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Interview with Bessie Birkby
Bessie Birkby grew up in Sheffield and volunteered for the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force in 1942. She first worked in Balloon Command in Scotland and then trained to be a driver in North Wales. She was then posted to 625 Squadron at RAF Binbrook but…
Interview with Ron Wade
Ron was born in Stoke-on-Trent. He left school at fourteen and tells of his experiences working in a pottery factory doing odd jobs until he was called up. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 at the age of twenty-two. Ron trained as an air gunner…
Interview with Donald Fraser. Two
Donald Fraser completed a tour of operations as a flight engineer with 101 Squadron. He discusses the importance of ground personnel, his crew, his operations and the conditions at RAF Ludford Magna. He describes having to stop his mid-upper gunner…
Book 2, Commencing my Flying Training and my Adventures up till the time of Leaving England
Second of David Geach's diaries, describing his training for aircrew at Kingstown, Heaton Park, Hastings and Harrogate until his embarkation to Canada on the Queen Mary. Covers the period from 20 June 1942 to 7 October 1942.
Book 5, Return to UK
Fifth and final diary kept by David Geach chronicling his time training and on operations. He writes about his return from Canada on the Queen Elizabeth then his training in England which began with arriving at the Posting Centre in Pannal Ash,…
WO Donald Keith Fraser
Memoir describing his life and service career in the RAF. He also gives a list of 29 operations he participated in with notes on specific operations, and recounts a brief history of the Lancaster.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife from RAF Dallachy. He writes of his course and his journey to from RAF Cark.
Six chapters of wartime memories
A Short Personal View of a Bit of History (interview with Jim Allen)
'Based at Burn' Introduction by Jim Allen
One More Chalked Up
A Trip to Remember
Sabotage on 578 Squadron at Burn by Joe Dudley
Memories of 578 Squadron at Burn 1944 by Joe…
'Based at Burn' Introduction by Jim Allen
One More Chalked Up
A Trip to Remember
Sabotage on 578 Squadron at Burn by Joe Dudley
Memories of 578 Squadron at Burn 1944 by Joe…
1944/47 WAAF Life and After
Margaret Cuthill's account of her time in the WAAF. At the age of 17 she volunteered for the WAAF and was enrolled as a teleprinter operator. She was sent to Wilmslow for training. After four weeks of drill and physical exercise she was posted to…
Interview with Ray Charlton
Flight Sergeant Ray Charlton completed a tour of operations as a flight engineer with Squadron 57, from RAF East Kirkby. He describes life on the station and events on operations. In later years he married Jean Mott, the widow of Bob Mott, a member…
Interview with Alfred Marshall
Alfred Marshall volunteered for the RAF with three of his friends from the town. He was the only survivor of the war. The losses of RAF are very personal to him as he recollects the other losses of friends who shared his Nissen hut. He flew…
Interview with Gladys Gildersleve
Gladys Gildersleve was working for a laboratory when she decided to join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. She began her training at RAF Bridgenorth and at RAF Morecambe. Her first posting was to barrage balloons at Swansea Docks. She eventually…
Philip Hopgood's Second World War Biography
The detailed biography begins with government measures at the start of National Service. Philip Hopgood volunteered and enlisted at Padgate, Warrington. He was classified as medically Grade 1. Initial training was at RAF Regent's Park (Lord's Cricket…
Ted Neale's training and early operational experiences
An account by Ted Neale of his training in South Africa, subsequent further training in Jerusalem, crew selection and transfer to Italy. He relates early experiences on operations - including Shederevo oil refinery - and losing a Wellington to enemy…
Member of the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force in front of a Nissen hut
Three-quarter length portrait of a leading leading aircraftswoman wearing tunic, peaked hat, shirt, tie and gauntlets standing in front of Nissen hut. On the reverse 'To Jackie, love and best wishes from Johnny'
Stirling on a dispersal
Side, slightly rear view of Stirling Mk 3 XY-T EH906 on a dispersal. Wheel chocks, one access ladder and a stepladder are visible. In the background, Nissen huts, drums and bicycles.
1934 Singer Lemans
A soft top sports car with the roof up, registration PO 8455, standing in front of an arched corrugated iron building. In the background other buildings on the reverse '1934 Singer Lemans, RAF Kelstern, Lincolnshire, Winter 44/45, 625 Squadron'
1934 Singer Lemans
Two seat open topped sports car with hood down parked on road facing right in front of Nissen hut. In the background another Nissen hut and trees. On the reverse '1934 Singer 9 Lemans 2 seater ar RAF Sandtoft, Yorkshire England May or June 1945'.
Ground crew and aircrew of 'J' 44 Squadron
Top is photograph of 13 ground crew and aircrew in two rows. Front row has five non commissioned officers and one officer in the centre sitting on a trolley. All apart from right hand man are aircrew. All are wearing tunic or battledress. At the…
YMCA tea car at RAF Sleap
A group of 18 RAF personnel are standing or seated around a YMCA tea car, some are holding mugs, others are smoking, others are standing in lines in front of the open side of the van. John Bagg is sitting on the running board with the white mug.…
Nine airmen and one woman in a bar.
Five airmen standing, four airmen seated and a woman seated around a table in a bar. The woman is in civilian clothes. There are drinks on the table and at least three men are smoking. The nissen hut has christmas decorations up. On the reverse the…
Ground personnel in front of Nissen hut
A group of ground personnel, some kneeling, most standing, some dressed in fatigues but most in full uniform. Two are standing on a tractor. Behind is a Nissen hut. On the reverse '61 Sqdn Crew Don is in there Somewhere. 1944'
SNCO's Mess Feltwell
The inside of the Senior NCO's mess, a horseshoe shaped bar with glasses and decanters of water. It is in a nissen hut. Captioned '1944 S.N.C.O's Mess (Nissen Hut) Feltwell'.
SNCO's Mess Feltwell
The inside of the SNCO's mess. In the foreground are easy chairs, against the walls tables and chairs and in the background is the horseshoe bar.. It is inside a Nissen hut.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the…
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the…
Lou Morgan and aircrew
Photograph 1 is of four airmen standing in front of two Nissen huts. Captioned ' L to R "Nobby" Clark, Lou Morgan, "Russ" Johnstone, Jack Round'.
Photograph 2 is of nine airmen in two rows under the inner starboard engine of a Lancaster. Captioned…
Photograph 2 is of nine airmen in two rows under the inner starboard engine of a Lancaster. Captioned…