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Interview with Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray was a farm labourer in Aberdeenshire when he volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He trained to fly in Texas and completed 30 operations as a pilot with 61 Squadron. After leaving the RAF he worked for BOAC flying Yorks and VC10s.
Interview with John Tipton
John Tipton grew up in Tenby and studied law at University College London. He volunteered for the RAF and trained as a navigator. He was posted to 40 Squadron where he began operational flying before the squadron were posted to Malta. After his tour…
Interview with Ken Oatley
Initially too young to enlist at the outbreak of war, Ken Oatley served in the Home Guard until he was able to enlist in October 1940, when after initial training he undertook pilot training. After basic flying training he went onto Canada training…
Interview with Ted Frost
Edward ‘Ted’ Frost volunteered for the RAF and began training to be a pilot. Initially he was posted to RAF Hendon where he flew agents in Lysanders to the occupied territories. He was then posted to 61 Squadron at Syerston. He was offered the…
Interview with Ted Stocker. Two
Ted Stocker began his RAF career at Halton in 1938. He went on to have a varied career as a flight engineer with several squadrons and as an instructor. He was a member of Pathfinders and accompanied the master bomber on a number of operations.…
Letter to Bill Eyles and certificate for award of pathfinder badge
Letter encloses certificate for permanent award of the pathfinder force badge awarded on completion of his tour. Certificate signed by Air Vice Marshall D C T Bennett.
Memory of Mailly-Le-Camp
A memoir describing the operation to Mailly-le-Camp 3/4 May 1944.
Note to Robert Wareing from Air Vice Marshall D Bennett
Award of path finder force badge, Qualified and entitled to wear badge.
Notes from Squadron and station operational records
Contains: List of targets from 23 May 1943 up to 31 May 1944. Includes target name, type of aircraft, serial number and letter. Record of 1663 H.C.U Rufforth from 2 March 1942 to 15 May 1943, includes establishment, personnel, aircraft, strength,…
Notes on Bomber Command
Mentions formation of Pathfinder force. Gee, pulse phasing radar, new compasses. Continues with short note of H2S, OBOE. Lists locations and RAF stations.
Part of a letter to Alex Duke re his book 'Odd Man Out'
In the letter he refers to an operation to Schweinfurt described in the book. They received damage over Reading from 'friendly' anti-aircraft fire. They jettisoned the bomb load in the Channel then headed home via Harwich at 3000'. Despite warning…
Pat Hogan's recollection of events on 3/4 March 1945 written to a relative of Flying Officer Alan Shelton
Recounts his attendance at an annual RAAF Air Crew Europe Dinner in September 1979 where the quest speaker was Donald Bennett. He then recounts his activities and training from July 1944 at Lichfield where he was crewed up and subsequently Church…
Path Finder badge certificate
Award of path finder badge to Acting Squadron Leader R Wareing DFC
Pathfinder Bennett has plan for peace
Article about book written by Air Vice Marshall Bennett on the future peace and his plan to achieve it. Includes full face portrait of Bennett wearing tunic and peaked cap.
Sir Arthur Harris and Dame Vera Lynn
Newspaper article about the Bomber Command reunion dinner in April 1980, featuring a photograph of Sir Arthur Harris and Dame Vera Lynn.
Squadron Leader AP Cranswick DSO DFC
A framed biography of Alec Cranswick's wartime service. It includes a tribute by AVM Bennett.
Strike to defend
A 25 page account of the preparation for, and carrying out of a maximum effort operation against Duisburg by Lancasters of 83 Squadron at RAF Wyton, part of 8 Group Bomber Command. Account provides detailed description of preparations, briefing and…
Telecommunications Flying Unit, Defford
Neil Ramsey's account of his time at the Telecommunications Flying Unit, Defford, Worcester. The unit was divided into a defensive and an offensive section and because of his experience he was posted to the bomber section.
Various aircraft were…
Various aircraft were…
The graves of Johnny and Red Berry. Roy Maddock-Lyon's Caterpillar Club membership card and a newspaper cutting
Item 1 is an image of the graves of F/O Grayshan and Serg Berry, captioned 'The graves of Jonny and Red Berry'.
Item 2 is a Caterpillar Club membership card issued to Sgt Roy Maddock-Lyon, captioned 'Caterpillar Club Membership Card.'
Item 3 is a…
Item 2 is a Caterpillar Club membership card issued to Sgt Roy Maddock-Lyon, captioned 'Caterpillar Club Membership Card.'
Item 3 is a…
The Londoner column
Air Vice Marshal Bennett adopted as Liberal candidate at Middlesborough by-election. Sub-headlines include: rescued Sikorski, merged air force . Other headlines: eye-man in Burma, houses for bunkers, opposition. Photograph: full face portrait of Air…
The war memoirs of 1096366 Cpl T Waller
Memoir covers early life, joining and training as a Royal Air Force Armourer and his subsequent wartime career. States that he served on 138 Squadron at Royal Air Force Stradishall and describes its Special Operation Executive operations. Goes on to…
VIPs visit to RAF Gravely
Title 'Air Vice Marshall D Bennet [sic] and under secretary for air, Geoffrey Lloyd talking to 35 Squadron at Graveley'. Top - on the left an officer wearing tunic and peaked cap standing slightly to the right of a man wearing civilian suit sitting.…