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Interview with Harry Algar
Harry Algar worked as an office boy at Hay’s Wharf in London before the war. He entered the Air Training Corps before joining the RAF when he was seventeen. Started his training on Tiger Moths but was then sent to Canada to remuster as a bomb…
Interview with Bob Lasham
Bob Lasham began an electrical engineering apprenticeship with British Thomson-Houston before volunteering for the RAF in 1941, aged 20. He trained at Babbacombe and Wilmslow before continuing to Clewiston, Florida, to complete his training as a…
Interview with Bob Hughes
Bob Hughes joined the RAF as war became likely to avoid repeating his father's First World War experience in the trenches and transferred to the RAF Volunteer Reserve when war was declared. He trained on Ansons and then flew in twin-engine Blenheims…
Interview with Norman Goodfellow
Norman Goodfellow, born in Wakefield, in 1923. Before the war he worked as an apprentice engineer. Joining the RAF at seventeen he was offered the choice of Pilot or Navigator. Although Norman chose to be a Navigator he initially trained as a Pilot…
Interview with Harold James Warren. One
Harold joined the Royal Air Force just before war started. After some basic training, he went to a technical school to learn about engines and airframes. He spent some time at RAF Boscombe Down. When war started, he was in France as part of 218…
Crashed Blenheim and Battle aircraft on airfield
Top centre, a Blenheim with squadron letters 'EP' lying wheels up and flaps down in a field. There is a bicycle leaning against the rear of the starboard wing and three men working on top of the fuselage near the cockpit.
Bottom left, a number of…
Bottom left, a number of…
Crashed Mk 1 Blenheim and Hawker Henley target towing
Top, the front end of a Mk 1 Blenheim wheels up in a field with bent propellers. There are four fire extinguishers in front of the aircraft and a man is standing on the right looking at the aircraft. Bottom, and air to air view of a Hawker Henley…
Crashed Blenheims
Top, a view of the front of a Blenheim wheels up in a field. A man is standing on the port wing between the engine and the fuselage. The front of the aircraft is surrounded by four fire extinguishers. Bottom, a head on view of a Blenheim wheels up in…
Crashed Blenheims
Top, a crashed Blenheim from port side wheels up in a hedge, with two men sitting on top. Registration [..]U-N. Bottom, a distant shot of Blenheim, registration 'H-UX, wheels up in open field with trees behind. In the foreground an engine.
Interview with Charles Baron
Charles Baron grew up in London and volunteered for aircrew in 1940. He trained as a navigator and on radar. He later volunteered for overseas duties and was posted to India where he flew intruder operations over Burma. After the war he worked…
Interview with Tom Sayer
Tom Sayer was accepted in to the Royal Air Force as an apprentice and began training as a pilot as soon as he was old enough. He trained in the United States and on his return he was detached to Coastal Command. He completed eight operations…
Tom Sayer's Royal Canadian Air Force pilot's flying log book. Book one
Royal Canadian Air Force pilot's flying log book for Sergeant Tom Sayer from 28 July 1941 to 17 December 1944. Detailing training and operations flown with Coastal Command and Bomber Command. After training in the United States and Canada he served…
Interview with Jack Wakefield
Jack Wakefield grew up in New Zealand and volunteered for the Air Force and the Army. He trained as an air gunner on Defiants before being posted to 75 Squadron at RAF Feltwell where he completed a tour on Wellingtons, flying operations to locations…
Interview with Mary Ellis
Mary Wilkins Ellis was born in Oxfordshire and became interested in aviation at a very early age. She experienced her first flight with Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus. Mary learned to fly while still at school and obtained her licence in 1938. When…
Interview with Philip Batty
Philip Batty grew up in Walsall. He discusses the death of his older brother Dennis, a wireless operator with 226 Squadron, early in the Second World War. Philip volunteered for aircrew. After training, he was posted to 50 Squadron at RAF Sturgate as…
Oil fires R.A.F planes
Details of operations on oil tanks at Rotterdam and on Wilhelmshaven.
History of RAF Hemswell
Outlines the history of RAF Hemswell starting from its origin as RAF Harpswell in 1918 until peacetime operations in the the 50s. The station was equipped with Ansons, then Blenheims. Part of No 3 Group, 61 and 144 Squadrons. Changed to No 5 Group,…