Browse Items (64 total)

  • Tags: RAF Torquay

PPettyD1607.jpg
Group of trainees arranged in five rows. Each individual is named in the caption underneath

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BWittyARWittyARv1.pdf
History of wartime experiences of Ronald Witty. Starts with schooling and early employment just before the war in Hull. Mentions German bombing of Hull and volunteering for the RAF. Describes training in London and Torquay before departing on a troop…

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EGreenAWGreenWH-[Mo][Date]-010001.jpg
Alan writes from Torquay during his training. He had just arrived in pitch black then the next day turned up at the receiving unit. There are lectures and physical training. He will then move to an Initial Training Wing in about a week. Then he…

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EGreenAWGreenWH-[Mo]-G4011XX-0001.jpg
Alan writes during his training at Torquay. He had just heard about the bombing of Coventry, where his family lived. He has arranged leave to visit his family. His course has finished and he has been made Guard Commander.

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BSharrockRSharockRv1.pdf
Bob's memoirs in the RAF. His training started at Lords cricket ground then Torquay. Technical training was at St Athan. At this time he met Dorothy. In March 1944 he was posted to Dishforth where his aircraft crashed damaging his spine.

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BSharrockRSharockRv2.pdf
Bob Sharrock's story. He was born near Wigan, his father a coal miner. He worked locally until old enough to sign up. He trained at Lords cricket ground, Torquay then St Athan. Posted to Dishforth, he suffered a compressed spine during a Halifax…

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APayneAJ150811.mp3
Alan Payne was born in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. He volunteered for aircrew with the Royal Air Force and after initial training was sent to South Africa where he trained as an observer. When he returned to the UK, he was allocated the role of bomb…

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AFreethR160531.mp3
Reg Freeth grew up in Wales and worked for the Civil Service in the Labour Exchange before he volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He trained as an observer in South Africa and flew operations served as a bomb aimer with 61 Squadron from RAF…

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ALucasWE170208.mp3
Bill Lucas DFC was born on the 16th January in 1917 and lived in Upper Tooting.
He left school at the age of 15 and went to work in an Insurance Company, before joining the Royal Air Force in 1939.
Bill was sent to 16 EFTS at Derby and then to an…

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APayneTP160422.mp3

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PKilleenKAL1701.jpg
Ken Kileen was called up and reported to ACRC in London at the beginning of 1942. He commenced flying as a navigator at 12 Air School, Queenstown in South Africa flying in Oxfords and Ansons. On his return to UK in 1943 he joined 83 OTU at Peplow…

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EBoldyDABoldyAD[Date]-020001.jpg
Letter from Sergeant David Boldy to his father, regarding his initial training and visiting his mother at home.

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EBoldyDABoldyAD400627.pdf
Letter from David Boldy to his father about his daily activities at Hastings, and then at Torquay. Comments on the French government, mentions a meeting with Cecil and cadet training

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EBoldyDABoldyAD400828-0001.jpg
Letter from Leading Aircraftsman David Boldy to his father about being on leave from the Royal Air Force with his brother Steve and Peter, a friend who was wounded in the Navy. He has completed the initial course and awaits posting to navigation…

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EBoldyDABoldyLM400625.jpg
Letter from David Boldy to his mother and brother. He let them know that he has moved from Hastings to Torquay and includes some of his observations on his new posting, with references to girls evacuated from London.

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EBoldyDABoldyLM400627.pdf
Letter from David Boldy to his mother. Speaks about his daily life in Torquay including drill, physical training and fire picket duties. He comments on his social life with the girls.

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EBoldyDABoldyLM400628.pdf
Letter from David Boldy to his mother. He writes about his finances, the lack of hot water and that he is hoping for leave. He comments on the French surrendering.

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EBoldyDABoldyLM400630.pdf
Letter from David Boldy to his mother giving details of his daily routine in the RAF and his social life including swimming, playing tennis and meeting girls.

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PBarnesR1701.jpg
Robert Barnes was working in a Reserved Occupation and so knew the only way he could join the RAF was to volunteer for aircrew. Before he volunteered he was also a member of the ARP and Home Guard. Robert trained as a flight engineer and was posted…

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PBeasleyDG1727.jpg
At the start of the war, Doug Beasley left school at 16 to start work. Initially a member of the Air Training Corps, he was sent for aircrew selection when he became 18. There was a 12-month wait to enlist as a pilot, so he opted to become a flight…

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ATrotmanPJ180604.mp3
Applying for RAF Bomber Command in May 1940, Percival Trotman was called up in September 1940, training as a pilot at RAF Towyn in Aberystwyth. Being present at Coventry when the town was bombed, he recalls deciding that the Germans deserved to have…

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MPettyD189456-160831-01.jpg
Brief memoirs recorded by Doug Petty during his RAF service. They cover the period from June 1943 to April 1947.

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BHorshamESHorshamESv10001.jpg
Brief recollection of Eric Horsham from his early years in Plumstead, training at Lords, Torquay, St Athans, Marston Moor then 102 Squadron at Pocklngton. On one operation they were badly damaged but made a successful forced landing at RAF…

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BHorshamESHorshamESv2.pdf
Recollection of Eric Horsham from his early years in Plumstead, training at Lords, Torquay, St Athans, Marston Moor then 102 Squadron at Pocklngton. On one operation they were badly damaged but made a successful forced landing at Woodbridge, assisted…

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LPackhamG1214349v1.jpg
A list, taken from Geoff's logbook, of RAF stations where he served or was trained.

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