Browse Items (236 total)

  • Tags: Air Gunnery School

AHoughWJ160905.mp3
Bill Hough came from a farming background, went to a local grammar school in Northwich and was a member of the Air Training Corps. He joined the RAF in 1943. He describes his initial training at Bridgnorth. Bill then goes into the continuation…

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BLazenbyHJLazenbyHJv1.pdf
Harold Jack Lazenby's autobiography.

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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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PWilliamsAE1510.jpg
Arthur Emlyn Williams was working as a pump operator at the mines, before he volunteered for the RAF. His mother hid his first recruitment letter. He trained at Lord’s Cricket Ground, and Number 2 Air-Gunnery school at Inverness, on Ansons. He…

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BPotterPLPotterPLv20001.jpg
Describes training at Bridlington, Lindholme and Sandtoft including navigation, Morse code, wireless and radio, basic piloting and gunnery as well as physical training. Mentions move to Bridgnorth. Finally to Pembrey for training on aircraft, moving…

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ELampreyPGuntonW[Date]-09.pdf
Peter Lamprey writes about life in the Royal Air Force while training as an air gunner.

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SBriarsRA1299161v1.pdf
Starts with tribute to crew and has colour photograph of a 617 Squadron Lancaster over Lincoln. Writes of his joining the RAF, selection as an air gunner and his basic training. Goes on with description of gunnery training, before going to OTU at RAF…

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PMcDermottC16030015.jpg
A group of eight airmen arranged in two rows in front of a wooden hut. On the reverse 'RAF Evanton Crown Copyright Reserved'.
There is a second copy.

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BPayneRPayneRv1.pdf
A detailed account of Reg Payne's service in the RAF. He starts with a list of 18 RAF bases where he served in his 5 years of service. He was 16 when war was declared but volunteered for the RAF at 17. After tests he was selected for training as a…

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BWhymarkRJWhymarkJPv1.pdf
A resume of 'Jack' Whymark's family and service career. Includes extracts from Jack’s diaries, details from his logbook and histories of the crew and passengers of Lancaster PA278.

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PStonemanWJ1605.jpg
William James Stoneman was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds before Aircrew Reception Centre at RAF Cardington. He chose to become a rear gunner as he did not have to wait. Air gunnery training followed at RAF Bishopscourt in Northern Ireland on Ansons and…

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AGuyanS[Date]-01.mp3
'Jock' Guyan comments on his operations. The recording includes audio clips from a documentary including excerpts of Arthur Harris, engine noises and interviews.

Samuel Guyan flew an operational tour with 90 Squadron and a second tour with 115…

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BArcherSWArcherSWv10001.jpg
Stanley Archer’s account of his training as one of the first flight engineers for Lancaster operations in 1942. First he attended an air gunnery course then transferred to 97 squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa. He comments on a daylight operation on…

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ABarrickMJT161115.mp3
Maurice Barrick had always wanted to serve in the Royal Air Force. Upon completion of training, he was posted to Bomber Command 467 Squadron at RAF Waddington. He did four operational flights and two trips flying British prisoners of war from…

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PBrownJ1721.jpg
Jeff Brown worked as an electrician until he joined the Royal Air Force. He flew with 576 Squadron from RAF Fiskerton.

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PWatkinsJ1801.jpg
John Watkins was working in retail in Rotherham and in 1939 he joined 218 Squadron ATC. He joined the RAF in February 1942 at RAF Cardington, and did his initial training at Blackpool. In December 1942 he did his wireless training at RAF Yatesbury.…

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BPageTJPageTJv1.pdf
Writes of early life and mentions beginning of the war and volunteering for the air force in January 1940. Continues with account of initial training and mustering as an airframe mechanic and subsequent technical training. Describes first posting to…

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BPageTJPageTJv2.pdf
Includes several b/w photographs of people and aircraft. Writes of early life and mentions beginning of the war and volunteering for the air force in January 1940. Continues with account of initial training and mustering as an airframe mechanic and…

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AHookerFJ170826.mp3
Fred Hooker was a mid-upper gunner on 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington, where he flew three operations before being shot down. Born in Hartley Wintney in 1924, Fred’s first experience of the RAF was visiting RAF Odiham as a member of the Air…

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PWoolgarRLA1612.jpg
Group portrait of 28 air gunners, formally arranged in three rows in front of a hut. Eight are seated, the rest standing; seven carrying peaked caps. In the back row, three men appear to be wearing non-Royal Air Force brevets and uniforms. Reverse…

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PAllenDJ1532-0050.jpg
15 airmen in two rows, eight in front kneeling and seven behind standing. All are in battledress with side cap. Derrick Allen is front row right extreme right. In the background open ground. On the reverse 'Derrick Allen kneeling extreme right,…

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PAllenDJ1532-0052.jpg
15 airmen in two rows, seven in front row kneeling and eight standing behind. All are wearing battledress and side cap. On the reverse 'No 1 AGS Pembrey, 30-1-44/25-3-44, Bert Davies kneeling third from right, passing out parade'.

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PAllenDJ1532-0054.jpg
15 airmen in two rows, seven kneeling in the front and eight standing to the rear. All wearing battledress and side cap. On the reverse 'H. R. Harvey, kneeling extreme right, trainee air gunner, passing out parade, No 1 AGS Pembrey 1944'.

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PCaseyJ1516.jpg
13 airmen in two rows, front row of seven sitting and rear row of six standing. All are wearing greatcoats and side caps. In the background a wooden hut with windows. A board at the front reads 'No 126 Course Air Gunners Squad B, 13-12-43 [....]'.…

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PMcClementsR15010001.jpg
15 airmen and their officer. They are arranged in three rows, 14 are wearing side caps with a training flash. On the reverse '1943 Pembrey Pembrey Sth Wales No 1 Gunnery school
Middle Rear R McClements
To his left M.Mehan
Centre row 1st…

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