the aircrew, and the sergeant are wearing overalls, the other man is wearing work shirt and trousers. In the background a scaffolding platform…
John Alfred Wright's life story
Brief but detailed notes of John Alfred Wright's life and Royal Air Force service, places he lived and the dates, stations that he served at, ranks held, medals awarded.
Corporal Everton and Leading Aircraftsman Edwards
Two men standing in a field. The one on the left is in shirtsleeves and the one on the right is wearing Royal Air Force tunic unbuttoned. Both are drinking from mugs. In the background a line of seated spectators and Nissen huts. On the reverse 'Cpl…
Halifax Mk 2 with ground crew
Left side of Halifax Mk 2 nose, with nine ground crew standing in two rows, airfield dispersal background.
Nose art visible showing number of operations and character illustration.
Nose art visible showing number of operations and character illustration.
Halifax Mk 2 with aircrew and ground crew
Halifax Mk 2 squadron letter F, taken from the front, with two rows posed in front, 19 individuals, mix of aircrew and ground crew. Bomb trolley front right with bomb redacted. Airfield dispersal background.
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.
35 Squadron staff
23 individuals, mix of small number of aircrew and officers, with ground personnel of airmen and one woman. Posed in two rows, front row seated, in front of building with 35 Squadron badge signed as "Squadron HQs".
Bessie Birkby and ground crew
Bessie and eight other ground crew from 625 Squadron at RAF Binbrook, sitting on a loaded bomb trolley.
514 Squadron, RAF Waterbeach,1944
A large group of airmen arranged at the front and on top of a Lancaster. The image has a squadron crest at the top. Behind the aircraft is an open hangar.
We're On Tonight
A description of what happened before and during and operation. The battle order was posted, the crew checked over their aircraft, the bomb load was planned, the crew received their briefing, dinner was eaten (bacon and eggs), they dressed,…