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VE Day Poster
Two Lancasters, OF-J and OL-J, flying side by side. The poster has VE day and 8th May 1945. At the top is a crest with LIV Bomber Base.
582 Squadron Pathfinders fact sheet
History since formation on 1 April 1944 until last operation 7 May 1945. Part of Pathfinder Force. Mention first award of DSO and last marking and bombing operations in 1945. Provides account of last operation of Captain Edwin Swales who was awarded…
109 Squadron Pathfinders fact sheet
Gives history of 109 Squadron from reformation on 10 December 1940 until last bombs dropped on 2/3 May 1945. Covers development of blind bombing and Oboe. Moved to RAF Wyton as independent unit of newly formed Pathfinder force. Mentions first Oboe…
Palmer V.C pathfinder fact sheet
Includes biographic details, service history and account of last operation for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Completed 111 operations on three squadrons, took part in Cologne 1000 bomber operation. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross twice.…
Roll of honour for Path Finder Force RAF Little Staughton
Lists casualties for 109 Squadron and 582 Squadron in 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946. Has squadron badges for both squadrons an 8 Group and two Victoria Crosses (Squadron Leader Robert A.M.Palmer V.C, D.F.C & Bar 109 Sqn and Captain Edwin E Swales V.C.,…
Newspaper cuttings concerning Robert Palmers award of Victoria Cross
Top - Squadron Leader Robert A.M. Palmer V.C. Announces award of Victoria Cross after being reported missing after a particularly hazardous daylight operation over Cologne. Includes head and shoulder b/w photograph of Robert Palmer wearing…
Newspaper cuttings - always selected for vital targets; Palmer V.C bombed and said nothing; Squadron Leader Palmer V.C.
Left - always selected for vital targets - an outstanding pilot. Gives service background and description of action leading to award of Victoria Cross. Mentions 110 completed operations and final attack on Cologne where his aircraft failed to return,…
Newspaper cuttings - secret out on only radar V.C and followed father won V.C.
Top - now reveals that the operation for which Robert Palmer was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross involved his use of highly secret "Oboe" which meant he had to fly straight and level while being engaged by enemy fighters and anti-aircraft…
Newspaper cuttings - Robert Palmer award of Victoria Cross
Three newspaper cuttings with varying accounts of background and actions of Robert Palmer leading to award of Victoria Cross. Note that he was missing after this operation which was his 111th operational flight. Headlines - Daily Mail the shy V.C.…
Newspaper cuttings concerning awards of Victoria Crosses
Top - Royal Air Force 23rd V.C. Announces award of Victoria Cross to Act Sqn Ldr Robert Antony Maurice Palmer 109 Squadron (missing). Quotes from citation for award with account of operation to Cologne and some service background. Bottom left - pals…
Newspaper cutting - RAF always chose Kent V.C. for special tasks
States that Acting Squadron Leader Robert Antony Maurice Palmer previously winner of DFC and became Kent's sixth V.C of that war. Gives some personal and operational background and gives account of operation to Cologne which resulted in award of…
Newspaper cutting - V.C. for Gravesend Squadron Leader
Sub headlines - great act of heroism and some remarkable tributes. States that Acting Squadron Leader Robert Antony Maurice Palmer had been awarded the Victoria Cross after a hazardous daylight operation over Cologne. Quotes telegram from Sir Arthur…
Award of Victoria Cross newspaper cuttings
Top - V.C for pilot RAF always chose for their difficult bombing jobs. Gives some operational and personal history. Includes b/w photograph.
Bottom left - full face b/w portrait photograph and announcement of award of V.C, reported missing.
Bottom…
Bottom left - full face b/w portrait photograph and announcement of award of V.C, reported missing.
Bottom…
Extract of citation for Robert Palmer from London Gazette
Gives operational history and descriptions of actions on operation to Cologne in December 1944 where he showed conspicuous bravery. He had a record of prolonged and heroic endeavour which was beyond praise.
The RAF's 23rd Victoria Cross
Article in the Aeroplane magazine March 30 1945 issue. Describes actions of Acting Squadron Leader Robert Antony Maurice Palmer D.F.C and Bar, 109 Squadron during an operation to Cologne marshalling yards. Also give other details of his service…
Memorial and RAF chapel
Top left - memorial stone for RAF Little Staughton 109 and 582 Squadrons 8 Group pathfinder force, bomber command. On roadside with flowers and hedge.
Bottom left - view of altar with colours either side and RAF eagle on front.
Right - memorial…
Bottom left - view of altar with colours either side and RAF eagle on front.
Right - memorial…
Usher's Trowbridge Ales
A beer mat with handwritten annotations - '22/8/44 Farewell party to F/Lt Monty Dawson DFM DFC At Roundstone Hotel Trowbridge. Now on PFF'.
Bombing of Germany
Headline - Stuttgart badly hit, factories ablaze. Internal headlines - hard-pressed Germans, feeling the strain including some pilot accounts. Bombs in centre - fires joined into one, pilots account of fires. Eluded fighter, another would not fire,…
Women's Auxiliary Air Force, RAF and RCAF people.
left page:
Top - course photograph with a large group of members of Women's Auxiliary Air Force sitting and standing in three rows with wooden hut in the background. Captioned 'Senior NCOs Admin Course, RAF Wilmslow, March 1944'.
Bottom - document…
Top - course photograph with a large group of members of Women's Auxiliary Air Force sitting and standing in three rows with wooden hut in the background. Captioned 'Senior NCOs Admin Course, RAF Wilmslow, March 1944'.
Bottom - document…
Operation Overlord
Top - explanatory note explaining that our crews contributed to D-Day.
Top left - newspaper cutting providing account of plan for attack on Merville battery including saturation bombing by Lancasters and ground attack. Goes on with account of actual…
Top left - newspaper cutting providing account of plan for attack on Merville battery including saturation bombing by Lancasters and ground attack. Goes on with account of actual…
Operations
Top - extract from Ned Sparkes's log book from 22 April 1944 to 11 May 1944 with operations to Düsseldorf, Karlsruhe, Essen, Somain. St Ghislane and St-Valery and Boulogne.
Underneath - six short documents with accounts of these six operations…
Underneath - six short documents with accounts of these six operations…
Operations
Top - extract from Ned Sparkes log book for 5 January 1944 to 15 February 1944 showing two operations to Berlin.
Below - two documents giving accounts of these two operations with types of aircraft used, losses, enemy fighter operations, weather,…
Below - two documents giving accounts of these two operations with types of aircraft used, losses, enemy fighter operations, weather,…
Operations
Top - extract from Ned Sparkes's log book dates from 2 November 1943 to 29 December1943 showing operations to Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Frankfurt and Berlin.
Below left - descriptions of the four operations giving numbers and types of aircraft used,…
Below left - descriptions of the four operations giving numbers and types of aircraft used,…
History of 106 Squadron
A short history of 106 Squadron. Covers formation in world war one. Reformed in 1938 with Hinds and Battles. Equipped with Hampden at beginning of the war. Initially a advanced training unit. Became operational in September 1940. Describes early…
British Gunner
A magazine article written by an American journalist about bombing operations.