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Flight Engineer, 420 Squadron RCF, Bomber Command, RAF WWII
Ben May's life and service as a flight engineer on 420 Squadron flying Halifax from January 1945. Relate life before volunteering for aircrew and being called up for the RAF in February 1944. Provides short description of training and joining 420…
Interview with Eric William Harrison
Eric William Harrison joined the RAF in 1943 and trained as a flight engineer at RAF Locking, RAF St Athan, and RAF Chedburgh. He flew Stirlings and recollects that they were a terrifying aircraft compared to Lancasters. Harrison formed a crew at the…
Interview with Jean Culkin
Jean Culkin grew up in Sunderland and worked as a tea girl and then a typist in a reserved occupation. She discusses her life and her wedding to her husband, John George Mackel Culkin who was an apprentice at RAF Halton before becoming a fitter…
Interview with Bernard Charles Mabey
Bernard Mabey was born in London and experienced the Blitz at first hand. He was a member of the Air Training Corps in 1941, before volunteering for the RAF. He trained as an air frame mechanic at RAF Locking. His first posting was RAF Marston Moor…
Interview with Edward Harry Matthews
Ted developed an interest in flying after experiencing Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus, and volunteered for aircrew. He went to the Air Crew Reception Centre at St John’s Wood, followed by RAF Newquay on the Initial Training Wing. Ted proceeded to…
Interview with Bertram Arthur Yeandle
After leaving school, Bertram Yeandle joined the RAF apprentice scheme and trained as an engine fitter at RAF Halton. After completing his apprenticeship at RAF Cosford, he was posted to 148 Squadron, RAF Harwell, where he serviced Wellingtons. In…
Interview with Ben John May
Ben was born in 1925 in Kent and his first job was in the gas works. A member of the Air Transport Command, he was called up in 1944 and, after initial training at RAF Locking, he joined No.4 flight engineers’ course at RAF St Athan for one year.…
Interview with Richard Moore
Leading Aircraftsman Richard Moore joined up aged 18 and completed his basic training in Lincolnshire. He served as ground crew at RAF Locking, RAF Squires Gate and RAF Wickenby, working on several types of aircraft. He was able to take the controls…
Dan Nash memoir
Born in 1916, Dan spent his early childhood in Kent with his grandmother before moving back to his parents in Fulham. He left school at 16 for a job with the Hudson's Bay Fur Company and met Joyce, his future wife. With the outbreak of war, the…
Zosia Kowalska Interview
After a challenging time being sent from country to country, Zosia Kowalska finally came to England and became a WAAF. After training, she was posted to RAF Locking where she met her future husband whilst she was working as a cook. The wedding was…
Philip Hopgood's RAF Record
Issued to Philip Hopgood during his RAF service from 24 February 1942-1 May 1947. It includes details of his training and where he served.
Interview with Richard William Lambert
In 1943, when Richard was 17 and a half, he cycled into Guildford to sign up to volunteer for the Royal Air Force. He reported to Lords cricket ground to collect his uniform and gear and then went for training at RAF Hednesford for a six-month…
John Shipman's Engineering Notebook
A notebook used by John for his engineering lectures.
John Shipman's Engineering Notes
A notebook kept by John with his engineering lectures.
John Shipman's 1943 Diary
Intermittent record of John's time at RAF West Kirby then Blackpool for training. He covers the sail from Liverpool to Durban, then India, first Bombay then train to Karachi. Once established at RAF Mauripur he records his daily work and…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
![ESmithKJBSmithE[Date]-02.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1485/48278/ESmithKJBSmithE[Date]-02.jpg "ESmithKJBSmithE[Date]-02.pdf")
Thanks her for letter and razor blades. Comments on poor laundry on camp and that he was now using Chinese laundry in Weston and goes on to describe what he has to do. Enquires whether she could obtain enough cash and coupons to get him a good air…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
![ESmithKJBSmithE[Date]-07.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1485/48283/ESmithKJBSmithE[Date]-07.jpg "ESmithKJBSmithE[Date]-07.pdf")
Thanks her for parcel especially the chocolate. Catches up with news and gossip. Mentions passing exams with flying colours. Suggest that he might phone his father but is concerned about cost. Concludes saying he is trying to save cash to pay his…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Thanks her for letter card but says he does not have discs but is not in trouble over them. Comments on recent kit inspection and missing a groundsheet which he probably left at home. Writes about going into Weston and visiting the pier and describes…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Writes about his colleagues going into Weston-super-Mare by bus. Mentions only getting late pass once a week. Writes a little about the local village. Talks about making friends with a French boy and describes him in detail. Writes about selling his…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Thanks her for letter and padlock. Says he was glad he had had a car as the basic training on engines came easily to him unlike many of his course mates. Writes a little about the organisation of the camp and his classes. Mentions classes in hangars,…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his family
Comments journey to RAF Locking and his new accommodation in wooden hut with 75 other men. Writes that he had brought everything apart from his identity discs and asks if they can look for them. Describes the disc to help them look. Also says he…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his brother
![ESmithKJBSmithKG[Date]-01.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1485/48401/ESmithKJBSmithKG[Date]-01.jpg "ESmithKJBSmithKG[Date]-01.pdf")
Apologises for not having written recently. Comments on brothers fountain pens numbers and his activities with cadets. Asks if he had done any live firing yet. Comments on his progress at school and says there is nothing he could get him. Mentions he…
Maurice Snowball's Engineering Notes
Notes kept by Maurice during his training.
Interview with Dennis Brett
Dennis was born in 1924 and joined the Royal Air Force in November 1942. He trained as a flight mechanic, airframe, at RAF Locking and was responsible for the whole of the aircraft, apart from the engines and the guns. Dennis explained the emergency…
27 Trainee Airmen
A group of 27 airmen arranged in three rows in front of a brick building. On the reverse the trainees have signed their names. The photographer's name and address is stamped on. A yellow post-it note has 'RAF Locking Weston Super Mare'.