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Wing Commander Willie Tait and Air Vice Marshal Sir Ralph Cochrane
The two officers are standing outside the Officers' Mess of 617 Sqdn. The caption reads 'W/Cdr Cheshire VC DSO +2 bars DFC (sic), AVM Sir Ralph Cochrane After the "Tirpitz" on 617 Sqn'. [The officer on the left is in fact Wing Commander Willie Tait]
Frank Howkins and his crew
Six airmen standing at the tail of their Lancaster after the Tirpitz operation.
On the reverse the six have signed their name and handwritten is 'Nov 44 On return from the "Tirpitz" raid'.
On the reverse the six have signed their name and handwritten is 'Nov 44 On return from the "Tirpitz" raid'.
Newspaper cutting and airmen
Left -newspaper cutting - Tait dropped the bombs. Includes full face b/w image and gives account of operations flown by Wing Commander James Bryan Tate DSO and 2 bars DFC. Noted that his squadron was formed by Gibson to burst German dams. Top right -…
Operations against Tirpitz, Ijmuiden and Bielefeld: Vielesible Viaduct
Description of three (one aborted due to weather) operations against Tirpitz, photograph of crew on return from sinking Tirpitz, poor photocopy of target photograph of attach on Tirpitz. Account of operation on E & R boat pens at Ijmuiden along with…
Kenneth Gill - service history
Joined 18 June 1941. Trained as navigator in Canada. After operational and conversions training in England during which he flew two operations. He was posted to 9 Squadron at RAF Bardney where he flew 25 operations which are listed. After a tour as a…
Kenneth Gill crew
Six airmen wearing flying clothes or battledress standing in line behind a Lancaster. Captioned at top 'Crew from left to right, Sid Grimes wireless operator, Ken Gill navigator, Charlie Randon bomb aimer, Jack Penswick gunner, Eddy Barnett engineer,…
Tirpitz
Target photograph showing shoreline, with smoke obscuring the island of Hakøya within Tromsø fjord. Battleship Tirpitz can be seen just right of centre through smoke. Three water-spouts from earlier explosions above and to the right. Anti-aircraft…
Tea on Tirpitz
Concerns up-turned hull of Tirpitz sunk in Tromso Fjord was a tourist attraction.
Yorkshiremen in casualty list
Reports Flying Officer Kenneth Gill DFC was presumed killed after being posted missing on 21 March 1945 on his 45th operation. Gives some local history concerning Ken Gill, mentions Tirpitz operation. Also reports other RAF Yorkshiremen killed, Sgt…
Map showing position of Tirpitz
Top - sketch map of Tromsø Fjord with ship and bomb hits marked with x's and track line.
Bottom - annotated diagram sketch of upside down ship.
Bottom - annotated diagram sketch of upside down ship.
Map showing route to Tromsø
Sketch map showing Norway and Sweden with route marked up the North Sea and into Tromsø and return along similar route.
Note concerning unidentified photograph of crew after returning from bombing Tirpitz
States that photograph shows. Mentions first abortive attack on 29 October 1944, second cancelled for weather and the final successful attack on 11 November 1944.
Record of Flying Officer Kenneth Gill D.F.C (155097) RAFVR joined 1941
Mentions training in Canada and qualified at navigator. List training on Wellington and one operational flight while at operational training unit at RAF North Luffenham December 1942 - March 1943. Continues to list training on Halifax and Lancaster…
Drawings of attack on Tirpitz
Left - at top of drawing a shoreline and Tromso, track direction, lower down the location of ship surrounded by 'x'. Bottom of drawing shows cross section of half of ship.
Right - hand drawn map showing route along Norwegian coast to Tromso and…
Right - hand drawn map showing route along Norwegian coast to Tromso and…
Tirpitz
Top - six aircrew standing in line behind a Lancaster, Captioned 'Crew from left to right, Sid Grimes wireless operator, Ken Gill navigator, Charlie Randon bomb aimer, Jack Penswick gunner, Eddy Barnett engineer, Barney Gumbley pilot'.
Bottom target…
Bottom target…
Course photograph and newspaper cutting
Left - A large group of airmen wearing tunics with side caps standing in two rows in front of an Anson. One officer in centre standing has a lighter uniform and peaked cap. Annotated with signatures and home towns of many of the participants.
Right…
Right…
Gumbley Crew
Six airmen on their return from sinking the Tirpitz. They are positioned at the rear of their Lancaster.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in…
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in…
Wing Commander Tait
On the left a three-quarter length view of Wing Commander Tait wearing tunic with pilot's brevet and medal ribbons, standing with hands in pockets. He is giving a press conference in London following the successful sinking of the Tirpitz. To the…
Poster for Tirpitz celebration dance
Photograph of silhouette of a Lancaster at dusk/dawn with text '617, Tirpitz, celebration dance on Sunday Nov 19th 1944'. Opening times.
No 617 Squadron and the operation to breach the dams
Album page with three clippings, one from from The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post dated Tuesday May 18 1943 showing a number of Lancasters over a city, captioned '617 Lancs'. One summarising the news from around November 1944, including the sinking…
Bob Knights' Obituary
The obituary of Flight Lieutenant Bob Knights. It details his operations on the Tirpitz, his early life, his training in Florida, his time with 617 Squadron and his role with BOAC after the war until his retirement in 1976.
Ernie Twells' Obituary and letter from the King
Ernie Twells' obituary detailing his life before, during and after the war.
A letter from the King awarding Ernie Twells his Distinguished Flying Cross.
A letter from the King awarding Ernie Twells his Distinguished Flying Cross.
Tirpitz capsized
The Tirpitz is capsized, floating in a Norwegian fjord. On the reverse
'Battleship Tirpitz
Tirpitz 15 June 1945'.
'Battleship Tirpitz
Tirpitz 15 June 1945'.
Ernie Twells and airmen
A group of 29 airmen and one woman, arranged in three rows. The front row is seated cross legged on the grass. The second row is kneeling and the third row is standing. Behind is a caravan and a hedge. Captioned 'Ernie Twells Back Row 2nd from…