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A-Able aircrew
Seven aircrew leaving a Lancaster 'A’, parked on a dispersal with bomb doors open following a daylight operation to Duisburg 14 October 1944. All aircrew are wearing life vests, carrying crew bags and helmets; two wearing Sidcot suits, two with…
Interview with Philip Bates
Philip volunteered for the Royal Air Force in May 1940. After a short time in Blackpool, he was posted to RAF Cosford where he volunteered for training as a flight mechanic and then fitter. At 86 Squadron, Coastal Command, flying Beauford torpedo…
Interview with Leslie Blakemore
Leslie Blakemore was born in Willenhall, near Wolverhampton and he joined the Royal Air Force in 1943. He flew operations as a wireless operator with 514 Squadron from RAF Waterbeach.
Interview with Syd Cooper. Two
Sidney Cooper was born in Blackpool and speaks about his early life there. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1941 and first served as an engine fitter in Fighter Command before re-mustering as aircrew. He flew operations from RAF Leeming as a flight…
Interview with Donald Chinery
Don Chinery was born in Upper Sherringham on the 14 August 1921 and, after working as a Baker, he joined the Royal Air Force in 1942, serving as a Rear Gunner. His first station was RAF Bircham Newton, where he did his training, and flew in Stirlings…
Interview with Alexander Charles Gilbert
Alexander Gilbert, DFC, joined the Royal Air Force in November 1940, and started service on the 7 April 1941. He had a long and varied career in the RAF, rising to the rank of Squadron Leader. On call up, he was trained as a Flight Engineer Air…
Interview with John Philip Lambourn
John Lambourn joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 17, after working at Stewart Turners with engines and pumps. He was classed as working in a reserved occupation, but joined the Air Training Corp whilst waiting to sign up for the Royal Air…
Interview with Allan Ernest Edwards
Allan joined the Royal Air Force in December 1942 as a flight engineer, having been a member of the Air Training Corps before the war. From Blackpool, he went to RAF St Athan for flight engineer training. His first squadron was at RAF Waterbeach,…
Interview with Fred Logan
Fred joined the Royal Air Force in Sheffield on 4th December 1940 and was accepted as a direct entry fitter. He went to the training school in RAF Hednesford, where he learnt about engines, and was then posted on Stirlings to 7 Squadron. From RAF…
Interview with Reg Spencer
Wembley born but educated in Essex, Reg Spencer left school in 1939. In 1943, on his 18th birthday, he was called up for National Service. Following initial training at RAF Bridlington he was trained as a wireless operator at No. 2 Radio School at…
Interview with Reginald Tween
Reginald joined the Royal Air Force in 1943, becoming a flight engineer with 415 Squadron, Bomber Command. He tells of his love of making and flying model airplanes and that, although he wanted to be a pilot, his love of anything mechanical made him…
Interview with Muriel Blake
Muriel Blake was born in 1922 in Oakham, Rutland. Having an interest in flying and aeroplanes from an early age, Muriel volunteered when her job prospects ended. Called up in 1944, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She was considered to be…
Interview with Irene Bradbury
The interview is about Irene’s husband Dennis Bradbury, who died in 2017. In March 1943 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve, and became a wireless operator/air gunner, training on Proctors. After crewing up, he ended up with…
Richard Vipond’s flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers
Navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers flying log book for Richard Vipond, covering the period from 29 May 1944 to 18 November 1953. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and post war duties with 514,…
Interview with Bert Hammond. One
Bert Hammond was born and brought up in Norwich and was working as a grocer’s assistant, as well as being an air cadet, at the start of the war. He recalls bombing attacks on Norwich and a lone aircraft machine gunning female workers leaving the…
Interview with Martin Arthur Catty
Martin Catty grew up in London and was evacuated, with his school, to Westward Ho! at the beginning of the war. He completed a short training course at Cambridge University in 1942 and joined the Royal Air Force. After training, he flew 40…
Interview with Percival Robert Court
Percival Robert Court joined the Air Training Corps in March 1941, volunteering for the Royal Air Force at the earliest age of 17 and a half. Training at RAF Cardington, he became a flight mechanic. He then moved to RAF Skegness to continue formal…
Interview with Bruce Cunningham
Bruce initially joined the territorials but changed to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. After performing very well in navigation exercises at Rosewood, he was quickly progressed to Bell Block, New Plymouth on Tiger Moths. He became a pilot at Wigram…
Interview with Alan Avery Farr
Allan Avery Farr was working at the Birmingham market before he joined the RAF. He wanted the quickest entry to see action and so trained as an air gunner. He trained in Canada where he was offered a post as an instructor but he wanted to serve with…
Interview with Eddie Humes
During the war, Eddie Humes flew as a navigator on Lancasters with 514 Squadron. In May 1939, he chose to join the RAF instead of going to work in the mines. He was initially expected to be posted as a rigger on aircraft but was then sent to a…
Interview with Jack Jarmy
Jack Jarmey was born in Romford, Essex. At the age of five, following the death of his father, Jack moved to live with his grandparents in Illfracombe. Despite achieving excellent results in all his subjects at Grammar School, Jack left school at 15…
Interview with Edward George Key
Ted Key was a flight engineer. He was born to a large family in London which he remembers coming down from Norfolk to visit. His father was in the Navy as a chief petty officer and away a lot. Ted was in the air defence cadet corps before he joined…
Interview with George Mackie
George Mackie served in the RAF as a pilot. He flew 44 operations, 15 as a second pilot. He was posted to 15 Squadron in 1941 and critically examines the state of Bomber Command at the time. He was posted to RAF Waterbeach for 18 months, where he…
Interview with Peter Morris
Peter Morris lived through the East End blitz. He joined the ATC as soon as it was established and applied to join the RAF as aircrew and was accepted for training as a navigator. While waiting for a course he was part of a group that was sent to…
Interview with Geoff Payne
Geoff Payne has his first experience of the Royal Air Force with the Air Training Corps, at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire, where he had one of his first experiences of military humour. He joined in 1943 at the age of 17 and a half hoping to become a…