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James Dymock's Log Book. One
J D Dymock’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book, from 11th April 1942 to 15th February 1946, recording training, instructor and staff pilot duties.
Based at: RAF Sywell (No.6 Elementary Flying Training School), RCAF Station Bowden (No.32 Elementary…
War Memoir - George Bilton
George talks of early life at school and work in Hull. He volunteered as ARP messenger and describes duties and air raid damage in Hull. He then volunteered as aircrew and, initially, selected for wireless operator/air gunner but later asked to…
Mervyn Adder diary 1943
Daily entries for activities in 1943. Covers, films seen, weather, training and exams, leaves, training at Bridgnorth, medical issues, war news. Posted to RAF Millom, mentions activities, leave, aircrew flying training, navigation training routes,…
Edward King's RAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book
Edward J King’s Navigator’s Flying Log Book covering the period 30 January 1942 to 18 May 1946. Detailing his flying training and operations flown as Navigator. He was stationed at RAF Prestwick (3 RS), RAF Wrexham and RAF Honiley (96 Squadron),…
Letter from Mervyn Adder to his brother Alex
Letter and explanatory note. Written from RAF Bruntingthorpe letting Alex know that he would be home on leave next week. Mentions previous visit home and plans to take time off with Mary in Scarborough. Comments on lack of mail and news from home and…
Eric Hookings's life story book 1
Born in 1920, this covers his early life in Battersea and Morden, describing family life, school and first jobs, until he becomes an operational pilot in 1944. He describes family experiences at beginning of the war volunteering, initially, for Royal…
Robert Orton’s flying log book for navigator’s, air bomber’s, air gunners, flight engineers
Flying log book for navigator’s, air bomber’s, air gunners, flight engineers for R Orton, air gunner, covering the period from 27 May 1944 to 7 October 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Stormey…
Richard Starkey’s flying log book for pilots
Flying log book for R Starkey covering the period from 26 January 1942 to 30 March 1944. Detailing his flying training and operations flown, includes certificates, instructional notes, newspaper clipping and a personal account of being shot down. He…
John Derek Bolton’s Pilots flying log book. One
Pilots flying log book for John Derek Bolton, covering the period from 18 October 1940 to 11 December 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and post war flying duties. He was stationed at White Waltham, RAF…
Don Southwell in flying kit
Full length portrait of Don Southwell in flying kit. He is standing in front of a Wellington. On the reverse 'Myself Bruntingthorpe' and '29 OTU 1944'.
Interview with Pat Rumfitt
Pat Rumfitt was born in 1927 and experienced a privileged upbringing as an only child, living in Kent before the war. She describes the resilient attitude to bombing in Bromley, walking to their flooded Anderson Shelter in her dressing gown and…
Harold Blow’s pilots flying log book
Pilots flying log book for Harold Blow, covering the period from 22 January 1942 to 30 May 1946 and from 10 July 1949 to 20 May 1954, detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and post war duties with 616 Squadron. He was…
Interview with Ted Frost
Edward ‘Ted’ Frost volunteered for the RAF and began training to be a pilot. Initially he was posted to RAF Hendon where he flew agents to the occupied territories, in Lysanders. He was then posted to 61 Squadron at RAF Syerston. He was offered…
Interview with Bert Mason
Bert Mason was born in Germany and worked in light engineering and driving ambulances before joining the RAF in 1942. He started training as a navigator then joined a crew and became an air gunner on 195 Squadron at RAF Wratting Common. He tells of…
Interview with Harry Algar
Harry Algar worked as an office boy at Hay’s Wharf in London before the war. He entered the Air Training Corps before joining the RAF aged 17. He started his training on Tiger Moths but was then sent to Canada to re-muster as a bomb aimer. Harry…
Interview with Eric Hookings
Eric Hookings joined the RAF and served as ground crew at RAF Newton before training as a pilot in America. He was posted to RAF Bruntingthorpe, flying Wellingtons, Stirlings and Lancasters with 619 Squadron. During an operation an Me 110 shot down…
Interview with Bill Spence
Bill Spence was born in Middlesborough. He abandoned his teacher training and joined the Royal Air Force in 1942, becoming a bomb aimer. He completed 36 operations during his time in Bomber Command. Bill tells of his experiences while training in…
Interview with Ken Johnson. Two
Ken Johnson was born in Doncaster. At the start of the war the family was living in Sheffield but his father decided to move the family back to Doncaster, to avoid bombing. Ken started work as a joiner and later made cables for barrage balloons.…
Reg Freeth's South African Air Force observers or air gunners log book
South African Air Force observers or air gunners log book for Warrant Officer Reg Freeth, bomb aimer, covering the period from 7 February 1942 to 8 October 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations and Instructor duties. He was stationed at…
Interview with Reg Freeth
Reg Freeth grew up in Wales and worked for the Civil Service in the Labour Exchange before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. In South Afica, he trained as an observer and flew operations, and served as a bomb aimer with 61 Squadron from RAF…
Roy Briggs' flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers
Navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers flying log book for Roy Briggs. The log book covers the period 30 December 1942 to 17 March 1947. Roy Briggs trained as a wireless operator in Great Britain. He flew four night time and…
Interview with John Tait
John Tait was American by birth and was prompted to join the Royal Air Force, to avoid having to report to the police station once a month, because he was considered an ‘alien’. He was a wireless operator and gunner, flying in Ansons,…
Interview with Don Southwell
Don Southwell grew up in Australia and worked for RKO Radio Pictures and as an Air Raid Precautions Warden, before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. After training in Australia and Canada, he flew nine operations as a navigator with 463 Squadron…
Interview with Joe Shuttleworth
Joe Shuttleworth was born and raised in Brisbane but spent a lot of time with family in the Melbourne area. He volunteered for aircrew and began training as a gunner. After initial training he sailed to the United States and on to the UK. While at…
Interview with Bob Porteous
Flight Sergeant Bob Porteous grew up in Australia and, after spending time in the bush, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force. After training and spending time in the United States, he travelled to Scotland on the Queen Mary. He flew operations as…