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Interview with Jack Pragnell
Jack Pragnell and his twin brother Thomas volunteered together for the RAF and trained together. Jack flew operations as a bomb aimer with 51 Squadron. His brother joined a Canadian crew. Jack was plagued with health problems and was suddenly told…
Interview with James Sampson
James Sampson volunteered for the RAF and trained as a navigator and became a specialist on H2S. He survived three write offs of his aircraft including once when the wheels had been shot away. His bomb aimer had a very near miss when shrapnel hit the…
Interview with Ted Stocker. Two
Edward Ernest Stocker (Ted) began his service with the RAF as a flight engineer on Halifaxes. He came to the attention of his Commanding Officer on his second operation, having warned before departure that they were carrying insufficient fuel to make…
Interview with Eric Horsham
Eric Horsham was born in East London in 1923. Leaving school at 14 he was a messenger at the Royal Ordnance Factory before working for the railways. In 1937 he joined the Air Training Corps and learned about aircraft maintenance. On his first attempt…
Interview with John Henry Thomas
John Thomas was born in Australia and joined the RAF in 1943. After doing his initial training in Australia he travelled to the UK via America. Further training, including an accident and night vision tests, led to 102 Squadron and a full tour of…
Interview with Stephen Walker
Stephen’s father, Ronald Cecil Walker, was born in Southampton in 1923. On leaving school he worked as a junior clerk with an accountancy firm. In 1941 he joined the Air Training Corps, 424 Squadron, in Southampton and in December the Royal Air…
Interview with Elizabeth Wickstead
Elizabeth Wickstead was born in Brighton, in 1928, and moved between villages in the Sussex area. Elizabeth remembers the announcement of the war in September 1939, and remembers the arrival of evacuees from London and the schools being separate from…
Joseph Wilson's observer's and air gunner's flying log book
Observer's and air gunner's flying log book for J Wilson, covering the period from 12 July 1942 to 26 March 1945. Detailing his flying training, Operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Penrhos, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF…
Damage to aircraft
Shows section of aircraft skin missing with bullet hole in section still attached above. Reported as damage to 102 Squadron Whitley V P5005 over Cologne. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor..
Letter to Leonard Cheshire from Sergeant Thomas Joseph McLean DFM
States that Cheshire's previous wireless operator Flight Lieutenant Hill has suggested he write to Cheshire. Provides his history as air gunner with 102 Squadron in 1942 where he was credited with four aircraft destroyed one probable and two damaged.…
Letter on behalf of Leonard Cheshire to Group Captain Dawes at Bomber Command
To senior personnel staff officer at Bomber Command giving history of Sergeant McLean, Distinguished Flying Medal, an air gunner who shot down at least four aircraft while serving on 102 squadron before medical downgrade. Is now fit again but posted…
Dinghy drill
A group of aircrew wearing tunic and side or peaked caps standing looking into a swimming pool where a rubber dingy is floating. Reported to be possibly 102 Squadron. On the reverse 13.08.40 No. 4. Additional information about this item was kindly…
Shrapnel
A two and a half inch piece of shrapnel on top of a wooden ruler. Reported as probably the fragment of shrapnel which ignited the flare causing damage to Leonard Cheshire's 102 squadron Whitley P5005 DY-P over Cologne on 14/11/1940. Addition…
Two aircrew in Sidcot flying suits
Two aircrew standing together in front of a hedge. Unknown airman on left and Flight Lieutenant Frank Hugh 'Lofty' Long on right, Lofty taught Leonard Cheshire how to fly Whitleys whilst in 102 Squadron. Lofty died during a operation on 13th March…
Two airmen
Head an shoulders portrait of two airmen both wearing uniform tunic. The pilot on the left wera a side cap and the airman on the right a peaked cap. Reported as Flight Lieutenant Frank Hugh 'Lofty' Long on left and unknown airman on right 5.6.40 –…
Interview with Andrew Barron. Three
Andrew said that during leisure time the crew drank, sang silly songs but didn’t really socialise much. He recalled an occasion when the Germans sent in about 200 night fighters infiltrating the main force on its ways home. They shot down a B-17…
John Blair DFC
Black and white full-length portrait photograph of John Blair wearing civilian clothes with medals on his left breast, in front of a large, white building with portico. There are various people behind him: one is dressed in the uniform of a British…
Portrait of John Blair
Flight Lieutenant John Blair in uniform with Navigator's brevet, submitted with caption; 'Flt Lt John J Blair, DFC from Jamaica who served as a Halifax navigator with 102 (Ceylon) Squadron, Bomber Command between 1944 and 1945. He completed his full…
The Story of Flight Lieutenant John J Blair, DFC
![MBlairJJ[Ser#-DoB]-160509-01.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/711/17279/MBlairJJ[Ser -DoB]-160509-01.jpg "MBlairJJ[Ser#-DoB]-160509-01.pdf")
A 52 page document detailing the history of John Blair's RAF service from 1942 to 1963, and his childhood in Jamaica. Introductory note says it was based on a taped interview with John Blair by his nephew in 1997.
John was born in 1919 to a poor…
John was born in 1919 to a poor…
Eric Horsham - Memories
Brief recollection of Eric Horsham from his early years in Plumstead, training at Lords, Torquay, St Athans, Marston Moor then 102 Squadron at Pocklngton. On one operation they were badly damaged but made a successful forced landing at RAF…
Eric Horsham Flight Engineer
Recollection of Eric Horsham from his early years in Plumstead, training at Lords, Torquay, St Athans, Marston Moor then 102 Squadron at Pocklngton. On one operation they were badly damaged but made a successful forced landing at Woodbridge, assisted…
Damaged Halifax Wing
Starboard, rear inboard section of Halifax wing damage during an operation over Germany. On the reverse 'Original photo Julich 16 Nov 1944 Landed Woodbridge Pocklington'
Five Airmen and Damaged Whitley
5 crew members dressed in sheepskin flying jackets and flying boots standing in front of damaged starboard wing of a Whitley.
On the reverse:
'After Cologne 1 March 1941 DY-R 102 Sqdn RAF Topcliffe'
'All Sgts
L to R
Rear Gunner 1. Nick…
On the reverse:
'After Cologne 1 March 1941 DY-R 102 Sqdn RAF Topcliffe'
'All Sgts
L to R
Rear Gunner 1. Nick…
Interview with James Ferguson Latimer
James Ferguson Latimer was born in Edinburgh. His family emigrated to Canada when he was young but moved back to Scotland in 1939. He recalls witnessing a German U-boat torpedo a ship as they sailed back home. Latimer joined the air force and…
The Kriegie March 2007
The news-sheet of the RAF ex-POW Association. This edition covers the award of an OBE to the Association's President, the Prisoners of War memorial at Hendon, Trooping the Colour, the annual parade of the Air Cadets, a visit to RAF Cranwell, Lunches,…