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Absent from camp pass
For George Thomson, permission to be absent from RAF Heaton Park.
Letter to George Thomson from Norman
Writes of school day memories and his current situation somewhere aboard ship on a warm climate. Continues with banter and gossip.
Frederick Sawyer’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book
Frederick Sawyer’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 22 April 1942 to 28 July 1944, detailing training and operations as a pilot. He was stationed at RAF Theale (No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School), Souther Field (Primary Flying Training…
Letter from Idwal Davies to his parents
Idwal writes that they have had a lot of rain. Food is OK.
Conversation with Bob O'Dell
Completed 13 operations on 408 Squadron. Comments that he did not complete his tour as the war ended. Mentions first operation was to Bremen and last to Heligoland. Comments on his Canadian crew and mentions names and ranks, Covers his training…
Interview with Peter Greenwood
Peter Greenwood was born February 2, 1926, in Halifax, and grew up in the Yorkshire countryside, where his father ran a dairy business. He studied at Sowerby Bridge Grammar School with a particular interest in physics and chemistry. He was later…
Horace Cooke's pilot's flying log book
Pilot's flying log book for Horace Cooke covering the period 11 April 1944 to 1 June 1945 when Horace served in Canada with 31 Personnel Dispatch, 19 Elementary Flying School, 17 Service Flying Training School and 7 Bombing and Gunnery School.
The…
The…
Record of service
Listing Flight Lieutenant George Albert James Frazer-Hollins's date of birth, previous service, appointments and promotions, postings, honours and awards.
JF Neilson's memoir
Growing Up -The Hard Way WAR -1939
James joined the Local Defence Volunteers at first then realised he did not want to become infantry. He did mount road blocks and fire watches. He applied to join the RAF and was accepted. Training was at…
James joined the Local Defence Volunteers at first then realised he did not want to become infantry. He did mount road blocks and fire watches. He applied to join the RAF and was accepted. Training was at…
F/O CAH Darby No 154676 - Letters home
A list of all the letters sent home by Jack from 6 February 1943 to 13 November 1945.
My life in the RAF - chapter 1,2 and 3 (F Dunn)
Autographical account of life at the beginning of the war including service in ARP in Swindon and his reasons for volunteering for the RAF. He registered for military service in February 1941. Awaiting call-up, he had induction at St John's Wood…
Letter from Jack Darby to Jean
He has suddenly been transferred overnight and boarded a troopship. He has been working an hour a day as a mess orderly. He says the food is good.
Letter from Jack Darby to Jean
He thanks her for her letters. He is back in Manchester and he is not amused. Jean has joined a choral society and he makes flippant comments about her singing.
RAF Heaton Park Manchester
A guide containing information about the camp and how it operates, pay, discipline, local information, recreation, churches and aircrew categories.
Letter from Mervyn Adder to his family
Letter and explanatory note. Thanks them for letters. States that he is browned off as they had decided he should be a navigator rather than a pilot and describes his feelings about this news and what he did about it. Comments on life in his location…
Just Another Story
Recalls joining the RAF as a flight mechanic in 1939 and then employed as a barrage balloon operator. Describes his subsequent selection for aircrew and training in London, St Andrews, Manchester and in advanced navigation at Dumfries. Next covers…
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…
A retrospective - Bomber Command No 625 Squadron
The account opens with some details of 625 Squadron and an introduction, with reasons for writing. He recalls the beginning of the war when still at school and experiences before joining up. He describes activities with Air Training Corps and being…
Henry Wagner's life story. Part one
Hand written by Henry, Part 1 covers his early life and time at university. It goes on to cover in some detail his time in the RAF, his time training in South Africa conversion to the Halifax and operations on 51 Squadron. It also covers his time as…
Jimmy
A poem about a colleague who was missing in action.
Log Book Extracts
Two pages from a logbook. Ralph is mentioned as a second pilot or passenger.
Bomber Command Operations from East Anglia 42-45
A brief description of bombing activity during the war. Starting with the ineffectual early operations to 1000+ bomber operations. He lists some of the operations then details some of the hazards for returning aircraft. After the war Stan took a new…
Empire Air Training Scheme Canada
Two b/w photographs from an album. They are annotated 'Heaton Park before we saw the boat'.
Photo 1 is of two boys walking along a path.
Photo 2 is one boy standing beside a washing line.
Photo 1 is of two boys walking along a path.
Photo 2 is one boy standing beside a washing line.
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.
Interview with David Fellowes. Two
David Fellowes tells of how he used to build model airplanes and fly them in the fields when he was a boy. The son of an engineer, he first joined the Air Training Corps and then volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the age of 17. David describes…