Browse Items (119 total)

  • Tags: RAF Upper Heyford

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]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]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]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]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]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]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]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]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]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]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]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][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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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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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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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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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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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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LSmithEW174520v2.pdf
Pilot’s flying log book for Warrant Officer Ernest Smith, from 3 April 1943 to 29 June 1944, recording operations and instructional duties. He served at RAF Hixon, RAF Blyton, RAF Grimsby (Waltham), RAF Binbrook, RAF Wickenby, RAF Bircotes, RAF…

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LSmithEW174520v1.pdf
Pilot’s flying log book for Flight Sergeant Ernest Smith from 11 February 1939 to 31 March 1943, detailing his pilot training and 20 operations with 144 Squadron on the following targets in Belgium, France and Germany: Aachen, Antwerp, Brest,…

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BThomasWKThomasWKv1.pdf
A detailed account of Ken Thomas's life from his early years at school, through his ground crew technical training followed by his aircrew training, operational tour, short post war service and his civilian career, he revised the account in 2005.

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PThorpJF1601.jpg
John Thorp was born and raised in Manchester where he attended North Manchester Grammar School. At seventeen he joined the Home Guard. When he was eighteen he volunteered for the RAF with dreams of becoming a pilot. While waiting at Heaton Park to…

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PSnookT1801.jpg
Tony Snook was an air gunner and served on 115 Squadron in the later stages of the Second World War. A member of the school air training corps, he had his first experience of flight when his squadron partook in a summer camp. He describes how an…

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YStavesME203137v1.pdf
Copy of a day by day diary kept by Malcolm Staves from 26th April 1943 to 6th January 1945. Covers training, lectures, gardening and cleaning tasks. Also covers his social life and home leave.

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POatleyK1701.jpg
Initially too young to enlist at the outbreak of war, Ken Oatley served in the Home Guard until he was able to enlist in October 1940, when after initial training he undertook pilot training. After basic flying training he went onto Canada training…

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