Browse Items (213 total)

  • Tags: Operation Exodus (1945)

MNorthGJ173836-160523-03.pdf
First page records three flights 8/14/19 August 1945 in Lancaster as duty rear gunner. Page two records operation to Duisburg 21 February 1945 'missing' and repatriation flights in C-47 and Lancaster on 8 May 1945. Page three records flight to Berlin…

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SMarshallS1594781v10031.jpg
A history of 103 Squadron's operations at RAF Elsham Wolds.

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ARobinsonG150803.mp3
Geoff joined the Royal Air Force as a flight engineer in April 1943. He reported to Lord’s Cricket Ground and went to an Initial Training Wing near Sunderland. He moved to RAF Bridlington, followed by six months’ training as a flight engineer at…

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BWierTWierTv1.pdf
In a series of "flashbacks" the author starts with commentary on family in Poland and names recorded on visits to Poland. Continues with account of early life, school and life in Poland before the war. He mentions his first operation on 300 Squadron…

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AMonaghanJ240819.mp3
John Monaghan was born in Blackpool but grew up in the Manchester area. He played coronet in the Home Guard Band. He volunteered for the RAF and trained as a wireless operator. He was posted to 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington. Amongst his operations…

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PGerardJA1801.jpg
Tony lived in South Pool before moving to Liverpool with his job in a bank. He also belonged the Air Training Corps. After about a year he decided to sign up for the Royal Air Force. His assessment and medical were at RAF Liverpool. He was called up…

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PAndrewsPF1701.jpg
Andy Andrews worked in a gentleman's outfitters shop and volunteered for the Air Force in 1941. He trained at RAF Cardington and RAF Blackpool and, after crewing up, he flew operations with 10 Squadron from RAF Melbourne. He discusses the members of…

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PBrownJ1721.jpg
Jeff left school at 15 and became an electrician. Being keen on aircraft he joined the Air Training Corps and volunteered for the RAF when aged 17 to prevent him being randomly sent into the mining industry. Deferred until he was 18, he was initially…

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ABarrickMJT161115.mp3
Maurice Barrick had always wanted to serve in the Royal Air Force. Upon completion of training, he was posted to Bomber Command 467 Squadron at RAF Waddington. He did four operational flights and two trips flying British prisoners of war from…

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PGrimesS1502.jpg
Sydney Grimes grew up near Southend and joined the RAF as a wireless operator in 1940. He flew a total of 41 operations - 24 with 106 Squadron and 17 with 617 Squadron. He then served on 9 Squadron at RAF Bardney for 2 months and, subsequently, with…

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PSmithNG1701.jpg
Norman George Smith grew up in Western Australia. After leaving school he became an assistant in a timber mill workshop before volunteering for the Australian Air Force at the age of 18. He flew operations as a pilot with 463 Squadron from RAF…

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PSymondsKWP2103.jpg
Ken Symonds was in the Air Training Corps when the unit was visited by a flight engineer. This meeting inspired him, along with his cousin, to join the RAF in a ground trade with the expectation of moving on to become a flight engineer. Ken’s…

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AFosterIWE180221.mp3
Ivor Foster of Plymouth volunteered for the RAF as soon as he was of age. He was, initially, accepted for training to become a Pilot, navigator or bomb aimer but decided the length of time for the training was too long and chose to train as a gunner.…

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BWhymarkRJWhymarkJPv1.pdf
A resume of 'Jack' Whymark's family and service career. Includes extracts from Jack’s diaries, details from his logbook and histories of the crew and passengers of Lancaster PA278.

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AGrayLW170301.mp3
Bill Gray was born and grew up in Australia and volunteered for the Air Force. After training, he flew 29 operations as an air gunner with 15 squadron from RAF Mildenhall. He returned to Australia after the war but contracted tuberculosis. He was…

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MWilsonRC1389401-170113-100001.pdf
The account begins with the time he was shot down on an operation to Berlin. He was then transferred to Frankfurt for interrogation then by train to his camp. Camp life involved food, the preparation and acquisition of extra food by theft, trading…

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PMackayWJ1501.jpg
Jeff Mackay was born in 1922 in Ballarat, Australia and was working as a cadet engineer. He joined the Army but decided to join the RAAF when the Japanese entered the war in 1941. After boarding a ship he trained as a navigator in Canada and then…

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APlenderleithJ151007.mp3
John Plenderleith was in the Air Training Corps before volunteering to join the RAF. He was posted to 626 Squadron at RAF Wickenby and, when the crew were allocated their hut, they were surprised to find it was still occupied with another crew’s…

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ACrawleyF151222.mp3
Fred enrolled in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in May 1939. He wanted to be a navigator and was sent to an Initial Training Wing at Bexhill. He received excellent training on DH Rapides at RAF Scone, near Perth. Bombing and gunnery training were carried…

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APoynterAD180416.mp3
Having worked in her father’s garage, Audrey was called up, aged 17½, and joined the Royal Air Force. After RAF Padgate, she did some square-bashing at Gloucester before going to RAF Halton. She was taught to change plugs, replace faulty studs and…

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PFlintCE1601.jpg
Charles Flint was in the Auxiliary Fire Service in London before joining the RAF. He volunteered and began training as a wireless operator. Part of his training took place at RAF Bishops Court in Northern Ireland, where he was advised not to go out…

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PColeC1601.jpg
Colin Cole was brought up and attended school in Twickenham and worked at W H Smith before joining the Royal Air Force. He trained as a wireless operator/air gunner at RAF Yatesbury and RAF Barrow in Furness. He then served with 617 Squadron,…

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AThomasPG180302.mp3
Peter was born in Nelson, Lancashire and had two brothers. He was 16 when he left school in 1940 and got a job until joining the Royal Air Force in 1943. He went to London Air Crew Reception Centre before going to Initial Training Wing at RAF…

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AMcDonaldEA150713.mp3
Allan McDonald was born in Hull and worked as an apprentice electrician before joining the Air Force. He passed the exams to become aircrew and trained as an air gunner. During training, his aircraft crash landed and he was soaked in petrol. He flew…

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PHildrethJ1502.jpg
Jeff Hildreth was born in Huntwood, Derbyshire, studied Electrical Engineering at Worksop Technical College before joining the Air Training Corps, eventually joining the Royal Air Force as a Wireless Operator. He did his training at RAF Yatesbury,…

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