Was it all a Dream
The memoirs of Wartime Bomb Aimer Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey's wartime memoirs, from enlistment, training in UK and Canada and detail of each of 31 operation in Bomber Command. After completion of his tour he was transferred to Lossiemouth to train Free French aircrew. After successful progress he was offered a commission. Later he trained for Tiger Force ops at RAF Wigsley and Swinderby. When the Force was cancelled he became an Equipment Officer at Bicester then Cosford, Brampton and Kimbolton.
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45 typewritten sheets and two b/w photographs
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Recollections of a Flight Engineer
The recollections of Henry Sturrock of his time as a Flight Engineer flying in the Halifax with No 640 Squadron at Leconfield, he flew his first operation on 12 September 1944 and his last on 2 March 1945, he flew on 35 operations.
He also recounts his experience in the RAF after his flying career while awaiting demobilisation.
There is also a list of the operations that Henry carried out.
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22 pages
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BSturrockHSturrockHv1, BSturrockHSturrockHv2, MSturrockH[Ser#-DoB]-151002-02
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Pilot to Navigator - Where are we?
The Personal Account of a Wartime Navigator
Henry, volunteered for the RAF and learned to fly Tiger Moths at Brough. He then was transferred to South Africa on a troopship. His flying training came to an end after a poor solo flight. He was retrained as a navigator. On completion of his training he returned to the UK. After an inactive posting to Whitley Bay he was sent to West Freugh for further training. Next was an operational training unit at Abingdon, where he crewed up.
Training continued on Whitleys before a transfer to Acaster Malbis for yet more training, followed by the heavy conversion unit at Marston Moor, on Halifaxes.
His first operational posting was 51 Squadron at Snaith. He covers each operation in detail. Interspersed with the details are explanations of electronic systems and tactics used.
During one operation he was shot down and parachuted behind the German lines. Eventually he was taken prisoner, interrogated then transferred to Stalag Luft 7. As the Russians got nearer they were forced to walk west. Later they were transferred by train to Stalag IIIA.
The account then jumps to reunions in the 1980s, then returns to the last few days at the camp as the war ends.
He reached home on 15th May.
This item is available only at the International Bomber Command Centre / University of Lincoln.
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73 page book
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Henry Wagner's life story. Part one
Hand written by Henry, Part 1 covers his early life and time at university. It goes on to cover in some detail his time in the RAF, his time training in South Africa conversion to the Halifax and operations on 51 Squadron. It also covers his time as a prisoner of war and his post war career as a teacher in both England and Kenya. This part also covers his marriage, two children and their first house.
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153 hand written pages with photographs
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Service record John Henry (Jack) Thomas
Covers enlistment and early training in the Royal Australian Air Force. Continues with description of journey to England via the United States and training in England. Lists his crew formed during training. Joined 102 Squadron with Halifax Mk 3 on 12 July 1944 and completed tour 22 January 1944. Lists 36 operational sorties. Goes on to give a detailed description of a typical day's preparation for night bombing raid over Germany.
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Six page printed document
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Pat Hogan's recollection of events on 3/4 March 1945 written to a relative of Flying Officer Alan Shelton
Recounts his attendance at an annual RAAF Air Crew Europe Dinner in September 1979 where the quest speaker was Donald Bennett. He then recounts his activities and training from July 1944 at Lichfield where he was crewed up and subsequently Church Broughton. He writes about visiting parts of United Kingdom on leave and of his other activities including meeting the royal family. Continues with his eventual posting to 466 Squadron at RAF Driffield and accounts of the crews first operations. There follows a long accent of the crew's last operation where on return the were diverted owing to German intruder aircraft in the area. Their aircraft was attacked by a Ju-88 and he had to bail out. He and another two crew survived. He continues with a tribute to crew member Alan Shelton. Ends with b/w photograph of a man sitting in front of a hut from the Melbourne Heralds Sun newspaper - reference meeting the Royal family on page 7.
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1980-11-02
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Fifteen page printed document
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Memoir
Chapter 8 - Overture and Beginners. Gives account of time on OTU at RAF Lossiemouth. Includes ground instruction, crewing up and description of station and training on Wellington. Writes about a fatal crash he sees and about some of his sorties. Gives details of crash crew. Chapter 9 - learning the trade. Writes of short time at RAF Acaster Malbis and then on to 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit a RAF Langar flying Halifaxes. Describes station, activities and training sorties. Notes at the end give details of aircrew and list of operations flown by aircraft Halifax W7928 (EY-R) during its time on 78 Squadron. Chapter 10 - last days in Europe. Starts with arrival at No 5 Lancaster Finishing School at RAF Syerston. Writes of training on Lancaster and giving their preference for operational posting and arrival on 227 Squadron at RAF Balderton. Gives short history of squadron and design of squadron crest. Describes station and loss of pilot colleague on his second dicky trip. Covers arrival on squadron, personalities and detailed description of first operation as second pilot. Continues with squadron move to RAF Strubby. Comments on 5 Group targets and describes subsequent operations to Lutzkendorf and losses. Mentions Operations Manna and Exodus. Describes land actions in Europe and air force operations and the goes on to cover some activities after the end of the war including an Operation Exodus sortie. Notes at the end with information on aircrew casualties and crashes of aircraft on Exodus sorties. Chapter 11 - the odd job men. Description pf post war activities including dumping dangerous incendiaries into the North Sea, preparation for Tiger Force and move to RAF Graveley, Concludes with move to 582 Squadron including sorties on Operation Dodge.
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Ninety page printed document
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BAllamAJAllamAJv1
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