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Interview with Frank Leatherdale
Frank was an aircraft spotter for the Local Defence Volunteers and volunteered to join the Royal Air Force as a pilot. He went to Calgary in Canada on the Empire Air Training Scheme, where he few Tiger Moths at the Elementary Training School. He…
Interview with Philip Batty
Philip Batty grew up in Walsall. He discusses the death of his older brother Dennis, a wireless operator with 226 Squadron, early in the Second World War. Philip volunteered for aircrew. After training, he was posted to 50 Squadron at RAF Sturgate as…
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 Harry Algar
Harry Algar worked as an office boy at Hay’s Wharf in London before the war. He entered the Air Training Corps before joining the RAF aged 17. He started his training on Tiger Moths but was then sent to Canada to re-muster as a bomb aimer. Harry…
Interview with Don Crossley
Don Crossley was born in South Emsall in 1924. He tells of his time before the war working at Upton Colliery before joining the Royal Air Force. He volunteered and trained, initially, as a wireless operator/air gunner. He tells of his experience at…
Interview with Eric Parker
Eric was born in 1924 in West Derby, Liverpool and volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 and a half, finally being called up in January 1942, when he became a navigator/bomb aimer on Lancasters. After completing his training in Canada,…
Interview with John Benjamin Beeching
John Beeching was born in London and joined the RAF in 1941, although his initial training was in Canada. After several escapades John joined 169 Squadron as a night fighter pilot and worked in electronic counter-measures, as well as training crews…
James Wrigley's flying log book
Flying log book for Warrant Officer James Wrigley, wireless operator, covering the period from 17 November 1942 to 30 June 1954. Detailing training, operations and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Yatesbury, RAF Pembrey, RAF Whitchurch…
Jeff Brown's flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners, flight engineers
Flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners, flight engineers for Jeff Brown, air gunner, covering the period from 18 August 1944 to 31 December 1951. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and post war flying. He was stationed…
Reg Lane’s Royal Canadian Air Force pilot’s flying log book
R J Lane’s RCAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 10th February 1941 to 2nd September 1956, detailing his training, operations and post war duties as a pilot. No flying is recorded in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1953, 1954 or 1955.
He was stationed at RCAF…
He was stationed at RCAF…
Christopher George McVickers' flying log book
Flying log book for C G McVickers, Wireless operator, covering the period from 6 April 1943 to 16 August 1965. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and post war flying duties with 90, 97, 12, 100, 101, 199, 192, 220, 210, 224 and 205…
H K M Algar’s flying log book for aircrew other than pilots. One
Flying log book for aircrew other than pilots for H K M Algar, air bomber and navigator, covering the period from 14 September 1943 to 16 March 1954. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and post war flying duties with 201 Advanced Flying…
Alfred Sweeney’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book
Alfred Sweeney’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 17 May 1942 to 30 July 1962 detailing training, operations and post-war duties as a pilot and instructor, including VIP duties. (Several logbooks bound into one volume).
He was stationed at RAF…
He was stationed at RAF…
Douglas 'Hank' Iveson's pilot's flying log books. One
Pilot's flying log book for Squadron Leader Douglas 'Hank' Iveson covering the period 3 June 1939 to 10 June 1947 and 13 June 1947 to 15 June 1958. Served with 76 Squadron, 77 Squadron and 462 Squadron in Europe and North Africa. Aircraft flown were…
P M Edge’s Royal Air Force Flying Log Book. Two
P M Edge’s Flying Log Book 2 from 30th December 1947 until 20th August 1956. Posted to No. 2 Air Navigation School on an Air Bomber Conversion Course to be a navigator. On completion of course posted to 201 Advanced Flying School and then 230…
Interview with Christopher George McVickers
Christopher ‘Kit’ McVickers was working at the steelworks before he volunteered for aircrew. He trained as a wireless operator and was posted to 218 Squadron, based at RAF Woolfox Lodge. His pilot refused to fly and was replaced with a new…
John Martin's memoir
The story of John Martin's last operation, how he was shot down, escaped the aircraft and was captured. He was interrogated at Dulag Luft in Frankfurt then transferred to various Stalg Luft camps. His story covers in his life until he was repatriated…
Interview with Jeff Brown
Jeff left school at 15 and became an electrician. Being keen on aircraft he joined the Air Training Corps and volunteered for the RAF when aged 17 to prevent him being randomly sent into the mining industry. Deferred until he was 18, he was initially…
Southern California
Photograph 1 is four women on the beach, captioned 'On the beach at Santa Monica is glimpsed a cross-section of Miss America. Here pictured while sun-basking are outstanding examples of "The American Look".'
Photograph 2 is a group of airmen and…
Photograph 2 is a group of airmen and…
A summary of Philip Batty's flying hours by aircraft type
Sixteen aircraft listed (Domine, Proctor, Anson, Wellington, Lancaster, Lincoln, B-29, Halifax, C-47, Neptune, Shackleton, Hastings, Varsity, Argosy, Victor, Vulcan) for a total of approximately 11,000 flying hours.
B-29 cockpit, upper turret and escape hatch
Partial view of B-29 cockpit, with upper gun turret, and escape hatch. The starboard wing is reflected in the fuselage panelling.
B-29 rear turret with man
Rear turret of B-29, showing a man wearing a cap inside the turret, with his left hand on a mechanism. He is looking at or through the mechanism. The right side of his face is brightly illuminated. In the background, on the lower left edge, can be…
B-29 tail section
Tail section of B-29, N91329, showing rear gunner's position, mid upper and lower gun turrets, and skid plate. 137 is on the tail, plus identification flashes. In the background can be see a number of hangers. An aerial runs from the top of the tail,…
B-29 Upper turrets.
Two upper turrets on B-29, both have their covers off, and each is being serviced by two men. One man on each is wearing overalls and a cap indicating 91st Gunnery Section. The other two men are wearing jackets and leather gloves. The furthest…
B-29 lower gun turret
Four ground crew plus a sergeant inspecting the lower gun turret of a B-29 with it's cowling off. Three of the aircrew, and the sergeant are wearing overalls, the other man is wearing work shirt and trousers. In the background a scaffolding platform…