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Sister Meally with two patients
The three are seated on a bench. Sister Meally is in the middle in nurse's uniform. The patient is on her right . He has a bandage over his nose and is wearing a dressing gown and pyjamas. The man is dressed in a coat, shirt and tie. They are on a…
Ross Tilley addressing the dinner guests
Wing Commander Ross Tilley standing and speaking, Archibald McIndoe and two others are seated at the top table. Captioned 'HQ1528' and on the reverse 'Ross Tilley RCAF'.
Loose on the wind
Starts with a poem and then a series of stories which together form the memoirs of Harold Yeoman, an officer who served in Bomber Command during the war, initially as a pilot on Wellingtons and then as an Intelligence Officer. He relates his…
Large group of airmen at formal dinner
Three long tables of seated airmen, taken from the top table. Captioned 'HQ1540'. On the reverse 'Peter Weekes'. [sic]
Interview with William Holmes
William Holmes remembers his time as a pilot in the RAF. Gives a vivid and graphic account of the dramatic crash-landing which left him badly injured and brought him to join the Guinea Pig Club. Remembers various episodes of his operational life:…
Interview with Sandy Saunders
Sandy Saunders recalls Liverpool being bombed in 1941 and while on a rescue squad he sustained splinter injuries from a blast requiring hospital treatment. After taking a science degree he served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as a…
Interview with Reg Harrison
Reg Harrison grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and enjoyed watching aircraft when they flew over. He had his first flight as a youngster when he was lent five dollars by a shopkeeper. He volunteered for aircrew as soon as he was of age and began his…
Interview with Jan Black. Two
Jan Black Stangryciuk was born in Poland but his family emigrated to Argentina in 1934. He volunteered to travel to England to join the Royal Air Force in 1939. He recounts his journey, why he made this decision and how he joined the RAF. He was…
Interview with Jan Black. One
Jan Black flew operations as an air gunner with 300 Squadron. He was badly burned when his aircraft crashed on a training flight and he became a member of the Guinea Pig Club. He underwent ten operations at East Grinstead Hospital. He describes his…
Interview with Jan Black
Jan Stangrycuik (Black) was born and raised in Poland. His family emigrated for a better life in Argentina when he was a teenager, but when the British Embassy called for volunteers to join the war effort, Jan answered the call and sailed with seven…
Interview with Gwyneth Stratten
Gwyneth Stratten was born in London in 1934. She was briefly evacuated during the war but wrote to her mother to say if she didn’t come and collect her she would walk home. On a visit to a museum in London with her mother she saw a group of badly…
Interview with Fred Crawley DFC
Fred Crawley joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 when he was 18 years old. While at an operational training unit he survived a crash which killed five members of his crew. He was treated in hospital at RAF Rauceby for burns. After training he…
Interview with Elizabeth Wickstead
Elizabeth Wickstead was born in Brighton, in 1928, and moved between villages in the Sussex area. Elizabeth remembers the announcement of the war in September 1939, and remembers the arrival of evacuees from London and the schools being separate from…
Interview with Desmond O'Connell
Desmond O’Connell was born in London in 1919. He followed in his brother’s footsteps by joining the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve in 1939. He went to Cambridge to commence pilot training but half the contingent were transferred to become…
Interview with Arthur Sidney Woolf
Arthur Woolf was working in an office before he volunteered for the RAF. He was keen on flying and would cycle to Castle Bromwich airfield to watch the aircraft. He was accepted for aircrew training and became a wireless operator. After joining a…
Interview with Alan Morgan
Alan Morgan was an apprentice toolmaker and therefore working in a Reserved Occupation when he volunteered for air crew with his friend and fellow apprentice. His friend was killed on his first operation. Alan trained as a flight engineer. On one…
Harold E Whittingham's speech
Chief Medical Officer, Air Marshall Sir Harold E Whittingham standing and six airmen seated at the top table of a formal dinner. On the table flowers and a candelabra and on the wall a Royal Air Force ensign. Captioned 'HQ1534', On the reverse…
Guinea Pig club annual dinner 1979
Guinea Pig club anthem and diner menu for event help at the Copthorne Hotel Crawley 22 September 1979.
Guinea Pig Club 'eve of dinner' dance souvenir
On the front a photograph of a group of men with facial burns standing around a seated man. Inside a message from the president of the Guinea Pig Club, Sir Archibald H McIndoe and a cartoon of men cavorting and gathered in a hospital ward. Captioned…
Group of airmen and Archibald McIndoe
Group of standing airmen around Sir Archibald McIndoe. He is signing his autograph for members of the group. Captioned 'HQ1544'.
Flying Officer Arthur S Woolf - RAF career and experiences in WW2
First page has head and shoulders portrait of Arthur Woolf wearing uniform tunic with half brevet, medal ribbons and peaked cap. Next page has badges for Bomber Command, 5 Group and 630 Squadron.
Covers joining the RAF at age 19 and training at…
Covers joining the RAF at age 19 and training at…
Eight airmen around a piano
Group of seven airmen around a piano with an eighth airman seated, playing. On the wall five flags. Captioned 'HQ1537'. Some of the airmen have facial burn scaring and two are wearing dark glasses.
Charles Portal addressing the dinner guests
Sir Charles Portal speaking, on his left Archibald McIndoe and Sir Alec Coryton. On his right an unnamed civilian. Captioned 'HQ1531' and on the reverse 'Lord Portal'.
Canadian observer giving a speech
A formal dinner with the Canadian airman standing giving a speech. Several airmen and civilians are seated around him, one man is smoking. Caption 'HQ1530' and on the reverse 'RCAF reply Fredericks??'.
Archibald McIndoe and Charles Portal seated at top table
Sir Charles Portal, consultant plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe, Air Chief Marshal Sir Alec Coryton, Wing Commander Albert Ross Tiller RCAF (plastic surgeon) seated on the top table. Captioned 'HQ1526' and on the reverse 'Portal'.