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Interview with Vera Willis
Vera Willis volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force because she wanted to be a driver. Her driving career in the RAF involved driving driving aircrew to dispersal.This content is available as embedded video:
Interview with Vera Willis
Vera Willis nee Tomlinson volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force because she wanted to be a driver. Her driving career in the RAF involved driving long distances as well as driving aircrew to dispersal. Some crew gave her letters for…
Interview with Allan Ernest Edwards
Allan joined the Royal Air Force in December 1942 as a flight engineer, having been a member of the Air Training Corps before the war. From Blackpool, he went to RAF St Athan for flight engineer training. His first squadron was at RAF Waterbeach,…
Interview with Peter Stevenson
Peter Stevenson was born in Grantham and joined the Air League of the British Empire as well as the Air Defence Cadet Corps, The Officer’s Training Corps and the Public School’s Air Cadet Wing. He rose through the cadet ranks and embarked on…
Interview with Rex Alan Austin
Rex Alan Austin was born in Werribee, Victoria in Australia on 4th of January 1924. Rex’s father served in World War One in the middle east and then transferred to the Australian Flying Corps, later known as the Royal Australian Air Force. Schooled…
Interview with Douglas Stanley Smith
Douglas Smith grew up in New Zealand and on leaving school he joined the Post Office. He joined the Air Force and he flew Tiger Moth, and Gypsy Moth aircraft at New Plymouth. On one of his flights there was a warning note in the cockpit not to do…
Eric Varney and his aircrew
Seven airmen below the open bomb doors of a Lancaster. Four are standing and three are kneeling. Eric Varney is kneeling bottom right. All except one person are wearing parachte harnesses. There is another Lancaster in the background.
Interview with Maurice Vivian Askew
Maurice Askew volunteered for the RAF and began training as a flight engineer. He was posted to 207 Squadron at RAF Spilsby and his first operation was to Berlin. On his last operation his aircraft came under attack. He was knocked unconscious as he…
Interview with Tom Rogers
Born in Fulham, Tom Rogers joined the RAF in 1943 as an air gunner. After training he was posted to 207 Squadron in Spilsby, carrying out 26 operations, shooting down two enemy aircraft and being awarded the Legion d’Honneur. He tells of the…
Cadet 1935-1945 Peter D Stevenson
Peter Stevenson's account of his service in the Officer Training Corps at Grantham and later in the Air Training Corps. Tells of his life in Grantham and the effect of the war on the town. Also his involvement post war in museums and projects to…
Malcolm Staves, 207 Squadron Veteran
Malcolm Staves' life in the RAF, starts with his school reports through his enlistment in 1942. He trained at Bridgnorth then was assigned to 207 Squadron at Spilsby. His colleagues included George Cearns who joined 166 Squadron and Hank Williams who…
Malcolm Staves' Wireless Operators Log Book
Wireless Operator's (Air) Log Book for operation to Cham 17 April 1945 including call signs, actions, bearings and fixes taken.
Signal Notes
Front cover of a document titled 'Signals Notes'. The document is damaged and the rest of the title is missing. It has Malcolm Staves' name handwritten several times on the cover. On the reverse is an index for the rest of the document, which is…
Target Nordhausen
A list of aircraft used to attack Nordhausen on 4th April 1945. The list has tabulated, aircraft code and registration, Captain, Sortie, Bomb load, Departure and arrival times and Remarks. At the bottom is the CO's name - S/L Howes, two different…
Malcolm Staves' List of Operations
An account of 207 Squadron operations undertaken by Malcolm Staves whilst at RAF Spilsby.
Raid Assessments
Five 'raid assessments' carried out at RAF Spilsby. Detail of problems encountered in each operation. Final sheet is an extract from Operations Record Book by three different Lancasters.
Target Wesel
List of aircraft, Captain, sorties, bomb load, departure and arrival times and remarks. Officer commanding S/L Belasco, bomb load, fuel load and tonnage underneath.
On the second sheet a complete aircrew list of each aircraft.
On a third sheet is…
On the second sheet a complete aircrew list of each aircraft.
On a third sheet is…
Malcom Staves and his crew
Top is of seven airmen sitting on a grassy bank. On the reverse ' Spilsby May 1945.
Ron Taffy Eric
Ian Me Jim
Ron.'
Middle is of six airmen sitting on the grass in front of a tent. On the reverse 'Ingoldmells 'Rest' Camp.
September…
Ron Taffy Eric
Ian Me Jim
Ron.'
Middle is of six airmen sitting on the grass in front of a tent. On the reverse 'Ingoldmells 'Rest' Camp.
September…
Lancasters in flight over RAF College Cranwell
An air-to-air view of three Lancasters 'EM-F', 'EM-A' and 'EM-C' flying in a V- formation over RAF College Cranwell and countryside. On the reverse 'Dad's Lancaster (centre A)'.
This photograph was taken before Malcom Staves joined 207 Squadron.
This photograph was taken before Malcom Staves joined 207 Squadron.
Lancasters and aircrew
Top is a group of airmen in front of a Lancaster. Captioned '207 Squadron (Aircrews and Ground Staff) At Stradishall, Suffolk. February 1947'.
Bottom is the rear of an air-to air view of a Lancaster captioned 'Lancaster EM-A in which we flew on…
Bottom is the rear of an air-to air view of a Lancaster captioned 'Lancaster EM-A in which we flew on…
Reference issued to Malcolm Staves
![EGiddingsRH[Recipient]4704210001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1011/11569/EGiddingsRH[Recipient]4704210001.jpg "EGiddingsRH[Recipient]4704210001.jpg")
A reference written by Malcolm Staves' Signals Leader, 207 Squadron praising his work and character.
207 Squadron Pilots May 1945
24 airmen arranged in three rows and captioned '207 Sqdn. Pilots May 1945.' On the reverse '406 Malcolm Staves'.
Malcolm Staves and crew
A group of seven airmen, including Malcolm Staves standing in front of a Lancaster. They are wearing full flying gear.
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…
'Ops' with the Howard Crew
Two photographs and one reverse. One shows seven aircrew posed underneath their aircraft. Four are standing behind, with two on one knee in the front row, on a tarpaulin, and the pilot sat cross-legged in the middle. They are on a dispersal. Airfield…