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Interview with Bessie Thomas
Bessie Thomas left school at the age of fourteen and worked at the Consett Iron Company working as a typist. At the age of eighteen at the time of Dunkirk she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force where she wanted to be a radio operator but there…
Interview with Thea Warwick
Thea Warwick was seven years old and living in Rotterdam during the war. She recounts what is was like during the Hongerwinter. Walking for miles to soup kitchens and talks about other examples of how they obtained food. They moved into the…
Interview with Peter Morris
Peter Morris lived through the East End blitz. He joined the ATC as soon as it was established and applied to join the RAF as aircrew. He was accepted for training as a navigator. While waiting for a course he was part of a group that was sent to…
Air Gunner
A biography of Fred. In addition it includes histories of aircraft and squadrons he served in, Details are included of airfields he served at. Additionally there are biographies of various servicemen associated with Fred's squadrons and service.
At…
At…
The Evacuee
Roy was evacuated four times.
The first to Isleham and he was accompanied by his maternal grandparents and Alan from next door. There was no electricity, water or sewerage in the farmhouse. Gas was installed but never used. Lighting was by paraffin…
The first to Isleham and he was accompanied by his maternal grandparents and Alan from next door. There was no electricity, water or sewerage in the farmhouse. Gas was installed but never used. Lighting was by paraffin…
To Janet from Rupert Harwood
Letter from Rupert Harwood to his daughter Janet. He thanks her for her letter and hopes she is not bothered by the flying bombs. He also mentions that he has not had any time off and hopes she is enjoying her music and swimming.
To Janet from Rupert Harwood
Letter from Rupert Harwood to his daughter Janet. He writes hoping she is not worrying over the buzz-bombs and that he is sending a parcel with sweets and chocolate and foreign stamps.
Letter and transcript of telephone interview
Letter encloses a transcript of telephone interview and ask Mr Chandler to check for accuracy and asks specific questions about window, operation briefings, bird strike, being coned on Karlsruhe operation, overcoming fear and did he feel operations…
Interview with Giovanni Delfino
Giovanni Delfino was at first evacuated to the Cremona area, where he could see the glow of the distant bombings. He then came back to Milan only to witness a bomb nearly missing his house and killing factory workers. He describes the gruesome sight…
Interview with Ronald Davies
In spring 1940, Ronald Davies joined the RAF to train as a pilot. Following initial training, he was posted to America but was dismissed after crashing a Cessna. Following Pearl Harbour, he trained as a navigator in Port Albert, Canada, but upon…
Interview with Alan Morgan
Alan Morgan was an apprentice toolmaker and therefore working in a Reserved Occupation when he volunteered for air crew with his friend and fellow apprentice. His friend was killed on his first operation. Alan trained as a flight engineer. On one…
Interview with Jim Weston. One
Jim Weston joined the Royal Air Force because he wanted to become a radio mechanic. While training at RAF Blackpool as air gunner wireless operator, he re-mustered as a pilot. He remembers being posted to 23 Squadron at RAF Little Snoring, where he…
Visit to Poix-de-la-Somme War Cemetery, France
Suzanne Pescott is the daughter of Homer Lawson who took part in an operation to destroy a V-1 site. Although he survived a Halifax from his squadron was destroyed and six of the seven crew members were killed. Suzanne visited the site to lay a…
Trevor Saint diary/memoir
Diary from joining the RAF in may 1941, through training as groundcrew and then volunteered for aircrew and eventually trained as air gunner and posting to 514 Squadron. Describes operations while on the squadron and notes details and losses.…
Interview with Dr Marjorie Birch
Dr Marjorie Birch was born and grew up in London. She was evacuated with her younger sister when war was declared. She later trained as a medical student in London. She describes her accommodation opposite Kings Cross Station and the bombing. She…
Interview with Harold Kirby. Two
Harold Kirby grew up in London and worked in an accounts department before joining the Royal Air Force. He served as a fitter with 460 Squadron at RAF Binbrook before remustering as a flight engineer. He flew two tours of operations with 467, 97 and…
Interview with Norman Freeman
Norman Freeman was born in London, his wartime preference to be a pilot was thwarted by poor eyesight so he became a wireless/radar mechanic. After training he served all over Britain, and then France at the end of the war. Norman told of why he…
Letter from Wally Layne to his wife
Reports arrival of letters one with photographs of the baby with which he is very pleased. Discusses progress of war and expectations of the end before Christmas. Mentions V-1s and V-2s. Says he has almost run out of cigarettes and that he they were…
Walter Morris - 1939/45 War Record
A memoir covering Walter Morris’ early life before moving into his service in the Air Training Corps from 1941 and his entry into the Royal Air Force in February 1942 (as the first Air Training Corps Cadet from Kettering to be called up). The…
Letter from Ned Sparkes
Letter defending his ideas about German nuclear weapon capability during the war. Writes of attacks on Norsk Hydro Plant, describes V-weapons and draws conclusions.
Mr Churchills war memoirs
Extract covering German Secret weapons and their deployment and attack by allied air forces. Discusses possible effect on Overlord.
V-2 fuel pipe connector
V- 2 part labelled 'V2 fuel pipe connector'.
F/Bomb Depot at St. Leu d'Esserent
Low level oblique aerial photograph of a narrow road leading from the bottom left up a valley to the centre where it meets the square entrance to a tunnel in a hillside. To the left of the valley and above the entrance are trees.
Bomb damaged V-1 site
Photographs 1, 2 and 4 are of airmen standing and sitting on a V-1 launch ramp.
Photographs 3, 5 and 6 are of airmen standing on the badly damaged concrete protection at the site.
Photograph 7 is of four airmen standing in a large bomb…
Photographs 3, 5 and 6 are of airmen standing on the badly damaged concrete protection at the site.
Photograph 7 is of four airmen standing in a large bomb…