Browse Items (163 total)

  • Tags: Battle

BSmithJSmithJv1-2.pdf
Covers life before the war and volunteering for the RAF in August 1940. Continues with account of training as a wireless operator. Includes radio school crest and photograph of a Battle aircraft. Describes voyage from Liverpool via Cape Town then…

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BSmithJSmithJv1.pdf
Second version. Covers life before the war and volunteering for the RAF in August 1940. Continues with account of training as a wireless operator. Includes radio school crest and photograph of a Battle aircraft. Describes voyage from Liverpool via…

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ABellJR160130.mp3
Jack Bell joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a wireless operator/air gunner and joined 216 Squadron, at Heliopolis, near Cairo. He flew in Valentia and Bombay aircraft in a transport role. On an operation over Libya, his aircraft was shot down…

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ACouperAJ151208.mp3
Allan Joseph Couper grew up in Australia and joined the Air Training Corps as a teenager. He was employed by the State Electricity Company until he volunteered for the Royal Australian Air Force. He was accepted for aircrew training as a pilot and…

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PCuttsE1514.jpg
Ernest Cutts was born in Mallee in Victoria and, at the age of 15, he passed the Commonwealth Public Service Exam, joining the Military Post Office as a civilian junior postal officer. Aged 18, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force and went…

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PMcDonaldDA1501.jpg
Because of his dislike of the army, Don enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He went to Somers Initial Flying Training School and became a pilot. At Elementary Flying Training School at Western Junction, Don flew Tiger Moths although he…

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PMcPhersonGM1604.jpg
Gerald joined his brothers in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943, following the Air Training Corps. He went from Melbourne to the Initial Training School in Somers. At the Air Gunnery School in Ballarat, Gerald chose to be an air gunner and was…

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MLovattP1821369-190903-75.pdf
A detailed analysis of very early aircraft and their flying characteristics.

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BRobertsRFKittridgeAv1.pdf
Describes enlisting in the aircraft apprentice scheme, recruitment and training. He flew 23 operations, one as wireless operator/air gunner, 12 as navigator/bomb aimer and ten as pilot. Pilots were Squadron Leader Allen, Sergeant Stretton, Pilot…

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AWinterP160418.mp3
Philip Winter worked in the civil service before he volunteered for the Air Force. He trained as a pilot and flew three operations with 102 Squadron before he was wounded in the ankle. After recuperation he flew towing targets for air gunnery…

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SSmithRW425992v10003-0002 copy.pdf
The third book of memoirs by Bob Smith.
Covers his operational tour and bombing operations.

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LCookeH115312v1.pdf
Pilot's flying log book for Horace Cooke covering the period 11 April 1944 to 1 June 1945 when Horace served in Canada with 31 Personnel Dispatch, 19 Elementary Flying School, 17 Service Flying Training School and 7 Bombing and Gunnery School.

The…

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ABattyPH161014.mp3
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…

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AWarrenH160325.mp3
Harold joined the Royal Air Force just before war started. After basic training, he went to a technical school to learn about engines and airframes. He spent some time at RAF Boscombe Down. When war started, he was in France as part of 218 Squadron…

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ATrentKL160112.mp3
Ken grew up in London and joined the Royal Air Force, as a pilot, on his 18th birthday. After exams and interview at RAF Uxbridge, he went to Number 9 Receiving Wing in RAF Torquay and an Initial Training Wing in Stratford-upon-Avon. He then trained…

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PFarrAA1701.jpg
Allan Avery Farr was working at the Birmingham market before he joined the RAF. He wanted the quickest entry to see action and so trained as an air gunner. He trained in Canada where he was offered a post as an instructor but he wanted to serve with…

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BMuirCMuirRWLv1 copy.pdf
Written by his nephew, a narrative of Reg's early life, his participation in student exchanges in Germany, joining the Royal Air force, training, life on the station and the crash in which he died, together with air gunners Sergeant Leslie Johnson…

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SClydeSmithD39856v10011.pdf
Starts with joining on short service commission and covers in great detail his pilot training activities including a crash landing during a cross country. After wings award moves to trials work, target towing and aircraft ferrying. After a short…

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BReattigDWRaettigDWv10001.jpg
Wartime memoir covering Dennis Raettig's training at Blackpool and the posting to 104 Squadron at Royal Air Force Driffield in August 1941. Worked on Wellington aircraft and mentions that Driffield also hosted the blind approach landing flight…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v040002.mp3
Les joined the RAF in 1938 and was posted to RAF Eastchurch to learn his trade as an armourer. Once qualified he worked with the Fairey Battle and Bristol Beaufort, among others. Subsequently, he worked with Meteors, Hawker Hunters and the…

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YBattyAHD619060v1.pdf
Diary of Dennis Batty 20 May 1940 to 27 June 1941 listing his operations over France and Germany in Blenheims and listing aircrew lost.

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PReidS1701.jpg
Having his interest piqued by aircraft, including Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus, Simson was attracted to flying boats. He was sent to Coastal Command at Abbotsinch and RAF Wick but without wireless operator mechanic training, he was unable to pursue…

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MBoxDC1578987-180611-54.pdf
A book kept by Doug of Gunnery and Bombing training notes. It also contains black and white and colourised photographs of ground personnel and aircraft.

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BHookingsEWHookingsEWv1.pdf
From birth in 1920 until operational pilot in 1944. Covers early life in Battersea and Morden in London, family life, school and first jobs after leaving school at 14 years old. Describes family experiences at beginning of the war volunteering for…

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BPerkinsFWJPerkinsFWJv1.pdf
Covers joining the RAF, training as an engineer and first posting to RAF Christchurch which undertook radar research. Writes of life and flying as observer in Fairey Battle on radar measurement flights. The unit then moved to RAF Defford. Goes on to…

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