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Interview with Arthur Loudon
Arthur Loudon was born and raised in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. He talks about his early life, jobs and family, before he enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943, aged 19. He trained as a navigator at various stations in…
Interview with Stephen Granville Bacon
Stephen joined the Royal Air Force in Kingston upon Hull. He wanted to be a pilot but became a mid-air gunner instead. He started at RAF Dalcross where he trained on Boulton Paul Defiant aircraft and went to 12 Squadron at RAF Wickenby on Lancasters.…
Interview with Ken Macdonald
Ken had been in the Air Training Corps and enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942. He went to No. 2 Initial Training School at Bradfield Park and then to Marborough where he chose to be a wireless operator/air gunner. They flew on Wackett…
Interview with Rupert Noye
Rupert Noye completed two tours of operations as a rear gunner with 166 and 156 Squadrons.
Rupert initially tried to become a wireless operator but on being unsuccessful with the requirements of that trade, re-mustered as an air gunner. Rupert…
Rupert initially tried to become a wireless operator but on being unsuccessful with the requirements of that trade, re-mustered as an air gunner. Rupert…
Interview with Harold Yeoman
Harold Yeoman volunteered for the RAF hoping to become an air gunner and was surprised to find he would be trained as a pilot. He describes a crash landing in a Wellington, returning from an operation to Cherbourg, and being sent to Essen twice…
No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron Reunion Dinner, 1950
A programme and menu relating to the 1950 reunion of 12 Squadron personnel held in the Lord Raglan hotel, London.
28 aircrew officers
28 aircrew officers in four rows all wearing tunic, 27 wearing peaked cap and one a side cap. Herbert O’Hara is second row from the front fourth from the right. In the background left part of a building and telegraph pole, on the right open…
First back - Cologne
Lancaster coming in to land over St Oswald’s Church at Rand near Wickenby. Captioned, 'First Back! – Cologne 44', and signed, 'HOH' Additional information on this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Herbert O'Hara's South African Air Force observers or air gunners log book
Log book for Sergeant Herbert O'Hara from 7 November 1942 to 9 September 1962. He was stationed with 12 Squadron at RAF Wickenby, where he flew Lancasters as navigator. The log book shows 14 night operations over France and Germany, with one to…
Interview with Rita Brooks
Rita’s late husband was Flight Lieutenant Edward Brooks DFC, DFM. He was in the Home Guard before enlisting with the Royal Air Force in February 1941, and sometime later went to RAF Uxbridge. Following training at Blackpool, the recruits were…
Interview with David Butler
David Butler, DFC, was born in Cherry Hinton in April 1920 and joined the Royal Air Force on the 11 January 1940, serving in France, at Reims, as the Germans advanced. After walking some distance, he was evacuated back to England on a Polish boat and…
Interview with Jeff Hildreth - One
Jeff Hildreth grew up in a colliery village where his father was a miner. he left school and started working at a tailor’s shop, which he didn’t enjoy. He volunteered for the RAF and was accepted to train as a pilot, navigator or bomb aimer. He…
Interview with Jo Lancaster. One
After leaving school, Jo Lancaster was an aircraft apprentice with Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company in Coventry. Having volunteered for the Air Force, he trained as a pilot and completed a tour on Wellingtons with 40 Squadron from RAF Alconbury.…
Interview with Jo Lancaster. Two
Jo Lancaster grew up in Cumbria and joined the Air Force as soon as he was able. After training as a pilot he flew a tour of operations with 40 Squadron from RAF Alconbury. He became an instructor before his second tour flying Lancasters with 12…
Interview with Margaret Horry
Margaret Horry was born in Spalding. She remembers aircraft taking off to take part in operations, and retells wartime stories of her relatives. Her husband, Arthur, served in Bomber Command as a bomb aimer and his brother, Frank, was also in Bomber…
Interview with Leslie Robert Pearson
Les Pearson was in reserved occupation as an apprentice in general mechanical engineering, but he volunteered as aircrew. He initially trained as a pilot but was re-mustered as a bomb aimer. He flew operations as a bomb aimer with 153 Squadron from…
Interview with Peter John Peck
Peter joined the 74 Air Defence Cadet Corps at a unit at Crayford, before volunteering to join the Royal Air Force. After a recruiting centre at Hither Green, he attended Lord’s Cricket Ground and was called up towards the end of 1943. He went to…
Arthur Loudon's flying log book for navigators
Flying log book for Arthur Loudon, navigator, covering the period from 10 July 1943 to 12 July 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAAF Bradfield Park, RAAF Mount Gambier, RAAF East Sale,…
Westkappelle
Target photograph of the Westkappelle seawall. Captioned Captioned '3 3 274 WKY. 3.10.44//C 8" 14:55 [arrow] 080° 4000' West Kappelle Sea Wall J. 1x4000. 8x1000. 1x500. 18 secs F/L Curtis J 12.'.
Calais
Target photograph of Calais. Much of the photograph is obscured by explosions. In the top right corner is a Lancaster. Captioned '2647 WKY 20-9-44//8" 9000' [arrow] 160° 17.01 1/2 Calais M/T A.P6 D. J 13x1000:4x500 C.25.secs. F/L Curtis J.12.'.
Dusseldorf
Target photograph of Dusseldorf with much of the detail over exposed. Captioned 'Captioned ' 60 6 B 3198 WKY. 2/3.11.44 // NT C'. 8" 18500' [arrow] 110° 19.14 Dusseldorf 4GP 500 OT. 1 HC 4000 1N.1MC10000T.3ANM650T. 2ANM590T.2MC 500 DT. 29 sec F/L…
Cologne
Target photograph of Cologne mostly obscured by clouds and smoke. No detail can be seen on the ground. Captioned '3024 WKY 28.10.44 // 8" 18000' [arrow] 041° 1600 Cologne A/P H J. 1MC4000IN:5ANM6507.2MC500DT.3GP500DT.1GP500.LD.C35sec F/L. Curtis…
Hopsten Airfield
Target photograph of Hopsten airfield. The lower right side is obscured by cloud or explosions. The left side of the image has been damaged. Captioned '5B.5B 66 WKY 16/17.9.44//NT 8" C 15000 [arrow] 120° 23.25 1/2 Hobsten [sic] Airfield J 20x500 27…
Interview with James William Birchall
James Burchill was in the ATC before volunteering for aircrew training. He expected to be deferred but was told he had been chosen for immediate service. On one operation he was injured and, by the time he was ready for operational duties again, he…
Interview with Andrew Gauld
Born in a gardener's cottage, having finished school and taking a job working the the local Post Office, Andrew Gauld joined the Air Training Corps. Andrew then joined the Air Force and went into 12 Bomber Squadron and was crewed up with Pilot…