1
25
56
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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/53/840/EDirAccBoldyAD460831.1.jpg
eb7d4e0486de0818bb95ed668455be2c
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
Boldy, David
Dave Boldy
D A Boldy
Description
An account of the resource
334 items. The collection concerns Flight Sergeant David Adrian Boldy (1918 – 1942, 923995 Royal Air Force) and consists of his school reports, letters from school and photographs of family and locations in India, letters from training and service, and photographs from his social life and time training. It also includes newspaper cuttings and letters about him being missing in action. David Boldy was born and attended school in India and studied law at Kings College London. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force and trained as an air gunner in South Africa. He flew operations in Manchesters and Lancasters with 207 Squadron from RAF Bottesford. His aircraft failed to return from an operation to Gdańsk 11 July 1942. <br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by David Boldy and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.<br /><br />Additional information on David Boldy is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/102182/">IBCC Losses Database</a>.
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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Boldy, DA
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
AIR MINISTRY,
WHITTINGTON ROAD,
WORCESTER.
31ST August, 1946.
F.831691/Accts.13/W.G.
Sir,
[underlined] The late Flight Sergeant A.D. Boldy [/underlined]
I am directed to inform you that a War Gratuity of £20.16s.0d. (twenty pounds sixteen shilling) has been credited to the Service Estate of the late Flight Sergeant A.D. Boldy.
2. Arrangements have accordingly been made for payment of your half share amounting to £10.8s.0d. (ten pounds eight shillings) to be made to you through the Command Accountant, Royal Air Force Singapore, from whom you should receive a communication in due course.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
[signature]
for Director of Accounts.
Mr. A.D. Boldy,
c/o/ Landale Clark Ltd.,
Nalgolla,
Dacca,
Eastern Bengal,
India.
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 from the Air Ministry to A D Boldy
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Great Britain. Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Description
An account of the resource
Letter from the Air Ministry to A D Boldy confirming that half of a war gratuity to be credited to his son, the late Sergeant David Boldy, has been paid through the command accountant, Royal Air Force, Singapore.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Air Ministry
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08-31
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EDirAccBoldyAD460831
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
Civilian
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08
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
Eileen Reddish
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One-page typewritten letter
killed in action
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/167/2222/MAllenDJ1880966-150901-030004.1.jpg
e24989d5a181502b02fc330b55220129
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/167/2222/MAllenDJ1880966-150901-030003.1.jpg
ebc8577468cc37622206bd6f0fac23cd
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/167/2222/MAllenDJ1880966-150901-030001.1.jpg
c8d80b860a7c29edde0fd782d1cdb437
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/167/2222/MAllenDJ1880966-150901-030002.1.jpg
414fd208589bd4a581b254d21c59ef02
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
Allen, Derrick
Derrick Allen
D J Allen
Description
An account of the resource
75 items. The collection covers the career of Flight Sergeant Derrick John Allen (1880966 Royal Air Force) who was a mid-upper gunner on 467 Royal Australian Air Force Squadron at RAF Waddington in 1944-45. Collection contains his logbook, Royal Air Force documentation, notes on air gunners course and photographs of various aircrew. Collection also contains maps and photographs covering the loss of his Lancaster near Spa in Belgium from which he successfully bailed out on 2 November 1944. There is also an oral history interview with his family.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Judy Hodgson and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
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
2015-08-30
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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Allen, DJ
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
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
Derrick Allen apprenticeship documents
Description
An account of the resource
Three documents, the first is Ministry of Labour interrupted apprenticeship paperwork, the second is Derrick Allen's registration as a carpenter and joiner apprentice and the third is the completion certificate of his apprenticeship with on the reverse 'High Street, Sawtry, Huntingdon'.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Ministry of Labour and National Service
Great Britain. Peterborough Join Apprenticeship Council
Great Britain. Building Apprenticeship and Training Council
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-06-20
1946-08-29
1948-05-03
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Three one page documents
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MAllenDJ1880966-150901-03
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Peterborough
England--Sawtry
England--Huntingdonshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-06-20
1946-08-29
1948-05-03
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending review
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/165/2257/SWrightAC1149750v20004.1.jpg
67ff193b41f2d565b9a74f878cb05f37
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/165/2257/SWrightAC1149750v20005.1.jpg
986d782ac806226b37e2ed5ff664ef70
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
Wright, Jim
J R Wright
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
2015-05-21
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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wright, J
Description
An account of the resource
93 items. The collection contains two oral history interviews with Jim Wright, letters, cuttings and photographs. It concerns James Roy Wright’s research into his father, Sergeant Arthur Charles Wright (1911 - 1943, 1149750 Royal Air Force) and an operation to Turin 12/13 July 1943 which caused 100 aircraft to violate Swiss airspace. Two aircraft were shot down or crashed in Switzerland. There are many photographs and details of the activities that night including reports by the Swiss authorities. The crews are identified with photographs and there are several photographs of the funerals at Vevey. Additional material includes aerial photograph of bomb damage in Germany and the logbook and airman's pay book of W G Anderson. <br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jim Wright and catalogued by Nigel Huckins, with descriptions of official Swiss documents provided Gilvray Williams. <br /><br />Additional information on Arthur Charles Wright is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/126015/">IBCC Losses Database</a>. This collection also contains items concerning Hugh Burke Bolger and his crew. Additional information on Hugh Burke Bolger is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/102186/">IBCC Losses Database</a>.
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
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
Rows of graves in a cemetery
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08-24
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SWrightAC1149750v20004, SWrightAC1149750v20005
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.
Switzerland
Switzerland--Vevey
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08-24
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Description
An account of the resource
Rows of graves in a cemetery. St Martins, Vevey. Captioned 'Ronald Oswald Bret (indecipherable)
31 RAF graves. Killed on raids'.
On the reverse 'Foulks - N2.
1944 412471
F/Lt WR Esquilant AFC 37. 24/8/46
bombing
final resting place
killed in action
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/694/9282/PBarrettR1703.2.jpg
1ac6184126674e10d819f0cc35cc504b
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/694/9282/ABarrettR170515.2.mp3
6552c46558d4af5bcd6863260521f60e
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
Barrett, Raymond
R Barrett
Description
An account of the resource
30 items. An oral history interview with Leading Aircraftsman Raymond Barrett (1924 -2017, 1863228 Royal Air Force) a memoir, diary, documents and photographs. He served as an engine mechanic in North Africa, Italy and India.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Raymond Barrett and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
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
2017-05-15
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
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Barrett, R
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
CB: My name is Chris Brockbank and today is the 15th of May 2017 and I’m in Little Chalfont with Raymond Barrett who was an engineer. And he’s going to tell us about his life and times in the RAF. What are your original recollections of life, Raymond?
RB: It really goes back to when I was just over three and I had scarlet fever and was put in an isolation hospital at Cippenham near Slough. And my first recollections really is I remember mother and father, because it’s isolated, looking through the window at me. And the second one was sitting on the nurses lap in front of a fire. A roaring fire. And third was after I was first allowed out and we’d had heavy snow and the snow came up to my shoulders. And that [unclear]. I then went on to school at a Church of England School in Slough at the age of five and was there ‘til the age of fourteen. I attended the Church of England church at Slough as a server there. And the first occupation was my brother put me into [pause] there was the question that cream was illegal during the first part of the war and it was only goat’s cream which was around the West End. And his managing director had arranged goat’s milk collection areas in all the different counties and all the massed sold on the open market. And it was there where I remember that I was put in to sort out all the payments etcetera. And I found that on hot days some of the collectioneers had missed them and collected up cream which turned, well completely maggots. A mass of maggots. So, I got out of there. And I then went to another brother’s factory where he worked which was a jam factory. Also on the trading estate. And I was a general runner there. And I always remember my first fright of my life I think was at [pause] there were ten pound, the five pound notes, the big ones and the fifty pound notes. I was sent to do a pay in at the local bank and I thought — oh well, what was it? Eighty pounds short. And what I didn’t realise was that some of the ten pound notes were fifty pound notes. My then third experience in employment was at R&O Processes which was again on the trading estate at Slough. And there I was with a production manager, a hundred and twenty eight girls, or women and I remember them all singing. A new programme. A special programme. What was it called?
CB: Music As You Work.
RB: That’s right. Yeah. All singing as you did your work. We were there making the self-sealing, the neoprene covering of the petrol tanks for fighters. The K-type dingies, the M-type dinghies and the L-type dinghies. Rubber dinghies. And on reaching the age of just over eighteen, having working with, experience with, for the air force I then decided to volunteer at High Wycombe. Was accepted. Reported for duty at Bedford. The airship —
CB: Oh, Cardington.
RB: Cardington. Yeah. Reported for Cardington. And from Cardington I was posted to Skegness where I did all my field training.
CB: At the Initial Training Wing.
RB: The Initial Training Wing. Yes. And from there I was posted to St Athan in South Wales on my Merlin training. Engine training. And at the end of the training we were all asked where we wanted to be posted. And obviously everybody put near home. And those that put the south got posted North. North — south. And twelve of us got posted overseas of which I was one. And was posted up to Morecambe, and Morecambe posted up to Gourock where I got the troopship. The old troopship in that number somewhere. Sorry to be. Could we stop for a moment?
CB: Yeah.
[recording paused]
CB: So, when you, when you left Cardington you went, you said to Skegness.
RB: That’s correct.
CB: What did you do in that training? What were the tasks?
RB: Well, I mean, it was on the rifle range. Marching. Parade. Firing sten guns. Unarmed combat. And well it was mostly marching and training nearly every day. Every day on that.
CB: P.T.
RB: Oh yes [laughs] Certainly, PT [laughs] Over the promenades.
CB: Every day?
RB: Virtually every day. Yes.
CB: So, Skegness is at the seaside. What sort of accommodation did you have?
RB: Well, I was in a, in a boarding house. In fact, it was called Bright Side. And I went back about twenty years ago and couldn’t find it. And then there was a person looking out, sorry came out, he said, ‘Oh, it’s been renamed.’ It was the one next door. So, I went in there and where we slept on the floor boards about. Lovely carpeted rooms.
CB: So, you didn’t get beds.
RB: No. Not there.
CB: What about the food? What was that like?
RB: Reasonable. Most evenings when we used to march down to the cookhouse with our mugs in my fingers. And somebody got it in the wrong one and they crashed thinking they were level [laughs] Half a —
CB: Only had the handle.
RB: Yeah. Only the handle.
CB: Wasn’t much good. So, then you moved to St Athan. What happened at St Athan? What was that site? What did it do?
RB: Well, it was mostly, mostly you know taking apart the Merlin engine and putting it together and working out certain problems which had happened. To readjust and correct them.
CB: At what —
RB: Malfunctions. Yes.
CB: At what stage was your trade selected?
RB: Sorry?
CB: At what stage of your training was your trade as an engine fitter selected?
RB: Well, you didn’t get selected ‘til the end.
CB: No. I meant before you went to St Athan you might have gone somewhere quite different. So, at some stage you must have gone for engineering.
RB: No. No. No. I didn’t. I didn’t. I don’t remember saying I wanted to go in. I think I was detailed by somebody. I must have been detailed. I never. I don’t remember ever wishing to go into the engineering.
CB: And before the war you’d been in the company that made fuel tanks and dinghies and things.
RB: Well, I was. Well, yes.
CB: Well, early in the war.
RB: Yes.
CB: Before you joined up. To what extent do you think that contributed to the direction of your training?
RB: Well, I think that more or less wanting, wanting to go into the, really wanting to go in to the Air Force. But not with any trade in view. I think they selected. They detailed that I went into the engineering.
CB: Right. So, what got you in the Air Force in the first place rather than the Navy or the Air Force err or the Army?
RB: Well I think, you know I think it was the pre-dealing with items for the RAF because I suppose I could have [pause] because the first six days of work was actually in an engineering company making firing pins for incendiary bombs. And that was before the war. That was in, that was, yes fourteen. That’s in ’36. ’36.
CB: So —
RB: But I always remember all covered in oil from the machines each day and mother got fed up with me coming covered in oil every day. So, I gave my notice in after six days [laughs]
CB: All because of the dirt.
RB: All because of the oil.
CB: The oil.
RB: Oil on my clothes which my mother didn’t like that.
CB: Did they not issue you with —
RB: No. Yeah. But it still penetrated.
CB: Protective clothing.
RB: Slightly was but it was very light.
CB: Right. So, fast forward now to St Athan.
RB: Yeah.
CB: You’re firmly on a training programme for engines.
RB: Yeah. Engines. That’s correct.
CB: So, what did that actually entail?
RB: Well, as I say taking apart engines. Apart in sections. Rebuilding. We never did the, never actually put them into aircraft there. That came later. And when we did that we did engines changes and things like that.
CB: Now, with the Merlin it was updated later but how did you get trained on changing the plugs and more importantly the valves?
RB: Well, I mean we were shown. I mean, obviously it was demonstrated and each in turn had to go through certain processes.
CB: But the block and the head were integral to begin with.
RB: That’s right.
CB: And then they were separated.
RB: Separated them, yes. Yeah.
CB: So, it’s quite —
RB: Very complicated. Yes.
CB: And how did they assess your competence?
RB: I don’t know, quite honestly. I’m not sure. You know, there’s no grading here is there? I don’t think there is any grade on training.
CB: So, during this training what rank were you?
RB: I was still LAC then. No. This was only a release isn’t it?
CB: Ok. So, at the end of your training at St Athan.
RB: Yes.
CB: What happened to your rank, what happened to your rank?
RB: Still stayed the same.
CB: Ok.
RB: I don’t —
CB: And what sort of passing out parade did you have?
RB: Well, it’s, well I trained —
CB: Of the training at St Athan.
RB: Oh, I don’t remember actually much of it. We were, we were released home for home leave and then straight reported back.
CB: Did you get a photograph of all the others on the course with you?
RB: Not on the course. No. But on the training which I got with it but not on the St Athan one.
CB: Ok. So, you then went up to Gourock to get on a troop ship. What happened there?
RB: What —
CB: So, you got on a troop ship.
RB: Troop ship.
CB: At Gourock you got on a troop ship.
RB: Troop ship. Yes.
CB: Where was that going? Did you know?
RB: Oh, no. We didn’t know. No.
CB: Right.
RB: We didn’t know much I remember, I think we were supposed to have so many aircraft carriers and there were about seven of them anchored in the Clyde.
CB: Were there? Yeah. So, you got on the ship. Then what?
RB: Well, they more or less, well as I say we had a few days. We actually, where are we? Yes. We sailed on the 19th of July and virtually zigzagged. I’m sure we zigzagged virtually, virtually to America. We came up and went into the Mediterranean because it took us from Gourock to [pause] where are we? Yes. To the sea. Yes. Nine days to get to Algiers.
CB: Via America or via Canada?
RB: Well, I’m sure it was nearer to America where we zigzagged.
CB: And then you went to Algiers.
RB: Went to Algiers.
CB: Ok.
RB: Of course we were escorted with, well it split because some half of the convoy went down to go down to the Far East.
CB: Yeah.
RB: Split and then as we neared.
CB: So, when you got to Algiers then what was your role?
RB: Well, we missed, well [coughs] Well we had to march God knows how many, how many miles. And then we eventually got transport to Fort de l’eau. This MAU. Number one base. Personnel department. And we did various works on escorting prisoners of war and one thing and another while we were there. And clearing military items. And —
[pause]
CB: What about the engineering training you’d had?
RB: It wasn’t put into use at all. No. [pause]
CB: So, what were you doing with the — so you looked after the prisoners of war. And the other tasks were what?
RB: Well, as I say moving, loading and off-loading equipment and transporting.
CB: And how long were you at Algiers?
RB: Well, we — right up until the 23th of November.
[pause]
CB: This is 1943. So, the allies had consolidated their grip on North Africa.
RB: On North Africa.
CB: On that part of North Africa.
RB: Definitely. Definitely. Yeah.
CB: Then what happened?
RB: I was on a lorry across the Atlas Mountains through Constantine to an army transit camp in Setif. S E T I F. That was just one day. The 23rd to the 24th of November. The next day it was an army transit camp in Phillipville. That’s on the 24th of November to the 5th of December.
CB: And where were you heading to?
RB: Well, going on to, on to a ship. A troop ship. SS the Oran. Sailed on the 6th, Passed off Bizerte at sea and the island of Pantelleria. And then sea and dock in Syracuse, Sicily. We ended up in Sicily. That’s the 7th of December.
CB: And what did you do there? Because you’re an engineer so you’re still not —
RB: Yeah. That was rather funny because I went there to join 242 Squadron but when I got to Taranto they were, they were moving out. So, so we were joined to them at, so we went from one boat to another one which was the SS Neuralia. And then we went to sea with the squadron via Port Said. No 247, that’s right.
CB: 247 Squadron.
RB: No. 242 Squadron.
CB: Yeah.
RB: Spitfire squadron.
CB: Yeah. So, Port Said is in Egypt.
RB: Egypt. Yeah.
CB: Yeah. And you caught up with the squadron there did you?
RB: No. I caught at at Taranto.
CB: Oh, you did. Right.
RB: Yeah. As I got in they were moving out [laughs]
[pause]
CB: So, where did you go from there?
RB: Well, then we were on, on cattle trucks. No. Sorry. No. No. We were, what do you call it?
CB: We’re talking about Port Said now, are we?
RB: Yeah. It was train then.
CB: Train. Right.
RB: The old cattle trucks trains.
CB: Yeah.
RB: Went to Kibrit after a sixty mile journey. Palestine and Syria on the train. Cattle truck through Haifa, Beirut, Tripoli and Gaza to [unclear] aerodrome, North Syria. Which is near Aleppo. I mean Aleppo was a wonderful, wonderful city in those days.
CB: Was it? Yeah.
RB: I mean, now it’s absolutely —
CB: Devastated.
RB: Yes.
CB: So you settled in. The squadron settled in Aleppo did it?
RB: Aleppo. Yeah.
CB: Yeah.
RB: Of course, at that time Turkey was coming in to the war.
CB: But it never did.
RB: Well, of course Turkey thought we were going to hand over all the # aircraft and the guns and we wouldn’t.
CB: Oh.
RB: You know we were far out, is it during the day all the guns and transport used to go up towards the border. Come back during the night. And the same lot went up the next day for German recognition. What did you call it? Thinking we were going in there. So we never never were operational from there.
CB: How long did that go on for?
RB: That was the 24th of December ’43 ‘til the 14th of February ’44. The coldest New Year’s Eve I’ve ever spent in my life.
CB: Really.
RB: We ended up on the aerodrome. Just a little compound. Sleeping on the, on the frozen floor.
[pause]
CB: So, from there —
RB: Well, we were on the train again. Homs and Tripoli. Syria, Lebanon, Beirut and Haifa, Palestine and on to the transit camp, El Marsa in Egypt.
CB: Oh, back to Egypt.
RB: Yeah.
CB: This is with the squadron.
RB: Yeah. With the squadron. Yeah. That was the 17th of February to the 20th of March.
CB: Then what?
RB: Well, then rumours had it that we were going up to Port Said. Going on a troopship to Sicily. Transferring on to a larger boat and going home for the Second Front.
CB: Oh.
RB: Oh, right. Port Said after [ninety nine day?] journey. 20th of March. That’s true. Sea on the SS Acacia which again was true. 21st to the 27th of March. Anchored in Augusta Bay, Sicily. Change ships. Which was all coming true. Then at sea on the SS the Oran. And of course didn’t go home. Dumped off in, in Corsica.
[pause]
CB: Ok.
RB: We landed on the beach. Camped in the open air for five days ‘til all the transport up there because at that time I think the front line in, we were a hundred and seventy miles behind the front line in Italy then. And then we went from [pause] where were we? Ajaccio. South of Ajaccio. March the 30th to the 5th of April. Then we went across the mountains to North East Corsica on the 5th of April.
[pause]
RB: To Alto Airport, North East Corsica. Ten miles south of Bastia which is the capital.
CB: And is flying going on all this time?
RB: Well, we’ve only —
CB: Squadron flying.
RB: Well —
CB: This is just moving about.
RB: Just moving about yes. We didn’t, it’s where we, that’s where our flying started. At Poretta airfield.
CB: Right.
[pause]
RB: Yes. Poretta Airfield which was the 19th of April to the 11th of July where most of our [pause] Just there really the Mitchell bombers came up from Sardinia. Rendezvoused at the north of Corsica where we escorted on all our bombing raids down in Italy. Then from the front line in Italy we didn’t want them to come up to the Brenner Pass where there could hold it with a few troops. We kept an eye on there. Across. And then we flew over to the other side of Corsica which was [pause] where are we? I’ve lost myself now [laughs]
[pause]
RB: That’s right. We went to, then we were flung across the other side to Calvi Airport, north west Corsica 11th of July to 23rd of August and that’s where we covered the invasion. We covered the Americans for the invasion of the —
CB: South of France.
RB: South of France.
CB: Yeah. Ok.
RB: Then once they got a runway through the vineyards in south of France our aircraft took off and landed the next day. So, on the 25th we were at sea on the tank landing craft and landed at Frejus Airfield in south of France the 25th of August to September. And there we covered the, up until the meeting for north and south.
CB: So, all this time you’re moving around but the squadron is flying later on.
RB: Yes.
CB: To what extent are you using your mechanical engineering skills in that time?
RB: Well, there, well there’s the daily, there’s a daily service of course.
CB: Ok. So, an aircraft goes on a sortie. It lands back. What do you do with it?
RB: Well, immediately we service it. Yes.
CB: Which means what?
RB: Oh, there’s a daily service. Checking all the, checking all — I’ve got. Somewhere I’ve got details, complete details of a daily service written out.
CB: Ok. That’s good. So, just so that the listeners can understand what’s going on the aircraft lands. What’s the process as soon as it lands?
RB: Well —
CB: Because it’s used its ammunition. It’s hot. What what what has to be done to it?
RB: Well, we, well we used to wait for it at the end of the runway. Sit on the wing. Guide the pilot back into the dispersal point. And then the engine fitters would do their maintenance. The armourers would rearm. And we used to, as I say more or less repeat of the daily check to make sure everything mechanical was complete as far as the engine was concerned.
CB: So, in a car you dip the oil. What do you do with an aero engine?
RB: Well, we checked the oil, the water.
CB: The cooling is with glycol so —
RB: The glycol. Yes.
CB: Was it entirely glycol or was it a mixture?
RB: Oh no. No. Glycol. It was all glycol.
CB: Right.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Ok. And after a flight would you expect it necessary to top up the glycol?
RB: Well, you always checked but occasionally slightly. Yes.
CB: And what about the engine oil?
RB: Quite often. Yes. Yes.
CB: And how often would you do an engine oil change?
RB: I forget now [pause] No. Because they were all listed for the maintenance checks.
CB: So, there’s —
RB: Some, some were so many flying hours.
CB: Right. So, the particular tasks are based on flying hours for a, for a particular job.
RB: For maintenance.
CB: So —
RB: For the maintenance job.
CB: Right. Apart from reloading the cannon and machine guns then what would be the most frequent task that you’d do on an engine?
RB: Well, most frequent would be the daily check.
CB: Which is?
RB: As I say, it’s checking on what as I say I’ll turn that for you. As I say I’ve got it written down.
CB: Yeah. But it’s oil.
RB: Oil.
CB: Glycol. Plugs.
RB: Plugs. Yes.
CB: Yeah. Did the plugs break?
RB: The magnetos.
CB: Or what would they do? Magnetos.
RB: Check the magnetos. Yes.
CB: Ok.
RB: And starter motor of course as well.
CB: Yeah. So, how did the engines start? Was it assisted by a cartridge or was it straight on the starter motor?
RB: Well, the ones we had were straight on the starter motor. Yes. Because when we were in Aleppo we had to keep it engine readiness so we were going around one in turn. Revving it up to make sure it was available for immediate take off if the occasion arise.
CB: Right. So the pilot isn’t in the cockpit in that case.
RB: No.
CB: Who sits in the cockpit?
RB: Well, one of, one of the, one of the crew. And of course two of us on, two of each on the tail as well to make sure.
CB: It didn’t lift. Yeah.
RB: Yeah. I remember at Aleppo once I got on the back tail with my glasses on not realising. My glasses were whipped off. Found them about a hundred and twenty yards away. Unbroken fortunately.
CB: We’ll stop there temporarily.
RB: Yeah.
[recording paused]
CB: We’re back on again now and we’ve talked about dealing with the basic points and you run up the engines so you have to sit on the tail. What does running up the engine entail exactly?
RB: Oh taking it full revs.
CB: Through the gate.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Do you go through the gate or just up to the gate?
RB: Virtually up to the — well, yes. Yes. Yes. Up to the —
CB: Yeah. And these Spitfires had how many superchargers?
RB: I’m not sure how many. You know, I don’t know.
CB: So, the ones you used in North Africa had sand filters, did they?
RB: Yes. I think they did.
CB: And by the time you get to Corsica you’ve taken those off have you?
RB: Yes.
CB: Right. Giving more power.
RB: Power. Yes.
CB: Apart from the weight. So, you’re, you’re going through the various engine revs when you’re doing the test are you?
RB: Yeah. Yes. Yes. To make sure. Well, well actually it’s up to the temperature. The take-off temperature.
CB: Right.
RB: That was the point.
CB: And then do you close the engine?
RB: Down.
CB: Quickly or just gradually let it down.
RB: Well, not straight —
CB: Don’t close it immediately.
RB: Not immediately. No.
CB: Ok. And then what happens?
RB: Off. And it’s left until the temperature’s gone down again.
CB: Right. So you’re in a group. You’re in a section that looks after — how many aircraft would you look after as a section?
RB: Well, we looked after two actually. Yeah.
CB: And what’s the —
RB: Yes. Mine was LEP and LEQ.
CB: Right.
RB: You see it’s got LEQ on there.
CB: On there. Yeah. I saw that. So, who runs the group? Is it the chief? What rank would he be?
RB: He was —
CB: The crew chief
RB: Corporal. Corporal.
CB: Corporal crew. Ok. And then how many of those units would there be? The next one would be a sergeant running how many of those groups?
RB: There was only one sergeant per wing.
CB: Right. Because the squadron would have how many aircraft in it? Roughly?
RB: Well, sixteen.
CB: Sixteen. Ok. Right. So that’s eight.
RB: Two eights.
CB: Eight crews to deal with two aircraft each.
RB: Two aircraft each.
CB: And one sergeant over that.
RB: That’s correct. Yeah.
CB: And then corporals running those.
RB: Two.
CB: Right. What level of servicing could you do on the flight line?
RB: Oh. Well, we actually done engine changes there.
CB: Out in the open or —
RB: In the open. Yeah.
CB: Right.
RB: Yes. We had no hangars I think at, in Corsica. No. Definitely.
CB: So, with the airfields you were using were they made by the airfield construction people? Or was it —
RB: Yes. Yes. One. Two. I think the one at Calvi was, oh no we were on a satellite of it. No. The main airport was a civil what do you call it? But ours was a satellite. So, it was just —
CB: So if there was a major fault with the aircraft you’d take it.
RB: Well, in, in Corsica it did go to the — we didn’t do the main service. The engine change there. Went back to the airfield.
CB: To Calvi.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Right. So, the Americans have landed in the south of France. What happens next?
RB: Well, as I say we were operational until the link up and of course when the link up came they didn’t want us anymore.
CB: And the link up was between the forces came from Normandy.
RB: That’s right.
CB: And the ones that came from the south.
RB: That’s correct. Yeah.
CB: Right. So had you moved to the mainland of France by then? Or were you —
RB: Oh, yes. Yes. We were in the mainland.
CB: So you flew from Corsica to where? Where did the squadron get based after Corsica?
RB: Well —
CB: In France.
RB: In France. It went to, where are we? Frejus Airfield.
CB: Oh, Frejus.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Right.
RB: Then we eventually went. After the link up we went up to Montelimar which is a hundred and eighty miles by road and horse. Where the old famous nougat is.
CB: Yeah. So, you were converted to eating nougat. Converted to eating nougat then were you?
RB: Yeah. That was the 6th to the 22nd of September. And then of course they decided to disband the squadron.
CB: When?
RB: While we were at Montelimar.
CB: Oh, did they? So was, what date was that?
RB: Well, the, where are we? Well the, yes the 22nd of September it was disbanded. Had to say goodbye to my pilots then.
CB: Yeah. So, what was the relationship between the engineer people, the crew, the ground crew and the pilots?
RB: Well, I mean I, well I mean I spent hours with my pilot bees-waxing the machine to try and get a few more miles per hour out of it. He was very cooperative. Yeah.
CB: So, which part would you beeswax?
RB: Well, the whole of the, the whole of the Spitfire.
CB: And because of the airflow would the front, the leading edge of the wing need it more often?
RB: I don’t think so. It didn’t appear to. It didn’t appear to wear off.
CB: Which, which mark of Spitfire are we talking about here?
RB: Let me see. I’m not sure now. [pause] We got up to 14 didn’t we?
CB: Were they? Yeah.
RB: I’m not sure what the last ones were.
CB: So, we’re at 14th of September ’44 with the disbanding of the squadron.
RB: Disbanding, that’s right. Yeah.
CB: And that’s 242 Squadron. So, what happened next?
RB: Well, there’s a hundred and twenty, a hundred miles by road to Lavone. L A V O N E airfield. Forty miles north of Marseilles. That was the 22nd of September. The 1st of August. But we took no part in active in any flying there. And then it was to Septémes Staging Post. Six miles north of Marseilles.
CB: What happened then?
RB: On leave at Marseilles. Recalled after one day. Marseilles in dock on that United States LST number 210. This is the 6th of October. Anchored the 6th 7th. At sea on the 7th to 8th Leghorn Bay, North Italy 9th 10th. At sea along the Italian coast past the islands of Elbe, Monte Cristo, Pianosa and Capri 10th 11th and slept by the roadside at Naples on the 11th to the 12th of October.
CB: So, when you got to Naples were you waiting for a particular role or? —
RB: Well, no. We were waiting to be re-posted.
CB: Right. Ok. Where did you from Naples?
RB: To a transit camp in Gragnano which is in, near Pompeii. And there I got my next posting.
CB: Which was?
RB: To 267 Squadron.
CB: Right. Where was that?
RB: That’s from Gragnano across the, had to leave from train from Naples. Bar [Bari] in south east Italy.
CB: B A R.
RB: Towards the end there.
CB: Yeah. In southern Italy.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Yeah. And they’d got — what planes did they have?
RB: Dakotas.
CB: Right.
RB: Yeah. We dropped about two thousand tons of supplies over to Tito.
CB: Oh, is that where —
RB: [unclear]
CB: Right.
RB: Yugoslavia.
CB: And were they flying high or low or — how did they transport their arms?
RB: Not, not that high I don’t think.
CB: Were they vulnerable to attack?
RB: They were vulnerable to attack. Yes. But —
CB: Any losses?
RB: When we were, I don’t —not by enemy action [pause] because we were there from —
CB: Now, while you’re looking at that the Spitfire is a straight engine whereas, a V12, whereas the — is a radial.
RB: Yes.
CB: So how did you get adjusted to the radial engine of the Dakota?
RB: I think we just stuck straight in. I never had any training on it.
CB: Didn’t you?
RB: No.
CB: Right.
RB: Yeah. Pratt and Whitney.
CB: Pratt and Whitney radial.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Yeah. Was there anybody there who had been trained beforehand?
RB: Well, I think [pause ] Do you know I don’t believe there was.
CB: But the squadron had been going for a while.
RB: Oh, the squadron had been operational.
CB: So there were people who were experience.
RB: So they were there. Where they’d worked on for —
CB: So, was your corporal with you or did you get a new corporal?
RB: Yes. Yes, I think I was supervised during the first few.
CB: By a new corporal was it? The same one.
RB: Well no. No. A new. It would be a new corporal. Not from the old squadron. No.
CB: No.
RB: He’d gone.
CB: So you got a new corporal —
RB: A new corporal.
CB: Who was experienced in the aircraft.
RB: The engine.
CB: Ok. So here the servicing is different. How did that work?
RB: Well, very much more restricted. I remember trying to change a generator. You had a little tiny vent with the old pins and threading this what do you call it through. You knocked your knuckles and God knows what there. It was much more difficult really than the Pratt and Whitney engine. The restriction for room.
CB: So, how would you rate the reliability of that engine compared with the Merlin?
RB: I think pretty the same. We had very few few, very few engine, double engine changes. More, more when we got to Burma funnily enough.
CB: So, how long did you stay in Bar, southern Italy?
RB: Where are we? We went to the, to the 2nd of February ’45. So, from the 7th of November ’44.
CB: To the 22nd of —
[pause]
RB: To [pause] to the 2nd of February.
CB: 2nd of February.
RB: 1945.
CB: ’45. Ok. So, then what did you do? Embark on a ship or go in the aircraft?
RB: No. We flew from there. Yes. Because it was, you know just before that time [unclear] in the House of Commons no serviceman will go to the Far East without prior leave in England. The next week we were flying to Stockholm err not Stockholm [laughs] To, to India. So, we were, RAF landed near Tobruk in Libya for dinner. Then on to Cairo West Airport the 2nd to the 5th of July where we had to service our aircraft. Shaibah in Iraq the 5th to the 6th. Over the Persian Gulf. Landed on Bahrain Island off the coast of Persia 6th of February. Then Karachi Airport. Mauripur Airport, 6th to the 7th. Then onto Bilaspur in the central provinces of India. We were there from the 7th to the 22nd of February. Then it was on to Imphal, north east India.
CB: Right.
RB: That’s where we started operations.
CB: Because at that stage the war was still going in the East.
RB: Oh yes. Yes.
CB: So, what action were the aircraft experiencing?
RB: Well, we were all, pretty well everything, everything had to be dropped in by supplies over the, over Burma.
CB: Yeah. Because Imphal was the scene of a lot of battles.
RB: Beforehand, yes.
CB: Yes.
RB: Before we got there.
CB: Yeah.
RB: Yes. There was a siege. Siege of Imphal.
CB: And Kohima.
RB: And Kohima. Yeah.
CB: Yeah. Ok.
RB: Yes. I went back there. I’ve been back.
CB: Did you?
RB: Tour history. Yes.
CB: So, you’re now going to Burma from India.
RB: That was Imphal 22nd of February to the 23rd of March.
CB: Ok.
RB: And as, as the front for, then we went down to the Mawnybyin Airfield. Akyab Island.
CB: And all this time you’re following on the ground or are you being flown between airfields?
RB: Being flown. We were flown between airfields.
CB: And what’s your role during that time?
RB: Well, as a, well engine mechanic still. Pegasus. Akyab Island 23rd of March to the 13th of May [pause] And then we moved to Akyab main airfield 13th of May — 23rd of August.
CB: Ok. By which time the war had finished.
RB: That’s it. Then of course we then flew to Mingaladon Airfield which is thirteen miles north east of Rangoon.
CB: Right.
RB: That’s where we —
CB: So, you get to Rangoon.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Then what?
RB: Well, I was there when the, when the Japanese generals came in to surrender.
CB: Did they walk in, or driven in, or did they fly in?
RB: No. They flew in in a top —
CB: In British aircraft?
RB: No. Topsy. Topsy.
CB: What, the Japanese transport?
RB: Yeah. Six, six Spitfires escorting them in.
CB: Oh right.
RB: Because I was about six feet away when they came off the aircraft.
CB: But these were transports were they? Or bombers?
RB: No. No. No. They were a very small aircraft.
CB: Oh.
RB: Oh dear.
CB: Ok. Well, we’ll pick that up in a minute.
RB: Yeah.
CB: So they fly in. Where have they coming from to go to Rangoon?
RB: I’m not sure. I think I’ve got it in the report.
CB: And at Rangoon what’s organised for their reception?
RB: Well, it was the Civic Hall, I think.
CB: So, the generals come out and they’re treated with respect.
RB: Respect. Yes.
CB: Right.
RB: That’s it.
CB: And they’re driven are they? To the village. To the Civic Hall.
RB: Driven in to the —
CB: Right. And there did you see what was going on?
RB: No. No. I was still based on the airfield.
CB: Right. So, at this time what are you doing on the airfield at Rangoon?
RB: Well, we more or less went to civil duties. I mean as the British officials came up to set up the, to because I went up to have a flight with them to [pause] Where are we? Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore.
CB: Oh yeah.
RB: And dropping them off. I remember one of the first air hostesses after the war showing them to their seats.
CB: Yeah. But you didn’t change your dress.
RB: No.
CB: Right.
RB: And of course we just, you know still had to service, you know the aircraft to do.
CB: So, you ran a shuttle did you?
RB: Yes.
CB: And how long did that run for?
RB: Oh, quite a few weeks.
CB: And the passengers were who? They were the civilians or —
RB: Actually, mostly well —
CB: British civilians.
RB: There were a few military among them but mostly —
CB: Ok.
RB: Setting up the administrations. And then of course my demob number came up.
CB: Yeah.
RB: And I was hoping to go home.
CB: And then?
RB: Went down to Mingaladon Airfield and of course we had the platform up to each engine top. And of course the servicing then was the, they had the cowlings off. So they said the last thing I had to do in the squadron was put the tarpaulins over the engines. Set them. Coming down the steps my foot slipped, knocked my leg there and that night I thought I had malaria. And the next day they dropped me off in to the local RAF hospital. And then they started pumping Benzalin into my bottom every four hours.
CB: Jeez.
RB: That was because —
CB: Because, what had happened to your leg?
RB: Well it poisoned it. Poisoned something.
CB: It had broken though had it.
RB: Not broken. No.
CB: No. Just gashed.
RB: Just gashed. I was in there for a few weeks and I think I told you when I came back I reported to the orderly room back on duty and I was told that the squadron was disbanding and the aircraft I’d been posted on was to Bombay. So I said, ‘Well, I don’t want to go to Bombay. I should be home now with the family.’ So, he said, ‘Sorry, you’ve got to go.’ So, I said, ‘Well, I’d like to see the CO please.’ He said, ‘Well, you can’t see the CO.’ I said, ‘Well, I want to.’ So he said, ‘Go. Off you go.’ About twenty minutes later I got a call to go back to the orderly room. And he said, well it wasn’t the CO of course, it was him again, ‘I’ve got you on the last troopship leaving Rangoon.’ And of course I came home eventually on the [pause] where are we? We should be the last thing here.
[pause]
RB: The 19th of August ’46, in the English Channel.
CB: That's when, what happened on that date?
RB: Oh, nothing. I just got home.
CB: That’s when you got home. Right.
RB: But no. It was about a month later when, and also somebody else from Slough was on the same squadron, suddenly met him coming along the High Street in Slough. And chatting about old times he ended up saying, ‘Well, you were lucky weren’t you?’ I said, ‘Well, why?’ So, he said, ‘Well, you were posted on the flight to Bombay weren’t you?’ He said, ‘It crashed and there were no survivors.’ So, if I’d have not complained to see the CO we wouldn’t be talking. That is a sign of fate.
CB: Yeah. What was the aircraft?
RB: Oh, it was a Dakota.
CB: A Dakota.
RB: Yeah. One of our one of our own. The Dakota was posted to different stations.
CB: Right. So, do you know what had happened to it?
RB: No. I didn’t know.
CB: Because pretty hilly and jungly there. Right. Ok. We’ll take a pause there.
[recording paused]
CB: Did you, did you only run a diary when you were coming home?
RB: Oh no. No. No. I wrote.
CB: How many diaries did you have in the end?
RB: August 4th. Oh four or five I think. I don’t know. Well, some were larger. August. Four hundred miles to noon. I’m mess orderly. ENSA concert in the evening.
CB: This is up from your diary.
RB: It’s coming home. Yeah. August the 5th — played Bridge in the evening. Three hundred and fifty seven miles. August 6th raining. Into Galle, three hundred and sixty miles. Bridge in the evening. 7th of August everything looked ready for another big storm. Arrived at 4am in the morning whilst I was asleep. 8th of August passed rock of Aden at 6am in the morning. Entered the Red Sea. So —
CB: It’s a good thing you did set to write all these things down.
RB: Yes. We’d sailed. Sailed for Rangoon on the 29th of July.
CB: 1945.
RB: And didn’t get back ‘til the 19th of August. That was a long return out.
CB: Oh, 1946 this is —
RB: Yeah. Yes. So virtually a month.
CB: Yeah. And when it stopped at ports did it, did the ship tend to stay several days or what happened?
RB: No. No. I think one night was about the most, I think.
CB: Of course these are hot places so what was it like in the ship?
RB: Well, if you were on duty below, pretty hot.
CB: And what duties did they give you on the troop ships?
RB: Well, sometimes getting the food and distributing the food because that was all. We had about twenty to a table. If you dished out too much you’d have not enough for yourself and if you dished too little they complained.
CB: So, you didn’t want to be the table head.
RB: No.
CB: What sort of accommodation did you have for sleeping?
RB: Well, leaving Gourock when I went out we were in hammocks. That’s fun getting in and out.
CB: Soon get the knack of it. But then after the—
RB: Then the toilet for water flushing.
CB: Everything was flushed with seawater. How many people on the ship? Roughly.
RB: Well [pause] well on the one out where are we?
CB: From Gourock.
RB: Gourock. Yeah.
CB: Were they all a mixture of Air Force and Army, or was it just Air Force?
RB: Oh yes. Oh yes. I mean. Where are we?
[pause]
CB: Just looking at the booklet.
RB: Yes. Yes. In the afternoon we arrived at Gourock. Near Gourock, Greenock in Scotland. On descending off the train and on to the platform we were lined up and roll call was given to see if anybody was missing.
CB: Right.
RB: We were then each given a berthing card. That’s a berthing card before we boarded a large steamer which was nearby. Carrying our kit once more so I stepped off pretty sore. In peacetime the steamer did pleasure trips to Ireland and back. I soon wished it had only been a pleasure cruise that I was going on. As soon as were all aboard off we steamed until we were in the centre of the Clyde. We drew up alongside and were transferred to a large troopship named the SS Volendam. It was approximately seventeen thousand tonne. It was a Dutch boat. Most of the crew were made up of Dutchmen. Early in the war the ship had been torpedoed. One torpedo landed on the bows but failed to explode. But unfortunately another one hit and did go off. But the damage was repairable and here she was still doing a useful job. With the aid of my berthing card and after a long search I at last found the correct deck that I was to live on and the correct mess followed by the correct table. Our next move was to, and everyone else’s was to stow away all our kit on the racks that were above the table. Two from each table in the mess went down to the galley to fetch back the meal for the respective tables. And they spilt the lot in to fourteen portions. However many they felt there would have been at our particular table. Two different fellows fetched the meals each day and did the washing up and cleaning and sweeping etcetera. That was the only duty that I got caught during the voyage. Some of the other chaps got caught for many jobs. By the time we finished our first meal on board everybody began to think of sleep as we all had a very tiring day. There were a hundred fellows in the mess and five tables. Some had to sleep in a hammock slung on hooks above the tables. Others on mattresses on tables and on the floor. I had a hammock. What a time I had putting up, putting the blankets in and climbing myself in that first night. After about four attempts I finally managed to get in and stay in. Just like a comedy act. Time everybody got settled there was not much room to spare as the mess was only approximately thirty foot by twenty five foot. As I said before I was feeling very tired and consequently soon fell asleep. After breakfast while the other chaps were cleaning up the mess decks ready for the ship’s daily routine inspections carried out by the captain one of the other fellows had to help out in the cookhouse bakery etcetera. I used to go up on the deck and hide myself along with a book in some obscure corner. And our first thoughts were the first morning whether we’d moved during the night. So after dressing and folding up my blankets I went out and took a stroll along the promenade deck before breakfast. A very pretty sight met my eyes when I reached the open air. We were still anchored in the middle of the Clyde and on both sides the green hills of Scotland dotted with small woods, houses, sheep and the cattle rose up to meet the sky. On the left to the water’s edge was the town of Gourock where we had embarked. Three or four destroyers were tied up alongside the jetty. Anchored in front of us was the giant liner the Aquitania. At the stern were anchored the great mighty battleship Howe, a large cruiser along with two aircraft carriers and six converted ones. All had aircraft on their decks so you could see how crowded it was.
CB: A great target.
RB: Spent the first day watching supplies being taken aboard from small ships drew alongside. Also during the afternoon we had a singsong among the troops made up of RAF men from, men from the Royal Artillery, The Argyll and Sutherland, and the Black Watch regiments. There was also an ENSA concert party on board, a full Royal Artillery band which consisted of sixty players. Then came a music concert every afternoon on the top deck. Every evening prompted either members of the RAF and army officers turned competition and brains thus was also allowed during the voyage. A dance band was formed from among the troops.
CB: So, how long was your journey to America and then across to Algiers?
RB: I did say, didn’t I?
CB: Yes. Well never mind.
RB: I wrote that.
CB: Yes.
RB: What number was that?
[pause]
RB: The 9th of July to the 28th. Yes.
CB: Ten days. Yeah.
RB: The 23rd we changed into our new tropical khaki kit. Fitted as usual. Not very funny at first with our Persil white knees showing. Soon got used to it. It was sunny during the day. I used to sunbathe and go to sleep on the deck. The last time I was attending an evening service out on deck on the 23rd and the convoy split in two. We changed our course eastwards and the rest of the convoy continued steaming southwards. We were left with a cruiser, six destroyers and fifteen ships. A NAAFI canteen on the ship but if we wanted to purchase anything it meant queuing up for at least two hours.
CB: Was the convoy attacked during that period?
RB: Yes. Somewhere it does say [ pause] Where was it?
[pause]
CB: Well, never mind. We can come back to that. What do you remember about it?
RB: Well, I mean, they dropped, they dropped depth charges at one time.
CB: So they detected a submarine.
RB: Yeah.
CB: But it didn’t actually attack.
RB: Didn’t attack. No.
CB: Right. Ok.
RB: In all we put the clock back two hours and then on two hours. At one time we must have gone half way to America. The ship zigzagged continuously during the trip to fox any would be submarine. Completely changed course on two occasions because an enemy U-boat was following us. And at three separate times depth charges were dropped by our escort destroyers. But whether or not they sank any U-boats I do not know. We could see the destroyers circling around with great spurts of water shooting skywards. Also, once the cruiser opened fire at an unidentified aircraft but it soon made off.
CB: Fascinating [pause] Just stopping for a mo.
RB: Yeah.
[recording paused]
CB: So, you’re repatriated. Effectively from Burma. What happened when you got back to the UK?
RB: We went to a staging post and there again we were met with the question, ‘Where would you like to be posted?’ And I thought well dare I, dare they do the nasty on us again? I thought, well no. So I put Buckingham, near Buckinghamshire. And lo and behold I later learned that I was posted to RAF Bomber Command, Naphill, High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.
CB: Now, that’s not an airfield and they had no engines for you to work on.
RB: No.
CB: So, what did you do there?
RB: So, I was a, I was put into the officer’s mess. Showing the new arrivals to their quarters and helping out where, where necessary.
CB: Were there a lot of people in the mess?
RB: Quite. Yes. Quite considerable.
CB: So, there was a flow in and out?
RB: Well, yes. Yes. Yes. It was quite a very palatial mess it is.
CB: So you got back to the UK in August ’46. And when did you start at High Wycombe? A bit of leave and then —
RB: I don t — yes. Yes. I was in — a bit of leave. Yes. The paybook tells me leave. Yes. So I got the take the day I arrived in, I arrived back and then my [pause]
CB: Your service book’s got all these details in. So that’s what you’re looking at now.
RB: Yes. I’m just looking because it’s got my discharge date. I’m just wondering if it’s got the date I went to high Wycombe. I don’t think I recorded it.
CB: There you, and that was where you were demobbed from was it? So that was, you had four months at High Wycombe.
RB: Yes. I was discharged on the 29th of the 1st ’47.
CB: Yeah.
RB: I think I had about at least a months’ [pause] Yes. 19th of August. So, I imagine it would be towards the end of September when I was posted.
CB: They gave you a month.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Leave.
RB: Yeah. Leave. A month.
CB: Yeah. Right. Ok. So, when you were in the officer’s mess did you have the same role all the time or did you do other things?
RB: Well, more or less. Yes. It was.
CB: And what sort of senior people did you meet?
RB: Well, I mean, more or less well I suppose, I don’t think I met any air vice marshals but wing commanders down I think. Mostly.
CB: Ok. Good. So you were discharged in January ’47. What did you do then?
RB: I then [pause] Oh yes. In the building trade then.
CB: This is because of your engineering background.
RB: Well, more or less, because, well after I met my wife I went back to we’d done all the rebuilds of the bombing. The houses that had been bombed.
CB: The bombed houses.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Yeah. For whom?
RB: That was Addiscombe Garden Estates at Croydon. I was more or less costings then. They were not engineering. I looked after the company accounts.
CB: Right. But just going back.
RB: I suppose we’d better go back to where I met my wife.
CB: I was just going to say what about that? Tell me about that.
RB: Well, the booklet, the booklet on the [unclear] yeah. Virtually, virtually says it word for word actually.
CB: Right.
RB: Well, I almost could quote.
CB: On there. But in your own words where did you meet her?
RB: Well, in the WAAF. It’s all in here.
CB: At, yeah I know but if you could just say what it was.
RB: Oh. Yes, I mean.
CB: So, at High Wycombe.
RB: I was, yes, I was having a few drinks with friends at the RAF friends at the Red Lion at the bottom of Bradenham Hill. And on the way, on the way back one of them said, ‘Oh, would you like another drink?’ I said, ‘Why?’ They said, ‘Well, there’s a dance going on in the WAAF mess, the WAAF NAAFI. And on arriving there the dance floor was concrete with chalk on it.
CB: Make it slippery.
RB: Making it slippery. And there was a small dance band playing. And we all had to, all the airmen had to throw one of our boots in the middle of the floor. When the music stopped, all the WAAFs had to pick up one and find its owner.
CB: Yeah.
RB: If Brenda had picked up somebody else again I wouldn’t be here talking with you today.
CB: You hit it off immediately.
RB: Yes. And, well she had no intention of going to the dance but a friend managed to persuade her at the last minute. She was only going to go for the first. Stay for the first dance which happened to be the boot dance so —
CB: It was your lucky day.
RB: Yes.
CB: How old was she then?
RB: Twenty.
CB: And what was she doing in the RAF as a WAAF?
RB: Statistical clerk.
CB: And had she been at Naphill all the time or had she been elsewhere?
RB: No. She was at Sand, she went to Sandtoft and then to Scampton.
CB: What was she doing down there?
RB: General duties, I think.
CB: Yeah. But she’d been posted to High Wycombe, had she?
RB: From Sandtoft she went to high Wycombe.
CB: Yeah. So, what date are we talking about here? This is before Christmas ’46.
RB: ’46. Yeah.
CB: Because you came out in ’46.
RB: We came back in ’46.
CB: Yeah.
RB: That’s right. Yes. That terrible winter. We were snowbound at High Wycombe for four days.
CB: Really?
RB: Yes. Coming. Blood running thin in Burma and then coming back to the cold.
CB: Just right wasn’t it? So, you left the RAF in the January ’47?
RB: That’s correct. Yeah.
CB: When did Brenda leave? Roughly.
RB: Got her discharge in that [pause] where are we? In there.
CB: Ok. I’ll pick it up.
RB: In that book. In there. That book.
CB: Of course being posted to High Wycombe as you came from Slough was quite convenient wasn’t it?
RB: I used to nip home overnight without them knowing sometimes. I was born in a pub in Slough.
CB: Oh right.
RB: Where’s that paybook then? We had it. I’m sure I had it.
CB: It’s probably there. In that pile, isn’t it? Let’s have a look. Get John on it. So, let’s go to the — you left and went into the building trade.
RB: Yes.
CB: And so this was to do with work in Croydon you said.
RB: Well, yes because eventually when we got married which was the 10th of January ’48. Then we went to live with her parents in Croydon.
CB: Yeah. How long did that last? Was it quite difficult to find accommodation?
RB: Yes. That was number one thing. Yes, because then went to work with another builder in Epsom.
CB: So bomb damage repair was brisk business in those days.
RB: It certainly, certainly was. Yeah.
CB: Yes. So, how long did you keep going there?
RB: When would it be? This is, should have been about five. Must have been about seven years I should think.
CB: Was it? Yeah. Then what?
RB: Then we found accommodation with a job with another builder in Epsom.
CB: Oh right.
RB: Well, Hackbridge actually.
CB: So, the job had the accommodation with it.
RB: With it.
CB: And you stayed there how long?
RB: Oh. Then went to [pause] then went to Greenford.
CB: To Greenford next.
RB: Yeah.
CB: Right.
RB: Must have been at least eight years, I think before —
CB: And it’s all, you’ve always been in the building business have you?
RB: Well, building. Yes.
CB: And you were rising up the —
RB: Yes. And then I was, there I was chief buyer and plant manager. I was made a plant manager.
CB: In Greenford.
RB: Well, it was in [pause] where was it? Oh, near, near Wembley. Oh dear, my brain’s gone black.
CB: Was it further out from Wembley?
RB: Yes. It’s not Wembley. Yes.
CB: Park Royal?
RB: Very near Park Royal.
CB: Anyway, in that area.
RB: North Circular. The North Circular Road.
CB: Yes. Yeah. And then you retired from there did you?
RB: No. No. No. No, as chief buyer the company secretary was friends with a builder’s merchant. He used to come in and ask for, go over enquiries. In the end I found out I could buy it cheaper than he could his materials as a builder’s merchant. So the company then bought out the builder’s merchant and I was transferred as managing director to the builder’s merchant trade.
CB: Oh. And that was the end of your working career was it?
RB: No. No.
CB: Oh.
RB: So, then we operated four depots in, four or five depots in London. Then we found that the big boys like Sandell Perkins and one thing and another could buy cheaper materials than we could as a what do you call it? So we sold out to Travis Perkins.
CB: Oh really?
RB: Became a property company then, which we are now.
CB: Yes.
RB: Having been established in 1840.
CB: But you have retired now.
RB: Well, semi-retired. Yes.
CB: Yeah. Brilliant.
RB: My son more or less runs it now.
CB: Does he? Yeah.
RB: We have company meetings every so often.
CB: What’s the company called?
RB: Lawford and Sons Limited.
CB: Northwood.
RB: Lawford.
CB: Oh, Lawford.
RB: L A W.
CB: Yeah. So, its one of your sons runs it. Not the other.
RB: It’s the youngest son. Yeah.
CB: Yeah. Brilliant. Right. I think we’ve done very well.
RB: I was going to say —
CB: Thank you very much.
[recording paused]
CB: Just quickly on the Imphal Rangoon bit there’s a Memorial. What was the Memorial to and what were the numbers?
RB: Well, it’s these, the War Graves Commission Grave.
CB: At —
RB: At, well I mean —
CB: Rangoon.
RB: Yes. At Mingaladon.
CB: Right. And what, what are the numbers of people buried there? Roughly?
RB: Oh I can, now in there I’ve got a map of each of those Rangoon Memorials and the number of dead.
CB: Oh right. Ok. So around Rangoon there are quite a lot of Memorials are there?
RB: Well, no. There’s one. There’s one. A small one in Rangoon.
CB: Right. But the main ones are elsewhere are they?
RB: Elsewhere.
CB: Ok. Right. You mentioned earlier about the pilots, the Spitfire pilots.
RB: Yes, I —
CB: They didn’t all come back. How did you feel about that?
RB: Well, I was going to say we lost two in Corsica. They were both Dutch brothers funnily enough.
CB: Were they?
RB: So whether they hit each other or not I don’t know. Rather coincidental that both brothers were killed at the same time.
CB: And how many other loss, pilot losses were there?
RB: Only two. I think there were two others.
CB: How did the ground crew feel about the loss of a pilot?
RB: Well, I mean especially if they were your own I mean I didn’t lose either of my own pilots at all. But I mean it must, must affect them. I mean, well it would if I’d lost mine. It would certainly.
CB: But then with the Dakotas. DC3, C47 how many losses did you have on those?
RB: The only one was Anthony, it wasn’t on our squadron but he was at Akyab was Anthony Eden’s son.
CB: Oh.
RB: Touched down in the water on the, I mean, you know you used to get in the, in the monsoon weather they hit in the runway, the water came rolled over. I stood on the end with a verey pistol, on the end of the runway trying to get them in quite often.
CB: Because in the monsoon rain you couldn’t see.
RB: In the rain. They’d never have taken off in this country. They were heroes.
CB: And they were supplying the army.
RB: Virtually. Well, even the beer ration we had to drop.
CB: Yeah. Important run. Right. So how many did you lose there?
RB: As I say I think Anthony Eden’s son was the only one.
CB: Only one. Yeah. So what was the reaction of the crews to that?
RB: Well, I mean you know — so yes I think he was the only one. Yeah.
CB: Yeah. Ok. Good. Right. Thank you very much.
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
Interview with Raymond Barrett
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chris Brockbank
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-05-15
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.
Type
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Sound
Identifier
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ABarrettR170515, PBarrettR1703
Conforms To
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Pending review
Pending revision of OH transcription
Format
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01:30:17 audio recording
Language
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eng
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Description
An account of the resource
Raymond Barnes worked in factories before he joined the RAF. He trained as an engine fitter. He was posted to the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Far East. He was servicing Spitfires for 242 Squadron and then Dakotas for 267 Squadron. He was present at the arrival of the Japanese delegation to sign the surrender of their forces. When he was expecting to be posted home from Burma he was told he would be flying out to a new posting in India. After protesting he returned home and was told that the flight he would have been on to India had crashed with no survivors.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Julie Williams
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Burma
Burma--Rangoon
France
France--Corsica
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Skegness
Scotland--Gourock
Wales--Glamorgan
North Africa
Algeria
Algeria--Algiers
Egypt
India
India--Imphāl
Syria
Syria--Aleppo
Italy
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944
1945-02-02
1945-08-15
1946-08-19
242 Squadron
C-47
entertainment
fitter engine
ground crew
ground personnel
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF St Athan
Spitfire
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9613/SMathersRW55201v10009.2.jpg
09785a570bbe3c25830d11616a069f50
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
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
Operation Goodwill
Description
An account of the resource
A map of North America with a route plotted on it. Airfields visited are listed from Gravely and back. It is captioned '"Operation Goodwill" 8th July to 29th Aug 1946.'
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946
Format
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One printed map with handwritten annotations.
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
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Map
Text
Identifier
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SMathersRW55201v10009
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
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Azores
Canada
Great Britain
United States
California
Colorado
Massachusetts
Missouri
Texas
Washington (D.C.)
California--Los Angeles
Colorado--Denver
England--Cambridgeshire
Massachusetts--West Springfield
New York (State)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Texas--San Antonio
England--Cornwall (County)
Illinois--Belleville
Illinois
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
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.
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
RAF Graveley
RAF St Mawgan
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9627/SMathersRW55201v10023.2.jpg
8a60a263d8c81709450aab2aaacf8e4b
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[blank page]
LOS ANGELES
[inserted] [underlined] 28th JULY – 3rd AUG. [/inserted] [/underlined]
[photograph]
WELCOMED – Wing Commander Allan J.C. Craig of Lancaster squadron is welcomed as he leaves plane by Col. K.C. McGregor, commandant of Army Air Base.
The Weather
United States Weather Bureau forecast: Generally sunny today and tomorrow, but with some high clouds. Not much change in temperature. Highest temperature yesterday, 86, lowest, 62.
[underlined][missing letters] WS – EDITORIAL – SOCIETY [/underlined]
R.A.F. Planes Here for Fete
Lancasters and 220 Airmen to Take Part in A.A.F. Observance
Fifteen giant Lancaster bombers of the Royal Air Force roared over the Southland yesterday and landed at Long Beach Army Air Base after a six-hour flight from Denver on the last leg of “Operation Goodwill.”
The 220 British airmen, here to participate in Army Air Forces Day observances Thursday, are touring U.S. bases on invitation of Gen. Carl Spatz, repaying in token the visit to Britain made by thousands of U.S. Air Forces personnel during the war years.
Squadron Chief only 23
Chosen for “Operation Goodwill” as one of the outstanding Pathfinder squadrons which led 1000-plane night missions over Germany was R.A.F. Squadron 35, commanded by Wing Comdr. Allan J.C. Craig, at 23 the youngest officer of that rank which corresponds to our lieutenant-colonel.
Flying through a cloudless blue sky in close, perfect formation, the Lancasters made combat peel-offs and all landed in less than 20 minutes before a crowd of spectators which included members of the local British colony.
Smart on Parade
Drawn up in ranks before their aircraft, the visitors then demonstrated that, although the war is over, R.A.F. personnel still stamp their feet smartly on parade. They were welcomed by Col. K.C. McGregor, base commandant; former Mayor Clarence E. Wagner of Long Beach, and British Consul General J.E.M. Carvell and Sir Aubrey Smith represented the British film colony.
Air Marshal Sir Norman Bottomley, commander-in-chief of R.A.F. Bomber Command, who preceded the formation here, spoke briefly.
The snub-nosed Lancasters, painted for tropical flying with white, heat-reflecting tops and black underbellies, are similar in size and speed to the U.S. B-24 Liberator, which it somewhat resembles in flight, but can carry a bomb load equal to that of a B-29 Superfortress, although it lacks the B-29's long range.
Notables on Hand
Among the Hollywood notables on hand were British Actors Nigel Bruce, his daughter Pauline, Richard Greene, Peter Lawford and Sir Aubrey Smith who, air-minded at 83, flew to the event from San Fernando in a plane piloted by his niece, Mrs. Diana Tisdall.
The British airmen, 80 per cent of them combat flight veterans, are the first foreign squadron to visit the United States since Marshal Balbo lent his Italian flyers to the Chicago Fair in 1933. They will be billeted at the Long Beach base until Saturday when they are scheduled to leave for San Antonio, Tex, on the first leg of their return flight.
[photograph]
FRIENDS – Air Commodore Frank Whittle receives greetings from Miss Pauline Bruce, center, daughter of Actor Nigel Bruce, and Miss Joan Hodson of the British Information Service. The Bruces were among many notables of British colony here to meet flyers.
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
The RAF at Los Angeles
Description
An account of the resource
Item 1 is a newspaper cutting of two airmen. Wing Commander Allan Craig is shaking the hand of Colonel KC McGregor as he dismounts from a Lancaster.
Item 2 is a newspaper cutting with the weather.
Item 3 is a newspaper cutting 'RAF Planes Here for Fete'. 15 Lancasters arrive at Long Beach.
Item 4 is a newspaper cutting of Air Commodore Frank Whittle and two women.The page is captioned '28th July - 3rd August 1946'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-07
1946-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four newspaper cuttings on a scrapbook
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
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SMathersRW55201v10023
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
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
California
California--Los Angeles
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
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
Roger Dunsford
35 Squadron
aircrew
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
-
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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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
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SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
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
Members of Famed British Squadron tour San Antonio
Description
An account of the resource
A sketch map of Texas showing the state disproportionately large, captioned Mayan Guest Ranch, Bandera, Texas. Underneath is text referring to points of interest in San Antonio and missions within the state.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One sketch map and three typewritten sheets on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Map
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10035,
SMathersRW55201v10036
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Texas
Texas--San Antonio
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08-08
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.
35 Squadron
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9643/SMathersRW55201v10039.1.jpg
19ab3d66a221585c732e72f10b6d21ca
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
THE BUCKTHORN
CURIO STORE
(BUCKTHORN MUSEUM)
[MAP]
[Page Break]
[Photograph]
Entrance to Le Villita
Bien Venida
To LA VILLITA
(PRONOUNCED VEE-YEE-TAH)
The Little Spanish Town of San Antonio
[Indecipherable Text]
[Photograph]
SPANISH GOVENORS PALACE West side of Military [Indecipherable word]. originally used by Spanish Governors of Texas as office and residence. The restored building contains [indecipherable number] rooms and a loft, with exhibits of old Spanish furniture of the type used in early San [indecipherable words] and the date [indecipherable words]
ALAMO PLAZA
[Indecipherable Text]
[Photograph]
[Photograph]
SEE POTTERY MADE – Warrant Officer Montague Roberts (left) and Dennis Baker (center) watch Martel Espinosa make pottery at San Jose Mission.
[Photograph]
NEW EXPERIENCE – This group of British flyers have a new experience when they visit historic Mission Conception during a tour of San Antonio Tuesday.
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
Buckhorn Museum and San Antonio
Description
An account of the resource
Item 1 is a leaflet about The Buckthorn Curio Store (Buckhorn Museum)
Item 2 is a leaflet about La Villita, the little Spanish town of San Antonio.
Item 3 is a photograph of a building, captioned 'Spanish Governor's Palace'.
Item 4 is a street view captioned 'Alamo Plaza'.
Item 5 is a newspaper cutting of a man making pottery watched by two airmen, captioned 'See Pottery made - Warrant Officers Montague Roberts (left) and Dennis Baker (center) watch Martel Espinosa make pottery at San Jose Mission.'
Item 6 is a newspaper cutting of four airmen and two women standing in a garden. It is captioned 'New Experience - This group of British Flyers have a new experience when they visit historic Mission Concepcion during a tour of San Antonio Tuesday.'
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1948-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two leaflets, two b/w photographs with printed captions and two newspaper cuttings
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Map
Photograph
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10039
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Texas
Texas--San Antonio
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08
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
David Bloomfield
Claire Monk
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
Workflow A completed
35 Squadron
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9644/SMathersRW55201v10040.1.jpg
15d703dd8efd641dca4ce549ff81314e
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[photograph]
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN COW PUNCHER OF THE YEAR ONLY THE COW PUNCHED HIM FIRST!
[inserted] Ron [/inserted]
[page break]
Quite A Tussle, What?
[photograph]
STAY DOWN THERE, DOGIE, is what Flight Lieutenant Ron Mathers of the RAF tells this little parcel of future beefsteak, after throwing it in for a loss on the sands of Texas in Bandera, Sunday, August 4th. There are quite a few of the folks back home who won't believe Ron had a hand in this, but there's no denying the fact that his picture is here for proof. The Lieutenant had sufficient amount of courage to take a try at it, or as the Tommies would say, "give it a go," so he deserves all the credit . . . Throw, catch, hog-tie and all. "Tommie" found out that the Texas Steer has more tricks than a whole group of Nazi fighters. But he did conquer him, for pictures don't lie!
RAF Leaves Kelly After Sampling Life In Texas
The 35th Bomber Squadron, RAF, left Kelly Field Thursday to continue their trans-continental tour in Washington D.C., and Massachusetts. Departure was delayed a day because of adverse weather conditions in Washington.
The "Tommies" landed at Kelly Saturday, August 3, at 4 p.m. and were greeted by a formal military Honor [sic] Guard. It took only fifteen minutes from the time the first Lancaster hit the run-way until all 15 planes were on the line in front of the reviewing stand. The crews "lit" and formed in front of their planes, then marched snappily up to "Squadron Front" before the speakers' stand.
Welcomed by CG
Welcoming addresses were given by Brig. Gen. George H. Beverley, commanding Kelly, and Mr. A.J. Lewis, Acting Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee with the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Following these, Group Commander R.C.M. Collard gave an address of gratitude and appreciation to Kelly and Texas.
After the ceremony the British officers were escorted to the B.O.Q., and the NCO's and crew members were transported to the "Palace", where they were billeted during their stay here. Sunday, August 4, the group was taken to Bandera, for a real Texas treat . . . a rodeo and barbecue. While there they visited the Mayan and Lost Valley Guest ranches. All the men went "western" in a big way, trying on "ten gallon hats", rolling their own smokes, riding cow ponies, roping calves, and doing other feats typical of the open range.
Asked what he thought of the Texans' drawl, Flight Lieutenant Gerry Dawson said, "I think Texans talk so slowly because if they talked faster they'd sweat more."
Rodeo Big Success
For a great majority of the men, this was the first time they had ever seen a rodeo or attended a barbecue. The only disrupting factor was that the sun had a habit of baking the men as they watched the performance.
Returning to the Field Sunday evening, the men were treated to a banquet at the Officers' and NCO Clubs. A wonderful dinner with a dance following was given at both clubs.
Monday the group went to the Alamo and other interesting and historical points in San Antonio. Later in the evening they were honor [sic] guests at a picnic at Koehler Park, given by the British War Brides Society of San Antonio. The general public had the opportunity to meet the group at the park. Very fine entertainment was provided for the men at the picnic, and following this there was informal dancing.
La Villita Luncheon
The Squadron toured to La Villita Tuesday, to be guests of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon. The meal was entirely made up of Mexican dishes, a treat which all the men enjoyed immensely.
Distinguished guests at the luncheon besides Brig. Gen. Geo. H. Beverley, who was host to the RAF throughout their stay, were Maj. Gen. James P. Hodges, Commanding General of the Flying Training Command, AAF; Maj. Gen. John B. Coulter, Deputy Commander of the 4th Army; Brig. Gen. Lewis Beebe, who was on Corregidor with Gen. Wainwright, and present Chief of Staff of the 4th Army; and Col. W.R. Tuttle, retired, ranking Reserve Officer in this part of the country.
All being given due credit, the members of the British squadron have enjoyed every minute of their stay here. It's a great country to them, made up of great people. Many of the men have expressed a desire to return "on their own back" after they have ended their tour of duty in the RAF.
[photograph]
FAMED FLYERS – These British flyers who saw much of the war from the window of a bomber, gang up for a look from a window of Mission Concepcion [sic].
[inserted][underlined] San Antonio addresses [/underlined]
DORIS PITMAN
TRANSIT TOWER
(BRANIFF AIRWAYS)
PHONE: CATHEDRAL 6983.
FRANCES STARLLING
BOX 54
KELLY FIELD. [/inserted]
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
Texas
Description
An account of the resource
Item 1 is a photograph of Ronald Mathers wearing a cowboy hat with a calf at his feet, behind are cars. It is captioned 'He would have been cow puncher of the year only the cow punched him first!'
Item 2 is a newspaper cutting with the same photograph.
Item 3 is a newspaper cutting with a photograph of five airmen posed in a window at Mission Concepcion.
Item 4 is a newspaper cutting captioned 'RAF leaves Kelly after sampling life in Texas'. The article details their time in Texas.
Item 5 is a handwritten list of San Antonio addresses.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10040
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
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Texas
Texas--San Antonio
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08
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.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph, three newspaper cuttings and a handwritten note on a scrapbook page
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Angela Gaffney
35 Squadron
entertainment
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9645/SMathersRW55201v10041.1.jpg
11c9888c07e5425c29080b4e7292932c
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Blank page]
[page break]
ANDREWS FIELD NEWS
PUBLISHED BY AND FOR THE PERSONNEL OF ANDREWS FIELD
[inserted] 8 AUG - 16 AUG. [/inserted]
Volume 2 WASHINGTON, D.C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1946 Number 20
35th RAF Sqdn. Leaves Andrews Field Today
[inserted][underlined] Washington Addresses [/underlined]
Nancy Johnson
1910 'K' ST. N.W.
Room 212.
Phone Extension 2010.
Elizabeth Sinton
Joy De - Smiths
ALL WITH BRITISH ARMY H.Q.
(A.T.S.).
"Mike" Black
PHONE COLUMBIA 9806. [/inserted]
Gen. Spaatz Welcomes RAF
[photograph]
At the microphone welcoming the RAF to Andrews Field is Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, Chief of Staff of the Army Air Forces. In back of him, reading from left to right, are Lord Inverchapel, British Ambassador; Col. Curtis D. Sluman, Base Commander, and Maj. Gen. O.P Weyland, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Plans.
[photograph]
Group Captain R.C.M. Collard is pictured above shaking hands with Col. Curtis D. Sluman, Base Commander, at ceremonies welcoming the RAF to Andrews Field. To the left of him is Lord Inverchapel, British Ambassador; to his right are Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, Chief of Staff of the Army Air Forces, and Col. A.L. Berry, Deputy Base Commander.
[photograph]
In picture above, men of the RAF's famous 35th Squadron are shown lined up in front of a group of heavy Lancaster bombers during Andrews Field reception for the Royal Air Force.
The RAF's famous 35th Squadron zoomed northward today on the last lap of its "goodwill tour" of U.S. air bases as guests of the Army Air Corps after spending one week at Andrews Field.
The noted British fliers of World War II flew 12 Lancaster bombers from San Antonio, Tex., to Andrews Field on August 8. The bombers are still wearing the battle paint that distinguished them in the night raids over Germany.
The British ambassador, Hon. Lord Inverchapel; the AAF's Chief of Staff, Gen. Carl A. Spaatz; the commanding officer of Andrews Field, Col. C.D. Sluman, and many other dignitaries were on hand to greet the fliers.
Lord Inverchapel welcomed No. 35 Squadron to the Washington area, and stated that while they were in this vicinity he thought he should retire, allowing them to serve as ambassadors. He also invited all the members of No. 35 Squadron to a party at the Embassy on Friday night.
In a speech of welcome, General Spaatz recalled the close cooperation that had existed between the RAF and the AAF. He said that it was imperative that this relationship should continue to exist between the two air forces.
While at Andrews Field the 209 English airmen, all veterans of Britain's much decorated Pathfinder Force, were entertained by both military officials and civilians. The entertainment ranged from downing brews at the Pte Club with GI's to drinking tea on the lawn of the British Embassy in response to Lord Inverchapel's invitation.
On Saturday morning, August 10, the British aircraft gave a demonstration flight over Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, taking off from Andrews Field at 0915. Thirty newsmen went on this flight. From 1300 to 1500 Saturday afternoon the public was invited to an open house here. Royal Air Force crews stood by their Lancasters and answered questions concerning their equipment. During the late afternoon and evening Andrews Field held a gala beach party at Chesapeake Beach for all enlisted visiting RAF personnel and for Andrews Field enlisted and civilian personnel. Swimming, a picnic supper, and dancing were the main features of the day. On Saturday night, a buffet dinner and dance were held at the Officers' Club for all RAF and Andrews Field officers.
Forty Air Attaches visited the Base Sunday morning at the invitation of Headquarters AAF. British service women and other members of the British Colony in Washington were also guests here Sunday afternoon. In the evening the RAF personnel attended the AAF band concert given on the Capitol steps.
During the course of their stay in Washington our English guests also went on sight-seeing tours as well as visiting Bolling Field and attending dinner parties and other social functions.
The itinerary of No. 35 Squadron since it arrived at Mitchell Field July 17 from Graveley, Huntingdon, England, via Azores and Newfoundland, has been St. Louis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Tex., and Andrews Field. The squadron is now headed for Westover Field, Chicopee Falls, Mass., where it will remain for four days before completing the cycle back to Mitchell Field. From there they will return to England, where most of the men will await their well-earned discharges.
U.S., Britain Must Retain Air Superiority, Says English Ace
Urges Adequate Funds For Aviation Research
[photograph]
ALLAN J. CRAIG
Regardless of current economic conditions, United States and Great Britain must appropriate adequate funds for research and development of modern military aviation if world peace is to be maintained.
This conviction was expressed yesterday by Wing Comdr. Allan J. Craig, 23-year-old British war hero and the youngest officer of his rank in the Royal Air Force, corresponding to a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. army.
Here on "Operation Goodwill" at the invitation of the Army Air Forces, Comdr. Craig is head of the famed Thirty-Fifth Squadron, the Lancaster bomber outfit which saluted President Truman Saturday in a formation over the White House, and which is being entertained at Andrews Field. With a maturity belying his years, the youthful veteran of 73 European sorties pleaded earnestly for public awareness of the "tremendous changes" taking place in aviation. "The people must be made to understand that present-day aircraft become obsolete practically as soon as they are manufactured. We must not practice false economy with inferior air power. With weak air power we will have inferior peace power," he said.
Craig holds the Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Brazilian decoration and numerous campaign stars. The Lancaster crews will leave Washington Wednesday for Boston and New York, returning to England August 22. They will be feted tonight by Gen. Carl Spaatz and other top A.A.F. generals.
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
Andrews Field News
Description
An account of the resource
First item is an account of the the visit by 35 Squadron at Andrews Field. Second item is 'U.S., Britain must retain air superiority, Says English Ace'. Handwritten notes of Washington addresses.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings and handwritten notes on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10041
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
United States Army Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Washington (D.C.)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08
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
Angela Gaffney
35 Squadron
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9646/SMathersRW55201v10042.2.jpg
4416835c07965c2524b7ae8fc12c4f09
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
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
35 Squadron over Washington
Description
An account of the resource
Item 1 is a formal invitation to Flight Lieutenant Mathers to attend a reception at the British Embassy.
Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 are air-to-air view s of 12 Lancasters over Washington captioned 'Formation over the "White House"'
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10042
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.
United States
Washington (D.C.)
Washington (D.C.)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08
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.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One printed invitation and four b/w photographs on a scrapbook page
35 Squadron
entertainment
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9647/SMathersRW55201v10043.1.jpg
ddda3e6daccea08dbb5d577bd1b9f94a
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9647/SMathersRW55201v10044.1.jpg
467dbf1ea179fba934f19abca4b5da28
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9647/SMathersRW55201v10045.1.jpg
0e0149dba0f67660434ea0a8ce3851ac
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Sketch]
ATC WELCOMES R.A.F. SQ. #35 TO WESTOVER FIEL [missing letters]
[page break]
ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM FOR RAF SQUADRON #35
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, AUGUST 1946
[underlined] Entertainment Committee: [/underlined]
Col. Cortlandt S. Johnson – Chairman
Col. Anthony G. Hunter – Deputy Base Commander
Daniel B. Brunton – Mayor of Springfield Tel. 6-2711
Edward Bourbeau – Mayor of Chicopee Tel. 1542
Henry J. Toepfert – Mayor of Holyoke Tel. 2-5588
Arthur B. Long – Mayor of Westfield Tel. West. 726
Major Alexander Haddon – 1387 Main St., Spfld. Tel. 4-3581
Harry B. Ellis – Overbrook Rd., Long. Tel. 4-6421
Harry G. Green – Spfld. Chamber Commerce Tel. 4-5673
Clarence J. Shoo – Circuit Ave., M.S. Tel. 4-8268
Lewis Z. Tifft – 1387 Main St., Spfld. Tel. 4-7311
Captain Russell D. Webb – Public Relations Officer
Lt. Victor E. Irons, Jr. – Public Relations Officer
Captain Gregory Dobrenchuck – Public Relations Officer
[underlined] WEDNESDAY [/underlined] 14 August
Morning
0800 – C-54 leaves Westover for Logan Airport, Boston to pick up newsmen, fly to Andrews Field, Washington, D.C., leave newsmen and pick up surplus RAF personnel and return to Westover. C-47 leaves Westover with local newsmen flying directly to Andrews and return with surplus RAF personnel.
Afternoon
1500 – Reception ceremony and squadron arrival to take place on north ramp in front of traffic terminal vehicle parking area. Colonel Cortlandt S. Johnson, C.O. Westover Field, British Consul General Bernard Ponsonby Sullivan MBE: Consul, W.J. Blanch; civic dignitaries; members of the press (plus band and honor guard) meet planes.
1700 – Cocktail party and buffet supper at Officers Club. Attendance RAF Officers, Colonel Johnson and staff, hosts, Consu[missing letters] General, Consul, civic dignitaries and members of the press. Similar party t[missing letters] be held at Services Club (Bldg. T-456)
[page break]
Page 3
Evening:
1945 – RAF EM will board busses [sic] at barracks for dance in Holyoke at War Memorial Building to begin at 2000. Partners and buffet supper will be provided.
Officers:
Morning – Two officers all day guests of Mr. R. Rudd, Tel. Springfield 7-0397.
1100 – RAF officers board busses [sic] before officers BOQ to be guests of Colony Club, Springfield, for cocktails and luncheon at 1130. Address: Maple Street, Springfield, Mass.
1200 – Two officers guests of Rotary Club luncheon.
Staff car will pick up officers at BOQ.
1400 – Officers leave Colony Club, Springfield, by government transportation for golf, tennis, cocktails, dinner and evening at Longmeadow Country Club.
1500 – 35 officers board plane for British officers club tea to be held in Boston. Address: 99 State St., Boston, Mass.
[underlined] SATURDAY [/underlined] 17 August
Morning – Regular Morning Drill of Westover Field personnel.
Afternoon
1400 – Open House. Inspection of British Lancasters by the general public with each crew of Squadron 35 standing by to answer questions of interested spectators.
Evening
2100 – Staff car pick up Group Captain Collard at BOQ for Speech over WMAS, Springfield at 2145.
[underlined] SUNDAY [/underlined] 18 August
Squadron take-off for Mitchell Field, Long Island.
RAF Command Post – Bldg. 256
Field Grade Officer's Barracks – Bldg. 165
Company Grade Officer's Barracks – Bldg. 498
Warrant Officer's Barracks – Bldg. 257
Enlisted Men's barracks – Bldg. 258 & 261
[page break]
[missing word] UNION, SPRINGFIELD, MASS., SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1946
[Photograph]
[Photograph]
[italics] Springfield Union Photo [/italics]
MEMBERS OF THE LANCASTER BOMBER SQUADRON, RAF, were feted yesterday at the Longmeadow Country Club. The Britishers, who flew this week from England to Westover Field, were dinner guests at the club and a special program of sports, including golf, was planned for them. In the top photo are pictured from left to right, Col. Cortlandt S. Johnson, commanding officer, Westover Field; Harry B. Ellis, Club president; Mrs. Ellis and Wing Commander Alan J.L. Craig. Enjoying the hospitable charms of two members of the younger set here are several RAF officers shown in the lower photo. Pictured from left to right, they are Flight Lt. H. G. Bullen, Flying Off. J.E. Robinson, Miss Jean Clark, Flying Off. W. Haigh, Miss Jane Harper, Flying Off. F.P. Leadem and Flying Off. Jack Smith.
RAF OPEN HOUSE TO BE TODAY AT WESTOVER FIELD
Public Will Be Given Chance to Inspect Lancaster Bombers
The Westover Field RAF visitors, Pathfinder Squadron 35, will hold open house from 2 to 5 this afternoon to permit the public to view at close range the 16 Lancaster bombers which are completing their good-will tour of America with a four day stop-over at the sprawling ATC base.
Can Talk With Crews
Group Capt. H.C.M. Collard of the RAF has extended through Col. Cortlandt S. Johnson, base commander, a cordial invitation to the members of the surrounding communities to visit Westover, examine the giant Lancasters, Britain's largest wartime bomber, and chat with their combat crew members. He feels, he said yesterday, that this open house is the best way in which he and his men of the squadron can express their deep appreciation for the most hospitable manner in which the citizens of the state have received and royally entertained them. Crews of the ships will be stationed besides the planes to answer all questions that visitors may put to them. Also on hand at open house will be the Westover Field band with a group of RAF and AAF selections to furnish a fitting background for a squadron which is credited with over 150 sorties against the Axis [indecipherable word].
Military guides will be placed at all gates and throughout the area to aid visitors.
Today is the final day of activity for Squadron 35 in this area. Tomorrow morning the ships will take off, circle Springfield and Holyoke, and then depart for Mitchell Field preparatory to their return trip to England. En route to New York, the planes will fly over Worcester and Boston, giving residents of those cities an opportunity to observe the tight battle formation which poor visibility prevent them from seeing when the RAF unit arrived at Westover on Wednesday.
[Annotated photograph]
[Beer mat]
[underlined] 18th AUG – 22nd AUG. [/underlined]
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
ATC welcomes RAF Sq #35 to Westover Field
Description
An account of the resource
Item 1 is a typed entertainment programme for 35 Squadron at Westover Field.
Item 2 is a newspaper cutting about 35 Squadron and their social activities.
Item 3 is a newspaper cutting titled 'RAF Open House to be today at Westover Field'.
Item 4 is a beer mat 'You've got it Coming to you Hampden Ale 'Smild but Sturdy'
Item 5 is a photograph of a the 'X' restaurant signed by women.
The pages are dated 18th-22nd Aug.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Physical object
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10043,
SMathersRW55201v10044,
SMathersRW55201v10045
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
United States Army Air Force
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Massachusetts
Massachusetts--West Springfield
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08
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.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Three printed sheets, two newspaper cuttings, one beer mat and one b/w photograph on a scrapbook page.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Angela Gaffney
35 Squadron
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9648/SMathersRW55201v10046.2.jpg
ec4a657bf0acae773d3f065ca8231a5f
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Blank page]
[Page break]
[missing letters] D UNION, SPRINGFIELD, MASS., SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1946
Anne Clough's Heart Was Filled With Pride As British Bombers Roared Into Westover
[Photograph]
[italics] Springfield Union Photo [/italics]
STROLLING AND CHATTING – Attractive Anne Clough, who before her marriage to an American served with the RAF's WAAF, chats with Leading Aircraftsman Jack Rollitt, ground crewman on one of the Lancasters of Squadron 35. Mrs. Clough was with the unit back in 1940, when it had twin-engined Wellingtons.
Springfield Resident, Now Employed at Field, Was WAAF During War, Serving With Squadron 35
By Francis Merrigan
"Well, I had a little cry and I was very proud of them." This was the reaction of petit, blonde and lovely Mrs. Anne Clough on Wednesday as she stood outside of Hangar 5 at Westover Field and watched 12 RAF Lancaster bombers roar over the base in tight battle formation before landing to bring "Operation Goodwill" to Western Massachusetts.
Served With Squadron 35
Understandable indeed, were the tears shed by Mrs. Clough as she watched these emissaries of good will, for not only was she a WAAF sergeant attached to the RAF during the war, but "back in 1940" she served with Squadron 35, the very outfit whose planes are at Westover Field today.
She's an American now . . . has been in this country for nearly two years and loves it . . . and because the desire to be near "aircraft" persists, she recently took a job with American Overseas Airlines at Westover and was assigned to maintenance control.
"Not only do I like planes, but my husband's going to school, so it's rather necessary that I work," she said, flashing an engaging smile.
Met in Lincolnshire
She met her husband, Gerald C. Clough, Jr., former fighter pilot with the RCAF and AAF, when they were both stationed at Lincolnshire. The fact that he was an AAF captain – had transferred to the air force of his own country in 1942 – and she was a WAAF sergeant didn't deter the course of romance, and so they were married. Mrs. Clough left her desk in hangar 5 yesterday afternoon to be photographed down at the flight line. "I really don't think that I'll know anyone in Squadron 35,"she said, during the drive to the parking stands, "because it was so long ago that I was with them. And besides, they had Wellington bombers then . . . they're two-engine airplanes, you know."
She Liked Them All
She said her duties consisted of overseeing the officers' mess, and "everything in general."
How many squadrons had she served with?
She smiled . . . "Oh several . . . let's see, Squadron 45, 78, 37 . . . all of those were heavy bombers . . . and I served with the Spitfires too."
Which did she like best?
"Oh, I don't know, I guess I liked them all . . . there isn't any difference." The conversation turned again to the arrival of the Lancasters and she mentioned, a bit wistfully it seemed, that it was something she hadn't seen for a long, long time.
Used To Be All Black
"I was thrilled, too, when they all came to attention out in front of the planes and the band played 'God Save the King.' " she said . . . "My, but I was proud of them."
"This is the first time I've seen them white," she said as the car came to a stop before a maintenance shed . . . "When I served in the WAAF they were painted all black." The under portion of the craft is black, and the upper parts glisten white under their coat of white paint. A lanky blond chap in an RAF dress uniform was the only squadron member in the area and he introduced himself as LAC Jack Rollitt of Yorkshire . . . explaining that LAC meant "leading aircraftsman" and compared somewhat to our [indecipherable word] "except that we have a bit more responsibility than your [indecipherable word]."
Only Five So Far
"How many pairs of nylons are you bringing back?" asked Mrs. Clough after introductions had been made all around.
"Only five so far." answered the friendly Yorkshireman, "But I want to get some more before we go."
"Only five!" echoed the little blond . . . "Do you know that my mother had to pay one pound ten on two pairs of nylons that I sent her? And they cost me only about £1.4s a pair."
Rollitt was asked what disposition he had planned for the nylons.
"Oh, I'll dish them out," he said . . . "One here and one there . . . treat them all alike is what I say."
Anne, who carried a large pocket-book to which her husband's AAF wings were affixed, chatted with the aircraftsman about this and that . . . she informed him that she had no WAAF uniform because she received her discharge before the war ended . . . and commented on the squadron crest painted on the nose . . . Rollitt said he guessed it was the forepart of Pegasus, the flying horse.
Good Living There
The talk veered around to pounds and dollars again and Mrs. Clough mentioned she had written to her mother, commenting on the 26 pounds (about 30 dollars) monthly rent she pays.
"That is a bit stiff, isn't it?" asked Rollitt. "I could live very nicely in England on that."
On 24 or 22 dollars a week?
"Five pounds a week? I'll say you could," was Rollitt's emphatic answer.
It was time for Mrs. Clough to return to her desk, as Rollitt headed back to the shed.
"I'll be out to see the squadron tomorrow," Mrs. Clough called back.
Open House Today
She'll be joined by hundreds of Western Massachusetts residents, in all probability, for it's "open house" at the base and the big Lancasters will be open for inspection. Members of the crews will take spectators through, showing them the mammoth bombers which teamed up with the AAF to give Germany and other occupied areas such an aerial pasting.
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
Anne Clough's Heart was filled with pride as British Bombers roared into Westover
Description
An account of the resource
Details on Anne Clough service in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during the War.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08-17
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10046
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Massachusetts
Massachusetts--West Springfield
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08-17
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.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One newspaper cutting on a scrapbook page
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Angela Gaffney
35 Squadron
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
ground personnel
Lancaster
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9649/SMathersRW55201v10047.2.jpg
ed4fcb9f779d1468dbada3f8530a4a5d
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
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
Airmen, Lancasters and women
Description
An account of the resource
Photograph 1 is an airman with a female Naval officer standing in front of a Lancaster, captioned ' A small bit of liaison with the Navy!'
Photograph 2 is an airman and a woman standing in front of Lancaster "TL-C", captioned 'The sister and the skipper'.
Photograph 3 is a female Navy officer captioned 'Laura Sowelski 216 White Street, Springfield, Mass. (& the answer to the Navy's recruiting problem).'
Photograph 4 is the sister and the female Navy officer standing in front of a row of Lancaster, captioned 'Why did we have to leave so soon!?'
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10047
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
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Massachusetts
Massachusetts--West Springfield
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08
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.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w and three colour photographs on a scrapbook page
35 Squadron
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/957/9650/SMathersRW55201v10048.1.jpg
10d65bfff5e14a6af1f5e312ac83cd86
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
Mathers, Ronald. Album
Description
An account of the resource
45 page scrapbook of Squadron life and The Goodwill Tour to the United States by 35 Squadron in 1946. It includes photographs, newspaper cuttings, and programmes. The tour visited stations on both the East and West coasts of the United States and the airmen were entertained with visits to Hollywood.
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-17
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Blank page]
[Page Break]
[missing words] GRAPH AND MORNING POST, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1946
[Photograph]
MEN of the No. 35 Lancaster Squadron on their return yesterday to Graveley Airfield, Hunts. from their goodwill visit to the United States.
R.A.F. GOODWILL PLANES HOME
ONLY 15 SECONDS AFTER SCHEDULE
From our SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
GRAVELEY, Thursday.
After a flight of 15,000 miles on a "goodwill tour" of America, the 35th Squadron of the R.A.F. Lancasters touched down here to-day, only 15 seconds after scheduled time.
On the final stage of their journey they followed a course along the South Coast and thence across London. They passed over the Air Ministry in Kingsway, across the City over St. Paul's and then north to Graveley.
When, in cloud and wind, the squadron appeared at their home base, the crews were given a memorable reception by all the land crews in the camp.
Waiting to meet the planes were Air Marshal Sir Norman Bottomley, A.O. C-in-C Bomber Command, Maj-Gen. C.K. Bissell, United States Military and Air Attaché, Mr. [two indecipherable words], First Secretary to the American Embassy and Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Joubert.
SUCCESSFUL MISSION
Sir Norman Bottomley said he felt that the squadron had succeeded in their mission. He congratulated the men on their high standard of formation flying and discipline.
The journey was covered without any technical failure of engines or airframes in flight.
The squadron's flights per machine was equivalent to 12 times round the world. It testified to the efficiency of British equipment and the British heavy aircraft industry.
"I am sure" he said "that this performance was due to the very good maintenance of our ground crews."
The crews of the aircraft spoke highly of the reception which they were accorded in America.
[underlined] 29th AUGUST 1946 [/underlined]
[Photograph]
Goodwill
London welcomed the Lancasters of 35 (Madras) Squadron home to-day after their 15,000-mile goodwill tour of the United States. Flying at 2,000ft. owing to clouds and "bumps" which made formation difficult, they swept over the City on their way to their home base at Graveley, Herts, where they were received by Air Ministry officials and representatives from the American Embassy.
To-day's last lap was from St. Mawgan, Cornwall, where they landed from the United States. En route they passed over South Coast towns and turned north from Brighton.
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
RAF Goodwill planes home
Description
An account of the resource
Item 1 is a newspaper cutting marking the return of the Lancasters to Graveley.
Item 2 is a newspaper cutting titled 'Goodwill' showing 11 Lancasters over St Paul's Cathedral.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-08-30
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SMathersRW55201v10048
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Cambridgeshire
England--London
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08-29
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.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings on a scrapbook page
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Angela Gaffney
35 Squadron
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
RAF Graveley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1279/17471/PPearceAT16010033.2.jpg
13c87125cb83fb977d93d140ef3aed8a
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
Pearce, Arthur
A T Pearce
Description
An account of the resource
140 items. The collection concerns Warrant Officer Arthur Pearce (1874945 Royal Air Force) He served as an air gunner with 12, 170 and 156 (Pathfinder) Squadrons and completed a 44 operations. After the war, on 35 Squadron he took part in the June 1946 Victory flypast over London and a goodwill visit to the United States. It contains his diaries, memorabilia and photographs.
The collection also contains an album concerning his post war activity with the Goodwill tour of the United States.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Steve Allan and catalogued by Nigel Huckins
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
2015-12-17
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
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Pearce, AT
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
Aircraft on Long Beach Air Force Base
Description
An account of the resource
Vertical air to ground view of an airfield parking pan running top left to bottom right. Airfield buildings are also shown. Parked on the pan are Lancaster, B-29, C-57, Northrop P61, B-17 and Lockheed Constellation as well as other aircraft.
There are shadows of a 12-aircraft formation of Lancasters flying towards top of image projected onto the ground over the pan.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16010033
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
United States Army Air Force
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Geolocation impractical
Pending review
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Sykes
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
California
California--Long Beach
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08-01
35 Squadron
aerial photograph
B-17
B-29
C-47
Lancaster
P-38
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17587/PPearceAT16030001.2.jpg
6701edb32f95cff83b696270aa14b712
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
“Americans don’t know us” says ‘goodwill’ gunner
WITH the memories of a wonderful reception in the USA fresh in his mind, having just returned from the RAF Bomber Command goodwill visit, W/O Arthur Pearce, of 70, Whitworth House, Falmouth-rd., Southwark, still thinks the average American knows little or nothing about Britain.
“The people over there don’t seem to have any idea of life outside their own home town. They think they are the only country with jet planes and don’t know we hold the air speed record.
“I’ve never seen so much food in my life, but they think they are hard done by. We need more about England in the American papers, they don’t seem to know what goes on.
“The only people who like England are the ex-Service men who served in this country during the war and would like to revisit the places they know.”
A Bomber Command air gunner with 44 ops. to his credit, he joined 35 Squadron, the senior bomber group of the RAF, a year ago and was selected to make the trip by the Squadron Commander.
Starting from Graveney, the hop to New York was made with stops at Cornwall, The Azores and Newfoundland.
The Lancasters called at St. Louis, Denver, Washington, D.C. and many other large cities in the States and their crews were lavishly entertained to civic receptions wherever they went.
Arthur told a South London Press reporter: “We had a wonderful time throughout the tour, money just didn’t seem to be any object to the people entertaining us.
“Wherever we landed we were given a good time, taken to dances and shows and on visits. I met many of the British film stars including Sir Aubrey Smith and [missing letters]rle Oberon.”
[photograph]
[photograph]
[photograph]
[photograph] [photograph]
LOCAL AIRMEN WERE GUESTS OF FILM STARS
GUESTS of film stars in Hollywood, feted wherever they went, the two local airmen who took part in the R.A.F.’s goodwill mission to the United States are expected home this week-end.
They are W.O. Arthur Pearce, D.F.M., 70, Whitworth House, Falmouth-rd., Elephant and Castle (left), and A.C.1 J.B. Lumsden, 150, Burbage-rd., Herne Hill (right). They arrived back in England, on Monday.
Writing home, Pearce says that he has “had enough of a good time.” The film stars he met included Mary Pickford, who entertained him at her home at Beverly Hills. “Hollywood is one of the best places on earth,” he comments, “but only the rich can afford to live there.” He says that five drinks cost him £3. “Though I am really having a good time, I would like to get home and have a few hours’ sleep and when I get home I hope I shall never see another drop of beer!” Lumsden, tells his parents in a letter that “there is still too much food in the U.S., and they apologise for the lack of it!”
[photograph] [photograph]
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
Goodwill trip to United States
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings and five b/w photographs mounted on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030001
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
Civilian
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Cambridgeshire
United States
New York (State)--New York
Washington (D.C.)
New York (State)
California--Beverly Hills
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
Description
An account of the resource
Top left - newspaper article 'Americans don't know us say s"goodwill gunner".' Noted that Warrant Officer Arthur Pearce has just returned from goodwill tour of the United States with a view that Americans know nothing about Britain and have no idea of life outside their own home town. A bomber command air gunner with 44 operations to his credit he joined 35 Squadron a year ago and was selected to make the trip with Lancaster air craft. Starting from Graveley with stops in Cornwall, Azores and Newfoundland then to New York. Visited St Louis, Denver, Washington DC and other large cities.
Top right - photograph of two Lancasters in light paint scheme parked on airfield with welcoming spectators and band.
Middle top - photograph of a Fairchild C-82 Packet and C-47s.
Middle below - an airfield by the side of a river.
Middle right - newspaper article 'Local airmen were guests of film stars'. Notes that Warrant Officer Arthur Pearce and AC1 J B Lumsden had met film stars Mary Pickford in Beverley Hills, Hollywood.
Bottom left - photograph of the Spruce Goose (Hughes H-4 Hercules) by waterside.
Bottom right - photograph of C54 Skymaster on runway
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.
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
1946=07
1946-08
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
35 Squadron
aircrew
C-47
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
RAF Graveley
runway
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17599/PPearceAT16030006.1.jpg
20b885cfeecb5152a05ef30cb569883b
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
Goodwill tour of United States
Description
An account of the resource
Top left - air to ground view of Scott Field.
Top right - eight Lancasters in light paint scheme parked in pairs on an airfield with runway behind and buildings on far side.
Middle left - a line of Lancasters in light paint scheme parked on airfield with crews lined up in front of each.
Middle right - reception party with large group or British and United States servicemen standing an a large room with sign 'Welcome RAF'.
Bottom - crews lined up in front of Lancaster. In the foreground are an officer in flying suit and two others in uniform tunic, one of whom is shaking hands with the USAAF aircrew officer.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-07
1946-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Five b/w photographs mounted on an album page
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030006
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
United States Army Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Illinois--Belleville
Illinois
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
35 Squadron
aerial photograph
aircrew
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
runway
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17603/PPearceAT16030007.2.jpg
eb129613f0237434f0d56d5ad0a4b5a6
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[photograph]
[photograph]
CHOSEN FOR U.S. GOODWILL TOUR
Chosen to take part in the R.A.F.’s goodwill mission to the U.S.A., called by the Americans “Project Goodwill,” are two local men – W.O. Arthur Pearse (21), D.F.M., Whitworth House, Falmouth-rd., Elephant and Castle (picture here), and A.C.1. J.B. Lumsden (20), 150, Burbage-rd., Herne Hill. [photograph] Pearce will fly out as the rear gunner of a Lancaster bomber, and Lumsden will accompany the mission, which is being undertaken by the famous No. 35 (Lancaster) squadron, as a member of the ground staff. They will visit cities all over the U.S., and will take part in Air Forces Day on 1st August.
Pearce, who was so keen to join the R.A.F. that he studied at home in preparation, completed 44 operations against the enemy during the war, including a period of service with the Pathfinder Force. He was awarded the D.F.M. in 1943 for his part in the bombing of Hamburg. He was educated at St. Michael’s School, Camberwell. On Saturday, he was best man at his brother’s wedding and announced his engagement to one of the bridesmaids, Miss M. Betts. Lumsden will be paying his second visit to the U.S. He has friends in New York.
[photograph]
Wing Commander A.J.L. Craig, who at the age of 23 is in command of the famed 35th “Pathfinder” Squadron of the Royal Air Force, is shown in a characteristic pose, looking toward the skies. Story of the 35th’s visit to Lowry is on back page.
[photograph]
[photograph]
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
Goodwill tour of United States
Description
An account of the resource
Top left - eight Lancasters parked in pairs on airfield with runway behind them. In the foreground a hangar. To the left three B-17s. Top right - newspaper cutting 'Chosen for U.S. Goodwill tour'. Two local men chosen to take part names as W.O Arthur Pearce and AC1 J B Lumsden. Tour undertaken by 35 Squadron who will visit cites across the United States. Pearce completed 44 operations and was awarded DFM. Middle left - a group of servicemen and civilian men and women at threshold of runway seeing off aircraft. Photograph taken from rear turret. Bottom left - newspaper cutting with head and shoulders portrait of Wing Commander A.J.L. Craig (age 23) who is in command of 35 Squadron. Story of visit to Lowry on the back page. Middle right - air to ground view of city with square grids of streets. Bottom right - air to ground view of airfield with Lancasters, B-29, C-47 and other aircraft. There is also the shadows of aircraft flying overhead in formation.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-07
1946-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings and four b/w photographs mounted on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030007
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
United States Army Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
United States
Colorado--Denver
Colorado
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
35 Squadron
aerial photograph
B-29
C-47
Distinguished Flying Medal
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
love and romance
Pathfinders
runway
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17606/PPearceAT16030010.1.jpg
50ae2a28125484086d5839e17997d77a
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Gen. Spaatz Welcomes RAF
[photograph]
At the microphone welcoming the RAF to Andrews Field is Gen. Carl A Spaatz. Chief of Staff of the Army Air Forces. In back of him, reading from left to right, are Lord Inverchapel, British Ambassador; Col. Curtis D. Sluman, Base Commander, and Maj. Gen. O.P. Weyland, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Plans.
The RAF’s famous 35th Squadron zoomed northward today on the last lap of its “goodwill tour” of U.S. air bases as guests of the Army Air Corps after spending one week at Andrews Field.
The noted British fliers of World War II flew 12 Lancaster bombers from San Antonio, Tex., to Andrews Field on August 8. The bombers are still wearing the battle paint that distinguished them in the night raids over Germany.
The British ambassador, Hon. Lord Inverchapel; the AAF’s Chief of Staff, Gen. Carl A. Spaatz; the commanding officer of Andrews Field, Col. C.D. Sluman, and many other dignitaries were on hand to greet the fliers.
Lord Inverchapel welcomed No. 35 Squadron to the Washington area, and stated that while they were in this vicinity he thought he should retire, allowing them to serve as ambassadors. He also invited all the members of No. 35 Squadron to a party at the Embassy on Friday night.
In a speech of welcome, General Spaatz recalled the close cooperation that had existed between the RAF and the AAF. He said that it was imperative that this relationship should continue to exist between the two air forces.
While at Andrews Field the 200 English airmen, all veterans of Britain’s much decorated Pathfinder Force, were entertained by both military officials and civilians. The entertanment [Sic] ranged from downing brews at the Pfc. Club with GI’s to drinking tea on the lawn of the British Embassy in response to Lord Inverchapel’s invitation.
On Saturday morning, August 10, the British aircraft gave a demonstration flight over Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, taking off from Andrews Field at 0915. Thirty newsmen went on this flight. From 1300 to 1500 Saturday afternoon the public was invited to an open house here. Royal Air Force crews stood by their Lancasters and answered questions concerning their equipment. During the late afternoon and evening Andrews Field held a gala beach party at Chesapeake Beach for all enlisted visiting RAF personnel and for Andrews Field enlisted and civilian personnel. Swimming, a picnic supper, and dancing were the main features of the day. On Saturday night a buffet dinner and dances were held at the Officers’ Club for all RAF and Andrews Field officers.
Forty Air Attaches visited the Base Sunday morning at the invitation of Headquarters AAF. British service women and other members of the British Colony in Washington were also guests here Sunday afternoon. In the evening the RAF personnel attended the AAF band concert given on the Capitol steps.
During the course of their stay in Washington our English guests also went on sight-seeing tours as well as visiting Bolling Field and attending dinner parties and other social functions.
The itinerary of No. 35 Squadron since it arrived at Mitchell Field July 17 from Graveley, Huntingdon, England, via Azorea and Newfoundland, has been St. Louis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Tex., and Andrews Field.
The squadron is now headed for Westover Field, Chicopee Falls, Mass., where it will remain for four days before completing the cycle back to Mitchel Field. From there they will return to England, where most of the men will await their well-earned dis-discharges [Sic].
[photograph]
Group Captain K.C.M Collard is pictured above shaking hands with Col. Curtis D. Sluman, Base Commander, at ceremonies welcoming the RAF to Andrews Field. To the left of him is Lord Inverchapel, British Ambassador; to his right are Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, Chief of Staff of the Army Air Forces, and Col. A.L. Berry, Deputy Base Commander.
[photograph]
In picture above, men of the RAF’s famous 35th Squadron are shown lined up in front of a group of heavy Lancaster bombers during Andrews Field reception for the Royal Air Force.
FLY-PAST
Five South Londoners will have an aerial view of the procession when they take part in the RAF fly-past.
One of them is 23-year-old F/O Frank Baker of Glengarry-rd., Dulwich, navigator in a Mosquito night intruder who won the DFC for a night operation over German airfields.
Three of the others are from heavy bombers, F.O Brundritt. Of Lynton-rd., Bermondsey, will be navigator of a Lancaster. W/O A.J. Pearce, of 70, Whitworth House, Falmouth-rd., Southwark, who won the DFM in 1945, and Flight Sgt. B. Ford, of 5, Arlingford-rd., Tulse Hill, will be rear gunners in Lancasters, W/O S. Pritchard, of 5, Montford-place, Kennington, will be a navigator in 248 Mosquito squadron.
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
Goodwill tour of United States and Victory Fly-Past
Description
An account of the resource
Top right - newspaper cutting titled 'Gen Spaatz welcomes RAF' with three photographs. Top left photograph of General Spaatz at microphone welcoming RAF to Andrews Field. Also in background Lord Inverchapel, British Ambassador, Col Curtis D Sluman and Maj Gen O P Weyland. Article explains that 35 Squadron spent a week at Andrews Field having flown from San Antonio on August 8th. Covers Gen Spaatz speech. Mentions aircraft gave demonstration flight over Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. Photograph middle of Group Captain Collard shaking hands with Col Curtis D Sluman (base commander Andrews Field) in front of parade of servicemen. Bottom photograph 35 Squadron crews lined up in front of their Lancasters.
Bottom left - a newspaper cutting 'Fly-Past', notes that five south Londoners will have aerial view as they take part in RAF fly-past: F/O Frank Baker DFC (ex Mosquito navigato)r; F/O Brundrift (navigator); W/O A J Pearce DFM; F/Sgt B Ford (air gunners in Lancaster) and W/O S Pritchard (navigator in 248 Squadron Mosquito).
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-07
1946-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings mounted on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030010
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
United States Army Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Washington (D.C.)
New Jersey--Atlantic City
Texas--San Antonio
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Maryland--Baltimore
Great Britain
England--London
Maryland
New Jersey
Texas
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Bradley Froggatt
248 Squadron
35 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Medal
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
Mosquito
navigator
Pathfinders
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17607/PPearceAT16030011.1.jpg
b028adcd74c460c16b31a748fe6421ea
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
Goodwill tour of United States
Description
An account of the resource
Top - newspaper cutting with photograph of air-to-air view of formation of 12 Lancasters from 35 Squadron over New York. Caption states that photograph shows them over East River and that they will fly on to St Louis.
Middle right - photograph of C-47 on left facing, B-25 middle facing away and Lancaster on the right.
Bottom - newspaper cutting with photograph of seven Lancasters in light paint scheme parked on airfield at Long Beach California with crews standing in front. In front of them a welcoming party. Caption 'Smart Line -up. Due back any day now, the 16 Lancasters on No 35 Squadron are shown inspected at Long Beach California during the US Army Air Force Day celebrations'.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings and one b/w photograph mounted on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030011
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
United States Army Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
California--Long Beach
New York (State)--New York
California
New York (State)
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-07
1946-08
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
35 Squadron
aerial photograph
B-25
C-47
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17614/PPearceAT16030016.2.jpg
664496f2e5107613cafc1103b82e7aed
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17614/PPearceAT16030018.1.jpg
471e9991bb7e430a8f3c89f2d3064747
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
Famed RAF Squadron to visit Lowry
Description
An account of the resource
Top - newspaper cutting with two photographs - left air-to-air view showing three Lancasters and on the right an air-to air view of three Lancasters in echelon starboard. Text states that this page has several pictures of Lancasters from famed 35 Squadron which participated in 13,000 hours of night flying as well as 1,000 hours of daylight bombing during the war. Goodwill tour to last five weeks.
Bottom newspaper cutting with two photographs, on left - Lancaster parked with several men around it. Right - Lancaster on ground viewed from port front quarter. In the background further Lancasters lined up. Text notes that some of planes pictured were used by members of 35 (Pathfinder) Squadron in offensive against Germany. The crew were awarded 295 DFCs, 173 DFMs and 19 Service Orders. 35 Squadron was scheduled to join AAF in a mass air offensive against Japan.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings mounted on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030016, PPearceAT16030018
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
United States Army Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Colorado--Denver
Colorado
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
35 Squadron
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Medal
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
Pathfinders
Tiger force
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17623/PPearceAT16030024.1.jpg
36a28c7e5c9693a8c897fc8e2bc915de
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Lowry Field on July 25. Plans are underway to fete the British flyers and make their visit to Lowry as pleasant as possible. This is one of the many points which the RAF Squadron will visit on a five-week goodwill tour of the United States. Open house at Lowry Field is planned for the 27th of July. At this time the public will be given a chance to inspect this sample of the might of the British Air Arm.
Flying the famed Lancaster bombers that helped smash Germany’s industrial war plants in night raids at the height of the Allied air offensive, R.A.F. fliers will land at Lowry Field to begin their three-day visit to the Denver area. Invited to the United States by the Army Air Forces, Squadron 35 (Pathfinder), Royal Air Force Bomber Command is touring the country, taking part in several events along the way. Arriving at Mitchell Field, New York, on July 17, the group of sixteen Lancasters and two Yorks, commanded by Wing Commander A.F.L. Craig assembled before beginning its “Good Will” tour.
Upon their arrival in New York last Wednesday, members of the group were extended a warm welcome. Among the activities held in their honor [sic] were a baseball game, dinner, dance, and open house entertainment. Similar programs are being planned for their visits to Scott Field and other AAF installations in this country.
The squadron will stop at Scott Field, near Bellevue, Illinois on July 21. After leaving Lowry Field, the group will take off for a scheduled arrival at Long Beach, California on the 28th. on August 1, the unit will take part in the program for the Army Air Forces Day at Los Angeles. Next scheduled stop on the itinerary will be Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, when the group leaves Long Beach, on August 3. From Kelly the R.A.F. fliers will take off for Morrison Field, near West Palm Beach, Florida, arriving there on August 7. Next will be Andrews Field, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. On August 18 a return
[photograph]
[photograph]
The mass formation will be manned by 110 enlisted men, 30 warrant officers, 61 company grade officers, and eight field grade officers. Total strength will be 209, including two British newspapermen.
Veteran of some of the toughest air combat in the European theatre, the 35th Squadron will complete project “Good Will” under the direction of Group Captain R.C.M. Collard, Station Commander at Gravelly, Huntington, England. Wing Commander Craig of Gravelly, a 23-year-old flier with a brilliant war record will conduct the group on its five-week tour. Craig holds the Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Britain’s largest bombers, the four-engine Lancasters of Squadron 35 which carried the war to Germany completed every mission but one. Chosen to form part of the R.A.R.’s “Tiger Force,” No. 35 was making preparations to join American B-29’s on Okinawa for the massed air offensive against Japan when surrender came, cancelling the project. Still clad in their “tropical Dress,” the R.A.F. Lancasters are white on top and black underneath.
Much of the fame which was attained by the 35th Squadron came from their successes as one of the four squadrons which went to make up the nucleus of the “Pathfinder Force.” This was the RAF’s solution to the difficulties encountered in maintaining accuracy in bombing on night missions over Europe. Early in the war it became apparent that night bombing would be much more effective if an unmistakable beacon were created near the target by fire-raising parties. Hence the “Pathfinder Force” was established. The four squadrons chosen were selected because of special skills in navigation and the use of special equipment. Their mission was to locate targets in the dark and provide the guiding beacon by setting them afire with incendiary bombs and by dropping flares.
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
Goodwill visit to United States
Description
An account of the resource
Newspaper cutting with three air-to-air view photographs of Lancasters.
Article states that 16 Lancasters of 35 Pathfinder Squadron will arrive 27 July 1946 on three day visit to Denver area. They arrived in the United States at Mitchel Field New York on 17 July 1946. Mentions they will visit Scott Field Bellevue. Long Beach California, San Antonio, Morrison Field West Palm Beach and Andrews Field Washington DC. Mentions party consists of 110 enlisted men m 20 warrant officers and 61 officers. Mentions would have been part of Tiger Force.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-07
1946-08
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One newspaper cutting mounted on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030024
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
United States Army Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
Colorado--Denver
California--Long Beach
Texas--San Antonio
New York (State)--New York
Illinois--Belleville
Florida--West Palm Beach
Maryland
Washington (D.C.)
Florida
California
Colorado
Illinois
New York (State)
Texas
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07
1946-08
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
35 Squadron
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
Pathfinders
Tiger force
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17625/PPearceAT16030026.1.jpg
452267b3317c7b5c9b01d30f609e0e93
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
Goodwill tour of United States
Description
An account of the resource
Top left - In the distance Lancasters in light paint scheme lined up parked on airfield with crews in front. In the foreground spectators seated. In front stand two military personnel with hands clasped behind backs looking on.
Top right above - an air-to-ground view of a B-17 airborne.
Top right below - view from the rear turret of an airfield after take off.
Second row left - a Lockheed Constellation parked in front of a hangar.
Second row right - a B-29 parked on airfield hard standing.
Third row left a Sikorsky H-5 hovering over crowd of spectators.
Third row right and air to ground view of a city with tall buildings in the distance.
Bottom left - Fairchild C-82 Packet taking off.
Bottom right - Fairchild C-82 Packet on fly-past.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Nine b/w photographs mounted on an album page
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030026
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
United States Army Air Force
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-07-17
1946-08
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.
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
1946-07-17
1946-08
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
New York (State)
aerial photograph
aircrew
B-17
B-29
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1292/17652/PPearceAT16030035.1.jpg
a8037a649fd2a4aaab6091424f6c1181
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[photograph]
Southwark ‘Pathfinder’ on goodwill mission
WARRANT Officer A.J. Pearce, DFM, of 70, Whitworth House, Falmouth-rd., [sic] Southwark, is to be rear gunner of a Lancaster bomber of the famous No. 35 Squadron, RAF, when the unit flies to the United States shortly on a goodwill mission.
Altogether 16 Lancaster bombers and two York aircraft are to visit America to take part in Air Forces Day on August 1. They will visit New York, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Denver, Long Beach, California, San Antonio, Texas West, Palm Beach and Florida.
During the war W/O Pearce completed 44 operations against the enemy, including a period of service with the Pathfinder Force. He was awarded the DFM in December, 1945.
Born at Blackfriars in 1923, he was educated at St. Michael’s School, Camberwell, and he enlisted in March, 1943.
No. 35 Squadron is a veteran bomber and Pathfinder squadron and was to have formed part of “Tiger Force,” organised to join American Super-Fortresses, in bombing Japan.
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
Southwark 'Pathfinder' on goodwill mission
Description
An account of the resource
Top left - Arthur Pearce in the rear turret of a Lancaster.
Bottom right - Arthur Pearce leaning out of the rear door of a Lancaster rear turret which is rotated fully to port.
Bottom left - newspaper cutting title 'Southwark "Pathfinder" on goodwill mission'. States that Warrant Officer A.J. Pearce of Southwark will be a rear gunner of a Lancaster of 35 Squadron when it flies to the United States on a goodwill mission. 16 Lancasters and two Yorks will visit America to take part in Air Forces day on 1 August. They will visit New York, St Louis, Los Angeles, Denver, Long Beach, San Antonio and West Palm Beach. It adds that during the war W/O Pearce completed 44 operations including some with pathfinder force. He was awarded the DFM in December 1945.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1946-07
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two b/w photographs and one newspaper cutting mounted on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PPearceAT16030035
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
United States Army Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
United States
New York (State)--New York
Missouri--Saint Louis
California--Los Angeles
Colorado--Denver
California--Long Beach
Florida--West Palm Beach
Texas--San Antonio
Great Britain
England--London
Florida
California
Colorado
Missouri
New York (State)
Texas
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1946-08-01
1945-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
35 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
Distinguished Flying Medal
Goodwill tour of the United States (1946)
Lancaster
Pathfinders