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Bomb aimers briefing 10 September 1944 - Le Havre
Shows a single bomb load for operation. Details weights, distributor, preselection and false height settings. Shows timings and other detail. On the reverse; marking, safety measures, call signs and timings. Formation order for Waddington,…
Six aircrew by the tail of a Lancaster
Six aircrew wearing battledress, four wearing side caps and two wearing flying boots standing in a line by the rear turret of a Lancaster. In the background another Lancaster. On the reverse '10.3.45 Skell, J E Morgan (signature), Bain, Gee, Casey,…
Ground personnel in front of Nissen hut
A group of ground personnel, some kneeling, most standing, some dressed in fatigues but most in full uniform. Two are standing on a tractor. Behind is a Nissen hut. On the reverse '61 Sqdn Crew Don is in there Somewhere. 1944'
27 flight engineers at RAF Skellingthorpe
27 flight engineers, arranged in three rows, are sitting or standing in front of a hut. Captioned 'Squadron Flight Engineers Skellingthorpe 1945'. On the reverse 'The Crew Pilot F/O Leach (Jeff) – Eng. Sgt Sharp LV (Larry) – B.A. Cheeseman…
Kitchen staff at RAF Skellingthorpe
In front of a building, ten women are standing outside a building while a man, in the middle, is sitting. All are in work clothing, three women wear collar and ties. On the reverse 'SKELLINGTHORPE COOKHOUSE STAFF 1942-43 (10)'.
Procedures and Life of an Air Gunner with a Lancaster Squadron
![MBrookerWH[Ser#-DoB]-180402-04.Pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1272/17692/MBrookerWH[Ser -DoB]-180402-04.jpg "MBrookerWH[Ser#-DoB]-180402-04.Pdf")
William Brooker's service. His crew was transferred from Swinderby Heavy Conversion Unit to 463 Squadron at RAF Waddington.
He names the crew and describes their roles, including the ground crews, details the activities before an operation, and…
He names the crew and describes their roles, including the ground crews, details the activities before an operation, and…
World War II service History of Flight Lieutenant WH Brooker DFC
WH Brooker volunteered in June or July 1940. He was called up on 27 February 1941 and trained in Pearce, Western Australia. On transfer to UK there were delays in further training.
Initially he served on Wellingtons at Snaith. He describes…
Initially he served on Wellingtons at Snaith. He describes…
Interview with Reg Payne. One
Reg Payne was born in Kettering, he left school at fourteen and worked for the British Legion. He volunteered for the RAF when he was seventeen and a half and trained as a wireless operator and air gunner. He describes his training learning Morse…
Interview with Les Rutherford. One
During this interview Les describes his experience as a despatch rider in France in 1940 before escaping from Dunkirk and returning to the United Kingdom, eventually joining the Royal Air Force. He also describes his training in South Africa and his…
Interview with Gordon Catling
Gordon Catling grew up in Ipswich and lied about his age to join the Fire Service as a despatch rider. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1943 and flew operations as a rear gunner with 50 Squadron from RAF Skellingthorpe. He was posted to India after…
Interview with Audrey Hazel Baker
Audrey Baker had been married to Gordon, her Bomber Command pilot husband for two years when he was killed in action. Gordon had been serving with 50 Squadron. She immediately joined the WAAF as a driver and was posted to Balloon Command. She drove…
Robert Anderson's memoir
Robert Anderson describes his training in Tasmania and Canada, and his tour of operations to targets in France and Germany with 106 Squadron.
RAF Skellingthorpe Painting
A painting, signed by Reg Payne, of two Lancasters banking over RAF Skellingthorpe. On the reverse:
'QR-O 61 Squadron (City of Lincoln) Squadron
VN-D 50 Squadron -- Same airfield Skellingthorpe Lincoln
61 Squadron, Middle left to Top left over to…
'QR-O 61 Squadron (City of Lincoln) Squadron
VN-D 50 Squadron -- Same airfield Skellingthorpe Lincoln
61 Squadron, Middle left to Top left over to…
Before I was in the RAF by Reg Payne
An account by Reg Payne of his wartime experiences. Too young to sign up at the start of the war he spent two years in the Home Guard. Training started at age 18 and lasted for two years. He served at RAF Skellingthorpe and his brother served at RAF…
Aviation Memory
A detailed account of Reg Payne's service in the RAF. He starts with a list of 18 RAF bases where he served in his 5 years of service. He was 16 when war was declared but volunteered for the RAF at 17. After tests he was selected for training as a…
Biography of Reg Miles
A detailed Biography of Reg' service and post service life.
Edward Webster's Mess Subscription Card
A mess card used by Edward.
Edward Allan McDonald's wartime memories
The first part is an eye witness account by Alan McDonald of an aircraft crash and its aftermath.
The second part describes the 'Skilling Follies', an aircrew who completed 25 operations from RAF Skellingthorpe.
The third part describes an…
The second part describes the 'Skilling Follies', an aircrew who completed 25 operations from RAF Skellingthorpe.
The third part describes an…
Interview with Bob Hughes
Bob Hughes joined the RAF as war became likely to avoid repeating his father's First World War experience in the trenches and transferred to the RAF Volunteer Reserve when war was declared. He trained on Ansons and then flew in twin-engine Blenheims…
Interview with Reg Payne. Two
Reg Payne was born in Kettering in 1923. He left school at the age of fourteen and just before he was eighteen he volunteered to join the RAF. He did his basic training at Blackpool learning Morse Code in the tram sheds. From there he did his…
Interview with Edward Allan McDonald
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…
Interview with Kenneth Shelton Green
Kenneth Green was born on the 17th January 1922 at Pleasley, near Mansfield and worked with the Carlton Auxillary Fire Service before joining the Royal Air Force at the age of 20.
He trained as an engineer after he was unable to fly due to eye…
He trained as an engineer after he was unable to fly due to eye…
Interview with Arthur Atkinson
Arthur Atkinson was born in Lancaster, and worked in the local Co-Op until he joined the Royal Air Force. He trained as a wireless operator and served at RAF Ringway before being posted to RAF Coningsby and later RAF Skellingthorpe with 61 Squadron.…
Interview with John Tait
John Tait was prompted to join the Royal Air Force, as he was American by birth and therefore he had 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 Arthur Emlyn Williams
Arthur Emlyn Williams was working as a pump operator at the mines, before he volunteered for the RAF. His mother hid his first recruitment letter. He trained at Lord’s Cricket Ground, and Number 2 Air-Gunnery school at Inverness, on Ansons. He…