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Interview with Ken Hayton
Ken Hayton’s father, George Stanley Hayton (Stan), worked for Lloyds Bank. In 1940 Stan left his post to join the Royal Air Force; Ken recalled going to Durham station to see his father off, travelling to start basic training at RAF Padgate. Ken…
Interview with Mervyn Jones
Mervyn Jones is a miner's son from Wales. His father wanted a different life to that of a miner for his son and the family moved away to Slough where there was plenty of work. Mervyn had always had trouble with his ears and so his father assumed he…
Interview with Richard William Lambert
In 1943, when Richard was 17 and a half, he cycled into Guildford to sign up to volunteer for the Royal Air Force. He reported to Lords cricket ground to collect his uniform and gear and then went for training at RAF Hednesford for a six-month…
Interview with Bob Leedham
Bob Leedham was a flight engineer who carried out 21 operations on Stirlings. At the outbreak of war Bob was an apprentice motor mechanic and, along with other apprentices, was left to operate the garage when all the engineers were called up. In 1940…
Interview with Kenneth George McVicar
Kenneth George McVicar was born in Llanelli, South Wales and joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, where he qualified as a Gunner. He flew in Ansons, as mid upper gunner turret, but also on Stirlings and Lancasters. He tells of how he went on…
Interview with Ken Oatley
Initially too young to enlist at the outbreak of war, Ken Oatley served in the Home Guard until he was able to enlist in October 1940 and, after initial training, he undertook pilot training. After basic flying training he went onto Canada training…
Interview with Horace Robertson
Horace Robertson was working with his father as a shoe repairer in Edinburgh before he joined the RAF. He trained as an electrician and his first posting was at RAF Finningley where he worked on Hampdens. He was then posted to a salvage unit and…
Interview with Hugh Rogers
Hugh Rogers was a cameraman during the war and remembers filming the sinking of the Tirpitz in November 1944. He gives a vivid and detailed account of the operation, describing the briefing, the technical modifications to the aircraft and the…
Interview with Maureen and Sidney Stevens
Sidney was inspired to join The Air Force when he was working as an Air Raid Precaution Warden and his own home was bombed on one occasion. The house next door was also destroyed and the lady who had offered him a cup of tea only hours earlier died.…
Interview with Mary Stopes-Roe
Mary (daughter of Sir Barnes Wallis) discusses her father’s design work and remembers both skipping stones on a river during holidays with her father and catapulting marbles over a washtub in their garden. She goes on to discuss the Eder Möhne and…
Interview with Frank Tilley
Frank Tilley was a flight engineer with 617 Squadron. He took part in the operation to sink the Tirpitz. He explains his flights and briefings before the operation at RAF Woodhall Spa, RAF Milltown and RAF Lossiemouth. On their return from sinking…
Interview with Murray Valentine
Murray Valentine was a wireless operator with 61 Squadron and 617 Squadron. He describes his duties, as well as his job on board the Lancasters on bombing operations. He recalls going to an operational training unit and flying Wellingtons for three…
Interview with Ralph Alfrado Ottey. One
Ralph Ottey was born in Jamaica in 1924. Raised by his grandparents, he describes his education and the family hopes that he would become a teacher. He left school at 16 and a half but was too young to attend teaching college so worked for his uncle…
Interview with Ralph Alfrado Ottey. Two
Ralph Ottey joined the RAF from Jamaica. After the war he returned to Jamaica. However, he had met the woman he was to later marry while based in the UK and returned to settle here. He settled in Boston and had a long career with a local firm. On his…
Interview with Ralph Alfrado Ottey. Three
Ralph Ottey recounts an occasion when he came to the rescue of a local lady who found herself in difficulty while swimming in the local river.
Interview with John James Smith
John Smith grew up near Corby, surrounded by aerodromes, so was used to the sight of aircraft. He observed Lancaster aircraft practising for the Dambusters raid over Eye Brook Reservoir. He also witnessed glider practice and was impressed by the…
Interview with Alan George Buxton
Alan was born in Parramatta, Sydney, in Australia. After going to the Middle East with the army, he returned to Australia, when Japan entered the war, and transferred to the RAF in November 1942. Alan was posted to Bradfield Park for training and…
Leonard Cheshire proposing squadron association toast to current squadron members
RAF Marham. Leonard Cheshire proposing Squadron Association toast to present Squadron members on 40th anniversary of Dams Raids. At RAF Marham. May 1983. Starts with toast on 40th anniversary of operation. Talks about the wartime squadron. Mentions…
Leonard Cheshire speech at RAAFA dinner in Brisbane
Thanks all for opportunity to speak. Sates that he would look back and reflect on memories of the war. Briefly mentions promotion in wartime and tells story. Looks back at his service history and relates some events including his first squadron and…
Leonard Cheshire speech at RAAFA dinner in Brisbane 27 September 1981
After opening remarks and thanks states that he would offer a personal reflection on the war. Tells story about rapid promotion in the air force in wartime. Tells of the lessons he learned in wartime. Reflects in his first operational posting and…
Possible message played at the premiere of The Dam Busters film
Talks briefly of the squadron, Guy Gibson, Sir Ralph Cochrane and international nature of aircrew. Continues with message of peace and sends warmest greetings. Submitted with caption 'Possible message from Group Captain Leonard Cheshire played at the…
Leonard Cheshire - talk to St Ignatius School
Talks about the 617 Squadron and their operation against German dams. Continues with recollection of his time on the squadron and operations against v-weapons with Barnes Wallis designed bombs. Mentions development of low-level marking techniques and…
Recording of several events during a tour of New Zealand and Australia. Oct/Nov 1974
First - Leonard Cheshire - Sacred Heart College: talk to the school. Talks of the dambusters and their operation to the German dams. Goes on to talk of operations against V-weapon sites and other operations carried out by 617 Squadron. Goes on to…
Leonard Cheshire talking to a boys high school in Palmerston and to Catholic Overseas Aid in Auckland.
First, talking to Catholic Overseas Aid in Auckland, Leonard starts with mention of previous visit when he got support for a project in India. He talks about his wife's organisation work in Poland, Yugoslavia and other parts of Europe. He gives…