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44 Squadron and the Wesserling Raid 21/22 June 1944
Six page document courtesy of the late Allen White - 44 Squadron Historian. Reproduces narratives from three 44 Squadron crews involved in the operation. Overall the operation lost 37 crews from 120 launched against Wesserling oil refinery near…
Operations order 25 January 1944
Lists crews and aircraft for operation on night 25/26 January 1944. Fourth member of each crew underlined in red. Includes two standby crews and duty personnel. First standby crew has aircraft letter 'C' alongside, Third row fourth crew member has…
Albert Evans Summary of Last Flight
A record of Albert's last flight to Berlin. It lists his route, bomb load and crew.
44 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF on operations
Map shows Holland, Belgium and West Germany outlined in red. Caption with title and 'An operational record and roll of honour' at top. Table of figures in black at upper left. A route in black is marked through Holland to Germany and return.
Lancaster commemorative drawing
A commemorative drawing of a Lancaster on the ground with its engines running. Below is written: 'MILAN 44 SQUADRON 14/15 FEBRUARY 1943' and below that: 'F/LT WALKER, F/SGT WARD, F/SGT CHARNOCK, SGT GOLDSMITH, SGT HUBBARD, SGT DAVIES.' It is signed…
Interview with Frederick Ball
Frederick Ball grew up in Yorkshire and trained as a motor mechanic, before he joined the RAF in 1939. He completed two tours with 44 and 49 Squadrons, as a wireless operator flying from RAF Waddington and RAF Scampton.
Interview with Bill Spence
Bill Spence was born in Middlesborough. He abandoned his teacher training and joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 becoming a bomb aimer. He completed 36 operations during his time in Bomber Command. Bill tells of his experiences while training in…
Interview with Audrey Teasdale
Audrey left school at 14 and began work as a clerical assistant for a tailoring firm in Leeds, then moving into furniture sales.
Audrey was 23 when the war started and was conscripted on 15 December 1942 electing to join the WAAF. After her kitting…
Audrey was 23 when the war started and was conscripted on 15 December 1942 electing to join the WAAF. After her kitting…
Personnel occurrence report (Airmen)
Lists personnel entitled to medals and decorations and good conduct badges. Lists changes of address for next of kin.
Personnel occurrence report (airmen)
Lists movements in, movements out and discharges for airmen.
Interview with Glenn Atkins
Glenn Atkins was born in Newport Pagnell and was called up for National Service in 1951. He was involved in exercises to test the defences of Europe during the Cold War. When he was released from National Service he returned to his former company…
Interview with Thomas James Page
Thomas Page grew up in a farming family before joining the Royal Air Force in 1940, training as a flight mechanic. He was initially posted to 257 Squadron (Hurricanes) but soon went to Gloucester to train as a fitter from where he was posted to 71…
Interview with Philip Peel
Mike Peel was a Lancaster pilot and served on two squadrons before becoming a prisoner of war late in 1944. He was an active sportsman and played tennis in his eighties but unfortunately is no longer with us. Using his logbook, letters, and…
Interview with James Swaffield
James Swaffield was born and grew up in West London and flew as a navigator in the RAF. He discusses with the interviewer his life before, during and after the war. Highlights include: remembering his father, who served during the First World War and…
Interview with Doug Packman
Doug grew up in Kent. He joined the Royal Air Force at 18, as a flight engineer for 630 Squadron at RAF East Kirkby in 5 Group Bomber Command, flying Lancasters. He carried out 34 operations, followed by time as an instructor at RAF Syerston,…
Interview with Vernon Thomas Morgan
Vernon Morgan, from Cardiff, joined the civil service working at the Royal Ordnance Factory, volunteering for the RAF in 1941. After pilot training in South Africa he returned to several different roles: CO of a satellite aerodrome, pilot for…
Interview with Mike Chatterton
Mike Chatterton grew up on a farm. His father, John Chatterton was a Lancaster pilot during the war, before returning to university and becoming a lecturer, then later becoming a farmer. Mike joined the Royal Air Force from university in the 1970’s…
Interview with Geoff Golledge
Geoff Golledge volunteered for the Royal Air Force and trained as a wireless operator / air gunner. For a time he served as ground personnel with 44 Squadron at RAF Waddington, on the flare path. One night he brought thirty five aircraft safely in to…
Interview with Margaret Hourigan
Margaret Hourigan grew up in and around Nottingham. Despite holding Labour principles she volunteered for the WAAF’s as soon as War was declared and was called up in January 1940. She Hourigan served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force as a…
Interview with Ernest James White
James White worked as a wages clerk for the Co-op before volunteering for the Air Force. He had intended to join the navy but he saw some recruits being shouted at so he turned around and crossed the corridor to join the RAF. He had always had an…
Interview with James Albert Dellow
James ‘Jim’ Albert Dellow had to register the start of the war he as he was 18 years old. On being asked which service he would prefer, he opted for the Royal Air Force as a pilot. Whilst waiting for his call up, he worked in an insurance office…
Corporal Dennis Terry - Fitter IIA Airframe
A note explaining the return of a Temporary Meal Permit Pass.
Des Hawkins' service history and list of operations
Account of the 1941-1946 service history of Flight Lieutenant Des Hawkins with 44, 625 and 630 Squadrons.
Don Nicholson audio recording. One
Don was a Flight Engineer with No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron in 1944-45 at Dunholme Lodge and later at Spilsby and completed 31 operations.
Don lists his 31 operations and recounts how having arrived for the briefing for his first operation, he was…
Don lists his 31 operations and recounts how having arrived for the briefing for his first operation, he was…
Don Nicholson audio recording. Two
The recording starts with the sound of Merlin engines. Don tells the story of missing his first operations, being re-crewed and part of the Lutzow story. The later part of the recording is audio from the film The Dam Busters.