Browse Items (311 total)
- Tags: crewing up
Frank Dennis' memoir
Tags: 1659 HCU; 419 Squadron; 427 Squadron; 6 Group; air gunner; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bale out; bomb aimer; C-47; crash; crewing up; demobilisation; Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Flying Medal; evading; firefighting; flight engineer; forced landing; Fw 190; Gee; H2S; Halifax; Halifax Mk 2; Heavy Conversion Unit; Initial Training Wing; killed in action; Lancaster; Me 163; military discipline; military living conditions; mine laying; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; Mosquito; navigator; Operation Dodge (1945); Operation Exodus (1945); perception of bombing war; pilot; prisoner of war; promotion; RAF Bridlington; RAF Cardington; RAF Leeming; RAF Little Snoring; RAF Manston; RAF Middleton St George; RAF St Athan; RAF Stradishall; RAF Topcliffe; recruitment; Stirling; training; V-1; V-weapon; Window; wireless operator
Harry Brabin memoir
He sailed on the SS Johan Van Barneve to San Francisco and…
Tags: 102 Squadron; 1652 HCU; 27 OTU; 4 Group; Advanced Flying Unit; air gunner; air sea rescue; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; arts and crafts; bomb aimer; bomb struck; bombing; Bombing and Gunnery School; bombing of Helgoland (18 April 1945); bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944); briefing; crewing up; debriefing; demobilisation; entertainment; faith; fear; flight engineer; forced landing; Fw 190; Gee; gremlin; ground crew; H2S; Halifax; Halifax Mk 3; Heavy Conversion Unit; Ju 88; killed in action; lack of moral fibre; love and romance; Master Bomber; McIndoe, Archibald (1900-1960); Me 109; Me 262; Me 410; military discipline; military ethos; military living conditions; military service conditions; mine laying; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; navigator; Navy, Army and Air Force Institute; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Oboe; Operational Training Unit; P-51; Pathfinders; perception of bombing war; physical training; pilot; prisoner of war; promotion; propaganda; radar; RAF Gamston; RAF Lichfield; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Pocklington; RAF West Freugh; RCAF Mossbank; recruitment; Schräge Musik; searchlight; Spitfire; sport; tactical support for Normandy troops; Tallboy; target indicator; training; V-1; V-weapon; Wellington; Window; wireless operator / air gunner; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Last of the Tail Gun Charlies - Ronald Carter's Biography
At the age of 17, Ronald volunteered to join the Royal Air Force in November 1942. After basic training, Ronald was selected for gunnery and wireless operator training, becoming…
Tags: 44 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; bale out; bombing; Bombing of Mailly-le-Camp (3/4 May 1944); bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944); bombing of Toulouse (5/6 April 1944); Caterpillar Club; crewing up; mine laying; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); prisoner of war; RAF Dunholme Lodge; RAF Ringway; RAF Waddington; Stalag 3A; Stalag Luft 7; tactical support for Normandy troops; the long march; training; wireless operator / air gunner
Bob Smith's Memoirs
Tags: 106 Squadron; 115 Squadron; 142 Squadron; 15 Squadron; 1653 HCU; 166 Squadron; 3 Group; 4 Group; 44 Squadron; 467 Squadron; 49 Squadron; 5 Group; 619 Squadron; 622 Squadron; 640 Squadron; 76 Squadron; 78 Squadron; 84 OTU; Advanced Flying Unit; aerial photograph; air gunner; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bale out; Beaufighter; bomb aimer; bombing; Boston; crash; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; entertainment; flight engineer; H2S; Halifax; Hampden; killed in action; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Master Bomber; mess; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; Mosquito; navigator; Nissen hut; Oboe; observer; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Bishops Court; RAF Breighton; RAF Bridlington; RAF Cardington; RAF Chedburgh; RAF Cranwell; RAF Desborough; RAF Dunholme Lodge; RAF Feltwell; RAF Halfpenny Green; RAF Harrington; RAF Kirmington; RAF Leconfield; RAF Mildenhall; RAF Silloth; RAF Stradishall; RAF Tempsford; RAF Waddington; RAF West Freugh; RAF White Waltham; RAF Wigtown; RAF Witchford; Red Cross; sport; Stalag Luft 3; Stalag Luft 7; Stirling; training; V-1; Wellington; wireless operator
A Tour of Operations with RAF Bomber Command No XV/15 Squadron Mildenhall
Covers his operational tour and bombing operations.
Tags: 1 Group; 115 Squadron; 149 Squadron; 15 Squadron; 186 Squadron; 195 Squadron; 218 Squadron; 3 Group; 5 Group; 514 Squadron; 6 Group; 617 Squadron; 622 Squadron; 75 Squadron; 8 Group; 90 Squadron; aerial photograph; air gunner; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; B-17; B-24; Battle; Blenheim; bomb aimer; bombing; Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); Cook’s tour; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Flying Medal; Distinguished Service Order; escaping; flight engineer; Gee; George VI, King of Great Britain (1895-1952); ground crew; ground personnel; H2S; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Ju 88; killed in action; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lancaster Mk 3; Master Bomber; Me 109; mess; mine laying; Mosquito; navigator; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Oboe; Operational Training Unit; Pathfinders; pilot; prisoner of war; propaganda; radar; RAF Chedburgh; RAF Feltwell; RAF Honeybourne; RAF Husbands Bosworth; RAF Lakenheath; RAF Lindholme; RAF Mepal; RAF Methwold; RAF Mildenhall; RAF Sealand; RAF Stradishall; RAF Tuddenham; RAF Uxbridge; RAF Waterbeach; RAF Weston Zoyland; RAF Witchford; RAF Wratting Common; RAF Wyton; Spitfire; Stirling; tactical support for Normandy troops; target indicator; target photograph; V-1; V-2; V-weapon; Wellington; Window; wireless operator; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Bob Smith's Memoirs Book 2
Covers his training.
Tags: 1653 HCU; 3 Group; 467 Squadron; 5 Group; 84 OTU; Advanced Flying Unit; air gunner; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bomb aimer; crash; crewing up; flight engineer; Gee; Hampden; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Lancaster Mk 1; Lancaster Mk 3; mess; mine laying; navigator; Nissen hut; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Normandy deception operations (5/6 June 1944); Operational Training Unit; Oxford; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Andover; RAF Bishops Court; RAF Bridlington; RAF Cardington; RAF Chedburgh; RAF Cranwell; RAF Desborough; RAF Feltwell; RAF Halfpenny Green; RAF Harrington; RAF Mildenhall; RAF Silloth; RAF Stradishall; RAF Tempsford; RAF Waddington; RAF West Freugh; RAF White Waltham; RAF Wigtown; Stirling; tactical support for Normandy troops; training; V-1; V-weapon; Wellington; wireless operator
Interview with Rex John Arnett
Tags: 100 Group; 223 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; B-24; B-25; bombing; Bombing and Gunnery School; crewing up; entertainment; military living conditions; military service conditions; Operational Training Unit; RAF Manston; RAF Oulton; shot down; training; V-1; V-weapon; wireless operator; wireless operator / air gunner
The Years up to the Outbreak of the Second World War and How it Affected Me
Tags: 10 Squadron; 4 Group; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; Anson; B-24; Blenheim; bomb aimer; bombing; Botha; Chamberlain, Neville (1869-1940); Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; ditching; Dominie; Dulag Luft; flight engineer; George VI, King of Great Britain (1895-1952); Halifax; Halifax Mk 1; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Heavy Conversion Unit; Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); Ju 88; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lysander; Me 109; Me 110; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; navigator; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; pilot; prisoner of war; Proctor; RAF Barrow in Furness; RAF Hendon; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Madley; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Melbourne; RAF Padgate; RAF Wittering; RAF Yatesbury; Red Cross; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945); Spitfire; Stalag Luft 1; Stalag Luft 4; Stalag Luft 6; Stalin, Joseph (1878-1953); Stirling; the long march; training; Typhoon; Wallis, Barnes Neville (1887-1979); Wellington; Whitley; wireless operator / air gunner
... just ... Chapters in a Life .. and some History
Tags: 10 Squadron; 4 Group; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bale out; Blenheim; bomb aimer; Botha; Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; Defiant; ditching; Dominie; Dulag Luft; entertainment; flight engineer; Goldfish Club; ground personnel; Halifax; Hampden; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); Hurricane; Ju 88; Lancaster; Lysander; Me 109; Me 110; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; navigator; Operational Training Unit; perception of bombing war; physical training; pilot; prisoner of war; Proctor; radar; RAF Barrow in Furness; RAF Brize Norton; RAF Cosford; RAF Hendon; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Madley; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Melbourne; RAF Padgate; RAF Sywell; RAF Uxbridge; RAF Yatesbury; Red Cross; Spitfire; sport; Stalag Luft 1; Stalag Luft 4; Stalag Luft 6; Stirling; the long march; training; Typhoon; Wellington; wireless operator / air gunner; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Recollections of a Flight Engineer
He also recounts…
Memories of an Airman
Tags: 102 Squadron; 1652 HCU; 19 OTU; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; air sea rescue; aircrew; Anson; Cook’s tour; crewing up; demobilisation; ditching; Dominie; ground personnel; Halifax; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Heavy Conversion Unit; Hurricane; Ju 88; Magister; military living conditions; military service conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Proctor; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Burtonwood; RAF Halton; RAF Hednesford; RAF Kinloss; RAF Madley; RAF Marston Moor; RAF Pembrey; RAF Pocklington; recruitment; Spitfire; training; Wellington
Bill Burnett's Biography
Teddy's Career in the RAFVR 9th September 1939 - 11th October 1941
Tags: 1 Group; 11 OTU; 12 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; aerial photograph; Air Observers School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; Battle; Blenheim; bomb aimer; bombing; Bombing and Gunnery School; Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crash; crewing up; Defiant; ditching; flight engineer; Flying Training School; ground personnel; Halifax; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Heavy Conversion Unit; Initial Training Wing; Lancaster; meteorological officer; military ethos; military living conditions; military service conditions; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; navigator; observer; Operational Training Unit; pilot; propaganda; RAF Bassingbourn; RAF Binbrook; RAF Evanton; RAF Kinloss; RAF Odiham; RAF Padgate; RAF St Athan; RAF Wickenby; recruitment; sport; Stirling; take-off crash; training; Wallis, Barnes Neville (1887-1979); Wellington; Whitley; wireless operator
H Jack Lazenby DFC
Tags: 1654 HCU; 20 OTU; 207 Squadron; 4 Group; 5 Group; 57 Squadron; 617 Squadron; 7 Squadron; 97 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; B-17; B-24; Bennett, Donald Clifford Tyndall (1910-1986); bomb aimer; bombing; bombing of Helgoland (18 April 1945); briefing; Catalina; Chamberlain, Neville (1869-1940); crewing up; debriefing; demobilisation; Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Flying Medal; Distinguished Service Order; Eder Möhne and Sorpe operation (16–17 May 1943); entertainment; flight engineer; flight mechanic; Flying Training School; George VI, King of Great Britain (1895-1952); Gibson, Guy Penrose (1918-1944); ground crew; ground personnel; H2S; Halifax; Hampden; hangar; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Harvard; Heavy Conversion Unit; Hudson; Hurricane; Ju 88; killed in action; Lancaster; love and romance; Manchester; Master Bomber; Me 110; Me 262; mechanics engine; mess; military living conditions; military service conditions; mine laying; Mosquito; navigator; Navy, Army and Air Force Institute; Nissen hut; Oboe; Operation Exodus (1945); Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945); Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Pathfinders; pilot; radar; RAF Barkstone Heath; RAF Bassingbourn; RAF Benson; RAF Bourn; RAF Brize Norton; RAF Colerne; RAF Cosford; RAF Cranwell; RAF Dunkeswell; RAF East Kirkby; RAF Elvington; RAF Fairford; RAF Halton; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Melton Mowbray; RAF Mepal; RAF Oakington; RAF Padgate; RAF Pershore; RAF Scampton; RAF Silverstone; RAF St Athan; RAF Stormy Down; RAF Swinderby; RAF Talbenny; RAF Tangmere; RAF Upper Heyford; RAF Upwood; RAF Uxbridge; RAF Valley; RAF Warboys; RAF Wigsley; RAF Wing; recruitment; Resistance; Spitfire; sport; Stirling; target indicator; training; V-1; V-2; V-weapon; Victoria Cross; Wellington; Whitley; Window; wireless operator; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Eric Coling memoir
Tags: 16 OTU; 1660 HCU; 50 Squadron; aircrew; Anson; bomb aimer; bombing; bombing of Hamburg (24-31 July 1943); Bombing of Peenemünde (17/18 August 1943); crewing up; ditching; Dulag Luft; Gee; H2S; Heavy Conversion Unit; Ju 88; Lancaster; love and romance; Manchester; Master Bomber; mine laying; observer; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Pathfinders; prisoner of war; RAF Kirmington; RAF Padgate; RAF Skellingthorpe; RAF Swinderby; RAF Upper Heyford; recruitment; training; V-2; V-weapon; Wellington; Window
Interview with Peter Zolty
Interview with Monty Felton
Tags: 10 Squadron; aircrew; Anson; B-17; bombing; briefing; coping mechanism; crewing up; debriefing; Distinguished Flying Cross; entertainment; Gee; Halifax; Initial Training Wing; lack of moral fibre; military living conditions; military service conditions; navigator; Oxford; perception of bombing war; RAF Bishops Court; RAF Carnaby; RAF Halfpenny Green; RAF Kinloss; RAF Melbourne; RAF Rufforth; RAF Torquay; RAF Uxbridge; training; Whitley; Window
JF Neilson's memoir
He joined the Local Defence Volunteers at first then realised he did not want to become infantry. He did mount road blocks and fire watches. He applied to join the RAF and was accepted. Training was at Blackpool,…
Tags: 4 Group; 640 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; B-17; bale out; Blenheim; bomb aimer; bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); C-47; civil defence; crewing up; Dulag Luft; entertainment; evading; firefighting; flight engineer; Flying Training School; ground personnel; Halifax; Hampden; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Home Guard; Initial Training Wing; Lancaster; Manchester; Me 110; Morse-keyed wireless telegraphy; navigator; Operational Training Unit; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Bicester; RAF Church Fenton; RAF Cosford; RAF Heaton Park; RAF Leconfield; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF North Luffenham; RAF Padgate; RAF Riccall; RCAF Rivers; Red Cross; Spitfire; Stalag 3A; Stalag Luft 7; the long march; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington; Whitley; wireless operator; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Alan McInnes memoir
He…
Tags: 83 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; bale out; bomb aimer; C-47; Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; Dulag Luft; entertainment; final resting place; flight engineer; Fw 190; Goering, Hermann (1893-1946); ground personnel; H2S; Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); incendiary device; Lancaster; Mosquito; navigator; Operation Exodus (1945); Operational Training Unit; Pathfinders; pilot; prisoner of war; radar; RAF Bicester; RAF Lichfield; RAF Wigsley; RAF Wyton; Red Cross; shot down; sport; Stalag 3A; Stalag Luft 3; Stalag Luft 6; target indicator; the long march; training; wireless operator; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Letter from Jack Darby to Jean
Interview with Alan George Buxton
Alan was posted to Bradfield Park for training and…
Tags: 467 Squadron; 617 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; Air Observers School; aircrew; bale out; bombing; crewing up; Gee; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster Finishing School; love and romance; mess; military living conditions; navigator; observer; Operational Training Unit; RAF Lichfield; RAF Metheringham; RAF Wigtown; RAF Winthorpe; RAF Woodhall Spa; Stirling; submarine; superstition; Tallboy; training; Wellington
The Surprising Details of a Few Years of World War 2 1939-1945
Tags: 218 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; bombing; Chamberlain, Neville (1869-1940); Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crash; crewing up; Heavy Conversion Unit; Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); Lancaster; Operational Training Unit; prisoner of war; RAF Chedburgh; RAF Desborough; RAF Shepherds Grove; Stalin, Joseph (1878-1953); Stirling; training; Wellington; wireless operator
Memoir
Tags: 1669 HCU; 227 Squadron; 4 Group; 5 Group; 582 Squadron; 78 Squadron; aircrew; bombing; crash; crewing up; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; military living conditions; military service conditions; Operation Dodge (1945); Operation Exodus (1945); Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945); Operational Training Unit; RAF Acaster Malbis; RAF Balderton; RAF Graveley; RAF Langar; RAF Little Staughton; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Strubby; RAF Syerston; Tiger force; training; Wellington
Hastie DFC: The Life and Times of a Wartime Pilot
Tags: 1 Group; 100 Group; 101 Squadron; 157 Squadron; 2 Group; 214 Squadron; 223 Squadron; 3 Group; 4 Group; 6 Group; 8 Group; 85 Squadron; 88 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; B-17; B-24; B-25; bale out; Beaufighter; Bismarck; Botha; C-47; Chamberlain, Neville (1869-1940); Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crash; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; entertainment; evacuation; Flying Training School; Gee; Gneisenau; Goldfish Club; ground personnel; H2S; Halifax; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Harvard; He 111; Heavy Conversion Unit; Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); Hudson; Hurricane; Initial Training Wing; Ju 88; Lancaster; love and romance; Martinet; Me 109; Me 110; mine laying; Mosquito; Mussolini, Benito (1883-1945); navigator; Nissen hut; Oboe; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Pathfinders; pilot; Proctor; radar; RAF Banff; RAF Catfoss; RAF Catterick; RAF Chedburgh; RAF Cranwell; RAF Dishforth; RAF Farnborough; RAF Horsham St Faith; RAF Kinloss; RAF Leuchars; RAF Lichfield; RAF Lyneham; RAF Manston; RAF North Coates; RAF Oulton; RAF Padgate; RAF Prestwick; RAF Riccall; RAF Silloth; RAF South Cerney; RAF St Eval; RAF Thornaby; RAF Thorney Island; RAF Windrush; RAF Woodbridge; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945); Scharnhorst; Spitfire; sport; Stirling; Swordfish; Tiger Moth; Tirpitz; training; V-1; V-2; V-weapon; Whitley; Window; wireless operator; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Hastie DFC: The Life and Times of a Wartime Pilot
Tags: 8 Group; air gunner; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; B-24; B-25; Beaufighter; Bismarck; C-47; Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crash; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; evacuation; Flying Training School; Gee; Gneisenau; Goldfish Club; ground personnel; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Harvard; Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); Hudson; Initial Training Wing; navigator; Nissen hut; Oboe; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Pathfinders; pilot; radar; RAF Bircham Newton; RAF Catterick; RAF Cranwell; RAF Kinloss; RAF Leuchars; RAF North Coates; RAF Odiham; RAF Oulton; RAF Padgate; RAF Prestwick; RAF South Cerney; RAF St Eval; RAF Thornaby; RAF Thorney Island; RAF Windrush; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945); Scharnhorst; Spitfire; Tiger Moth; Tirpitz; training; V-1; V-2; V-weapon; Whitley; Window; wireless operator; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force