1
25
4
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1252/16937/SCheshireGL72021v10019.2.jpg
64f1c1d9ab642dc63cb237ddc0c2e603
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cheshire, Leonard
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard
Baron Cheshire
Description
An account of the resource
374 items concerning Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC. Collection consists of photographs of people, vehicles, places, aircraft, weapons and targets; documents including, private and service letters, signals, telegrams, intelligence reports, crew lists and official documents. Cheshire served on 102 and 35 Squadrons and commanded 76 and 617 Squadrons. The collection includes details of 617 Squadron's precision bombing operations. Also included are two sub-collections: one containing 21 photographs of Tinian and Saipan, the other consisting of 37 audio tapes of speeches given by Cheshire after the war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by The Leonard Cheshire Archive and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
.A.F. Station,
Woodhall Spa,
Lincoln.
GLC/DO/44
2ND February, 1944
Dear
Thank you very much for your letter, and my heartfelt congratulations on your recent achievement.
At the moment I have no vacancy for a Wireless Operator, but since I may be likely to have one in the next two or three days, I shall be very glad to see you here.
I am sure that if you were to put in an application to your C.O. that the posting could be affected.
With my very best wishes,
Yours
Wing Commander
Commanding,
[underlined] No 617 Squadron[/underlined]
F/O F.N. Lawrence,
Officers Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Melbourne,
Yorks.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Leonard Cheshire to Flying Officer F N Lawrence
Description
An account of the resource
States he has no vacancy at the moment but will have in a few days and writes he would like him then.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-02-02
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SCheshireGL72021v10019
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Yorkshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-02-02
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Cheshire, Leonard. Correspondence
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One-page typewritten letter
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Claire Monk
617 Squadron
aircrew
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992)
RAF Melbourne
RAF Woodhall Spa
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1252/16936/SCheshireGL72021v10018.2.jpg
41ea5815a064e51b7fa717b573b279b2
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cheshire, Leonard
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard
Baron Cheshire
Description
An account of the resource
374 items concerning Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC. Collection consists of photographs of people, vehicles, places, aircraft, weapons and targets; documents including, private and service letters, signals, telegrams, intelligence reports, crew lists and official documents. Cheshire served on 102 and 35 Squadrons and commanded 76 and 617 Squadrons. The collection includes details of 617 Squadron's precision bombing operations. Also included are two sub-collections: one containing 21 photographs of Tinian and Saipan, the other consisting of 37 audio tapes of speeches given by Cheshire after the war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by The Leonard Cheshire Archive and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
F/O. F.N. Lawrence,
Officers Mess,
RAF. Station.
Melbourne,
Yorks.
24th Jan. 1944.
Sir,
I have recently heard that you have returned to operations, and I wish to know I you have a vacancy for a Wireless Operator on the Squadron.
I had the pleasure of being under your command at Linton-on-Ouse until April 1943, when I was posted to Melbourne.
I have recently returned to this Squadron after a walking tour on the Continent and I am now a ‘spare body’.
Therefore, if you have a vacancy Sir, would you please inform me.
I have the honour to be
Sir,
Your obedient Servant
F.N. Lawrence F/O
Wing Commander G.L. Cheshire, D.S.O. D.F.C.
Officers Mess,
RAF. Station,
Coningsby,
Lincs.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Flying Officer F N Lawrence
Description
An account of the resource
Asks if Cheshire has vacancy for wireless operator on his squadron. Served under him at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and recent returned after evading on the continent.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
F N Lawrence
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-01-24
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SCheshireGL72021v10018
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Yorkshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-01-24
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Cheshire, Leonard. Correspondence
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One-page typewritten letter
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Claire Monk
aircrew
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992)
evading
military ethos
RAF Coningsby
RAF Melbourne
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/298/10075/MMcClementsR1796607-151021-030003.1.jpg
7a30793b1034f3c35a35148f326633ca
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/298/10075/MMcClementsR1796607-151021-030004.1.jpg
5ddf8faea4663000e7ea0e4f4a20f562
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
McClements, Robert
Robert McClements
R McClements
Description
An account of the resource
17 items. Two oral history interviews with Robert McClements (-2022, 1796607 Royal Air Force) and one with his wife, Iris McClements (b. 1926). The collection also contains his log book, service documents, photographs and a model of his Halifax. He completed a tour of operations as a mid-upper gunner with 10 Squadron from RAF Melbourne. The log book belonging to L Kirrage, his flight engineer, is also included.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Robert McClements and catalogued by Barry Hunter and David Leitch.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-09-21
2015-10-21
2018-02-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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McClements, R
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
1943: Volunteered for the RAF
19 December 1943 -11 February 1944: RAF Pembrey, No.1 AGS, flying Anson aircraft
23 April 1944 - 20 May 1944: RAF Lossiemouth, No. 20 OTU, Flying Gunnery Flight, flying Wellington aircraft
8 July 1944 - 23 July 1944: 1658 RAF Ricall, 1658 HCU, flying Halifax aircraft
30 July 1944 - 18 February 1945: RAF Melbourne, 10 Squadron, flying Halifax aircraft
July 1944 - February 1945: served on 10 Sqn as a Flight Sergeant Air gunner.
3 March 1947: RAF Kirkham, Released from Service, having attained the rank of Temporary Warrant Officer
Chris Cann
Robert McClements was born on 6 December 1924, in Belfast. He left school at the age of 14 and worked various jobs to help support his family. While there was no conscription in Northern Ireland, in late 1943 while working at the Harland and Wolff shipyard he volunteered to join the RAF, as aircrew.
Following basic training at RAF Bridlington and then initial gunnery training at RAF Bridgnorth, he was posted to RAF Pembry to join No 1 AGS and train as an air gunner. Air gunners course · IBCC Digital Archive (lincoln.ac.uk)
He completed the gunnery course in February 1944 and was posted to No 20 OTU at RAF Lossiemouth and then on to 1658 HCU, at RAF Ricall, to train on Halifax aircraft. In July 1944, with all training finally completed, he began his operational flying with 10 Squadron at RAF Melbourne flying Halifax aircraft.
His early operational trips passed without incident, but on one operation the aircraft experienced heavy icing, causing it to lose all lift and go into an uncontrolled descent. With the aircraft going straight down the order to ‘Bale out’ was given, Robert managed to get out of his gunner position, but then found himself forced to the floor unable to move. In the cockpit, the pilot engaged full power and he and his engineer battled with the control column to pull the aircraft out of its dive. The flight home passed uneventfully although the engineer reported that the aircraft never ever flew again.
Throughout the rest of his tour there were other eventful sorties. On one, two of the bombs ‘hung up’ and they had to release them from the carrier units using an axe. On another, the bomb aimer forgot to press the bomb-release button so they had to go around again. Luck was again on his side when, on a night raid, another aircraft on a turning point swung across the top of his Halifax, narrowly missing the top of his gun turret. Robert went on to complete a full operational flying tour of 38 operational sorties over Belgium, France and Germany amassing over 200 flying hours. PMcClementsR1503.2.jpg (1600×1299) (lincoln.ac.uk)
After his operational tour, Robert was released from flying duties. He remained at RAF Melbourne and trained as a Unit Fire Officer and he and his flight engineer took charge of the station warrant officer’s office. During a routine site inspection, he met a German prisoner of war who was making a wooden model of a Catalina aircraft for the officers’ mess. Robert asked him to make a model of his Halifax aircraft for him. The aircraft, remarkable in its detail, has been a treasured memento of his time served in the RAF. Robert McClements and his model of Halifax ZA-V · IBCC Digital Archive (lincoln.ac.uk)
Robert met his future wife, Iris, on a visit to the Observer Corp HQ at York where she was a serving member. He left the RAF in 1947 having attained the rank of Temporary Warrant Officer. He and Iris settled in England where they worked with her father, in York. Latterly, he and Iris set up their own business in Wakefield selling motor vehicles.
Chris Cann
Iris McClements (nee Dobson) remembers, at the age of 11, being issued with a gas mask before the war had started. When she was about 13 years of age, her family moved to Eldwick to avoid the bombs.
She was a member of the Home Guard before joining the Women’s Junior Air Corp where she attained the rank of sergeant. She recalled wearing a grey uniform, being issued with a bucket, stirrup pump and helmet for fire watching and learning the theory of the internal combustion engine.
In 1944, she passed the entrance exam to join the Royal Observer Corps and was based in York, as a plotter. Her role was to listen to information from the spotters via headphones and place it on to the plotting table. This included the number of aircraft, direction of travel, height, and whether they were friendly or hostile. This was to give warning of enemy operations or to track operations heading to Germany. She worked eight-hour shifts which changed each week. The spotters in the outposts were also watching for aircraft that were going to crash-land, so that the crash sites could be identified. Iris visited a couple of these sites. She met her husband to be, Robert, on one of his visits to the Royal Observer Corp HQ in York.
She lived on an ex-World War One motor launch in York that the family had used for recreation. When off duty she would often travel into York to go dancing, swimming and to the cinema.
After the war she and Robert worked with her father in the motor trade. She then set up business with Robert in Wakefield.
Chris Cann
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
SECRET
[Underlined] No. 10 Squadron – Operational Crew List for 22nd Jan. 1945 [\underlined]
[Underlined] MZ413 ‘B’ [\underlined]
153042 FO. C.P. Snith. Capt.
156760 FO. G. Lucas. Nav.
154245 FO. H. Jeffs. A/B
1591444 Sgt. Davis. J. W/O
1235901 Sgt. Potton. M. M/U
3040628 Sgt. Burrill. K. F/E
1594680 Sgt. Bransby. J. T/G
[Underlined] MZ751 ‘J’ [\underlined]
186942 FO. B. Davies. Capt.
A431956 FS. Young. J.D. Nav.
A448279 FS. Just. F. A/B
A429594 FS. Malke. J. W/O
1899002 Sgt. Whitehead. A. M/U
1391121 Sgt. Blackman. S. F/E
1898230 Sgt. Weaver. L.J. T/G
[Underlined] [Deleted letters] NR245 ‘H’ [\underlined]
68127 FL. Ballantine. F. Cpt.
1604183 Sg. Ballard. R. Nav.
NZ427301 FO. Matheson. A/B
1208537 Sgt. Buttery. C. W/O
[Deleted name]
3000063 Sgt. Ransome. F/E
1592027 Sgt. Abbott. J. T/G
798794 FS. Caines. G. M/U
[Underlined] NP994 ‘K’ [\underlined]
J35338 FO. Jones. F.S. Capt.
R180264 FS. Turner. H.S. Nav.
R180136 FS. Mason. L.W. A/B
R152305 FS. Latner. D. W/O
R254175 FS. Bressler. L. M/U
3021621 Sgt. Fowler. A.F. F/E
R210774 FS. Gam. A. T/G
[Underlined] NA228 ‘D’ [\underlined]
J27190 FL. L. Murphy. Capt.
J36383 FO. O. Schoneck. Nv.
J35805 FO. W. Conlin. A/B
1602806 Sgt. Adams. S. W/O
605564 FS. Bynoe. E. M/U
1823889 Sgt. [indecipherable name] F. F/E
1595913 Sgt. Pepper. D. T/G
142581 FO. Bastard. L. 2ndP.
[Underlined] MZ919 ‘L’ [\underlined]
A426299 FL. J. Bridgett. Cpt.
151611 FO. Rose. F. Nav.
1323355 FS. Warren. G. A/B
141696 FO. Biggs. J.D. W/O
A421126 WO. Rochford. K. M/U
1823553 Sgt. Davidson. H. F/E
2220056 Sgt. Brown. K.D. T/G
[Underlined] MZ948 ‘E’ (Non Y) [\underlined]
179566 FO. F.D. Moss. Capt.
1394974 FS. Davenport. Nav.
R151294 WO. Webster L. A/B
1369742 FS. Fowler R. W/O
1594868 FS. Fearnley. M/U
[Deleted Line]
1594027 FS. Hodgson. S. T/G
1890136 Sgt. Tasker. H. F/E
146619 FO. Haselock. G. M/Undr.
[Underlined] NK[indecipherable number] ‘C’ (Non Y) [\underlined]
28258 W/C U.Y. Shannon.
162201 FO. Watson. S. Nav.
924285 FS. Camfield. R. A/B
R173525 WO. Senderoff. A. [missing letter]
1880643 Sgt. Yates. R. M/[missing letter]
54345 FO. Temperley. N. F/[missing letter]
1595023 Sgt. Graham. N. T/G
[Underlined] NA195 ‘F’ [\underlined]
A423357 FO. J. Tudberry. Cpt.
1388085 Sgt. Baker. A.E. Nv.
1602722 Sgt. Brown. D. A/B
A426947 FS. Nattrass. O. W/O
1897840 Sgt. Shotter. L. M/U
1825702 Sgt. Brown. J. F/E
1258556 Sgt. Rumble. A. T/G
A424793 PO. E. O’Ryan. 2nd P.
[Underlined] N [missing letters/numbers] ‘N’ [\underlined]
104586 FL. A.D. Stephens. Cpt.
591740 FS. Rees. K. Nav.
1601365 Sgt. Robson. B. A/B
NZ414909 FO. Maria. H.C. W/O
R132611 WO. Roberts. C. M/U
2218869 Sgt. Elliott. T. F/E
54273 FO. Heap. R.E. T/G
[Underlined] MZ315 ‘G’ [\underlined]
102120 FL. G.G. Scott. Cpt.
146299 FO. Drury. R. Nav.
113918 SL. G. Bond. A/B
995060 WO. Hamilton. A. W/O
177171 PO. Marshall. J. M/U
1595611 Sgt. Hurst. J. F/E
1608775 FS. Sharley. T. T/G
[Underlined] RG254 ‘O’ [\underlined]
135867 SL. W. Allan. Capt.
156440 FL. Newham. D.F. Nav.
188912 PO. Payne. R.V. A/B
187215 PO. Hobson. J. W/O
184154 PO. Collins. F. M/U
188198 PO. Gilling. R. F/E
183859 PO. Munnoch. J. T/G
161387 FO. Bladen. F.R. 2nd Pilot.
[Underlined] [deleted letters] NR175 ‘T’ [\underlined]
104582 SL. F.O. Janes. Cpt.
185390 PO. J. Meadows. Nav.
153495 FO. Ireland. J. A/B
187791 PO. Williams. J. W/O
184143 PO. Griffiths. G. M/U
178230 PO. Hardman. J. F/E
1305889 FS. Eastwood. H. T/G
[Underlined] MZ433 ‘P’ [\underlined]
62287 FO. Dade. J. Capt.
1511966 Sgt. Noble. P.H. Nav.
154373 FO. Thompson. F.N. A/B
168790 PO. Dennick. A. W/Op
538349 Sgt. Malone. W. M/U
1569078 Sgt. Russell. J. F/E
[Deleted name] T/G
R25196 [missing number] Sgt. Woolridge. A.R. T/G
Continued Overleaf / . . . . .
[Page break]
[Underlined] Crew List for 22/1/45 Continued [\underlined] / . . . . .
[Underlined] NP993 ‘Q’ [\underlined]
A417978 FO. Smith. P. Capt.
1800067 Sgt. Earl. D.J. Nav.
1670526 FS. Brown. J. A/B
A427178 FS. Witnish. K. W/O
2210377 Sgt. Houghton. J. M/U
1825951 Sgt. Johnstone. W. F/E
1880437 Sgt. King. D. T/G
[Underlined] MZ793 ‘X’ [\underlined]
137810 FO. J. Grayshan. Capt.
1800664 FS. Berry. A.J. Nav.
187883 PO. Chaderton. S. A/B
1811552 FS. Andrews. P. W/Op
1579147 FS. Mills. H.L. M/U
2205669 Sgt. Maddock/Lyon. R. F/E
1090310 FS. Petrie. J. T/G
[Underlined] MZ746 ‘S’ (Non Y) [\underlined]
138847 FO. E.E.H. Cook. Cpt.
1800813 FS. Gibson. D. Nav.
1585932 Sgt. Lamb. A/B
1802361 FS. Dade. A.W. W/O
1801347 FS. Dix. R.A. M/U
1594924 Sgt. Murray. G. F/E
1580529 FS. Baker. A.J. T/G
[Underlined] RG345 ‘Y’ [\underlined]
170132 FO. Halstead. R.G. Capt.
A429666 FO. Muntz. J.B. Nav.
702584 FS. McMahon. A/B
169314 FO. Houghton. E. W/Op
962522 Sgt. Kilroy. J. M/U
1592913 Sgt. Evans. R. F/E
1046295 Sgt. Fryer. R. T/G
[Underlined] MZ430 ‘V’ [\underlined]
J27189 FL. R. Grant. Capt.
J92749 PO. Holstead. C. Nv.
645731 Sgt. Hodkinson. A/B
1522843 FS. Melvin. J. W/O
1796607 F.S. McClements. M/U
1869665 Sgt. Kirrage. L. F/E
638543 Sgt. Webb. R.A. T/G
[Underlined] NR189 ‘Z’ [\underlined]
NZ414349 FO. J.A. Scott. Cpt.
A417609 FO. Warnes. J.F. Nv.
153807 FO. Hesketh. E.E. A/B
A429400 FO. Butcher. M.W. W/Op
1852471 Sgt. Moore. P.M. M/U
1897010 Sgt. Bulpett. G. F/E
1383478 Sgt. Perry. E.R. T/G
[Underlined] NA162 ‘W’ [\underlined]
161995 FO. Hurrell. Capt.
1297188 Sgt. Nickels. Nav.
1800994 Sgt. Summerfield. A/B
1600106 Sgt. Webb. W/Op
[Deleted line]
1811202 Sgt. Stokes. F/E
[Deleted line]
169866 FO. Larkins. A. M/U
1576086 Sgt. Hyslop. T/G
[Underlined] LK753 ‘C’ (Non [inserted] Q [\inserted]
A24376 FO. Thorne. R. Capt.
1604970 Sgt. Bunnell. F. Nv.
A424095 PO. Simson. J. A/B
A422280 WO. Marks, R. W/O
1738074 Sgt. Watford. W. M/
1592222 Sgt. McHugh. H. F/E
2221890 Sgt. McDonagh. W. T
[Signature] F/O
for Wing Commander, Commanding,
[Underlined] No. 10 Squadron. RAF. [\underlined]
Briefing: - W/C Shannon
Nav: - F/L Newham
A/B8s: - F/L Furrow
Signals: - F/L Newell
F/E’s: - F/L Hampson
Gunners: - F/L Hodson
De-Briefing: - SL Lomax & FO Beaman
FL Farrow
D.S.O.
FO Temperley
FO Haselock
Security Officer: - F/O BOLTON (Air Bomber)
Window Crew: - F/O Bastard’s crew less Captain and Air Bomber
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Description
An account of the resource
Lists crews and aircraft for operations on 22 January 1945.
Title
A name given to the resource
No. 10 Squadron operational crew list for 22 Jan. 1945
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-01-22
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two-page typewritten document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MMcClementsR1796607-151021-030003, MMcClementsR1796607-151021-030004
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-01-22
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Anne-Marie Watson
10 Squadron
aircrew
RAF Melbourne
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/298/9934/MMcClementsR1796607-151021-030001.1.jpg
584fe70ac6329947e47ea66277ee3107
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
McClements, Robert
Robert McClements
R McClements
Description
An account of the resource
17 items. Two oral history interviews with Robert McClements (-2022, 1796607 Royal Air Force) and one with his wife, Iris McClements (b. 1926). The collection also contains his log book, service documents, photographs and a model of his Halifax. He completed a tour of operations as a mid-upper gunner with 10 Squadron from RAF Melbourne. The log book belonging to L Kirrage, his flight engineer, is also included.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Robert McClements and catalogued by Barry Hunter and David Leitch.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-09-21
2015-10-21
2018-02-25
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
McClements, R
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
1943: Volunteered for the RAF
19 December 1943 -11 February 1944: RAF Pembrey, No.1 AGS, flying Anson aircraft
23 April 1944 - 20 May 1944: RAF Lossiemouth, No. 20 OTU, Flying Gunnery Flight, flying Wellington aircraft
8 July 1944 - 23 July 1944: 1658 RAF Ricall, 1658 HCU, flying Halifax aircraft
30 July 1944 - 18 February 1945: RAF Melbourne, 10 Squadron, flying Halifax aircraft
July 1944 - February 1945: served on 10 Sqn as a Flight Sergeant Air gunner.
3 March 1947: RAF Kirkham, Released from Service, having attained the rank of Temporary Warrant Officer
Chris Cann
Robert McClements was born on 6 December 1924, in Belfast. He left school at the age of 14 and worked various jobs to help support his family. While there was no conscription in Northern Ireland, in late 1943 while working at the Harland and Wolff shipyard he volunteered to join the RAF, as aircrew.
Following basic training at RAF Bridlington and then initial gunnery training at RAF Bridgnorth, he was posted to RAF Pembry to join No 1 AGS and train as an air gunner. Air gunners course · IBCC Digital Archive (lincoln.ac.uk)
He completed the gunnery course in February 1944 and was posted to No 20 OTU at RAF Lossiemouth and then on to 1658 HCU, at RAF Ricall, to train on Halifax aircraft. In July 1944, with all training finally completed, he began his operational flying with 10 Squadron at RAF Melbourne flying Halifax aircraft.
His early operational trips passed without incident, but on one operation the aircraft experienced heavy icing, causing it to lose all lift and go into an uncontrolled descent. With the aircraft going straight down the order to ‘Bale out’ was given, Robert managed to get out of his gunner position, but then found himself forced to the floor unable to move. In the cockpit, the pilot engaged full power and he and his engineer battled with the control column to pull the aircraft out of its dive. The flight home passed uneventfully although the engineer reported that the aircraft never ever flew again.
Throughout the rest of his tour there were other eventful sorties. On one, two of the bombs ‘hung up’ and they had to release them from the carrier units using an axe. On another, the bomb aimer forgot to press the bomb-release button so they had to go around again. Luck was again on his side when, on a night raid, another aircraft on a turning point swung across the top of his Halifax, narrowly missing the top of his gun turret. Robert went on to complete a full operational flying tour of 38 operational sorties over Belgium, France and Germany amassing over 200 flying hours. PMcClementsR1503.2.jpg (1600×1299) (lincoln.ac.uk)
After his operational tour, Robert was released from flying duties. He remained at RAF Melbourne and trained as a Unit Fire Officer and he and his flight engineer took charge of the station warrant officer’s office. During a routine site inspection, he met a German prisoner of war who was making a wooden model of a Catalina aircraft for the officers’ mess. Robert asked him to make a model of his Halifax aircraft for him. The aircraft, remarkable in its detail, has been a treasured memento of his time served in the RAF. Robert McClements and his model of Halifax ZA-V · IBCC Digital Archive (lincoln.ac.uk)
Robert met his future wife, Iris, on a visit to the Observer Corp HQ at York where she was a serving member. He left the RAF in 1947 having attained the rank of Temporary Warrant Officer. He and Iris settled in England where they worked with her father, in York. Latterly, he and Iris set up their own business in Wakefield selling motor vehicles.
Chris Cann
Iris McClements (nee Dobson) remembers, at the age of 11, being issued with a gas mask before the war had started. When she was about 13 years of age, her family moved to Eldwick to avoid the bombs.
She was a member of the Home Guard before joining the Women’s Junior Air Corp where she attained the rank of sergeant. She recalled wearing a grey uniform, being issued with a bucket, stirrup pump and helmet for fire watching and learning the theory of the internal combustion engine.
In 1944, she passed the entrance exam to join the Royal Observer Corps and was based in York, as a plotter. Her role was to listen to information from the spotters via headphones and place it on to the plotting table. This included the number of aircraft, direction of travel, height, and whether they were friendly or hostile. This was to give warning of enemy operations or to track operations heading to Germany. She worked eight-hour shifts which changed each week. The spotters in the outposts were also watching for aircraft that were going to crash-land, so that the crash sites could be identified. Iris visited a couple of these sites. She met her husband to be, Robert, on one of his visits to the Royal Observer Corp HQ in York.
She lived on an ex-World War One motor launch in York that the family had used for recreation. When off duty she would often travel into York to go dancing, swimming and to the cinema.
After the war she and Robert worked with her father in the motor trade. She then set up business with Robert in Wakefield.
Chris Cann
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
SECRET
[Underlined] No. 10 Squadron – Crew List for Operations [crossed out] 13th [/crossed out] [handwritten] 14th [/handwritten] Jan. 1945
[Underlined] OPERATION ‘G’ [/underlined]
[Underlined] MZ411 ‘A’ [underlined]
A423357FO.J.Tudberry.Cpt.
13880885Sgt.Baker.A.E.Nv.
1602722Sgt.Brown.D.S.A/B
A426947FS.Nattrass.O.W/O
1897840Sgt.Shotter.L.M/U
1825702Sgt.Brown.J. F/E
1258556Sgt.Rumble.A. T/G
[Underlined] MZ793 ‘X’ [/underlined]
187810 FO.J.Grayshan.Capt.
1800664Sgt.Berry.A.J.Nav.
187883 PO.Chaderton.S.A/B
1811552FS.Andrews.P. W/O
1579147FS.Mills.H.L. M/U
2205669Sgt.Maddock-Lyon.R.F/E
1090310FS.Petrie.J. T/G
[Underlined] MZ315 ‘G’ [/underlined]
J27190 FL.L.Murphy. Capt.
J36383 FO.C.Schoneck.Nv.
J35805 FO.W.Conlin. A/B
1602806Sgt.Adams.S. W/O
605564 Sgt.Bynce.E.A.M/U
1594079Sgt.Stokoe.W. F/E
1595913Sgt.Pepper.D.C.T/G
[Underlined] RG345 ‘Y’ [/underlined]
J26398 FL.J.Loffoley. Capt.
1548297FS.Hamilton.S. Nav.
J92417 PO.Thorndycraft.L.A/B
1390891Sgt.Field.P.H. W/Op
94 [missing numbers] 44Sgt.Kay.W.N. M/U
[missing numbers] Sgt. [indecipherable name] F/E
[missing numbers] Sgt.Bradshaw.E. T/G
[Underlined] LW167 ‘O’ [/underlined]
47485 FL.L.H.Wood.Capt.
1335655FS.Jennings.J. Nv.
1138896WO.Gibbon.J. A/B
178081 PO.Brookes.J. W/O
161748 FO.Phillips.E.M/U
1826086Sgt.Maxwell.J.F/E
1035034WO.Shallcross.A.T/G
[underlined] RG345 ‘I’ [/underlined]
18258 WC.U.Y.Shannon.Cpt.
162201 FO.S.Watson. Nav.
924285 FS.Camfield.R.A.A/B
R173525WO.Sendroff.A W/Op
1880643Sgt.Yates.R. M/U
54345 FO.Temperley.N. F/E
1595023Sgt.Graham.N. T/G
[underlined] NA237 ‘C’ [/underlined]
179566 FO.F.D.Moss.Capt.
1394974FS.Davenport.Nav.
R151294FS.Webster.L.A/B
1369742Sgt.Fowler.R. W/O
1594868Sgt.Fearnley.F.M/U
1890136Sgt.Tasker.H. F/E
1594027Sgt.Hodgson.S.T/G
[underlined] OPERATION ‘A’ [/underlined]
[underlined] NA228 ‘D’ [/underlined]
188409 FO.Marshall.A.J.Cpt.
1570391Sgt.Paxton.W. Nav.
1526238FS.Lawrence.K. A/B
1334428FS.Elsome.D. W/O
2225156Sgt.Thornley.J. M/U
2210474Sgt.Griffiths.A.F/E
2222265Sgt.Tuck.R.C. T/G
[underlined] MZ751 ‘J’ [/underlined]
J35338 FO.Jones.F.S.Cpt.
R180264FS.Turner.H.S.Nv.
R180136FS.Mason.L.W. A/B
R152305FS.Latner.D. W/O
R254175FS.Bressler.L. M/U
3021721Sgt.Fowler.A.F.F/E
R210774FS.Gam.A. T/G
[underlined] MZ948 ‘E’ (Non Y) [/underlined]
172780FO.F.Taylor. Capt.
A423199FS.Kerr.R. Nav.
A422343PO.Yates.W. A/B
1802361FS.Dade.A.W. W/O
1894699Sgt.Ulliett.G. M/U
648286 Sgt.Kennedy.H. F/E
1853742FS.Trenchard.C.T/G
[underlined] NP994 ‘K’ [/underlined]
142044 FO.Gibbs.R.A.Capt.
1582776 Sgt.Chell.L.H.Nav.
153652 FO.Cook.D. A/B
170480 PO.Parham.W. W/O
1596679 Sgt.Smith.T. M/U
1023844 Sgt.Ashton.W. F/E
942139 Sgt.Seabridge.W.T/G
[underlined] NA195 ‘F’ [/underlined]
102120 FL.G.G.Scott. Capt.
146299 FO.Drury.R. Nav.
1575662WO.Britland.E. A/B
995060 WO.Hamilton.A. W/O
177171 PO.Marshall.J. M/U
1608775FS.Sharley.T.D.T/G
[underlined] MZ919 ‘L’ [/underlined]
A426299 FL.Bridgett.J.Capt.
151611 FO.Rose.F. Nav.
1323355 FS.Warren.G. A/B
146096 FO.Biggs.J.D. W/O
A421126 WO.Rochford.L.M/U
1823553 Sgt.Davidson.H.F/E
2220056 Sgt.Brown.K.D. T/G
Continued Overlef [sic] /…………..
[page break]
[underlined] Crew List for Operations 13/1/45 [/underlined] Continued/…..
[crossed out ] [underlined] NR183 ‘M’ [/underlined]
177258 FO. [indecipherable name]. Capt.
1625895Sgt.Felts.M. Nav.
154[indecipherable number]73 FO.Adler.F. A/B
NZ413772FO.Muir.F W/O
1702041FS.Minnett.T.M/U
2210473Sgt.Stott.S.F/E
154751 FO.Barnard.E.T/G [/crossed out]
[underlined] NR175 ‘T’ [/underlined]
104582 SL.F.C.Janes.Capt.
185390 PO.Meadows.J. Nav.
153495 FO.Ireland.J.B. A/B
187791 PO.Williams.J. W/O
184143 PO.Griffiths.G. M/U
178230 PO.Hardman.J.D. F/E
1305889FS.Eastwood.H. T/G
[indecipherable name]
104586 FL.Stephens.A.Cpt.
591740 FS.Rees.K. Nav.
1601365Sgt.Robson.B. A/B
NZ414909FO.Maria.H. W/O
R132611 WO.Roberts.C.M/U
2218869Sgt.Elliott.T.F/E
54273 FO.Heap.R.E. T/G
[underlined] LK753 ‘U’ (Non Y) [/underlined]
1312904 FS.Parsons.R.L.Cpt.
1399750Sgt.Oakes.J. Nav.
1523091Sgt.Langstaff.W.A/B
1851549Sgt.Jones.H.T. W/Op
2210923Sgt.Colville.A.M/U
1700223Sgt.Palmer.R. F/E
1337129Sgt.Jarvis.R. T/G
[underlined] HX286 ‘R’ [/underlined]
183455 FO.Henderson.G.Cpt.
643209 Sgt.Anderson.R.Nv.
1603305Sgt.McNeil-Smith.A.A/B
1819141 Sgt.Bee.F.E. W/O
1894151 Sgt Stevens.J.M/U
1881001 Sgt.Rondeau.S.F/E
1567491 Sgt.Morrison.G.T/G
[underlined] MZ430 ‘V’ [/underlined]
J27189 FL.R.Grant. Capt.
R99937 FS.Holstead.C.Nav.
645731 Sgt.Hodkinson. A/B
1522843 FS.Melvin.J. W/O
1796607 Sgt.McClements.M/U
1869665 Sgt.Kirrage.L. F/E
638543 Sgt.Webb.R.A. T/G
[underlined] MZ746 ‘S’ (Non Y) [/underlined]
170132 FO.Halstead.R.G.Cpt.
A429666 FO.Munzt.J.B.Nav.
702584 FS.McMahon. A/B
169314 FO.Houghton.E.W/O
962522 Sgt.Kilroy.J. M/U
1592913 Sgt.Evans.R. F/E
1046295 Sgt Fryer.R.E T/G
[underlined] NA162 ‘W’ [/underlined]
161995 FO.Hurrell.Capt.
1297188 Sgt.Nickels.Nav.
1800994 Sgt.Summerfield.A/B
1600106 Sgt.Webb. W/Op
1576086 Sgt.Hyslop. M/U
1811202 Sgt.Stokes. F/E
1881251 Sgt.Whyles. T/G
[underlined] NR189 ‘Z’ [/underlined]
NZ414349 FO.Scott.J.Cpt.
A417609 FO.Warnes.J. Nav.
153807 FO.Hesketh.E. A/B
A429400 FO.Butcher.M.W/O
1852471 Sgt.Moore.P.M.M/U
1897010 Sgt.Bulpett.G.F/E
1383478 Sgt.Perry.E.R.T/G
[signed]
Wing Commander, Commanding,
[underlined] No. 10 Squadron, R.A.F [/underlined]
Briefing:- SL Bond and SL Allan
De-Briefing:- SL Lomax, FL Farrow D.S.O., F/E’s (to be detailed), A/G’s FO Haselock
Nav:- SL Lomax
A/B’s:- FL Farrow
Signals:- FL Newell
F/E’s:- FO Temperley
A/G’s:- FL Hodson
Security Officer:- F/O B.Davies
Window Crew:- F/O B.Davies’ crew.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
No. 10 Squadron - Crew list for operations 13 Jan. 1945
Description
An account of the resource
Lists crews and aircraft for operations on 13 January 1945. The date was later corrected to read 14 January 1945.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-01-13
1945-01-14
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four typewritten sheets
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MMcClementsR1796607-151021-030001,
MMcClementsR1796607-151021-030002
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-01-13
1945-01-14
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Angus Bustin
10 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
RAF Melbourne