Browse Items (118 total)

  • Tags: RAF Upper Heyford

PSmithJA1505.jpg
13 pilots, standing in front of a Hereford, Ernest Smith second from left. Captioned 'No 16 OTU Upper Heyford Oxon'. Pilots are named on mounting, some with asterisk: 'Sgt Hubbard; Sg Smith; Sgt Hughes; Sgt Day*; Sgt Ivatt*; Sgt Stubbs*; P/O Goode*;…

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BHollisANHollisANv1.pdf
Second page has colour photograph of Arthur Hollis, wearing blazer with medals, standing in a field at an event. Narrative covers early life in Hornchurch and Carshalton including schooling and hospital admissions. Writes of Dulwich College studies…

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LHollisAN124522v1.pdf
Royal Canadian Air Force pilots flying log book for Arthur Norman Hollis, covering the period from 12 December 1941 to 3 May 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Clewiston, RAF Little…

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EAkrillWE[Recipient]H430113-0001.jpg
Describes life at RAF Upper Heyford including visiting servicemen living locally and bemoaning the posting of a colleague to another Operational Training Unit. Remarks that neither Harry nor the 'censor gentleman' will find the letter particularly…

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EAkrillWE[Recipient]R-H421221-0001.jpg
Bill relates how he has been showing Michael's photograph to everyone he meet, whether they are interested or not. Mentions how he has had a long day flying and has been invited to spend Christmas with friends living locally. Describes a visit to…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo][Date]-060001.jpg
Last letter before leaving West Freugh. Writes about potential choice next courses as navigator or bomb aimer. Chooses navigator course at Upper Heyford. Considered navigator as harder job. Catches up with news and writes in pencil at the end that he…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421021-0001.jpg
Bill writes of bad train journey to RAF Upper Heyford and how no one was expecting them there, so problems with billets etc. Since arriving have been doing a lot of physical exercise.

Continuing letter on following day, they have no started their…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421027-0008.jpg
Bill catches up with home news. Comments about cold and rain conditions and heating not being turned on until 1st November. Writes some course details and crewing up with bombadier.

Provides a detailed description of his and others experiences…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421104-0001.jpg
Bill catches up with family news, discusses the weather, his chances of getting a good billet and that he passed Mrs Roosevelt's car in Oxford.

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421109-0001.jpg
Bill mentions events in Grantham and to an Oxford. The weather is holding them up (and probably at home as well). Does not expect to get leave for Christmas and only the occasional 48 hour leave. He did spend of day in Oxford, where he went to the…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421114-010001.jpg
Bill discusses a friend at home who has just gone into the RAF. Writes that he will have to go into the decompression chamber again, this time to see which men are able to crew a strato-bomber.

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421114-020001.jpg
Bill thanks her for the parcel with apples and cake. Writes of weather, course progress - have finished all the ground subjects - and upcoming 48 hours pass, when he hopes to get home. Mentions improvements in dining hall and quality of sergeants…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421123-0001.jpg
Bill writes that he really enjoyed recent 48 hour leave and describes a difficult journey back to Upper Heyford and that many of the men are now on 'jankers' for getting back late. Continues to enthuse over recent leave and home food. Now on last…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421128-0001.jpg
Bill catches up with news, referring to someone who he hoped would answer Bill's question about how difficult it was to get into the Pathfinder Force. Urgently asks his mother to send down his bicycle by train. Borrowed one the other day and would…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421130-0001.jpg
Bill catches up with family news. Mentions going home on recent 48 hour leave. Writes of course progress and compares current base with previous in Scotland. Despite being near three towns, has only get into Oxford once, although he was impressed by…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421208-0001.jpg
Bill writes of being very busy with night flying - although often they are almost ready to go before it is cancelled due to bad weather. His bike has arrived at Upper Heyford station but he has not had time to collect it.

Describes his crew in…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421213-0001.jpg
Bill writes of flying activity, or lack of it when flights are abandoned or postponed. Mentions visit of circus comprising Ju 88, Me 110 and Heinkel which gave flying demonstration and after he was able to look over them. Was not impressed with crew…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421218-0001.jpg
Bill thanks them all for the parcel which included pyjamas, a cake, a carrot and notepaper and envelopes.

They have been working very hard and have managed to get a day off tomorrow. Expecting to go into Oxford and go to a theatre in the…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]421227-0001.jpg
Bill writes after Christmas, relating the cards he received and all that happened to him. Everything went very well: he went to camp pantomime and cinema just before Christmas and spent Christmas Day at his friends' house in Lower Heyford. He…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430104-0001.jpg
Bill says it is difficult to write letters as he is so busy flying, or preparing for flights which never happen. He did manage to fly very close to his home the other day. Getting through the flights now, so should then get some leave.

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430108-0001.jpg
Bill writes of flying close to home and an upcoming kit inspection early the next morning.

Last night he went to the church fellowship in the village and then to his friends for supper. Has also had an invitation from their neighbours, so is…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430115-0001.jpg
Starts with domestic issues. Will be sorry to leave Upper Heyford as made many friends. Mentions slippery roads locally and writes of activities. Will be there for another 3 weeks. Concludes with reminiscences of home.

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430119-0001.jpg
Writes of only a few trips to do on course including war load. Leave due when course finished. Plans for journey home but will not know exactly when. Mentioned going to chapel and supper with friends.

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430125-0001.jpg
Thanks for parcel and letter. No leave for about 3 weeks, nearly finished course. Mentions pilot has injured his knee and may need to get a staff pilot soon to finish their training hours. Mentions local friends and stricter two-way censorship now in…

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430130-0001.jpg
Bill starts with domestic matters and catch up with home news. Writes that nearly everyone has finished course and they did last trip previous evening. Their pilot is now fit again.

Has visited his local friends, who work very hard but are so…

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