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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1010/11777/AWilliamsVD170403.1.mp3
8a621ee7029aea31c03d42b2eea0d61f
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Title
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Williams, Vivian
V D Williams
Vivian David Williams
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2017-04-03
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Williams, VD
Description
An account of the resource
Two items. An oral history interview with Corporal Vivian Williams (b. 1920, 616291 Royal Air Force) and one photograph. Vivian Williams served a a fitter with 56 Squadron at RAF North Weald and various training units.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Vivian Williams and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Transcribed audio recording
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Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
CB: My name is Chris Brockbank and today is Monday the 3rd of April 2017 and we’re in Fiskerton in Lincolnshire talking with Vivian Williams about his life and times. What are your earliest recollections of life then, Vivian?
VW: A new house I should think. We lived in a small village called Tonyrefail — T O N Y R E F A I L where they had they, they had built, just after 1920, a new housing estate. It was semi-detached houses most of them, and they were rough cast in those days. And they had a bathroom. That was another something I remember. And they were, well at that time they were ten years before their time you know. And so that was one of the highlights. The next one was the oil lamp in the middle of the table. It had this gold filigree base, cast iron base, and a beautiful blue resin. Then shortly afterwards — yeah, that was, I must have been about four then. And shortly afterwards they actually put electricity in. As early as that, you know. And I can remember fooling about watching the electrician doing it, you know. And they had the old tumbler switches on and you screwed the cap off you know. The front of it off. And so I saw the bloke doing this and he was poking around with a screwdriver when he was connecting all the leads up. So I put my mother’s scissors in there. I leant on a chair, put my mother’s scissors in and got knocked across the room. Why I didn’t get killed I don’t know [laughs] but it was what kids I suppose. And I’d say the next big thing was the 1926 strike. And we were kept alive on charity in those days. And after that we moved to Pontypridd and stayed there until I was left school at fourteen. Elementary school. And then I was the only one in the family that could get a job. Because you got a, you went down the mine, of course everybody went down the mine so you went down the mine at fourteen and you went with a skilled man called a collier for five years. And then when you were nineteen they give you the sack and they’d give him a new boy. So, I said to my mum, I’d finished school at the end of July when the August holidays break up and, ‘When am I going to go down and get a job?’ And so she said, ‘ No, you’re not. You’re going up to London to live with my gran.’ So that was the next move. Up to London. And then the family moved up seven months later and we settled there. Had various jobs. Usually outside jobs because I couldn’t stand the factory you know. And, and then in 1938, in 1938 I joined the Territorials and I was on a searchlight detachment for a year. And then I said — I got fed up with that. I lost my job because just before, at the end of 1938, around about 1938, just say the end — they had a, had a slump in engineering and you couldn’t get a job anywhere. On the Great West Road where I worked. The factory there and all the factories were putting people off. And I was on shift work and they put off our shift. And the other shift went on to day work with the rest of the factory. And they sacked sixty four of us. You went to get your pay on Friday night and they gave you your cards. Your pay and your cards straightaway. Not an hour’s notice even.
PW: Which firm was that?
VW: Tecalemit they were lubrication specialists. Because cars in those days had umpteen grease nipples all over the chassis and everywhere. And it was an industry on its own, you know. And I was home for about three weeks getting under my mother’s feet and I said to our corporal, met corporal, I said, ‘I’m going to join the army.’ Because I just had to get away, you know, and nobody could get a job just then and so he said, ‘Don’t join the army,’ he said. He said, ‘I’ve done fifteen years in it and it never did me any good,’ and he said, ‘Join the RAF.’ And I said, ‘No. I can’t join the RAF.’ Because those days to get in you had to have a school certificate which I presume is something like four or five A levels you know.
PW: O levels.
CB: O levels rather. And he said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘You’d be surprised.’ So I went up to Adastral House where you applied. And I found that they had started an expansion scheme in the RAF and had created new trades and a flight mechanic, which is what I was, was one of them. And they just dragged you in by the short and curlies you know. And that was it. And I was in the RAF then for — well ‘til the end of the war. I did what, because this was July ’38, so I did seven and a half years instead of the six that I signed for. But, yeah —
CB: Where did you go to join the RAF?
VW: The recruitment depot was at Aldwych near The Strand. And it was called Adastral House. So I, that was the first place I went to in the RAF. We were there overnight and, no, we were sent home and go back the next morning. Picked up the train to West Drayton. And that was the induction depot. And that’s where we were sworn in. Had our hair cut. They gave us ten bob which we thought was very nice. Except it was only an advance on your next weeks’ pay. They never told us that [laughs] The next morning we went to Uxbridge for our square drill. Did all our square drill, at Uxbridge.
CB: How long did that last?
VW: Twelve weeks.
CB: So in addition to drill what else were you doing?
VW: There. Nothing really. Oh we had, the only other thing that happened we had two weeks off completely because they had the scare in September of 1938 and we were filling sand bags. And nobody ever hears of it but we was almost on alert you know, then. Then we put the complete automatic telephone exchange in. We were humping all the, carrying all the various bits and pieces for 11 Fighter Group which was right behind our dining hall. And of course it’s down steps. Lots. Have you seen the hill? The complete thing is in the hill. And we were only allowed to carry all the equipment and everything to the top of the steps and they had their own team then that took it down in to the bottom. So we never saw the inside of it at all.
CB: This was the underground fighter control.
VW: Yeah. 11 Group.
CB: Position.
VW: 11 Fighter Group.
CB: Yes. It’s open to the public now.
VW: Yeah. It is is it?
CB: It is. Yes.
VW: Yeah well. I humped all the cabinets and all the equipment that went down in there. And we had a fortnight off for that.
CB: Right.
VW: Yeah.
CB: So you’re doing drill. Did you do PT?
VW: Oh yes. Oh yes.
CB: Now what about classroom work?
VW: No. Just drill. We did just drill. PT. We did. We had — they give us an introduction to show that you were in the RAF. And they had two old fuselages, just fuselages, in the MT section and they were bolted to the wall, or chained to the wall but the engines were serviceable. And they used to just take us over there and after about a fortnight and show you. This sergeant and his corporal starting them up you know. But no it was just drill and ceremonial drill and we —
PW: Tell them about running those engines. Starting those engines.
VW: Oh yeah. They, the funny thing we were down in Old Warden and they had a — what was that one they started Phil?
PW: Oh that was a Camel.
VW: A Camel. And he started it by swinging the prop in reverse. And this is what the sergeant used to do. Swinging it in reverse. And we heard later on that he got killed doing it. But yeah but that was the only diversion if you like. The rest was just drill. Drill all the time.
CB: And you had twelve weeks of that.
VW: Yeah.
CB: In total.
VW: Well, yeah except for the –
CB: The two weeks.
VW: Two weeks I was out. Yeah. But we lost that.
CB: At what stage did you know what trade you were going to take?
VW: Oh right from the first. Because they said, give me the choice of being a flight mechanic or a flight rigger. And I said I’d be a mechanic. So that was put on your docs straight away.
CB: And when did they describe what was involved with that?
VW: Oh at the first interview.
CB: Right.
VW: At Adastral house, you know.
CB: So what was it that the flight mechanic was designated to do?
VW: As a mechanic he was responsible for the day to day maintenance of whatever engine or aeroplane he was put on.
CB: So after Uxbridge where did you go then?
VW: Well, we went down to Manston in Kent. But it was on a course that was actually obsolete but we were a small flight. Instead of being a hundred and forty four we were only sixty four and I think they lost us somewhere and they posted us to Manston on this course which was three weeks on engines and three weeks on air frames and as I say it was called a fitter’s mate’s course. You were only qualified to hand the spanners out, you know on that one. But it was obsolete anyway and then from there we went to Henlow in Bedfordshire to do a basic engineering course for six weeks there. And then from there we went to St Athans. Got to St Athans on January the 16th in 1939. And they were, we were there until the end of July and — close to the end of July and then we were given eighteen days leave. And then I was posted to 56 Squadron. Fighter squadron. And at North Weald on Hurricanes.
CB: When you were at St Athan that was basically an engines course was it?
VW: Yeah. It was. Yeah.
CB: So what variety of engines did you deal with then?
VW: Pegasus. Bristol Pegasus and Rolls Royce Kestrels. And of course the Kestrel was obsolete then wasn’t it?
CB: Did you have any Merlins there? Or —
VW: No. No. No.
CB: So the first time you came across Merlins was when you went to the Hurricanes?
VW: Well, we had three. We had three Hurricanes there. That was the nearest I’d came come to the Merlin. But to work on, no. It wasn’t until I got to 56 Squadron. As I say that was my job. I was responsible for the day to day maintenance of the aeroplane that they put me on which is actually hanging in the roof of the South Kensington Museum.
CB: Is it? Right.
VW: And —
CB: It survived that long
VW: Yes. Phil would know.
PW: It’s a miracle survivor.
CB: It’s a Mark I Hurricane.
PW: Yes.
VW: Two.
CB: Mark 2 is it?
VW: Yeah.
CB: Right.
PW: No, it was a Mark 1 dad.
VW: Was it?
PW: Yeah. it’s L1592.
VW: Yeah.
CB: So what was the serviceability like of the squadron? There were how many aircraft in the squadron first?
VW: There was twelve aircraft.
CB: And what —
VW: Two flights of six.
CB: Yeah.
VW: Twelve aircraft. A flight and B flight. Yeah.
CB: And what was serviceability like?
VW: Very good because they’d only been equipped with new Hurricanes some months before I got there and I think they didn’t fly very often but I think they must have been restricted. Looking back. You know, for saving the fuel because, you know, they knew what was going to happen. But they would only fly perhaps two hours a week.
CB: Amazingly low.
VW: Hmmn?
CB: Amazingly low.
VW: Yeah.
CB: So what —
VW: They had to keep their hours in, you know.
CB: Yes. The pilots had to keep enough hours.
VW: Yeah.
CB: To be able to qualify.
VW: Yes. That’s right. For their logbook.
CB: So how much leave did you have at the end of St Athan?
VW: Eighteen days.
CB: Oh eighteen days.
VW: Yeah.
CB: Right. So we’re in August.
VW: Yeah.
CB: When you get to North Weald.
VW: Yeah.
CB: Right. And how long did you spend in North Weald in total?
VW: We moved. The squadron moved in October. Yeah. In October and we moved to Martlesham Heath in Suffolk. They were, they were on convoy duty for the convoys. Shipping in the North Sea. They had a sector to patrol.
CB: Right.
VW: And, but we, but everything was very quiet. Very quiet, you know. They only had one, our own squadron only had one tussle with a reconnaissance flight, you know. A Dornier. One of the Dorniers’. Something like that and that’s the only time we saw the gun patches blown off the guns, you know, like that. But other than that it was very quiet. We had nothing very much to do at all. Just wait. They just did patrols and nothing else.
CB: So you got there in October ’39.
VW: Yeah.
CB: How long did you stay with that squadron?
VW: Until Christmas.
CB: Right.
VW: I only stayed with them six months altogether.
CB: Right.
VW: The first six months of the war.
CB: Then what?
VW: Then I went on a conversion course to be a fitter.
CB: Where was that?
VW: At Hednesford in Staffordshire.
CB: To be fitting what?
VW: Pardon?
CB: A conversion course to be a fitter.
VW: Yeah. That meant that —
CB: Specialising in what?
VW: Yeah. But you were only allowed to do certain things as a mechanic. Like, as I say, the day to day maintenance.
CB: Right.
VW: Which was nothing much more than filling the tanks and doing the ground runs in the morning. And then while, when I first went there they used to have all the cowlings off on a Friday morning. Just once a week.
CB: Right.
VW: Just to see that nothing had fallen off. Or you know, nuts loose on the, the exhaust stubs. Check them all around and that sort of thing. And mostly it was observation.
CB: Yeah.
VW: You had the run every morning. You would check the, just check the mag drops and that.
CB: So you’d run them up every morning.
VW: Oh yeah.
CB: How did you make sure that plugs didn’t oil up? Because if all you were doing was running it up. Did the plugs oil up doing that?
No. No. You didn’t get plugs oiling up at all.
CB: So you didn’t do plug changes because the planes weren’t flying enough.
VW: Oh no. No. Because that wasn’t my job. But when I went on a conversion course as a fitter.
CB: Yes.
VW: Instead of being on the flights.
CB: Yes.
VW: Out on the aerodrome. We were in the hangar and we you doing inspections. And these inspections came around at pre-determined intervals. And then of course you did things like plug changes and oil filters.
CB: Oh, they were done then. Right.
VW: Yeah. And well anything that was going. Anything that could be done on the station and we couldn’t do a lot because we were a mobile squadron and we had to be away completely in an hour and forty minutes.
CB: Oh did you?
VW: Yeah.
CB: Right.
VW: Shifted. Gone. So our stores was in a big box in one of the annexes in the hangar, you know. Instead of the usual thing of a separate building.
PW: Yeah.
VW: Like you get. But we had to carry everything with us.
CB: What were the trucks that you were using for that? Crossleys.
VW: We had, we had a three ton Albion lorry. Yeah. And a Bedford artic flat bed. And that took all our stands and that you used for propping up the plane when you’re doing jobs on them you know and that sort of thing. Any equipment that we had which was very little so we couldn’t do a lot. But as a fitter you were qualified then to go into what they called maintenance and you just went into the maintenance hangar and you did whatever was scheduled as maintenance on that particular aeroplane or that particular engine.
CB: So, on this course at Hednesford.
VW: Yeah.
CB: Then that was on specific aircraft. Which one was that?
VW: No. No. Just engines.
CB: Just in general.
VW: Just engines in general. Yeah.
CB: Ok. How long did that last? The course.
VW: Well from Christmas. Christmas ’39. I went there on Christmas Day 1939. And we left there to do, did part of the course there and we finished it off at Cosford. And I carried my [unclear] when we went there. Somewhere about halfway through the course. And we left on the 30th of May and I got posted to the Channel Islands. Because that’s the first flying school that I went to. The School of General Reconnaissance. And they were at Guernsey. But we were only there a fortnight. We had to get out anyway because the Germans were coming in. But we should have, the flights were at Guernsey and we should have been posted to the parent unit which was at Thorney Island. And they mixed it up again so we had another fortnight’s holiday on Guernsey until we had to pack up and go. And went back to Thorney Island there [pause] We were there at Thorney Island [pause]
PW: What dad’s not telling you —
VW: Until — we were there, I can’t remember when we left but we were there but we were there while Dunkirk was on.
CB: Right.
VW: Because everybody had to have, no matter where you went you had to have a Lee Enfield and fifty rounds of ammunition.
CB: Oh.
VW: Everybody. Everybody on the station was armed. You know. Ready for anything like that. And we left there to go to a place called Hooton Park up near Liverpool. Well Wallasey. And the day after we left they flattened the hangar.
CB: At Thorney Island.
VW: Yeah.
CB: Did they?
VW: Yeah. Flattened it. So we were dead lucky there.
CB: Well, Dunkirk was the end of May so perhaps you went to Thorney Island a bit earlier — to Guernsey a bit earlier than that.
VW: [pause] Yeah. It’s a long time ago.
CB: It doesn’t matter.
VW: Yeah. It’s a long time ago.
CB: It’s all around the same time.
VW: Yeah.
CB: What — at Thorney Island what were you supposed to be servicing there?
VW: Ansons.
CB: Oh right. These were shipping reconnaissance were they? Or what were they doing?
VW: Well, it was the school. It was called the School of General Reconnaissance.
CB: Oh I see. Right.
VW: It was. It didn’t have a squadron number.
CB: Yeah.
VW: It was the School of General Reconnaissance.
CB: Ok.
VW: And shifted us up to Hooton Park.
CB: Yeah.
VW: Which was just across the Mersey from Speke Airport.
CB: Right.
VW: And from there we went to Blackpool. We missed the blitz on Liverpool.
CB: Right. How long did you stay at Hooton Park then?
VW: Oh just a matter of a couple of months I should think.
CB: Right.
VW: And then [paused] we were posted to Blackpool. And that’s a date I remember because when I was posted from Blackpool to South Cerney in Wiltshire.
CB: Yeah.
VW: It was on the 18th of October.
PW: Gloucestershire.
CB: Yeah. That’s where I joined the RAF.
VW: Sorry?
CB: That’s where I joined the RAF.
VW: Where?
CB: South Cerney.
PW: South Cerney.
VW: Yes [laughs]
PW: 1 FTS.
CB: So, so, yeah. 18th of October ’40.
VW: Yeah.
CB: At South Cerney. What was happening there? This was a different unit was it?
VW: Oh yeah. That was 3FTS. Number 3 Flying Training School. We were doing conversions. Taking the pilots from the Empire Air Training Scheme. Canada and South Africa.
CB: Oh yes.
VW: And converting them from like Harvards onto twin engine Oxfords. Airspeed Oxfords.
CB: Right.
VW: Yeah.
CB: Because these were people all destined for bombing. Bombers.
VW: Yeah.
CB: Ok.
VW: They were introduction to multi engine.
CB: Yeah. And how long did that last? That posting.
VW: That posting lasted till Christmas again. 1942.
CB: Right.
VW: Nearly two years there.
CB: And during that time you were dealing with the, what were the engines on the Ansons?
VW: The engines? Oh the Cheetah 9s.
CB: Cheetahs. Yeah.
VW: Cheetah 9s. And then when we left South Cerney we went to 17 AFU. Advanced Flying Unit at Watton in Norfolk and we were on Masters 2s. Fighter trainer.
CB: Did they have other planes as well?
VW: No. Just them because we did engine changes all the time. I was in, in the maintenance hangar there was a fitter.
CB: Yeah.
VW: I passed out as a fitter so I was in the maintenance hangar and we did what — they used to come around to the maximum number of between inspections and we just changed engines all the time.
CB: It was quicker.
VW: Yeah.
CB: What were the engines?
VW: It was easier for us to change the engines and send them back to places like Alvaston in Derbyshire and they did a complete overhaul of them.
CB: Right.
VW: In the factories.
CB: What were the engines?
VW: Mercuries. Bristol Mercuries.
CB: So how long at Watton? So from Christmas ’42.
VW: To [pause] now my dates are a bit [pause] I can’t remember my dates after that.
CB: Ok. Where were you posted to after you’d finished?
VW: At Watton?
CB: At Watton.
VW: We cleared out everything. All our backlog we cleared that up and the Americans moved in and it became a bomber ‘drome then I suppose. One of these bombardments groups would be there. And it was all grass when we were there and they put thousands of tons of cement in one hangar and they put obviously concrete runways in, but we’d gone by then.
CB: So personally where did you go to?
VW: We went to a little ‘drome near Crewe called Calveley. C A L V E L E Y. Calveley. And doing the same thing there. Training pilots, you know. A lot of them from overseas. Australia. New Zealanders. And then we went —
CB: What were the planes? What were the aircraft there?
VW: Master 2s.
CB: Right.
VW: They were the same squadron like. 17 AFU.
CB: Oh right.
VW: And then we went to Spitalgate near Grantham. That was 12 FTS. Yeah.
PW: No. 12 PAFU.
VW: Oh yeah. Yeah. Probably yeah. Yeah. Advanced Flying Unit. Yeah. And from there we moved up to, that would be around about the end of 1944. And we went to Hixon in Staffordshire. Hixon. And was there about two months and then I got posted to Lyneham on Transport Command. That’s when I finally got out of flying Training Command. That’s when we went to Lyneham. And we were flying Yorks there.
CB: At Transport Command.
VW: Transport Command. Yeah.
CB: What were you doing at Hixon?
VW: Just on the same, 17AFU. Doing the same thing.
CB: Yeah.
VW: But not much at all.
CB: Right. What was the aircraft? Because it was an Advanced Flying School. What was the aircraft were they using?
VW: Oh the same as we had at Grantham.
CB: Oh.
VW: They were Blenheim 4s and they were obsolete too.
CB: Yeah.
VW: The first time I saw them was at Martlesham. One of the first bombing raids of the war and it was a flight of five from two squadrons, 110 and 107 and they flew over and they bombed the islands off the German coast. Silt and Bochum. Like that. And they surprised them, 110 Squadron, Yeah. They surprised them and lost one. When 107 Squadron’s five went over they lost four out of the five. That was some of the very early casualties.
CB: And that was from Martlesham.
VW: Yes. Yeah. I think they hadn’t got that much of a range and I think they were at Wattisham and they lobbed down at Martlesham and filled the tanks up.
CB: Right.
VW: Topped the tanks up. Yeah. But — and then I was demobbed from Lyneham.
CB: When was that?
VW: January the 26th 1946.
CB: Right. How did you feel about that?
VW: Actually, I was enjoying myself and we were, I was a corporal and I was offered to be made sergeant if I signed on. My wife put her foot on that and, ‘No. Not likely,’ she said. ‘You’re coming home.’ By that time we had my daughter and Phil and his younger brother who is just over from Australia. And they were there so she’d had the three of them from 1940. My daughter was born, and he was ’44.
PW: I was ’44 Ted was ’46.
VW: And Ted was 46’
PW: Yeah.
VW: So I had to get home and take my responsibilities.
CB: So the rank of sergeant eluded you.
VW: Oh yeah. Yeah.
CB: But you’d looked forward to that had you?
VW: Well yeah because I was enjoying myself there. It was a very nice station and also we had chances of — they used to fly out as far as Japan, you know, taking engines and equipment to all the stops that Transport Command from Lyneham used to stop at. They used to go from Lyneham to Gibraltar. Gibraltar to Cairo West. From Cairo West to somewhere in what was then Persia, Iraq.
PW: Habbaniya.
VW: Yeah. And then Karachi and then Singapore. But they did fly, I remember they flew a prop to Japan. I think it was for the Lancaster. You know. That went all around the world after the war.
CB: Oh yes.
VW: They were trying to sell them.
CB: Yes.
VW: You know, so they were on a promotional tour and they had several with a prop in Tokyo. And they flew the prop out there.
CB: Yeah. The Argentinians bought fifteen.
VW: I didn’t know if they sold any.
CB: They did. Yeah.
VW: Because it wasn’t all that long. Well I say it wasn’t all that long. They [pause] I was at working as a civilian on the Maintenance Unit at 5 MU at Kemble.
CB: After the war.
VW: On Lancasters.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And it wasn’t, I was there for about a year and we would bring them in from the, from the service and they would examine them. The inspectors would go over them to see what was wanted to be done and they had a list of things to be done. And then they would mothball them to a certain extent. Put them out and then when the RAF wanted them they’d bring them back in to our hangars, the preparation hangars. And we’d do everything that was on the list, like that. And they’d go back into service. New paint job. And, but that didn’t last very long and the next thing they were out on the park and they just chopped them up. Got rid of them all.
CB: Well how full was Kemble Airfield? How full was it with these things?
VW: How?
CB: How full? How many aircraft on it?
VW: Oh. Must have been about a hundred I should think.
CB: Oh right.
VW: Easy. And Hants and Sussex Aviation just took, they broke them all up.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And took them for scrap. And we say now there were rows of four Merlin engines there all over the place and if they’d seen them today. The people who need them, you know.
CB: Yeah.
VW: They’d cry.
CB: Yeah. I bet.
VW: Should be here somewhere.
CB: I’ll just stop the, stop this for a mo.
[recording paused]
CB: We paused just for you to get your prized screwdriver. Could you just describe. We’ve just had a picture of you with it. Could you just describe the background of it? Please.
VW: Yeah the screwdriver is basically a Merlin blockstud.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And the ends have been re-formed to make it into a chisel. And the handle is carved out of, shaped out of a solid block of aluminium. And the machinist shaped the handle and then he put, he drilled it to take the squared end of the, the square taper in to that. And he put the shank, the stud in the lathe and — the other way about. The handle was in the lathe and this was in the turret of his capstan lathe like that.
CB: Right.
VW: And he just pulled the capstan handles and —
CB: Put it straight in.
VW: And it never moved.
CB: No.
VW: At all.
CB: Now that engine stud. How would that have been formed in the aircraft? On the engine. Because you had the block and the head separate didn’t you?
VW: Yeah.
CB: So how, how did this work.
VW: This end was screwed in to the crank case. All you got was the crank case itself with the holes in it to take this and that was screwed in to there. Then you slide the cylinders on, right. So the end, this end, threaded again would protrude above the top of block.
CB: Yes.
VW: And then the head itself would slide down over that as well and this is just long enough then so that you get enough thread on the end to take the nut that holds the whole lot together. The three pieces together like that.
CB: Ok.
VW: And it’s in a block like that because it’s a V engine. So you have two rows of these down one side and two down the other side like that for the other block.
CB: So getting the block on is a heavy job.
PW: Yes.
VW: Well it’s yeah but —
CB: Sorry the cylinder head I meant to say.
VW: The cylinder is not so bad. Getting the block is the bad job because you have to introduce six pistons in to the bottom of the cylinders.
CB: Yes.
VW: As so all six have got to be in the right place and you’ve to gently feed them in, feed the rings in. Squeeze the rings to go in and then you just work it down very carefully because what makes it worse it’s on an angle anyway, you know, like that.
CB: Yes. A V12.
VW: It’s suspended you know and the block is on an angle going down because of the V of the engine.
CB: Yes.
VW: But — yeah.
CB: So these wet liner engines are they?
PW: Yeah.
VW: They, well Phil knows more about them then I do.
CB: They are. Effectively that’s why you’re putting in the —
VW: Yeah.
CB: Cylinder and then putting the head on.
VW: Yeah. Yeah.
CB: Right.
VW: Yeah. Because —
CB: Ok. And then for each part of the V.
VW: Yeah.
CB: Because these are V12s you’ve got six cylinders. Each. How many studs are there per cylinder?
VW: Four.
CB: Right. So that’s twenty four.
VW: Yeah.
CB: And you’re trying to thread the head over that.
VW: You’ve got rows like a porcupine.
PW: It’s like there are four studs per cylinder.
VW: Yeah.
PW: But between the cylinders the studs are shared.
CB: Right.
PW: If you can imagine.
CB: Yeah.
PW: You know, you have four studs for this one and then two of them become two of the four for that one.
CB: Right. Ok.
PW: So you got fourteen studs on each side.
CB: I see. Ok.
PW: Yeah.
CB: Right.
[recording paused]
CB: Now, when you were at Lyneham what was the excitement you had there?
VW: I was in a little section. And I had a gang of four airmen and they were split into groups of two in a little workshop alongside the hangar. And when the, the engines had done a certain number of hours in the aeroplane they were taken off the whole, what we called a power egg right from the wing, the front of the wing, you know from the firewall.
CB: Yeah.
VW: The big bulkhead.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And they’d take the lot off. Just undo all the connections and then they’d put it in a special stand with four wheels and they’d bolt them in there like that. And then they’d link them all up together and then the David Brown would bring them up to our place.
CB: A tractor.
VW: Yeah. Bring them all to our place and I went up two of them. And the other corporal in the hangar he would have the other two for his four blokes. And they used to have two on each and then we would take the engines out and then renew any, anything that controlled our pipes. You know. Various things in the, that was left, you know, in the engine bearer. Any oil pipes, fuel pipes, coolant pipes, perhaps put a new coolant tank in which is just over behind the prop. Anything like that that had to be renewed. And then put a new engine in, like that. And then they’d go back in into hangars straight on to the Yorks.
CB: Now the York was essentially a Lancaster with a different body. What about the engines? Were they different?
VW: It had Lancaster things on it didn’t it?
CB: Were the engines the same as the Lancaster?
VW: Well, no not really because they were Merlin 24s that we had.
CB: Was that more powerful?
VW: No. I don’t think so. Were they Phil?
PW: They were slightly more powerful yeah. The general run of the mill Lancaster Merlin was twelve fifty horsepower or thereabouts.
VW: Yeah.
PW: And these were, I think they were slightly more. About fourteen hundred so a little more powerful. But they had different characteristics. The supercharging was slightly different on them. So, you know the York’s flew a different profile to the Lancaster and the engines were suited to that characteristics.
CB: And they didn’t fly so high.
PW: Didn’t fly so high.
VW: Yeah they went through.
PW: Yeah.
CB: So fast forward now to Kemble. So you’re a civilian there with 5MU. How long did that last?
VW: Two years.
CB: Then what?
VW: This isn’t — do you need this?
CB: Well, it’s just to know what people did after the war really.
VW: Oh yeah.
CB: Because you learned a lot in the war that you didn’t know before.
VW: Yeah.
CB: How did that impinge on your career until your retirement?
VW: Yeah. Well I went straight into a garage you know, because knowing engines. And I had four years, yeah, four years in the garage. That brought me up to 1950. And the Suez Crisis happened.
CB: ’56 that was.
PW: No. You’re getting confused with Berlin dad.
CB: So 1948 was Berlin. So the Korean War was 1950. Did you called in to the Korean War?
VW: Maybe. That was —
CB: I’ll stop that just for [pause] yeah go on.
VW: The — anyway the petrol went back on the basic ration.
CB: Yeah.
VW: So lots of people took their cars off the road and they sacked twelve of us.
CB: Right.
VW: In the garage. Because they had no work. I went to the, what they used to call then the Labour Exchange for a job and they said, ‘What did you do in the war?’ I said, ‘I was an aircraft mechanic.’ They said, ‘We’ve got a job for you,’ and they sent me out to Kemble. To the MU. And I was there for two years. And then I had various jobs. Short term. Taxies. I drove a taxi. And then I went from there to driving milk tankers for the Co-op Milk Department. And I had six years. No. Eight years. Eight years with them.
PW: A long while with them.
VW: Eight years with them. And actually in the first year wasn’t on the tankers. It was picking up the milk from farms in churns. You know. And then I went from that on the tankers for what we used to call long distance. Our long distance was a hundred miles a day I think at the most. Because you covered all the south of England. But yeah, and in 1962 I went into the factory in Swindon building motor bodies for British Leyland. And I was there then ‘til I retired.
CB: Which was when?
VW: 1984.
CB: So just to get the sequence because we changed it slightly. Did you go from Lyneham into working as a garage mechanic?
VW: Yeah I —
CB: Before, before you went to Kemble.
VW: Oh yeah. Well that was when I was demobbed.
CB: Yes.
VW: From there.
CB: Yeah. Ok. Right. I got it the wrong way around. What year were you married?
VW: 1940. Yeah.
CB: And how did you meet your wife?
PW: Teenagers really.
VW: We were fifteen when we married because she was just nine months older than me so we were both about fifteen. Yeah.
PW: That was when you met wasn’t it?
VW: Pardon?
PW: That’s when you met.
VW: Yeah.
PW: Because you said when we were married [laughs]
VW: Oh no. When we first met. Yeah. We married in 1940. Sheila was born in ’41.
CB: She lived near you.
VW: Pardon?
CB: She lived near you did she, is that how you —
VW: Yes. In the locality yes.
CB: Yeah. Good. Right I’m going to stop there for a mo. Thank you very much.
[recording paused]
CB: So just, just going back a bit Vivian.
VW: Yeah.
CB: When you were in the Territorial Army and you working at Tacalemit
VW: Yeah.
CB: What did you do in the Territorial Army?
VW: I was on a searchlight detachment and we, we had a ninety centimetre light and we had six lights altogether and I was on, I was always on what was called the home light. So I was on the centre and all the other five, yeah the other five, they were three or four miles away in a ring around as me in the centre. Like that. They were disbursed about three or four miles. And we used to have two girls fly a Dominie from, a Dragon Rapide in Croydon as the target. So the the detachment would be two spotters laid out at forty five degrees from the light. They are there. The lights here. I’m on the end of the long arm with the wheel, the wheel elevates it and to go around you just walk forwards or backwards, you know, like that. Very primitive. And then I had an earpiece and we had a telephone line to what they called the sound locators. They were sort of wooden horns. And they were on a stand and you could move them that way or around. You know.
PW: Azimuth.
VW: Circular movement you know. And also you’d get the elevation to get the sound. And then there was a corporal who was, lance corporal who was in charge and he was shouting in the other ear. And so you know we didn’t know where we were half the time and it was like [Fred Carnell’s?] outfit. It really was. All the other lights were all over the sky like waving corn you know. Like that. And then the girls would, they’d be flying without navigation lights, you know and they’d get fed up and switch the navigation lights on [laughs] and everybody was on to them.
CB: And suddenly you’d get them. Yes.
VW: And we’d cone them in the aeroplane you know. Great stuff. And they would switch the navigation lights off again and we were all lost. We were all over the sky again you know.
CB: These wooden detectors were pre-radar weren’t they?
VW: Oh yeah.
CB: So this was the only system they had.
VW: They came out the ark I should think.
CB: Yes. And they didn’t work.
VW: No. No.
CB: So how often did you actually acquire a target with a light?
VW: I don’t think we ever acquired one at all. Only when they switched the navigation lights on [laughs]
CB: [laughs] Right.
VW: And I was on that for about nine months I suppose.
CB: Yeah.
VW: We used to go out to aerodromes. Down to Aldershot, you know. Any military establishment like that. We used to go and spend a weekend.
CB: You’d take the lights.
VW: Take the lights.
CB: Yes. And how —
VW: And then we’d — pardon?
CB: All six would go would they?
VW: Yeah. And the lorries that they were transported with were Tilling-Stevens Petrol Electric.
CB: Right.
VW: You might, I think you’d have to go online to find them.
PW: Yes. You would.
VW: They were — that’s what they were called. Petrol electric. How that worked I don’t know but they would, they had this damned great generator on them. And we used to [pause] then he had a long cable. Oh it must have been about fifty feet at least. And he’d got to link up this cable so you don’t hear anything of the generator going at all. And [pause] and as I say I’d be on the home light and as I say we never, never really caught one at all. We were always all over the sky you know. Only when the girls switched the nav lights on. But it was, it was fun really. We were having a good time. You know. Not really working at it you know.
PW: Not taking it very serious.
VW: For us it was so impossible to find them.
CB: Well it was always peacetime wasn’t it so there wasn’t exactly an incentive to do a lot.
VW: Yeah. Yeah we used to go and do aerodromes and army.
CB: What was the unit called?
VW: The unit was called [pause] my army number was 2052042. Sapper. Sapper Williams. 339 Company. 26th London Electrical Engineers. R E, Royal Engineers. We come under Royal Engineers.
PW: Only the army.
VW: Yeah [laughs] yeah.
CB: This is before they really got the searchlight detachments operating.
VW: Well then they had the big ones you know.
CB: Yeah.
VW: They also had a hundred and twenty sized. A hundred and twenty centimetres but they were the same, just a larger light. And they were carbon arc lights. And then of course I went on crush guard somewhere near Spalding and they had a searchlight detachment there and it was a radar controlled light. This was some years later in the war. And it was radar controlled and it must have been a hundred and eighty, nearly two hundred metres, you know. Like that.
CB: Centimetres.
VW: Radar controlled.
CB: Yeah.
VW: That was I don’t know how successful they were but we were bloody hopeless.
PW: Pretty good.
CB: So you enjoyed it.
VW: Oh yeah. The Terriers. You know. It was adequate. It was an opportunity to get dressed up.
CB: Yeah.
VW: We used to get a few raspberries here and there, you know. Saturday night soldier.
CB: Yeah.
VW: But no I quite liked being in a crowd you know like that. In the company. Yeah.
CB: And when you joined the RAF how different was that?
VW: It was, it was much the same. I liked being with the company of other people. You know. I quite liked it in the early times you know, like that. And it wasn’t until I come across — I ran fowl of this engineer, warrant officer. That spoiled me for the RAF and I wasn’t interested after that.
CB: So what happened there? When was that?
VW: What?
CB: When did you meet this difficult person?
VW: October 1940. Yeah. October 1940.
CB: So what happened there?
VW: Well the School of GR was at Blackpool and they got posted to South Africa and — but they had this idea that you were going to get your wives out there so you had to be earning a certain amount, certain level of pay to cope with the cost of living out there. And I wasn’t. I was thruppence a day short because I wasn’t an LAC then. And so there was twenty of us I think that got then posted to different units in the UK. And I went to South Cerney. And I was there two years. You know.
CB: But you mentioned this warrant officer.
PW: This guy was —
CB: What was the significance of that?
VW: Well he was the engineering warrant officer of that and he, we just got off on the wrong foot. And I became bloody minded and I was always in trouble. I was always up on a charge. And in the end the engineering officer had us both in the office and he got as much of a bollocking as I did there, you know. He said it himself, he said, ‘This has got to stop.’ He said, ‘Getting him on,’ me, ‘Putting on a charge on trivial things,’ he said, ‘It only makes a man bloody minded.’ And he coined the phrase.
PW: And he was exactly right.
VW: And, yeah, and after that instead of being recommended for your classifications you had to take a board so he couldn’t do anything else but give me the opportunity to have a board. He comes up to me in the hangar and he said, ‘You’ve done very well.’ It took him a lot to actually congratulate me on it. It must have been hard for him.
CB: Dented his pride a bit did it? And the result of the board was what?
VW: I became an LAC then. And then a little while later I got posted from there to 17 AFU at Watton. And the engineering officer said, ‘What’s that thing on your sleeve?’ And I said, ‘It’s a good conduct stripe.’ He said, ‘How long have you been an LAC?’ I said, ‘Not very long sir.’ And he said, ‘Right,’ he said, he said, ‘You should have been a corporal by now, you know, at least.’ And I said, I didn’t, I just sort of bluffed it over, you know. Didn’t say what had happened obviously.
CB: No.
VW: And he said, ‘We’ll soon do something about that. And then in two months I was a corporal.
PW: I bet he found out what had been going on.
VW: I don’t know, he must have, yeah.
PW: ‘Cause it would have been, it would have been on your records.
VW: He must have looked on my docs. On my records.
PW: On your records.
CB: Trouble is that warrant officers are difficult to challenge.
VW: Yeah. Yeah. And the thing was you see then you were getting, frequently getting overseas postings. Well, we were, I was actually living out in Cirencester. Being a married man.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And so they, the sort unspoken rule then was that all these overseas postings were filled by single blokes. You know. And he was living out as well so you know we were in the same boat. He couldn’t treat me any different you know and so we got away with it like that. Made it so much easier.
CB: What would you say was the most memorable point about your RAF service?
VW: Memorable. Oh my first flight.
CB: Because we haven’t talked about that. So, ok, so first flight.
VW: Yeah.
CB: What was that?
VW: In a Magister. We were supposed to have an air experience flight at the end of the technical course at St Athans but there were so many entrants there, you know. People coming off the courses. They were pushing them through as fast as they could and they just didn’t have enough aircraft to give everybody this air experience flight. And that was in a Magister. So we got to the squadron on 56 Squadron and suddenly one of the NCOs there found out that none of us airmen had flown. And our CO was quite surprised you know because we were in the air force. We obviously should have had at least had, as I say the air experience flight. The initial flight. So our CO borrowed a Magister from somewhere. And each pilot then took his crew up. And bring up and then all the way back and that was the best thrill I think I’ve ever had. You know.
CB: Right.
VW: And most memorable that was. Frightened I to death but I was hooked after that and I used to fly in anything on air test. A lot of blokes, you know would say you know, ‘I won’t fly in that bloody thing you know.’ But if a pilot went up I would.
CB: Yeah.
VW: I just loved flying. Still do.
CB: How many hours do you reckon you got on doing those air tests?
VW: I must have done seventy or eighty air tests and they ranged from ten minutes to an hour on the Lancs.
CB: Yeah.
VW: At Kemble. That’s the way to fly. On the Lancs.
CB: Now the RAF was actually desperate for air crew. Particularly early on. So people were asked if they’d like to volunteer. What happened to you?
VW: Well, as I say, you know I just — they just put my medical back a month but they said, ‘We’ll keep your posting open,’ but I never heard any more, you know, at all. And I didn’t push it because my wife said no.
CB: Can we go fast backwards a bit? So how did you come to volunteer for aircrew in the first place?
VW: To get away from that engineer warrant officer.
CB: Right. Good.
VW: The attitude in the hangar. I just lost interest in it you know. That’s how he affected me. I thought I couldn’t do anything right. Although a lot of it was my own fault but no.
CB: So when you —
VW: Actually you see then they were losing so many aircraft towards the end of 1942, or the middle of 1942 and I thought then, I mean I could have been posted to Stirlings or something like that.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And I wouldn’t have stood a hope in hell’s chance of coming through it.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And I hadn’t, my daughter then she was born. She was born in 1941 so — he wasn’t born till ’44. But —
CB: So after you volunteered what was the next step? What did they do?
VW: Oh I just got posted away.
CB: No. No. They — what I meant to say was when you volunteered they then gave you some tests. So what was the first thing they did?
VW: Well you were posted away on a gunner’s course.
CB: Yes.
VW: And, and you did that and I don’t know — perhaps their way of thinking. But you didn’t get your medical until you’d finished your gunner’s course. But our MO just took it into his mind, ‘Oh I’ll give you your medical now.’ You see. When we were clearing out our what’s the name, flew around.
PW: Yeah. You go around getting cleared from the station.
VW: You go around station and clear everything you know like that. Of course one section is the MO and as I say if he hadn’t given me my medical then I’d have gone through, you see.
CB: Yeah.
VW: I would have gone to the air gunner’s course and then back up to Penarth to the medical before I got sent on the, on the conversion course because I would have been the flight engineer.
CB: What was the hiccup with your medical?
VW: The fact that I had this paralysis.
CB: Where?
VW: And he knew how long it would last.
CB: Where? What?
VW: Before it, my face came back to normal again you see, like that, and he said, ‘We’ll keep your posting open,’ but they never did and we never pushed it.
CB: ’Cause you wife wasn’t in favour.
VW: No. No. She wasn’t.
CB: Unsurprisingly.
PW: If you knew my mum you’d understand just how much of a brick wall that was.
VW: Yeah. I mean —
CB: But looking back would you have liked to have converted to aircrew?
VW: I would have liked to yes but looking back —
CB: Ok. So —
VW: I could weigh up the chances looking back.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And then never even thought about being shot down.
CB: No.
VW: Or anything like that.
CB: No. You were invincible.
VW: In retrospect, I mean I would, I could easily have been one of fifty five thousand.
CB: And which planes would you have wanted to have flown in?
VW: Oh the Lancaster. Yeah definitely. A Lancaster. Because the other went — I only know one of them. He was my mate there at Cerney. Name Lou Boyd. An Irish kiddie and he went and he did his conversion course at Swinderby.
CB: Right.
VW: On Lancs. I don’t know where the others went. I mean on one of them, on one of them.
PW: 1660.
VW: One of them was the sergeant in the hangar and he was thirty five
PW: Yeah.
VW: And he was the same as me. Just didn’t like our warrant officer. Never got on with him. And he went. Yeah thirty five he was.
CB: And how many ops did he do?
VW: I don’t know. I lost touch with all of them. I really did.
CB: Right.
VW: I only met Lou once. He came back and sorted us out and he was half way through his first tour then.
CB: So he —
VW: That was the, they told us when you lose an engine from mechanical failure. You don’t see it. You don’t realise it. The engine is not working.
CB: Because it’s wind milling.
VW: It’s wind milling.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And the thing is that it windmills. The revs stay the same.
CB: Do they?
VW: Yeah. The revs. The oil pressure stays the same, and that. You don’t get anything off the dials to indicate that it’s not running. The pilots afterwards said that there was, he felt a slight drag on that one side. But the first indication the engineer got, the flight engineer was the oil temperature goes down.
CB: Right.
VW: But everything else is the same bar the oil temperature.
CB: Because the pilot can feel it yawing.
PW: Just a little.
VW: Yeah but he would just take that as the engines getting a bit out of sync. Perhaps. You know.
CB: Right.
VW: Like that. Yeah.
CB: Actually that’s a point. How, yes, on the ground did you go through the procedures for synchronising the engines.
VW: Well you get the throttles and your boost gauges as near as damned synchronised and then when it comes to revs you [pause] you set the revs by synchronising the two. Either starboard engine or the two port engines or two starboard engines. So you get one engine up to what do you call it [pause] economical cruising. And then you look through the propeller. The inboard propeller so that it’s superimposed on the inside of the outboard propeller and if its strobes they’re out of sync.
CB: Right.
VW: And you use then the prop control.
CB: The pitch.
VW: Pitch controls.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And when that stops and it’s superimposed and just stops inside the other and then you do the same with the other side. With the other two engines.
CB: Just going back to your earlier point— if you lose an engine, you feather it and put it in —
VW: Yeah. You can feather it yeah.
CB: And what pitch can you put it in. What is the description of the pitch that you can put it in?
VW: Neutral.
CB: Right.
VW: Because it’s just the blades are just dead on to the slipstream.
CB: Yeah. The side of the blades.
VW: Yeah. Yeah.
CB: Yes. Good. Thank you very much. We’ve done really well.
PW: I really enjoyed that.
VW: Is that ok?
CB: Absolutely fascinating.
VW: You can edit. Edit it.
CB: They will but the fact is that they will be letting you have a cd. Listen to it and if you want to alter anything you can let them know.
VW: Yeah.
CB: But eventually they will edit it. Initially they will copy it.
VW: Well I shan’t bother.
CB: Now, you may remember what I said to you was it would be helpful if we’d any supporting stuff. That picture.
PW: The photograph that’s up there. Just on the end.
CB: That would be really good if we could borrow that. Yes. Have you got your wedding picture handy?
PW: No. We haven’t at the moment.
VW: No. We can’t find it.
CB: If that can come later.
PW: No. Dad hasn’t got it.
PW: I will find the pictures for you.
CB: Will you?
PW: And I will sort this one out as well.
CB: So there’s just one other form then which is to say that you’re happy. You authorise them to donate a copy of the picture and let you have the thing back.
VW: Yeah. That will be alright.
CB: Ok. How did you come to settle in Fiskerton? You were never stationed here.
VW: That’s another story in itself. We were, Phil got demobbed from.
PW: Waddington.
VW: Waddington.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And settled here in Metheringham and we used to come up on weekends for a weekend like that and we liked it up here.
CB: Yeah.
VW: And —
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Interview with Vivian David Williams
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chris Brockbank
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-04-03
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Identifier
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AWilliamsVD170403
Conforms To
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Pending review
Description
An account of the resource
Vivian joined the Royal Air Force in July 1938 as a flight mechanic and served for seven and a half years. After square drills at RAF Uxbridge and a course at RAF Manston, he did a basic engineering course at RAF Henlow. After six months at RAF St Athan working on Bristol Pegasus and Rolls Royce Kestrel engines, Vivian was posted to 56 Squadron at RAF North Weald on Hurricanes and their Merlin engines. He spent six months at RAF Martlesham Heath before doing a conversion course to be a fitter at RAF Hednesford and RAF Cosford. Vivian was posted to the School of General Reconnaissance on Guernsey and Thorney Island before going to Hooton Park and Blackpool, followed by No. Three Flying Training School at South Cerney. After two years, Vivian went to No. 17 Advanced Flying Unit at Watton, where he changed engines on Masters. He went on to RAF Calveley, RAF Spitalgate and RAF Hixon before going to Transport Command at RAF Lyneham.
Vivian was demobbed in January 1946. After the war, he worked for a year on Five Maintenance Unit at RAF Kemble.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Julie Williams
Sally Coulter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Fighter Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Bedfordshire
England--Cheshire
England--Cornwall (County)
England--Essex
England--Gloucestershire
England--Kent
England--Lancashire
England--Blackpool
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Shropshire
England--Staffordshire
England--Suffolk
England--Wiltshire
England--Wirral Peninsula
Great Britain Miscellaneous Island Dependencies--Guernsey
Great Britain Miscellaneous Island Dependencies--Channel Islands
Wales--Vale of Glamorgan
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1938-07
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
01:20:43 audio recording
Advanced Flying Unit
fitter engine
Flying Training School
ground crew
ground personnel
home front
Hurricane
Lancaster
mechanics engine
military service conditions
RAF Calveley
RAF Cosford
RAF Grantham
RAF Hednesford
RAF Henlow
RAF Hixon
RAF Hooton Park
RAF Kemble
RAF Lyneham
RAF Manston
RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF North Weald
RAF South Cerney
RAF St Athan
RAF Thorney Island
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Watton
searchlight
training
York
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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1213/11934/E[Author]JDonaldsonDW451230-0001.jpg
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Donaldson, David
David Donaldson
D Donaldson
Description
An account of the resource
309 Items and a sub-collection of 51 items. Concerns Royal Air Force career of Wing Commander David Donaldson DSO and bar, DFC. A pilot, he joined the Royal Air Force Reserve in 1934. Mobilized in 1939. he undertook tours on 149, 57 and 156 and 192 Squadrons. He was photographed by Cecil Beaton at RAF Mildenhall in 1941. Collection contains a large number of letters to and from family members, friends as well as Royal Air Force personnel. Also included are personal and service documents, and his logbooks. In addition, there are photographs of family, service personnel and aircraft. After the war he became a solicitor. The collection also contains an oral history interview with Frances Grundy, his daughter.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Anna Frances Grundy and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-06-02
2022-10-17
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Donaldson, D
Grundy, AF
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[postmark] [postage stamp]
Wing Commander D. Donaldson D.S.O D.F.C.
137 Spa Lane
Woodhouse
Sheffield
Yorks
[page break]
R.A.F. STATION
WATTON,
NORFOLK.
30.XII.45.
Dear Don
I am sorry I have not answered your letter before, but as you know December is a busy month added to which I have been on a spot of leave.
What grand news! An addition to the family! you lucky people! As for my being a godfather I consider it an honour and it will give me great pleasure. It will be the first time I have been a godfather this is due to the fact that as you know I am a peculiar chap with funny ideas and being a godfather I take seriously and this is the first time I have felt justified
[page break]
in accepting this honour.
I sincerely hope that everything will be plain sailing and that your wish (boy or girl?) will be granted. What bad luck losing all your clothes, I know it's no good my offering to come to the rescue, I'm a trifle too long in the leg.
As you can see I am still in the R.A.F.. My release group (22) was due for release on Nov. 1st, the powers that be at the Air Ministry wanted me to apply for a P.C. or a postponement of release, I refused so the so and so's deferred my release six months which is again subject to revision in six months time. I have also had an interview with the War Office
[page break]
for a Civil Affairs Staff Officer Commission I was interviewed by a Major General Anderson who wanted me to take a post right away but again the Air Ministry refused to release me and will notify. but the War Office when they can have me. It appears to be a good proposition and I will probably accept as it means a permanent job, pensionable, and the pay (married no children) is between £650 - £700 per an tax [underlined] free [/underlined]
As regards Watton! I am very happy as I am living with Bobbie and we have super digs. but as regards life on the Station it stinks! It is another wonderful empire! I am C.O. Of the “Y” wing. I have and establishment [indecipherable word]
[page break]
1. W/C., 2. S/L, 3 F/L 6. F/O's, 1 W/O, and about 130 other bodies. Air Ministry have tried like you to find a S/L. or W/C. with the necessary qualifications for the job and have failed so now they are considering promoting me. I will be surprised if it comes off and if it does then I can't see them releasing me in six months.
By the way Don you might give me the odd clue Bobbie and I are still trying but so far no luck! I am hoping the new year will bring some luck. I have made a note of your address and will keep you notified of any change in mine.
With the very best of wishes
[page break]
to you and Joyce for the new year.
Yours most sincerely
[underlined] Jim [/underlined]
P.S. Bobbie has asked me to convey his kindest regards & sincere best wishes.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to David Donaldson from Frank
Description
An account of the resource
Letter to David Donaldson from Jim (a former RAF colleague) accepting role of godfather to David's as-yet unborn child and describing life at RAF Watton and how he is trying to find post war employment. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-12-30
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Frances Grundy
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Five page hand written letter and envelope
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
E[Author]JDonaldsonDW451230
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Norfolk
England--Yorkshire
England--Sheffield
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-12-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
RAF Watton
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Donaldson, David
David Donaldson
D Donaldson
Description
An account of the resource
309 Items and a sub-collection of 51 items. Concerns Royal Air Force career of Wing Commander David Donaldson DSO and bar, DFC. A pilot, he joined the Royal Air Force Reserve in 1934. Mobilized in 1939. he undertook tours on 149, 57 and 156 and 192 Squadrons. He was photographed by Cecil Beaton at RAF Mildenhall in 1941. Collection contains a large number of letters to and from family members, friends as well as Royal Air Force personnel. Also included are personal and service documents, and his logbooks. In addition, there are photographs of family, service personnel and aircraft. After the war he became a solicitor. The collection also contains an oral history interview with Frances Grundy, his daughter.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Anna Frances Grundy and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-06-02
2022-10-17
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Donaldson, D
Grundy, AF
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Officers' Mess,
Royal Air Force Station,
WATTON,
Nr. Thetford,
Norfolk.
17th December, 1945.
Dear Winco,
Thought I must send a few lines to let you know the great and enormous empire of R.W.E. Watton is still flourishing.
Today (Monday) there is a terrific X wind on our one runway, exactly 90˚ out of the wind at about 25 knots! so there you are; a real adjutant's day so we can get down to a bit of quiet and study on A.P. 837 and 'Customs of Service' etc. (never use etc. at Staff College!).
As you probably know, Ken left the R.A.F. About a month ago; we had a most tearful cess at Watton with Ken, Peter Wood, Buggie, Wadeson, Crow and myself when we were somewhat heavy with 'Port' our monthly training target is ' at about 23.59 (don't suppose you've got a drop of rum have you?). Dusky was brought in and handed over to me for onward transmission to the Group Captain.
Dusky is getting quite fat and she looks really well with a fine coat, but she is inclined to be a bit lazy. She seems to miss all the stone-throwing at Foulsham.
Crow, Crotch and Wadeson are all out now and I am sure we are the poorer off for their loss. Crow left in true Scotch style ;- in the bar at lunch time straight through the afternoon and emerged at tea-time and then proceeded to hand spring and ballet in the ante-room, all very fine.
I went up to London last week-end 10/12 to see the semi-finals [inserted] and finals [/inserted] of the R.A.F. Individual squash championship. G/C Willis entered and was knocked out first round; he was unfortunate to play a fellow by the name of Burnett who had been the holder of the R.A.F. Championship of three years just preceding the war. Burnett got to the finals and was beaten after a very
[page break]
good game by J. Dear, who by the way is an L.A.C. In the R.A.F., really excellent player.
We have been doing quite a bit of flying which keeps everybody interested, our monthly training target is 20 hours per bod per month; we in the near future (June) are going to change to Lancs. so that will be fun.
Daubney was awarded the Legion of Merit (Officer); I saw this in the flight last week, Mr Card still sucks his cigarette holder.
Well must close now, wishing you both a very Happy Christmas.
Yours
[underlined] Hank [/underlined]
[underlined] P.S. [/underlined] If you are ever this way do look us up.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to David Donaldson from Hank Cooper
Description
An account of the resource
Letter to David Donaldson from Hank Cooper written post war. Hank gives news of his activities, people and the departure of wartime colleagues. He writes of pet dog and going to London to see semi-finals of Royal Air Force individual squash championships. Mentions flying and future change to Lancaster. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
H Cooper
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-12-17
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page typewritten document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ECooperHBDonaldsonDW451217
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Norfolk
England--Yorkshire
England--Sheffield
England--London
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-12-17
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Frances Grundy
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
animal
Lancaster
RAF Watton
sport
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1244/16288/LWoodsEH751788v1.1.pdf
3374514a43262ab7d566dd81994a1651
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Woods, Eric Horace
E H Woods
Timber Woods
Description
An account of the resource
Two items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Eric Horace Woods (b. 1921, 751788, 162541 Royal Air Force) and consists of his log book and a mess bill. He flew as a navigator with 511 Squadron in Transport Command and then operations with 106, 144 and 61 Squadrons in Bomber Command. He flew with British Overseas Airways Corporation before becoming an aircrew examiner after the war.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Peter Geoffrey Woods and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-10-17
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Woods, EH
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Eric Horace Woods’ observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for Eric Horace Woods, navigator, covering the period from 28 November 1939 to 10 July 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties, operations with transport command and post war flying. He was stationed at RAF Stapleford Abotts, RAF Hamble, RAF Penrhos, RAF Upwood, RAF West Raynham, RAF Finningley, RAF Hemswell, RAF Watton, RAF North Luffenham, RAF Woolfox, RAF Cranage, RAF Wigtown, RAF Lyneham and RAF Bassingbourn. Aircraft flown in were, Anson, Westland Wessex, Avro Avalon, Envoy, Battle, Harrow, Demon, Blenheim, Hart, Hampden, Manchester, B-24, Oxford, Albemarle, C-47, York and Lancaster. He flew one operation with 106 Squadron, 4 night operations with 144 Squadron and 25 night operations with 61 Squadron. His pilots on operations were Squadron Leader Parker, Sergeant King, Sergeant Curtis, Sergeant Whitmore, Sergeant Sleight, Sergeant Baker, Flying Officer Casement, Squadron Leader Pascall, Flying Officer Craig, Flying Officer McKee, Flying Officer Hebbourn and Flight Sergeant Scott. Targets were, Bordeaux, Essen, Magdeburg, Hannover, Kiel, Borkum, Mannheim, Hamburg, Bremen, Cologne, St Nazaire, Dusseldorf, Weser River, Karlsruhe, Krefeld and Frankfurt. He also flew 101 wartime transport operations with 511 Squadron. The log book is annotated with a brief biography, and cuttings about aircraft and operations.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
Cara Walmsley
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LWoodsEH751788v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force. Transport Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Germany
Great Britain
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Cheshire
England--Essex
England--Hampshire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Rutland
England--Yorkshire
England--Wiltshire
France--Saint-Nazaire
Germany--Bremen
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Essen
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Hannover
Germany--Karlsruhe
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Krefeld
Germany--Magdeburg
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Weser River
Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway
Wales--Gwynedd
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
Germany--Borkum
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1940-09-09
1940-09-10
1940-10-09
1940-10-15
1940-10-16
1940-10-18
1940-10-24
1940-10-25
1940-10-26
1941-05-05
1941-05-06
1941-05-08
1941-05-09
1941-05-10
1941-05-11
1941-05-12
1941-05-17
1941-05-18
1941-05-25
1941-05-26
1941-05-27
1941-05-28
1941-06-02
1941-06-03
1941-06-11
1941-06-12
1941-06-14
1941-06-15
1941-06-17
1941-06-18
1941-06-20
1941-06-21
1941-07-03
1941-07-04
1941-07-05
1941-07-06
1941-07-14
1941-07-15
1941-07-19
1941-07-20
1941-07-24
1941-07-25
1941-07-30
1941-07-31
1941-08-06
1941-08-07
1941-08-08
1941-08-09
1941-08-11
1941-08-12
1941-08-13
1941-08-25
1941-08-26
1941-08-27
1941-08-28
1941-08-29
1941-08-30
106 Squadron
144 Squadron
17 OTU
61 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
Air Observers School
aircrew
Albemarle
Anson
B-24
Battle
Blenheim
bombing
Bombing and Gunnery School
C-47
crash
Hampden
Harrow
Ju 88
Lancaster
Manchester
mine laying
navigator
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Cranage
RAF Finningley
RAF Hemswell
RAF Lyneham
RAF North Luffenham
RAF Penrhos
RAF Upwood
RAF Watton
RAF West Raynham
RAF Wigtown
RAF Woolfox Lodge
training
York
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1236/16887/YThompsonKG1238603v5.1.pdf
f51ed0de4d60f186cac18f0b586786da
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thompson, Keith G
K G Thompson
Description
An account of the resource
95 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Keith Thompson DFC (1238603 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, photographs and training material as well as his navigation logs. He flew operations as a navigator with 101 and 199 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Mark S Thompson and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-09-07
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Thompson, KG
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
COLLINS ROYAL DIARY 1945
[Page break]
F/O. THOMPSON. K.G.
R.A.F.V.R.
[Calendar 1945 including Common Notes for the Year]
[Page break]
[Underlined] V.J. [/underlined] = AUG. 14 // [underlined] V.E. [/underlined] = MAY 8 4-7
[Page break]
[Details of Public Holidays and Quarter Days]
[Page break]
[Calendar 1944]
[Calendar 1946]
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Monday 1
Tuesday 2
Arr. Hull 12.05. Train for Selby & York 5.35. Went to canteen. York at 7.20. Just missed 7.10. Had to wait for 8.45. Camp at 10.0. NO MAIL. Changed. Saw Bill in Sallie Ann. Dinner [Underlined] Letter from Ma. Card from Mary. [/underlined] On trainer all afternoon. Changed library book. Mo more mail. [Underlined] Letter to Avice & Mum. [/underlined] Played Bob at draughts. Drew & won.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Wednesday 3
Up at 7.45. Had bfst. Went to flights. Hung about then went to gen room. [Underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Lunch – COLD as usual. Hung about again till 3.30. Flew out to sea for firing. Up an hour in V. (H2S & G.) No more mail. [Underlined] Letter to Ma & Avice. [/underlined] Went to picts with Bob, “Moonlight in Vermont” College & Farm story. Andrew Sisters in “How’s about it” AGAIN.
Thursday 4
Up early. Went for early dinner. Did 2 & 3 eng. flying bags of snow. No mail. [Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] 3 hours in trainer. Bed at 1.30. [/Deleted] Letter. [/deleted]
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Friday 5
Up at 8.15. Had bfst then shaved. Lecture on G. (US) Early dinner. Flew for an hour. Air to sea in K. No mail at all. Went with Bill & Bob to Harrogate. Saw”2000 Women” Quite good & funny. Bed at 1210.
Saturday 6
Radar Dem. Went with Baker & Nav. & B/A. & our crew. Not too bad. B- cold though. Late lunch at 3. Sat reading in Mess. [Underlined] Letter from Ma. Violet & Avice. [/underlined]
** [Underlined] Invitation to Corky’s Wedding. [/underlined] **
[Underlined] Letter to Avice & Mrs. C. [/underlined] made fire.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Sunday 7
Didn’t get up till 10?? Nav. section been rowing for us. Did 2 hrs before lunch. Went back after & continued C2. Crew flying but Reg & I on H2S from 6 till 9. Did X C. (2.15.) Sat in Mess & finished Sextant Blake. Had supper. Bed 11.30.
Monday 8
Up at 10-0 again. Went to Mess. Rtd. Sext. Blk. Had lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Dry Swim all PM. Finished same at last. Had tea. [Underlined] Wrote letter to Avice & Mum. [/underlined] Sat reading till 11.0. Snowing like hell!
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Tuesday 9
Got up for bfst. Shaved. Finished N 1. & started C3. [Underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined]
Had lunch. Staffed in Mess all PM. Changed. Had tea then went to H’gate. Saw “Women in Bondage” & “The Kid from Spain” with Eddie Cantor. Had supper at the old café. Train back. Bed about 12.30.
Wednesday 10
Up about 11.0. [Underlined] Letter from Ins. Co. [/underlined] Lads got a 48 so I’m going too. Had dinner then went & changed. Train at 2.0 10/1d from H’gate at 3.20. Leeds at 4.18 didn’t leave till 4.30. R’ham at 6.30. Stopped in all night. Bus to Th.croft. full so didn’t go to Jock’s.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Thursday 11
Didn’t get up till 12.0. Shaved & washed. Dad called for me at 2.30. Went to Jock’s for advice re. car. Had tea then went to Empire with family to see Rita Hayworth in “Cover Girl”. Bags of colour. Fish & chip supper.
Friday 12
Up at 7.0. left home at 8-0 train 8.45. Leeds 10.30. Next train Ripon at 11.22 didn’t arrive till 11.40. Ripon 12.45. Bus at 1.10. Missed lunch. Lecture on PFF. [Underlined] 3 Letters from Avice & one from Doris. [/underlined] Had tea. [Underlined] Letter to Avice & Ins Co [/underlined]
Went to picts. Chls Boyer & Ingrid Bergman in “The Murder of Square” Based on “Gaslight”.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Saturday 13
Up at 8.0. Bfst. On XC. Evans not turned up so we are scrubbed!! He’s on the pegs. No mail. Nowt doing this afternoon. 9.30 tomorrow. [Underlined] Letter to Avice Ma & Mrs Watson. [/underlined] (Ken’s Ma-in-law to be) Sat in Mess reading Made fire!!!!! Gave Brenner my, all, writing paper.
Sunday 14
Up about 9.0. Hung about till 11. Control at 11.30. Dusted off for din & back at 1-0. Hung about till 3.30 & still no kite. Had sleep in Mess. Reading all night & Mess Meeting.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Monday 15
Up at 8.0. Hung about. Kite at 11.30 [underlined] again. [/underlined]
U/S so went to another that was U/S too but was fixed while we waited an hour. Did F/A for 2 hours. Down at 3.0. Had late dinner. NO MAIL. Had tea. Night F/A at 6.30 weather U/S Had cup milk in YMCA. [Underlined] Letter to Ken, Avice & S.P.&T. NO MAIL IN [/underlined] !!!!
Tuesday 16
Up at 8.15. Grapefruit All Bran; & 2 flapjacks. Nowt doing. Went to SWO, SP’s; AMC’s; M/T; F/O Bell & back to M.T.D. re car. Dinner. [Underlined] Letter from Avice Cheque & letter from Ins. Co. [/underlined] Went to Thirsk. Played one or two card games. Tea. Flying scrubbed again. [Underlined] Letter home & to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Wednesday 17
Up at 10.30. Went to see to M.T.D. again. Had another look at the bus. C – Charlie not in dispersal. Had lunch NO MAIL!!! Nowt doing all PM. Sat in Mess reading. Scrubbed again!! Went to ENSA show several good turns. [Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Bed at 12.30 !!!
Thursday 18
Didn’t get up till 11.45. Shaved & washed in Mess NO MAIL! Had lunch. Sat reading in the Mess. Scrubbed again. Had tea [Underlined] STILL NO BLOODY MAIL FROM ANY BASTARD!!! ROTTEN BUGGARS !!! [/underlined] Sat reading in Mess Bed at 10.30 after making fire.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Friday 19
Up at 11.30. [Underlined] Letter from Ma & Ken. Statement from Bank. [/underlined] Had lunch. 5/- stamps. Sat reading all afternoon M.T.O still not been to Thirsk. Had tea. SCRUBBED AGAIN. [Underlined] Letter to Ma. NOTE to Avice [/underlined]
Draughts with Brennen. Bed at 12.15.
Saturday 20
Up at 8.15. Bfst. EGG!!! Went down to flights. Bill arrived at 9.45. Nowt doing. Dinner. [Underlined] NO MAIL [/underlined] Sat in Mess. Snow again Bill came to tell us we could buzz off on a 48. Caught 4.13 from Thirsk. 9/5 & 2/9 5.13 from York. 6 ? from Seamer Brid 6.40. DRIFFIELD !!! 7.45. Back to B. Agnes on 8.26 which arrived 8.45. B Agnes at 9.5. Lissett 9.30 Rocked Avice out of bed. Supper in Mess. Billet 31/5.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Sunday 21
Up about 11. Shaved. Had dinner. 3/- for lot. Went to Mrs. Foster’s. Still B - cold & freezing. Cup of tea at Mrs. Foster’s. Cycled back to Lissett. Met Avice. Lashed bikes up & walked to Mrs. Foster’s. The two of us had tea in front room. Then sat round fire. Mrs. Foster brought bit of supper in about 10.30. Walked back. Picked bikes up. Bed at 1.15 (app)
Monday 22
Up at 11.0. Bfst. 9/- for bed, tea’s etc. Snowed in night nice & thick. Bad for cycling. Had din at Smokey’s. Cycled back. Saw [underlined] W/O [/underlined] Waites. Left Avice at S.S.Q. & went to Burton Agnes 1/1 (7d for bike & 6d for me) train to Brid at 2.25. Went to see Rose Marie Nelson & Jeanette. 2/2d coffee & spam sands. Train 7-10. Seamer 8.15. York [underlined] 10.59 [/underlined] Thirsk 11.50
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Tuesday 23
Camp 12.30. [/underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Read it. Bed at 2-0.
Up at 12.30. Just got lunch. No mail. Sat in Mess. [Underlined] Letter to Avice [/underlined] Went to see M.T.O. [Underlined] Bods been for car this AM!! [/underlined] Tea. [Underlined] Letter from Ma & In Law [/underlined] Reading papers. [/Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Went to see “The Canterville Ghost” Chls Laughton. Very funny.
Wednesday 24
Up for bfst. Washed in Mess. Fog & still freezing. In Mess all AM. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Had lunch. Met new B/A. Went to Radar Mov. Went on bench set a couple of hours. Crew got a 48. No mail at tea time. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Sat reading before writing letter.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Thursday 25
Up about 11. Shaved in the Mess. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Went on bench set for 2 hours in the mechs. room or workshop! Had tea. Could not get in picts. [Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Bing in “Going my Way” Some good acting. Supper, fire, letter.
Friday 26
Up at 12.15!!! Had dinner. Made appt with Dentist, 2.15 hrs on trainer. [Underlined] No mail all day. [/underlined] Tea, [underlined] letter to Avice, Henley’s, Violet & five letters. [/underlined] made fire. Posted letters [Underlined] Bed ?? hrs. [/underlined]
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Saturday 27
Up at 12.0 [Underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined]
Set Joe on with Dry Swim. Went to dentist had temporary filling in two front teeth. One at back to be done. Had tea. 2.30 hrs on trainer. More snow. Fire.
Sunday 28
Up at 8.30. Egg for bfst. On trainer for 2 hours. Lunch. Trainer No.I for 2 1/2 hrs. Lads been up flying. Couple of circuits. Tea. [Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
Went to see “Variety Jubilee.” Thought it wasn’t too bad. A very poor house of about a dozen.
[Page break]
JANUARY 1945
Monday 29
Knocked up! by Bob & Joe. Bfst. Put on XC. Nice trip but bags of panic. SCRUBBED as per usual. NO MAIL. [Underlined] Letter to Avice & Mum. [/underlined] Had lunch. Went to Rad Nav. to look at last logs. OK. [Underlined] STILL NO MAIL [/underlined] !!! Sat in mess reading. More snow, went to see “The Unconquering Hero.” A Good Laugh all round. Fire out at last. Took some lighting.
[Underlined] TEETH [/underlined] !! Tuesday 30
Up at usual 8.15 Bfst. Went & had teeth done. Front re-filled, back filled & 2 capped. Got chit to have front ones done. No flying. Lunch. No mail till late. Titch’s billet all PM. [Underlined] Letter from Ma & 2 from Avice [/underlined]
Some from Avice missing ?? [Underlined] Letter to Ma & Avice. [/underlined] In mess all evening.
[Page break]
JAN. – FEB. 1945
Wednesday 31
Up at 7.20. Bfst. XC. briefed Flt Plan started. SCRUB. Tried to get 48 but CI wouldn’t let me go. Had lunch. Went to Titches billet. No room to sit in our mess. Had tea. [Underlined] NO MAIL !!! [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Pipes all thawed out. ENSA play became “Amateur Night” Some good fun.
Thursday Feb. 1
[Underlined] Up at 5 AM [/underlined] ! Briefed at 6.15-30. T.O. 9.0 but didn’t get off till 9.25. H2S U/S Gone 15 mins & SI. eng U/S. Feathered. GEE now gone. Returned to Base. Did 1/2 hrs GEE with Joe. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Watched lads play cards. Tea. Saw “I’ll walk Beside You” Touching. Went to Staff Mess [Underlined Letter from Avice (Chingford) [/underlined] Went to our mess on bikes. [Underlined] Letter to Ma & Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Friday 2
Up at 8.15. Bfst. Flights didn’t want us. RAIN. No mail. Nav brief at 13.00. Put back to 14.00, but 2 routes. B’eye & XC, made complete flight plan for both. Had early tea. Went out to kite, 150 MAG drop. Kite we had yesterday still U/S too. Wrote & sent [underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] no mail for me all day.
Saturday 3
Up at 8.15 again. Nowt doing. Watched lads play cards all AM. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Avice [/underlined] (written WEDS.) Bill went to flights at 2-0. Didn’t see him again all afternoon. Just B-D. off. Lost 1/6 at cards. Had tea then went to see Abbot & Costello in
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] More rain & wind.
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Sunday 4
Up at 8.15. Bfst then worked XC. Coffee & tongue sand’s. Not too bad a trip. Winds all over the place. Went over London & R’ham. Fried egg & [underlined] ham [/underlined] (boiled) for flying meal. Sat reading in Mess till 10.30. Bed just before 11.0.
Monday 5
Up at 8.15 again. Down at flights. YMCA for tea. Went to see yesterday’s effort. NOT so hot. [Underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Parcelled laundry etc. (gum & choc) [Underlined] Short letter enclosed. [/underlined] [Inserted] ok meal 14.30. [/inserted] Briefed at last for XC. Changed & just ready SCRUB. [Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Tuesday 6
Up at 8.15 as usual. Bfst. Nowt doing. Rain! [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Lunch. Meal at 4.0. so wrote [underlined] letter to Avice. [/underlined] Still raining. [Underlined] Parcel to Mum. [/underlined] & one for Jock. Scrubbed so went to see Ginger Rogers & David Niven in “Bachelor Mother.” Rather funny. Cocoa & biscuits in mess.
Wednesday 7
Up as usual. Bfst. Made [underlined] parcel up to Hanley’s. [/underlined] Had lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Hanley’s. [/underlined] Sent Parcel. Briefed & went in B – BAKER. Back at 11.30. Bed at 1.30.
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Thursday 8
Up at 10.15. Lunch. [Underlined] 2 letters from Avice. [/underlined] Went to Nav section after [underlined] letter to Avice. [/underlined] Went over trip. Did some more of dry swim. Tea. No mail from Mum. Briefing at 7.30. Bags of cloud & ice probable. Got off 10 mins late. S/C about 10 late too. Got up through cloud OK.
Friday 9
Bed at 6.30. Up again at 12.30. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mrs. French & laundry from home. [/underlined] Clearance chit. Got a good few signed. Packed – BATH. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Rain & Wind Bed at 12.0
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Saturday 10
Up about 8.15. Bfst. Best Blue on. Finished clearing & got log book signed Got travel warrant. No mail. Transport to Thirsk 1.20 train to Leeds via York. 4-18 from Leeds. Taxi for kit home, (2/6d) Cycled myself. Dad home & in bed. Unpacked & re-packed bed about 1 or 1-30.
Sunday 11
Up at 1-0 just after news. Snowing. Cleaned battle-blouse. Went up to see Dad. Took Sallie to Station. She fell over & grazed her chin. Bathed hew when we got back. [Underlined] Letter to Avice [/underlined] Took Sallie up to see Dad. Sat talking till 1.30.
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
[Underlined] N. CREAKE. [/underlined] Monday 12
Up at 8.20. Eventualy [sic] got a taxi. Took Mum P & P to Stn. Doncaster, Grantham. Met Boys at P’Boro, carried on to March, K’s Lynn then Heacham & Wells. Rotten b’s charged us 5/3 cash for bikes. Transport to Station. Had dinner in Mess. Collected blankets & sheets & went to billets In with “Nobby” & his crew.
Tuesday 13
Up at 9.30. Got chit & went round with it in pouring rain. Lecture on Flying Control. Unpacked a few odds & ends to get ready to go on leave. Cycled to Wells with Pick. Saw “Fanny by Gaslight” Got tight on Port in the Mess. Bob tight on whisky.
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Wednesday 14
Up at 8.15. Filled leave form in. C.O. not in so got warrant etc. about 11.30 Had lunch. Lads took my bag to Fakenham in taxi. 2.43 to P’boro. 5.43 to Retford. Cycled from Sheff. Had to pay 3/- for Ret to Sheff. Home at 10.0. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Ted still here.
Thursday 15
Up at 5.15. Phoned station. Caught 9.25 to Leeds. Got my hair cut at last. Bus to Huddersfield. Trolley bus to Church. Got there just right. Taxi to reception. Went to Hilda’s home. Photos. Saw Ken & Hilda off & his Dad & brother. Set off back on 8-5 bus. Met Jim’s (L.M.P.O.) Train at 10.0. House at 11.30. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Mum H. Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Friday 16
Up at 9-15. Took tunics & Gt. Coat to Prices to have F/O braid put on. 5/- book of stamps. Met old “Henery” Had half pint with him. No 3 speed levers. New tyre 6/3d. & brake blocks. Had din & set about bike. Can’t get chain wheel off. Painted back mud-guard & put name on it. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined]
Saturday 17
[Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Didn’t get up till 12.0. Doc came to see P & Dad. U. Wilf rang up. Gnpa. called to see us. Finished bike (more or less) Went round Woolies for a few odd & ends. (Rhino – [indecipherable] – torch bulbs.) Collected one tunic & greatcoat from Mr. Price’s Did shoes with Rhino.
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Sunday 18
Up at 1PM. Had dinner then went to Station & then to Mores. Had a bit of tea there Home then went to see Mr. More in hospital. Had tea at home. Sorted a few odds & ends ready for tomorrow. Went across to Dinn’s for an hour or so.
Monday 19
Up at 9-0. Train at 10.35 (SB 10.16) thro’ to Hull. 1.20 from Hull. Brid about 2.30. Toast & cakes at Royal Cycled to Lissett. Saw Avice. Went on to Mrs. Foster’s. Avice met me just in [indecipherable] Went to Smokey’s then to Brid. [Inserted] PUNCTURE [/underlined] Saw “Adam Had Four Sons”. & Vera Lynn in some “Night” or other. Fish & chips. Cup of tea at Mrs. Foster’s. Bed at 2-0.
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Tuesday 20
Up at 10.0. Met Avice at 1-0. Cycled to Carnaby. Left bikes & coached to Hull. No train till 3-? so got bus to Brid & caught 3.18 from Bris. £5 from Bank. Had tea when we arrived in Hull. Went to Regal Cinema. 7.40 train back. Cycled from Carnaby to Brid. Had supper in Café on corner. Bed at 1 or 2 again.
Wednesday 21
Up at 10 to 9. Avice just missed bus & I would have only just caught it. Caught right one to Brid. & 12.20 to Scarbro’ saw old Fisher. Had lunch at Albert’s. 4/9d for Polyphoto Went to Odeon. Two pretty good picts. Pork shape at café? Went to dance at the Spa? Bus back. Sat on the Prom. Taxi at 11.30. Left Avice 12.15. Set off from Mess about 1-0. Arr. Hull [underlined] 4-15 [/underlined] ??!!
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Thursday 22
Tea & cakes at the canteen. Train at 6.10. Home 9.30. Packed Mum & Pat went to Stn with me. Sheff at 1.45. Best train at 3.20. Change. Lincoln & March then K’s Lynn & Heacham. Arr at Wells about 11-0. Camp at 11.30. Bed about 12.30. WVS & Army Capt on train from Lincs to March.
Friday 23
Up at 8.10. Bfst. Went to Flights. Got Nav. watch. Got locker with Joe. No harnesses. Went up after lunch & drew Nav. kit. Did an hour’s Loran. [Underlined] Letter to Ma & Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
FEBRUARY 1945
Saturday 24
Up at 8.30. Bfst. Back to billet to shave. Took flying kit to flights. Lunch. Sat reading in Mess. [Underlined] Letter to Avice [/underlined]
Joe “orderly dog.” Went to ENSA’s hour “Ladies in Retirement [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
Sunday 25
Dragged out by Joe. Did a bit of local stooging. Had lunch & early tea. XC. about 4 hours. Not a bad trip. H2S not so hot.
[Page break]
FEBRUARY-MARCH 1945
Wednesday 26
Up for bfst. Shave. Nav. Sect. Lunch. On battle order! at last. Had lunch. Short rest on bed in billet. Op. meal. Briefed. Bags of “no” gen. Just a nice trip, Gee all the way nowt to see (V-Vic.) Only a half. [Underlined] Letter from Ma [/underlined]
Thursday March 1
[Underlined] Rum & tea. Bed at 4-0 AM [/underlined]
Up about 12.0. Lunch. On the Reserve in T. Had to make out two routes & all routes for different points. Eventualy [sic] finished in kite. Got away on route No. 2. 6 1/4 hrs. Back at 11 PM. 3 eggs & bed. [Underlined] 2 letters from Avice [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Friday 2
Up at 12.15. Had lunch. Bill got a 48. Jim S/C at 2.5-10 & I followed at 2.15 Packed best blue, towel etc. Arr. Fakenham about 2.40. 1s/4d. Return to K’s. X & for cycle storage. Bill & Jim there. 5.44 from P’boro. arr 7.25 K’s X. Tube to L’pl. St. Enq. About trains. No. 33 about 8.55. [Indecipherable] in bed bad. Got into bed about 11.45 – 12.00.
Saturday 3
Cup of tea at 9.30. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Got up at 11.30. Washed & shaved. Wrote & posted letter. Walked around shops. Buzz bomb! Reading & talking rest of time.
Bed at 11-0.
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Sunday 4
Up about 11-0. Shaved [deleted] after dinner [/deleted] V2! Went to Petticoat Lane to Dog n Paw. Very interesting. Didn’t buy owt. Had dinner & sat reading. Packed after tea. Changed to battle dress. RAIN. Fine when I walked to Station. Train at 11.26 Lpl. St. at 12-0. Other train in so got in & made sure of a seat.
Monday 5
Left at 2.45. Norwich at 6.30. Left again at 7.20. Caught hold of Jim. Got out at Fakenham & fetched bikes from other station. [Underlined] Letters from Mum (2) Avice (1) Violet (1) Bank Statement. [/underlined] Had tea. Bill not back. [Underlined] Another letter from Avice. Letter to Avice & Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Tuesday 6
Up at dinner time. Stand down but we are on fighter Affil. Kite U/S after messing about. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. & Pullover from Avice. Letter from Ma [/underlined] Went to see “Buffalo Bill” in Wells. [Underlined] Letter to Doris. [/underlined]
Wednesday 7
Up for bfst. Shaved. Flights about 10 or 10.30. Swung Oxbox. Dinner. Ops. on. Briefed & got off in V-Vic. Artificial Horizon U/S. & API doubtfull, [sic] so turned back. Had to stooge to waste petrol. Still no mail.
[Underlined] Letter to Ma-in-law. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Thursday 8
Up at dinner time. On Battle Order. Briefing 2.30. In V-Vic again. Up for 7 hours.
[Underlined] 4 [/underlined] eggs, my two & Joe’s.
[Underlined] Letter from Avice & Mum. [/underlined]
Friday 9
Up at dinner time again. Battle Order. Briefing 2.30. [Underlined] Letter to Avice & Mum. [/underlined]
On, off, reserve, & then on again!
Got off OK. Up for 5.50.
[Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Saturday 10
Up at 12.30. Shaved. Not on tonight. [Underlined] Letter from Doris. [/underlined] Bought car for £35. Paid mess bill. Went to Ensa. Pretty good show. [Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
Sunday 11
Didn’t get up till 10.30. Just washed, Nowt doing. Had dinner then had a look around car. Had tea then changed. Had dinner then sent [underlined] Log Book & Licence. [/underlined] also another [underlined] letter to the Care of ordnance Course College. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Monday 12
Up for bfst. Went to nav section. Read order book changed protractor. Had lunch. [Underlined] 2 letters from Avice. [/underlined] Tinkered with car. Cleaned inside up & had seats out. Had tea then changed. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice. Also Miss French. [/underlined]
Tuesday 13
Didn’t get up till about 11.0. Bill gone to group. Went & got flask & torch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined]
Joe, Jim & I went to Wells. Took shoes in Had “egg” on toast for tea. Went to picts. Quite a nice film. Had few sandwiches in W.V.S. Cycled back. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Wednesday 14
Up for dinner. Battle order. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & to Avice. [/underlined] 2 routes. Took off & did [indecipherable] one. No diffinite [sic] gen. Saw main force bomb NE of Saarbrucken. Up 6.45 (F-fox.) Waited 20 mins for bus. Bed at 2-0.
Thursday 15
Up at 12.15. Not on tonight [Underlined] Letter from Avice, Statement from Bank. Letter & form from Insurance Co. [/underlined] Hair cut. Went & got times of flips. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to see “Goodbye Mr. Chips”. Another [underlined] letter to Avice. 2 letters from Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Friday 16
Up at dinner time as usual. Battle order. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Nice 7-hour trip for another damn half.
No mail from anyone when I got back.
Saturday 17
Up for dinner. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Battle order – Scrubbed. Compass swing in T. Didn’t get down till about 6.30.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice (?) Mum & Pam Violet & Bank. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Sunday 18
Up for bfst. Shaved then went to Dentist & had two front ones filled again. Stand down for us. Took plugs out, cleaned them & battery out. Cleaned terminals. Drop of petrol in, only 1 & 4 oiled up badly. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Doris. [/underlined]
Shandy with Bob.
Monday 19
Didn’t get up till 12-0. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Reading [/Underlined] Short letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Stand down. Had dinner then went for a shower. [Underlined] Parcelled gum & soap for Alec. [/underlined] Also [underlined] laundry to Mum. [/underlined]
[Page beak]
MARCH 1945
Tuesday 20
Up for bfst. Went to Nav Section. Swept up. [Underlined] No mail!! [/underlined] Run up after dinner in “Q” !!!! No mail at tea time Meal at 8.30. Ordinary R.C.M stooge. 6 hrs 50 from midnight to 7 AM.
Wednesday 21
Bed at 9-0 [deleted] or 10-0 [/deleted] Up for tea at 4.30 – reserve in an [underlined] unknown [/underlined] A/C. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Avice. Car Registration Book returned New cheque book & Gen from B.I.E.T. [/underlined] Meal at 9PM. “KIEL” window trip (reserve) V-Vic, at last. False alarm Got in ready but didn’t go.
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Thursday 22
Bed about 3-0. Up at 12.0 for dinner. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Going ride with Jim. Lost him so “FIXED” tyre up. Had tea. [Underlined] Letter from DAD & Mum. [/underlined] Had dinner then went with Joe to Picts in Wells. George Formby.
[Underlined] STINKING LETTER TO AVICE [/underlined]
Friday 23
Up for dinner. On battle order. Still no mail. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice. [/underlined] Window trip 5 hrs in V. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Bed about 2.30.
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Saturday 24
Up for dinner. No mail again. Cleaned front wheels & steering rods. Had tea. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Avice. [/underlined] at last. [Underlined] Letter from Mrs. Hanley. [/underlined] Went to ENSA Concert Pretty good show.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice, Mum & Hospital. [/underlined] Filled most of form in for B.I.E.T.
Sunday 25 [Drawing]
Up for bfst. Got 48 signed & petrol application. Took acc. to be charged up. Ed. Off. not in. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Rain after dinner.
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Monday 26
Up for bfst. Saw Ed. Offr. Went up to Section. Drizzle. Got petrol after seeing S.A.O. about altering HP. 8-10. Collected battery. Stand down so off I went. Left abut 2.0. Picked two Ludford lads up & took them to Sheffield. Home just after 8. Took Dad & filled up with petrol & oil at Mr. Hacker’s. Bed at 2.30.
Tuesday 27
Up at 20 to 7. Went & changed wheels at O & D. Bfst. and off at 9.25. Arrived on camp at 2.0. Ops on. Meet at 3.0. Window trip & bombing too. Just over 4 hours. Bed about 2-0.
[Underlined] Letter from Mum & Avice. [/underlined] Reply to THE letter.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Wednesday 28
Up at 12.30. No mail. Stand down. [Underlined] Letter to Avice & Mum. [/underlined] Sat in Mess reading. [Underlined] Letter from Sheff. Hospital. [/underlined] (can’t do teeth.)
Went to see Ed. G. Robinson in “Man & the Woman.” Went in the bus. She’d burned the 2 qts. of oil. [Underlined] Enrolment form & cheque to BIET. [/underlined]
Thursday 29
Didn’t get up till about 11.30. Stand down again. Took Joe, Bob & Jim to Fakenham then Bill to Wells & went back for Bob & Jim. Went to see “Ministry of Fear” Then back to camp. [Underlined] Letter from M & D [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter to Avice [/underlined]
[Page break]
MARCH 1945
Friday 30
Up at bfst. Dental officer on leave. Went up to flights Bags of lines about AOS & commissions. Ops on but we aren’t on. V-Vic air test. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined]
Went to see “Mark Twain” on camp with Bob, Joe & Jim.
Saturday 31
Dragged out by “Nobby” & “Pek”. Bill & Jock came down. Going to Norwich. No mail. Dropped Joe at Fakenham. Went to Dog Track. Not too keen. Had sos. beans & chips. Couple of half shandies. Then some fish & chips. Went round the fair. Set off back about 9.0. Back on camp about 10.10. Bed about 11.30.
[Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Sunday 1
Up at 11.30. Stand down. Sat in Mess reading papers [Underlined] Letter to Avice, Mum & Ma-in-law. [/underlined] Blowing like billio. No lights so no cinema. Oiled windscreen-wiper & took trafficator off. Bed by 9-30 BST 10.30 DBST.
Mended puncture & changed tyres.
Monday 2
Up for bfst. 8.15. Shaved. Tyre flat so had to have it off again, patch given way. Managed to get brake drum off washed wheel. Valve gone this time. Went to see “Double Indemnity.” With Jim.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice & Insurance Co. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Tuesday 3
Up for bfst. Went to flights [Underlined] Letter to Avice. Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Battle order
Scrubbed at the last minute.
Put trafficator back on car.
Wednesday 4
Up for bfst. Cleaned car all morning. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Violet. [/underlined] Battle order. Went to flights to run up. Meal at 3.30. Off at 7.50. Back at 11.30. (3.40) Nice N. Sea trip.
[Underlined] 3 letters from Avice. Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Thursday 5
Up about 9-15. Filled up. Washed & shaved then went to Walsingham with Bob & Jim. 2 qts oil & 2 gals petrol. 8/6d. [Underlined] Cover note from Ins. Co. [/underlined] Set off about 1-15. Dropped Joe at Boston & Jock at Retford. Took Bill to Sheff. Home at 7-15. Got washed & changed then went to see Pat. Went to see Gran & Pa. Miss Clayton there.
Friday 6
Didn’t get up till about 10. Went down with battle dress then to O & D. Had dinner then went to Mr. Hacker’s. Mended two punctures. Garage full.
[Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Short
[underlined] one to Avice. [/underlined]
Got floor boards out & a few more odds & ends of Jane.
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Saturday 7
Up about 10.0. [Underlined] Letter from Avice & Ken. [indecipherable] [/underlined] Got Jane stripped. Started after dinner on AYU. Percy Law came & gave me a hand. Got both engines out Cleaned 10 engine & body of AYU. Washed shaved & changed. Went to see Pat & to Gran’s.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Ted arrived.
Sunday 8
Up with Ted about 9.15. Work at 10.30. Gordon helped me to put engine in & cetra. No kick out of her. Home for dinner. Biked back. Gordon cleaned plugs. Started OK. Had to use Jane’s exhaust pipe. Brought Ted home with me. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Phone call from Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Monday 9
Up at 9.15. Got Car & Ins. Licences. Stuck holder on windscreen. Took Ted to Station. Went to O & D. finished stripping Jane. All but wires & dials. Home for dinner. Got dials & trafficator out. Set Arthur on to cut window. Gordon measured petrol filler. Had tea. Fitted door up. Changed & went to see Pat & Gran. Brought M & D & P back [/underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined]
Tuesday 10 [Drawing]
Up at 9.15. Took Dad to work. Got petrol cap fitted OK. Got Percy & Gordon 10/- each. Got battery off Arthur. Washed, shaved & change. also ate at same time Cheque £5 – just in time. Changed spare wheel. Set off at 3.20. Filled up at Jock’s (3 gals) no oil. York 5.25. Avice arrived 6.10 Had tea. Took her to YW. Found bunk for me, then went to see “Winged Victory.” Supper. Bed at 11.0. Polyphoto
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Wednesday 11
Up at 10.30. Washed & shaved. Had lunch then roamed around for a comb. Went round the Minster then sat beside the river. Went for tea & back to the river again. Spot of rain as Avice & I queued for “Mrs. Parkington.” Too late so went to Empire Corral Services discoveries & variety show. Supper & walk beside the river. Left her at 11.0.
[Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
Thursday 12
Up at 10.30 again. Shave & wash. [/underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
Lunch. Went round Museum – Very interesting. Especially the 19th cent Street in York. Met Avice at 5.0 had tea then went to see Mrs. Parkington. Not too good. Bed at 11.30 or so.
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Friday 13
Up at usual. Roosevelt [underlined] DEAD. [/underlined] Ordered 2 kites 21/-. Lunch. Roamed around then sat beside the river reading. Bought the carnations for Avice. Met her at 5.30. Tea. Picked out Polyphoto Went to Brid. Had supper then went to Lissett. FOG. Left at 10.15 Home at 2-0 AM.
Saturday 14
Up at 8.15. Packed. Fetched “AYU” & loaded her up. Gave Mum £1-5s for Pat & B.D. Card. Set off at 10.30 Battle Dress 3/-. 3 gals juice. Petrol trouble. Camp at 3-30. On Battle Order. Bill NOT back yet so scrubbed. [Underlined] Books from BIET. Letter from Avice & Pabey from Ins Co. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Order (2.12.9) to Rowntrees. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Sunday 15
Didn’t get up till 11.0. Just washed. Got junk ready to move. Had dinner then loaded car. Reading in Mess. Bob packed & we moved. Had dinner. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Read bit of chemistry book.
Monday 16
Up for bsft. Orderly Of. Guard Report. Rations. Airmen’s Mess. Ops on again. Made report about 5 Site. Inspected teas & made complaint about bread baskets. Report about that. Bill back. “Do” with W/O B - - ? about Bill’s bike.
Bed at 1-0.
[Underlined] Letter from & to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Tuesday 17
Up for bfst. Handed reports etc into Stn Adj. Went to Nav Section. Bill got 48 to get uniform. Inspected A’men’s dinner’s & baskets. Blooming Marshalling Officer. Took Bill to Fakenham. Got 3 gals juice. Dashed around for & with rations etc. [Underlined] Letter from Avice & to Avice. [/underlined]
Wednesday 18
Bed at 6 AM –
Up at 1-15. Got lunch after a bit of a do. Went up [inserted] to [/inserted] the flights. Went to Wells for shoes. NOT READY !!! [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Went with Jim & Bob to Walsingham. Had 3 shandies.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Thursday 19
Didn’t get up till 10.30. Went up to flights. Flat front tyre on bike. Had lunch. Valve gone. Rubbed car down & checked tyres. Filled battery up. Went to flights to see Jim. Had tea with Jim & dinner. [Underlined] Receipt from Rowntree’s. Letter from Mum Letter to Mum, Avice & Violet. [/underlined]
Friday 20
Up for bfst. Went to Honily in T. Had lunch there. Brought Nobby & crew back here. Stand down. Had tea then took Bry & Joe to Wells. Went to picts then had 3 Shandies. Supper at Bry’s place, very nice too. Back on camp about 11-0. Storm.
[Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Saturday 21
[Deleted] Up for [/deleted] Didn’t get up till about 10.30. Boys on air test. Didn’t get off. [Underlined] Letter to Avice.. [/underlined] Had lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Avice. [/underlined] Took the lads to Wells. Shoes not ready. No foolscap paper. Short XC with F/A. Used H2S for a bit. Supper & bed about 12.30. Changed billet to Bob’s place.
Sunday 22
Up just before 11.0. Raining, blowing & damn cold. Battle Order. [Underlined] Letter to Avice [/underlined]
Short window 4.30 hrs in P-Peter.
Saw nowt as usual.
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Monday 23
Up for lunch. No mail. Moved Bill to our hut. [Underlined] Lanc & Haly models arrived. [/underlined] Started cleaning up stand.
Still no mail at tea time. Ground reserve & 6 forms. Got off on No. 5. 4-15. Swapped G fox round with Loran. Bed about 3-0.
Tuesday 24
Up for lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Went to Wells for shoes. 4/9d done at last. Went down to the beach. Back for tea. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Had tea. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Bob Hope in
[Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Wednesday 25
Up about 10.30. Shaved & went to flights. Stand down & Bill gone to hospital. Swept corridor. No mail. Busy on aero’s & stands all afternoon. Had tea. [Underlined] Letter from & to Avice. [/underlined]
Changed. Had dinner then took Bill, Jim & Joe to Wells. Joe & I went to see Maria Montez in “Gipsy [deleted word] Wildcat.” Left WITH [underlined] OUT [/underlined] Bill & Jim at 10.45.
Thursday 26
Up for Bfst. Went to see D.O. Fixed up for next Wed. at 10 AM. Saw Smudge. Shall get railway warrant but no petrol. No mail. Cleaned George’s mud guard a bit. Then went to billet & cleaned model Hal. a bit more. [/Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Went on 6 bus to Wells. Saw “The Pearl of Death” Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. Had pint & half shandie then back on 10.30
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Friday 27
Up about 10.30. Bryant got passes for us. Filled them in. Had lunch. [/underlined] NO MAIL !! [/underlined] Went & filled up. Took Bry to Wells. No one in at Pub but he will call at night. Changed. Had tea & went to K. Lynn Saw “The Climax” with Susan Foster & Boris Karloff. also Margaret Lindsay “Lets Have Fun (?)” Two dances. Back in camp at [underlined] 3-0 AM !! [/underlined]
Saturday 28
Up for bfst. Took Bob to Walsingham. [Underlined] SNOW !!!! TEL TO AVICE. [/underlined] Went to flights after packing. Got warrant & ration card. Had dinner [Underlined] Letter from Avice & her mum. [/underlined]
Cycled to F’k’ham. Left bike at station. Caught 2.43. Row at Sheffield again as usual. Home at [deleted] 10.30. [/deleted] 9.45.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
APRIL 1945
Sunday 29
Didn’t get up till about 2-0 PM. Got busy with “Halie” again. Had tea & continued filing. Didn’t go out at all.
[Monday 30
Got up at 9.30. Shaved. Went to O & D. Put “kites” on every wheel. Percy gave me a couple of files. Went home for dinner. Went to R.G.S saw most of the masters. Got Mr, Aitcheson’s address off Miss Hawley. Saw Freddy. Mr. Johnson took me to see Mr. Atkinson. Went to see “Cook”. Busy filing again all night.
[Underlined] AVICE RANG ME UP. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Tuesday 1 [Underlined] ADOLF?? DEAD?? [/underlined]
Up at 9.0. Took Pat to school then went to Gran’s. Caught bus to town & saw Gnpa at office. Home for dinner. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Took letter to G.P.O. went on up to LMS Station to get times of trains. Took Jane’s log book in as scrapped. Fetched Gnpa’s car from Motor Co. for him. Bought Foolscap Cardboard Cover. Packed & then polished Hally up a bit. Shave & Bath.
[Underlined] BERLIN TAKEN !!!! [/underlined] Wednesday 2
Up at 6.10. Left home at 6.45. Town 6.50. T’Bus to Stn. 2/8d to Leeds. Arr. about 9-0. Went to Dentist School. Sat in chair from 10.30 till 12.30!! Is my BTM sore & teeth too. Matrix made Lunch (SDC) 9/10d return to Brid. [Underlined] Tel to Avice. Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Train to Selby. Hitched to Driff Train to Brid. Went to see “2000 Women“ again. Taxi to camp & back 12/6d.
[Underlined] ITALY TROOPS SURRENDED!!! [sic] [/underlined]
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Thursday 3
Up at 9.30. Bfst. Went out at 12.30. Lunch at Prom. Café. Roamed around – EARLY CLS. DAY. Went to see “2 MILLION SWEETHTS” & “Who killed the Blacksmith” Tea at Prom Café. Met Avice & went to see “The Hairy Ape” for the second time. Walk round the harbour. Supper EGG & CHIPS at Corner Café [Underlined] HAMBURG SURRENDED!!! [sic] [/underlined] Taxi to camp & back 15/- !!!!
Friday 4
Up at 6.0. Bfst. Train at 7.0.AM. Arr. Leeds 9.45. “THEY” got busy at 10.30 Finished at 12.15. Look OK. too. Feel funny. Ate & just caught 1-0 PM train. Arr. St. Panc at 6.45 Got away with ticket. Home at 7.30. Had supper & natter till 11 or so. Bed about 11.45.
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Saturday 5
Up about 12-0. Raining. Shaved. Avice out with her Dad. Went to Edmonton with Mum & Avice [Indecipherable] lighter & paper. Had tea then went back to Edmonton to see “Belle of the Yukon” Also had a good variety turn on. Home about 10.15. Avice tucked me in with bottle.
Sunday 6
Up about 1.30 PM. Bfst in bed about 9.30. Went in the wood by the bathing pool. Took 2 snaps of Avice & Bunky & one of Bunky. Avice took one of Bunky & I. Had tea then went to picts at Walthamstow. “Nelson Touch” again but still enjoyed it. Bed at 11.0 after Good Night kisses.
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Monday 7
Up at 8.30. 2 eggs boiled for bfst. Set off at 10.0 L’p’l St. at 11.0 - £2.17.5d for our tickets. Mum gave me £1 towards them. Train out at 11.50. Changed at Heacham. Wells at 4.45PM. Hitched to camp 2/- taxi. Drew cheque for £5. [Underlined] Letters from Mr. Dixon, Mum Avice & Receipt from BIET. [/underlined] 3 gals juice. Went to Cromer. Nowt to eat. Saw Bryant in Pub. Took me for cupatea. Camp at 11.15. Bob came in EARLY!!! (1.30AM)
Tuesday 8
Up at 8.10. Egg. Bfst. Joe back. Took Nobby & Co to Wells. A’s Mum at the Station. Went to Norwich. Another 3 gals. Had lunch then roamed around. Back to Wells for tea. Went to Picts. Missed both the PM’s & George’s speeches. Storm & TIFF Kissed & made up in the end.
[Underlined] V.E. DAY [/underlined]
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Wednesday 9
Up at 8-0. Egg again. Took M & Avice to Hunstanton then back to Wells. Packed then went down to beach. Had “farewell” hug & kisses on sand-dune. Train at 3.27 (Sun service) Camp about 3.40. Read papers. 3 – 1/2 pts shandy. Dinner. [Underlined] Letter to Avice & Mum. [/underlined]
Sorted B.I.E.T. stuff out.
Thursday 10
Up about 10.0. Went to section. Lunch. No mail. Paid Mess bill 16/1d Section again at 14.00. Roll call. Ban on flying lifted. Rhur [sic] effort tomorrow. Took Bob, Jack & Joe to Fakenham. Collected bike. Tea in Walsingham Shower. Went to Wells. “Kiss the Birds Goodbye” a bit RISCKY!!! Also Atrocity News Film.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Friday 11
Up for bfst. Battle Dress for a change. Flights Rhur [sic] scrubbed. Weather duff. Boys busy with George’s car roof. Lunch. [Underlined] No mail. [/underlined] Nowt on in afternoon. Got busy & fitted other rear light on “Belinda”. Wants “stop” switch doing up. [Underlined] No mail. Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Sat on bed & re-read Chemistry Book I-V. Bed at 10.30 & sat reading Drawing Book.
Saturday 12
Bob up at 6.0. I didn’t wake again till 10. Rhur [sic] effort on. Went to flights on bike. Jim back. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Nowt doing at flights. Went with Jim to Circus in Wells. Not too bad. Had dinner when we got back after couple of shandies. [Underlined] Did first Chemistry questions. [/underlined]
New nib in pen.
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Sunday 13
Up for bfst. Shaved. Went to show D.O. my “new” teeth. Missed Church Parade. Lunch. [/underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Fitted runners on left seat of car. Dinner Fixed felt on floor to stop draught. Put seat together & went to bed.
Monday 14
Bfst. Flights. Nowt doing. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Went to section then billet. Fixed saloon light & trafficator switch. Had tea then went to Norwich. Pub & Bed crawl Supper in Cove. Eventually got a bed.
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Tuesday 15
Up at 8. Had bfst. (7/6d) Left Norwich at 9.15 without other bloke. Camp at 10.30. Changed to fly with F/L. Ward in Z. Went to Brussels, Aachen, Cologne Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Bochum, Essen, Duisburg & back to Brussels. Also saw “Duren’s” heap of rubble. (5.45.) [Underlined] Letter from Avice, Violet & Bank. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Wednesday 16
Up for bfst. EGG again. Went back to billet to shave. Went in car to section. Nowt doing. Went to Mess. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to billet. Fixed trafficator Switch wired wrongly. Cleaned back out found glass for rear light. Went for dinner. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [underlined] Billet.
[Underlined] Draughted [sic] letter to Loughboro & Mr. Aitcheson. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Thursday 17
Up for bfst. Used car to go to flights. Rhur [sic] effort scrubbed. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Avice. Letter to Mr. Aitcheson [/underlined] On 1/2 hour’s link !!!!
XXX XXX Went to Wells. Shoes not ready. Went swimming had tea then went to pictures. Belita in “Lady lets Dance”. Some wizard ice skating. 3 x 1/2 shandies [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter to Avice & Loughboro. [/underlined]
Friday 18
Up for bfst. Cycled to flights. Sat around till 12.0 after getting passes & log book signed no mail. [Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Cleaned car with Bob’s help. Had tea & wrote [/underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Bryant showed me his DFM. Went with Bob to see Rita Hayworth in “Cover Girl.” 4 x 1/2 shandies.
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Saturday 19
Up for bfst. Picked Jack & Frankie up. Went to Norwich. Had lunch at Cove & went for Bill. Flat!!! Changed with Tich’s help. Went to dogs. Cheesed off so got busy with tyre levers. Mended puncture. 3 Civies put tyre back & helped blow it up. Tea at Cove. Went to picts alone. Saw Allan Todd & Loretta Young in “And now Tomorrow.” Supper at Cove Took “Bill” back to hospital [/Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined]
Sunday 20
Didn’t get up till 12.15. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Ma-in-law. [/underlined] Read newspapers till tea time & then till dinner time. Went to see Canadian Air Force show. Very good & almost clean throughout, for a change (Tyre Down!) Beer (shandy) in Mess.
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Monday 21
Up at 10.30. Shaved & went for hair cut. [Underlined] 2 letters from Avice. [/underlined] Went to flights. Wheel & tyre changing & roof repairing. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Read newspapers. Went to see George Formby in “He Snoops to Conquer.” Not so bad.
Tuesday 22
[Underlined] Letter from & to Mum & from Mr. Aitchison. Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Up for bfst. Weather duff. “Compass Swing!!! Lunch. Went to lecture by F/L Gibson on Resettlement – Release. Says should get Grant. Went to Wells with Joe & Bob. Saw “Stormin’ over Lisbon” & Charlie Chan in “Black Magic.”
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Wednesday 23
Up for bfst. No Rhur [sic] on. George on Base. Sorting Charts into separate drawers. Lunch. Went to Wells for Basic Ration Book & Jock’s bike. [Underlined] Letter from Avice & to her. [/underlined]
Dinner. Went & did some Geometric Drawing. Dam cold!
Thursday 24
Up for bfst. Shaved BEFORE too. Finished sorting charts. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Letter to Mr. Aitchison & Mum & to & from Doris. [/underlined]
Funnies in the Mess. Tea & dinner. Pictures full!!! Load bike on car & wheel. Had a go at whiper again Packed bag & trunk.
[Underlined] Bed at 12.00. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Friday 25
Up for bfst. Took Bill to Mess & Flights. He arranged kite to take him to Warrington. [Underlined] Letter from Ken. [/underlined] Picked Jock up & set off. Picked two of lads up. Took one to Lynn & the other right to Sheff. Dropped Jock at usual. Home at 10 to 7. (Left at 10 to 1) Gran T. & Flo at home. Mended punctures & put one tyre back. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Saturday 26
Didn’t get up till 12.0. P & P still in bed. Shaved. Fetched the “bus” Dick came for Jane. Fixed her up with [indecipherable] Had blow out on the way. Filled up with oil at Dick’s. Didn’t get till after 6 PM. Took Jane to bed after another wheel change. Went to the Empire & saw “Music in Manhattan.” Very Good.
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Sunday 27
Up at 9-0. Went with Mum to communion then went to Grans Had dinner at home. Raining. Went to Dick’s & emptied & refilled sump. Sun out at last. Home for tea. Didn’t go out again. Messed about with lamps. Drawing ops. on one chart. A bit too congested.
Monday 28
Up at 11.0. Mended puncture & sorted wheels & tyres out. Had dinner then took tyre to Shef.10/6 & might not be any good. Picked Dad up on way back. Went to Anna’s & Mary’s at Wickersley to dance. Didn’t have a good time. [Underlined] Letter to Avice & Mrs. Foster. [/underlined]
[Page break]
MAY 1945
Tuesday 29
Up at 10.0. Cut privet at front. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] (expects to be moved!) Fetched car & went to Jock’s. Got “A” bulb & new front for WD lamp (6/6 & 3/-) Fetched Dad & got bracket made for WD lamp. [Underlined] Sent Tel to vice [/underlined]
Went to Elsecar to see Dad’s Aunt’s & Uncle’s. Home at 11-0. Ted home again.
Wednesday 30
[Underlined] Tel from Avice. [/underlined]
Up about 10.0. Finished packing. Put bike & wheel on back of “bus”. Took Mum to town Drew £5 & Mum got £7.10 for Savings Certs. for me. Set off at 2.15. Arrived at 4.45. Pushed it a bit too. (70 miles) Had tea & met Avice at 6.15 Went to see “Kiss the Bride Goodbye” again.
[Page break]
MAY-JUNE 1945
Thursday 31
Up at 12.0!!! Sat talking till 3. after dinner. Shaved & changed & had tea. Met Avice at 5.40. Picked a couple of bods up & took them in. Went to see “The Climax” with Boris Karloff & Susanna Foster. Again! Had sos & chips. Used my last E coupon for 3 gals.
Friday June 1
Up at 12.0 again. Cleaned buttons on tunic & shoes. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Did a bit more to “Hally”. Cycled to Lissett. Met Avice at bus station after hitching in. Went to see Judy Garland in “Meet me in St. Louis”, and “Strangers in the Night.” Fish & chips & Taxi back.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Saturday 2
Bfst in bed. Up at about 10. Shaved & put short pants on. Too cold for ‘em so put long ones on again. Met Avice at 2.30. Went & had lunch at Prom. Café then went to Scarbro. Booked seats for Concert Party. Roamed around. Had tea. Shower. Messed about with seats & ended up on 5th row in stalls. Back at Lissett about 10 to 12.
Sunday 3
Up at 11. Fetched Avice for lunch. Went down to Smokey’s & sat looking at the sea for a bit. Had tea then went to Brid. Saw “Brigham Young.” Story about the Mormon’s in America. Had fish & chip supper after walking along the beach & back by the road & prom. Camp at 5 to 11.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Monday 4
Up at 12.0. Cool & blowing [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Met Avice at 5.45. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to Regal to se Chls Boyer, Joan Fontaine & Alexis Smith in “The Constant Nymph.” Very queer but touching. Fish & chips after walk on the sands. Late pass.
Tuesday 5
Up at 11.0. Took acc. for Mrs. Foster. Polishing Hally. Met Avice in Brid at Bus Stn. Went to W. Gdns & saw “Her Primitive Man & “Singing Sheriff.” Fish & chips. Had a bit of a tiff but made it up afterwards.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Wednesday 6
Up about 9-0. Bfst down stairs for a change. RAIN again. Put bike & tyre on car. Fetched milk. Set off at 10.30. Given gal. juice by civvy. Home at 1.45. Went to Sheff. for tyre & took Dad. Went to see how drills are made. Tyre gone in two other paces. Put some canvas inside. A. Ella poped [sic] in to see us.
Thursday 7
Up about 9.45. Shaved. Read paper then went to O & D’s. Home. Changed wheel for repaired one. Put bike & other wheel on back. Packed bag. Had dinner & set off about 2.15. Cashed coupons at Mr. Hackers & got pint of oil. Left about 3.0. Had flat with repaired tyre. Left jack etc. I had to go back for em & look for tyre gauge. Had egg on toast in Walsingham [Underlined] Letter from Mum, Mr. Dixon, Mrs. Hailey.[/underlined]
[Page break]
[Underlined] 3 from Avice, one from Mr. Aitchison & entrance form from Loughboro also Chemistry papers returned. [/underlined]
JUNE 1945
Friday 8
[Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice. [/underlined]
Up for bfst. Went to flights Nowt doing. Had lunch. No mail. Went & did a spot of drawing. Had tea. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Had supper & went to flicks with Bob. “The Ninehundred” about Tito’s patriots also “For You Alone” Return from Malaya & eternal triangle.
Saturday 9
Didn’t get up till about 12.0. Sat reading in the Mess. Had tea then wrote to [underlined] Mum, Avice, Violet. Ken & Mr. Dixon. [/underlined] Had dinner & started messing with car. Put other horn on & re-wired for new headlamp.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Sunday 10
Stopped in bed till 12.30. Read papers all afternoon Had tea then went & [indecipherable] cut out on dyno on car. Dashed down for supper then went to see “Two Girls & a Sailor” with Harry James & Gord. Quite good & funny.
Monday 11
Up for bfst. Went & got [deleted] shaved [/deleted] haircut. Nobody in section. Picked bus up. No mail. Went to try for a tyre but no luck. No mail at tea time. Took Bob, Jock & Joe to Wells. Saw Dottie in “Rainbow Island”. Not so hot. A bit funny in parts. Bill back.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Tuesday 12
Up for bfst. Went to section. [Underlined] No Mail. [/underlined] Messed about with Log Markers [underlined] “new [/underlined] bus.” Went up to flights in it. Walked back for tea. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Letter to Mum & Avice [/underlined] Had dinner then went back to billet, found a small tool box. Put small mirror on car, & messed about generally [sic] [Underlined] Letter to Avice & Mum. [/underlined]
Wednesday 13
Didn’t get up till 10.30. Nowt doing. No mail. Messed about with tyre all afternoon. Still no mail. Fixed “STOP” switch. Put bit more tyre in, fastened horseshoe on front. Got tyre app form.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Thursday 14
Up for bfst. Got tyre form signed & gave gen inf about tours & dates also flying hours. [Underlined] B.D card from Mrs. Hanley. [/underlined] Took bloke to Fakenham (on leave.) Briefed for tonight. [Underlined] Bank statement, BD cards & letter from Mum, BD card from Gran, Letter from Avice. Letter to Mum & WROTE one to Avice. [/underlined] F/AO Bombing. Landed [Underlined] DOCKING [/underlined]
Friday 15
[Underlined] Bed at 2.45 [/underlined]
Up at 11.30. [Underlined] B.D. Card from Avice. [/underlined] Went up to section nowt much doing. Bit of rain. Bags of wind. [Underlined] Start P.S. to Avice to include with yesterday’s letter. [/underlined] Feeling cheesed off. Had supper then went to see “Bowery of Broadway.” Jack Oakie, Susanna Foster, Maria Montez & Lauren Bey. [Underlined] END OF LETTER TO AVICE. [/UNDERLINED]
[Page break]
June 1943
Saturday 16
Went for bfst. Nowt doing at flights. [Underlined] No mail all day. [/underlined] Helped George for a bit with his car. Had wash & changed!!! Went for tea. Took Douglas & his B/A to Wells to see “Meet Sextant Blake” with David Farrar as S. Blake. Came back for dinner. Got a bit tiddley in the Mess.
Sunday 17
Up about 11 or 11.30. Went for dinner. Read papers. Changed inner tube in D. tyre. Can’t get [deleted] nut [/deleted] stud out of lock axle to check oil. Put some on brake cables. Messed about with petrol gauge. Still N.B.G. Went to see “Hangover Square.” Quite good but creepy.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Monday 18
Got up at 12.0. Shaved. Went to section. Nowt doing. Went & had tea in Wells then went to see Gary Cooper & Ingrid Bergman in “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Not bad.
[Underlined] Letter to & from Mum & Avice. [/underlined] Bill back.
Tuesday 19
Up for bfst. Nowt doing again. Had lunch [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Went down to beach. Sun bathed then went for a swim & sun bathed again. Tea & cake in WVS. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Had dinner
Did some Geom Drawing till 11.0.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Wednesday 20
Up for bfst. Still nowt doing. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined]
Went sunbathing again. Helping S/Ldr Knight with his NEW Austin till 11.30. [Deleted] Letter to [/deleted]
Thursday 21
Up for bfst. Went to flights. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & A [/underlined] Had lunch. Briefing for X.C. & F.A. tonight. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum [/underlined]
Met briefing. Started up. X.C & F.A became F.A. only. [Underlined] Up for 1/2 hr in S. Up in AM for 1/2 hr in W [/underlined]
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Friday 22
Up for bfst. Rhur [sic] tour. in W. Took Jack Witton with us. Up for 5.15hrs. Had tea & supper combined [Underlined] No. MAIL. [/underlined] Put floor back in car & went for a short run.
Went over Mr & Ramsgate. Gasometer on fire at R’gte.
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Saturday 23
Up at 11.30. [Underlined] Letter from Mum Avice & Permit. [/underlined] Went to Beach. Had to use can of juice. Took shoes to another cobbler. Had swim not much sun. Had tea at WVS then went to see Tommy Tinder in “Fiddlers Three.” Came back & had supper Changed & went to dance in Walsingham.
[Underlined] Another letter from Mum [/underlined]
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Sunday 24
Up at 11.30. Had lunch then went down to beach. Sunbathed then had a swim. Sandwiches & Pop. More swimming. Back for dinner. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice. [/underlined]
Read papers.
Monday 25
Up for bfst. No tyres for a month. 2gals & pint oil no gear oil. [Underlined] Letter from Violet (THRYB). [/underlined] Nowt in Nav. Sect. Had a look at G’g’s tyre. No hole. Went bathing – sun & water. Tea at W.V.S. Went to picts & saw “Two Yanks Abroad” & “Danger in the Mists” Not bad. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Letter to Mum & Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
[Drawing] Tuesday 26
Up for bfst. Went to flights Checked Nav. kit. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Helped George with his springs. Bags of panic on Tannoy. Exercise on! [Underlined] Letter to Avice [/underlined] Tried to get some sleep. Bryant woke me up at 11.0 Just as we were dropping off.
Up at 2-0 AM. [Underlined] Short letter to Pam. [/underlined] Briefed. 10 [indecipherable] & ground reserve!!!!!!
Wednesday 27
[Underlined] Scrubbed! Bed at 6-0. [/underlined]
Up at 12.0. No mail again. Read papers. Do on again. Sat around billet Shower. Went for tea. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Avice. Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Helped Bill Knight all evening till 11.0. Got Austin running OK.
[Page break]
JUNE 1945
Thursday 28
Up for bfst. Shaved. Took Depo to Fakenham. Got “paints” for George. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. [/underlined] Had tea – changed & went to see camp show – “The Merry Monahans.” Pretty good. Went to dance afterwards Bed at 1-0 AM.
Friday 29
Up at 9.45. Went to section. Nowt doing. Had lunch. NO MAIL. Air Test in X for 20 mins (T/O 1438.) Exercise expected. Tea & still NO MAIL. Tannoy – Wakey, Wakey at 3.15. Bfst. 3.45.
Bed at 9.45 PM. –
[Page break]
JUNE-JULY 1945
Saturday 30
Up at 3.15. Bfst. Flt Plan & Scrub at 5.45. Won [indecipherable] rations! Bed at 7.0. [Underlined] Letter to mum (in bed) [/underlined] Up at 11.15. Meal at 12.00. Flt Plan – rations – SCRUB again. NO MAIL. till tea time – [underlined] from Mum. [/underlined] Went to Ensa show. Some good turns too. Had dinner. Bed about 9.30 or so Made laundry up.
Sunday July 1
Up for meal at 9-0. Prs. in X 150 mag drop. Went in P for Nobby. Bags cloud & ice. No joy on GEE. MTB’s & MFB’s. RTB in the end. Cloud & rain. No mail being Sun. Phone for Bob. Bed at 11.45. Battle order for tomorrow.
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Monday 2
Up for bfst at 8.45. Flight Plan – SCRUBBED! Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. Letter from Avice. [/underlined] On at 7.15 put back to 10.15. Just got in queue & it was scrubbed. Got meal in the end. Bill & Nobby played Table Tennis till 11.35.
[Underlined] Sent laundry home. [/underlined]
Tuesday 3
Up for bfst. Section at 9.20 meal at 11.0. Stand by in Mess. Rush at 12.15 to Briefing Room. Took off at 14.15. Should be 14.05 (Xray U/S again & swapped to P.) [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] (before Briefing)
Up for 5 hrs. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Back to billet after odd hour or so.
[Underlined] Newsletter from Mr. Dixon. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Note to Betty re battle dress pants [/underlined]
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Wednesday 4
Bfst. Briefed. Put back an hour. T/O in X at 12.40. Recce for 4.10 hrs. Left early 18.15 [indecipherable] U/S & W/T U/S. Flew kite for about 3/4 hrs. Home at 7.30 Meal. [Underlined] 2 letters from Mum. [/underlined]
Betty mended battle dress pants.
[Underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
Thursday 5
Up for bfst. Briefed for attack on Fredericia with Main Force Went for lunch. Car conked. No juice!!! Biked down & back on borrowed bike. Took off at 2.45 Saw a Lanc – from Ludford. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Friday 6
Up for bfst. Nowt on at flights. Bags of bods posted. Sorted Gee sheets etc. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Avice. [/underlined] Went to Fakenham Got gear oil & 3 gals petrol. Took Jack & pal to stn. & Jim & Nobby for haircuts. No more mail. Filled gear box. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
Saturday 7
Up for bfst. Stand down till Monday PM. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Went to cricket match. Had tea in Walsingham. Helped a bit in the kitchen & in bar [deleted] at [/deleted] under the [indecipherable] Fetched & Took Bill’s babes. Took 3 mess girls for a ride round.
Bed at 3.30-45.
Bob & Bill in at 4.20.
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Sunday 8
Up at 11.45 for lunch. Took Jim & Jimmy – Eva & Margaret to Wells beach. Wizard sun, swim & tea. Ran around for a drop to eat & drink for supper. Bed at 11.45. Put the girls out at WAAF Site.
Monday 9
Up for bfst. Haircut. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice. [/underlined] Shave. [Deleted] & haircut [/deleted] Took “Doc” Murray to Station. Got form to renew licence then went to beach. Back for tea. Read papers. Supper then went to Pictures Not a bad film Had the odd beer or two. Paid mess bill.
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Tuesday 10
Up at 9.45. [Underlined] Posted licence application. [/underlined] No one wanted me in Accts. No one in Section. No mail. Went with Peck (Johnnie), Marg & [indecipherable] to Norwich. Carl for tea then to Pictures. Bath [Underlined] FLAT TYRE [/underlined] Good Supper at Cove. Stopped by Special in civvies – said I was driving without due care & attention. Bed at 11-45. [Underlined] Letter from Mum [/underlined]
Wednesday 11
[Underlined] Letter to & from Mum. [/underlined.
Up for bfst. Nowt doing in Nav. Section. No Mail. Collected [underlined] Reg. Pcl. From Mum. [/underlined] mended two flats & filled one or two tyres. Tea. [Deleted] To [/deleted] Another flat! Took Bill, Jim, Johnnie Peck to Forgan & Mary & Blondie to Walsing. Took Nobby to Langham Rtd. at 2.15 AM. Bed at 3.0.
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Thursday 12
Up at 9.45. Just washed. Flying scrubbed. Sorted Gee Reports out. Lunch. [Underlined] NO MAIL. Letter to Mum & Violet. [/underlined] Sat in office till 3-45. Tea. [Underlined] NO MAIL. [/underlined]
Went to camp show “Ghost in the House.” Quite good. Sneaked into Signals Party.
Friday 13
Up at 8. Bfst. Got Rhur [sic] efforts going. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Davis R. [underlined] Took girls to station then flew to Finningly, Ringway & Abingdon. [Underlined] Another letter from Mum. New licence & log books Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Saturday 14
Up for bfst. Cleared F/O. Clark & started clearing myself. No mail at all. Handed Nav. Kit in. [Underlined] Bank Statement. [/underlined] Took bloke to Fakenham for 2 gals juice & some oil. [Underlined] Start letter to Avice. [/underlined] ENSA Show, Dagenham Girl Piper’s Very Good. Entertained them in the Mess afterwards.
Watch back one hour.
Sunday 15
Up for bfst. Went to flights. Locker Room locked up. Put new contact on dyno cut-out and rewired spot light. Went on beach with 2 Jim’s & Finnymare. Came back for dinner. Argued till 11.0 PM on all sorts of subjects.
[Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Monday 16
Up for bfst. Finished clearing. Filled in petrol application. Packed kit & took it to billet. [Underlined] Two letters from Mum. [/underlined] Took petrol application in. Helped move [deleted] d [/deleted] charts out of Nav Section. Packed personal kit in trunk & for leave. Greer Garson in “Pride & Prejudice”. Very Good. [Underlined] Another NOTE TO AVICE. [/underlined] !!!!
Tuesday 17
Up for bfst. Shaved after & finished packing. Got petrol coupons. 24 gals Loaded car. Got [underlined] letter from Mum. [/underlined] 5 gals in Fakenham. Let off at 1-0. arr home 7-0. Took Bob to Lynn & Joe & another chap to Boston road. Sgt. from [indecipherable] to [indecipherable] & Lt. Coln to [indecipherable] 2 lads to Sheff. Took Pat to C.D. Dance at Assembly Halls.
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Wednesday 18
Up at 10.30. Got busy on tyres. Pint oil. Dinner. Pam at home with sprained ankle. No tyres at Depot so left permits. Got a rear light bulb. Fetched Dad home. Went up to Dick’s. Got 3 cam-rods & a Jack. Home again at 9.30. Cleaned Jack up a bit.
Thursday 19
Up at 9.20. Soldered bottom of petrol tin & eventu got it water tight. Mended shoes & put rubber heels on best. Cleaned & put polish on car – RAIN !!! Took family to Mrs. Rosa. [Underlined] TELEGRAM – RECALL!!! [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Friday 20
Up at 10.30. Went to bank. Put in & took out £10. Gave Mum £2.15. Cleaned rabbits out. Let off at 2.30. Stopped at Lynn for an hour. Picked WAAF up for Messing. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Avice. [/underlined] Went to see Joe at Cranwell.
[Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice [/underlined]
Bed at 12.45 AM.
Saturday 21
Up at 9.30. Went to Nav. Sect. Saw George & got the gen. Astro watch been finished. Had lunch. Put a bit in tyre & put piece of stuff across to protect inner tube. Had tea & went to Wells with Geoff Clark. Late supper on return. Read papers etc & had couple of shandies
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Sunday 22
Up at 9.30. Too late for bfst. Nav. Section at 10.30. S/Ldr. AP.M. Sgt & Cpl & U/T F/O. Eng. arrived about 10.45. Clark made his statement. Made mine after lunch. Had bind about petrol & warrants. Clark got his warrant OK. Try for petrol tomorrow. FIXED?? Tyre. Went to see Belita in “Lady Lets Dance.” Mended !!! tyre again. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined]
Monday 23
Up for bfst. Tyre flat again. Packed bag etc. Went for petrol, got 17 gals. No one in Nav. Section. Saw George. OK to go on leave again Got new ration card. Took Nobby Clark to Lynn & Norman to Boston Home at 7.30. Went to Hacker’s WITHOUT tyre!! Home at 10.30.
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Tuesday 24
Up at 9.15. Went to Hacker’s & mended tyre also topped others up & got 4 gals juice. Loaded car up with wood etc. Took Mum to town Set off at 2.30. Arrived 5.30 [Underlined] AVICE POSTED LAST FRIDAY [/underlined] Unloaded at Mrs. Fosters Had bacon & 2 eggs. Set off back at 7.45. Home at 10.15.
Wednesday 25
Ip at 9.15. Took Pat to school then Dad to work. No con-rods at Ford Depot. so can’t do big end. Got 9 & 11/10 rod for gudgeon pins. Stuck rubber seals on best shoes. Went for a run out Roche Abbey way & Tickhill. Read Wild West before bed. Gran M. not in.
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Thursday 26
Up at 12-0!! [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Went to RGS. Sports Day. Took M & P to High School to fetch Pat & books. 4 gals petrol from R’ham Motor Co. Had tea then went for a run to Kilnhurst. Passed Gran M. on way. Went to Green Lane then to Swinton to Senior’s. Stopped till after 11.0. Home at 11.40.
Friday 27
Took P & P to School then went to Gran’s. Got permit for Gran for extra milk & eggs. Went to S P & T. Eventualy [sic] got “paid.” £8.15s. Went off to O & D. Saw Gordon Got Allen key ground to fit back axle. Went for a run round Maltby, Conisbro’, Mexbro’, & Swinton. Called at Gran’s on way back.
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Saturday 28
Up about 10.0. Took change to Sects (£8.10s.) Banked another 10. Gave Dad 7.5 for carts. Got petrol for tomorrow. [Underlined] Sent TEL to Avice [/underlined] Went to K. [indecipherable] for tomatoes. Called at No 8. Went on to Roche Abbey. Had tea & walk round. Pint shandie with Dad & Gnpa. Packed. Bath.
Sunday 29
Up about 10.0. Did DI & loaded up. Had dinner & set off about 1-0. Arrived Witchford about 6.0. Found SSQ & Avice. Went short run. [Underlined] Broke engagement. [/underlined] Left about 9.30 with ring in my wallet. Picked Clark up at Lynn & also took two women just outside Lynn. Camp at 12.30. // 2 Shandies
[Page break]
JULY 1945
Monday 30
Up for bfst. [Underlined] Collected photos from P.O. [/underlined] No letters in Mess office. Tried for petrol. No coupons. Big parade for APM, Early tea. Got to wait till tomorrow now. Greased car round. Supper then went to show with Cec. Bob & Joe. “This is the Life.” – Susanna Foster. Seen it before. A few cutting scenes. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
Tuesday 31
Up for bfst. Saw adj. Loaded car & went to Foulsham. Got gal. petrol coupon to go. Went to see 192 Adj. Tea. Unpacked. Supper. Went to camp show “Mrs. Parkington.” Greer Garson & Walt Pidgeon.
[Underlined] Letter to Mum & Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Wednesday 1
Up for bfst. Sat in Mess reading. Went to gen talk by S.O & Adj’s also went to see E.V.T. officer. Lunch. Read papers. Game of billiards. Drew nav. kit before lunch. Sat & watched cricket match for a bit. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Doris Ryall. [/underlined]
Went to see Abbot & Costello “In Society.”
Thursday 2
Up for bfst. Shaved. Went to flights. Filled leave pass in. Got ration card. Walked back with Owen & Sam. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Changed & went to W. Raynham to cricket match. Sing-song in pub at Fakenham. 1/2 pt cider in mess on return. Packed for leave.
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Friday 3
Up for bfst. Went back to billet. Fetched Bill’s kit then loaded up. Went to Creake. Had lunch & tried to find some blankets for bed. Parade & short service in hangar. NO TEA. Scrounged a couple of cups & some sandwiches & left ‘em to it. Took Nobby to Lynn, Walker to Bawtry & Bill & Curly home. Bed at 2.0AM.
Saturday 4
Up at 6.30. Took B & C to Westgate Stn. Unpacked. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Read papers [Underlined] Note to Bank. [/underlined] Went round town with Mum & Dad. Had tea then went to Dick’s & Mr. Hackers. Scotty arrived after tea.
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Sunday 5
Up at 10.30. Went with Dad to O & D. & made “doings” for dyno. Dinner then tried fitting dyno. Hole a bit out. Went to Dick’s Out again. Storm. Had tea then went to Gran’s.
Scotty told me about Avice going out with Paddy.
Monday 6
Up about 10.0. Went to Dick’s & got hole drilled. Kev’s Dad took wrong sizes. Went to Grandpa’s. Had 2 + 1/2 pt. Shandies. 3 Land Army girls in “Park.” Fixed Dyno at last. Tea, Fitted cut out switch. 25amp charge with both dynos on together. Took car to bed & Sallie for a walk.
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Tuesday 7
Up at 9.30. [Deleted] Took wheels to Dick’s. Can’t fetch M & D P & P back. Carried on [/deleted] Went to Scotts & met with Sal Bottle medicine for her. Loaded up after [deleted] going to No 8 [/deleted] dinner Set off at 2.45. Saw U. John, Cath, Barrie & Gran T. at [indecipherable]. Arrived at 6.0 PM on the “Pip.” Had tea then went down to have a look at the sea.
Wednesday 8
Up about 9.30 again. Bfst. Walked to [indecipherable] & eventually got down to beach. Lunch at 2.0. Ran down to Chitter. Had a swim & tried to sunbathe. Bit too windy. Had late tea at 7.0. Went into Brid. Quite crowded too. Home at 10.0.
[Underlined] Letter to Bill & Joe. [/underlined]
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Thursday 9
Up about 9.30. Went to beach. Rain & wind. Dinner. Sat & read books till tea & after tea. Going for run but car wouldn’t start. Got it going eventualy [sic] but too late to go for run.
Friday 10
Up at 10. Blowing but sunny. Went to beach & sat in car. Did a bit to Lanc. Had dinner then went on beach. Made “wind shield” to cut N. wind out. Bags of sand blowing .
[Underlined] WAR OVER IN JAPAN [/underlined]
[Underlined] Not official yet! [/underlined]
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Saturday 11
Up about 9.30. Went down to beach. Had swim & sun bathe. Lunch. 4 gals juice. Went to Brid. Bus just left. Chemist, pint oil. Picked Dad up on lane. Went round village. Tea. S/C at 7.15 Went Lissett way. No “Hikers” at all. Home at 10.15. Petrol out of can. Supper at Grans. Bed at 1. After reading papers.
Sunday 12
Up at 9.30. Read paper. Bill & Mum & Dad both rang me up. Put watches in “hole”. Went for car. Mrs. Dryden in a fix. Rats or mice in lounge. Took A’men to Bircotes. S/C at 1.15 Camp at 7.15. Went round Norfolk from Lynn to Fkm. 153 mls. “Cobra Women” Maria Montez Jon Hal & Sabu. Bags of “bush.” [Underlined] 2 letters from Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
[Drawing] Monday 13
Up for bfst. Returned for a shave. Went to Nav. Section, [inserted] Mae West, Chute & Harness [/inserted] Adj. Disap & “A” Flt. Cmdr. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to Nav. Section & Synthetic trainer & Nav Section (Stn.) Tea. Changed for dinner. Went to see “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.”
[Underlined] V.J. DAY [/underlined] Tuesday 14
Up for bfst. Flying with F/L. Hood ferrying kite from Creake. Saw Eve & Mimi in Acrew mess. Bus to Creake. Scrubbed. Saw Marg & Emy in Mess. Made date with them. Changed Picked Molly, Eve & Mimi up & went to Creake Went down to Wells. Saw “Greenwich Village.” carried on to faire & then to Walsingham faire Rtd. at 11.0.
Attlee broadcast [underlined] “Peace in the World.” [/underlined]
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
X Wednesday 15 X [underlined] Gnpa. [/underlined]
Shave. Bfst. Went to Fkham to cash cheque. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] None from her yet. Lunch. Went to picts to see “Eternaly [sic] Yours”. Loretta Young & David Nivilan [sic]. Had tea then changed. Went for dinner. Had 3 shandies. Dance not so hot. Took 3 Creake girls to Creake & had a good dance. Back at 2AM!
Thursday 16
Up for lunch! Took the Girls & Johny to Creake Went in to Wells then show on camp. “The Mask of Demetrios.” Very slow but good. 2 x 1/2 pt in Mess then went to Dance in NAAFI. Do in Sgts. Mess 3 girls a bit under & very well under. Foulsham to Creake & back to Foulsham.
[Underlined] Letter to Gnpa. [/underlined]
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Friday 17
Up at 10. Ferrying on but nor reqd. Changed. Had early lunch. RAIN. Went to Creake. Picked Emy & Marg up. 3 gals juice in Fknm. Had haircut (1/6d) Took an hour!!! Went to see “[deleted] The [/deleted] To Have or Have Not.” Humph. Bogart Rather good. Heart to heart with the two girls.
New Basic petrol book.
Saturday 18
Up for bfst. C.O’s parade scrubbed for flying. Application to keep car on stn. put in. [Underlined] Letter to Mum, Doris & Avice. [/underlined]
More rain. Messed with dyno Had tea. Changed & went to Reepham to Dance. Had some chips & a couple of shandies. Got back about 12.30.
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Sunday 19
Up at 8.15. Church Parade. Not reqd. for ferrying. Had read papers. Got busy with a bit of chemistry at last. Went to a show Brazil. Not so hot. Saw Marie & Mim.
Monday 20
Up for bfst. Got pr. shoes & 4 towels. Nowt doing for me! so read chem book & played patience. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. Two from Mum, one from Dad, P & P. [/underlined] Went to pictures on camp “The Hour Before Dawn.” 2nd time of seeing. Franchot Tone & Veronica Lake. [Underlined] Letter from Doris. [/underlined]
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Tuesday 21
Up for bfst. Went to section. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Letter to Doris [/underlined] Read papers. Went up to section again. Fetched photos from Photo Section. Watched cricket match. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Had supper then went to Reepham to dance with Peck.
[Underlined] Phoned Marg & saw Joan [/underlined]
Wednesday 22
Up for bfst. Went to section. Ferrying from Creake to here. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. [/underlined] Bags of rain Took Bill & “trio” to Creake. Had tea. Took Connie & lad also Margie to Hunstanton Roamed around & went to see ”Under the Clock” Judy Garland.
Left Bill at Creake Camp at 5 to 12.
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Thursday 23
Bfst. Ferrying Creake to Here. Kite U/S so went for lunch. Brought it back OK after lunch with Non Melie & crew. also brought negative of Sqdn. Crest. Ordered 3 x deg copies for lads. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. Letter from Doris. Rapid reply & later a longer letter. [/underlined] Went to see William Bendix & a few others in “Hostages” Very Good.
Friday 24
Bfst. as usual. Ferrying in afternoon. Crew photo. Lunch. [deleted] no mail [/deleted] [Underlined] Letter from Joe Welsh. [underlined] Went to Creake for kite. 15 mins again. All ranks dance in Gym.
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Saturday 25
[Underlined] B.D. Card to Dad. [/underlined]
Up as usual only a bit earlier. Washed my feet. Clean socks & underwear. C.O’s parade. [Underlined] Letter from Mum [/underlined] Car to Norwich. Left it at County Court. Had lunch train at 2.15. 17/10d for ticket [Underlined] Telegram to Doris. [/underlined] Arr 5.45 Doris not there. Got room at Red Shield, Iwers Road, S.K. Went & found Doris’ billet. Went up town. £1.13.3d for dinner (60/- for bottle of wine so said “NO.”) Tube back. Left at 10 to 3. Arr 10 past. Nice little walk.
Sunday 26
Up at about 10. Lunch on Doris near Marble Arch. Went round British Aircraft Exhibition. Tea at place near by. Went to see Betty Hutton in ”Incendiary Blonde”. Quite good. Had bit of supper in flat. Bags of thinking on both our fronts. Left at 2 AM.
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Monday 27
Up at 7.45. Met Doris at Montreal Bank. Cashed cheque for £5. Bought two shirts £3.5 & 14 coupons. Had salad lunch. Rtd to hotel after seeing Doris on her way to work. Went on tour of L’pl St. Simpson’s for ointment. No watch strap. Eileen, Mum & Nan at home. Had tea there Eileen gave me watch strap & Nan receipt for ring. Late getting back Doris wrote letter to Syd. Went for a walk around. Left just after 11-0.
Tuesday 28
Train in at 12.15 AM. Pulled out at 2.40. Norwich at 6.0. Camp at 7. [Underlined] Two letters [indecipherable] from Mum. [/underlined] Had an hour in bed. Bfst. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to flights, nowt on so sent for a swim in mill stream. Lunch. EVT lecture. Sleep on bed. Tea. “Dragon’s Teeth” Quite a good film about China. Changed & had dinner. [/underlined] Another letter from Mum. [/underlined] Bed at 9.30.
[Page break]
AUGUST 1945
Wednesday 29
Up for bfst. Shaved??? Went round [indecipherable] Air test & air to sea. Went to Grimsby, S.O.S, Mablethorpe & Skeg. Vis lousy. Homed on GEE Down to 200 ft to find drome (hr1.05 mins.) [Underlined] Letter from Mum, Norah & Parish Chch. [/underlined] Lunch. [/Underlined] Letter to Mum & Norah [/underlined] Had tea then went to picts. “Make your Bed.” Damn silly but good. Bed at 9!!!!
Thursday 30
Up for bfst. Lecture on DRC. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Letter to Mum & [deleted word] Avice. [/underlined] Went into Foulsham to cash last coupons. Bags of rain. Had tea. Went back to billet. Was pestered by Peck & Co to go to Dance. Gone in in the end.
[Page break]
AUGUST-SEPT. 1945
Friday 31
Bfst. Nowt doing in section. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum [/underlined] also cheque for £20. [Underlined] Request for new book. [/underlined] Lunch. Went to EVT for Gen Know lecture. Got list of lectures for future use. Had tea & supper in battle dress. Sorted kit out in trunk.
Saturday Sept. 1
CO’s parade. [Underlined] 2 letters from Mum. [/underlined] one enclosing [underlined] note from Avice. Letter to Mum [/underlined] after cleaning & polishing car. Changed & went to dance at Reepham with Jimmy & Johnny. Met Cath for first time.
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Sunday 2
Bfst at 9.10. Church Parade & Communion Read papers. Lunch [Underlined] Letter to Doris. [/underlined] Went for swim at Mill. Back for tea. Went to show “Patrick the Great” Usual story of big actor, new young lady, promising son etc. [Underlined] Letter to Avice. [/underlined] Peck doing logs.
Monday 8
Bfst. Went to flights at 9.45. Rhur [sic] tour with Nobby King. T.O. 11.30 back at 3.30 PM. Took 3 or 4 chaps from Creake & a waaf. One lad out of N.C. Off. Mess. [Underlined] NO MAIL. [/underlined] Mess Bill [Underlined] 12/6 Telephone calls!! [/underlined] Only made one call. Went to see “The Fifth Chair.“ Will Bendix, Don Ameche etc, etc, etc.
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Tuesday 4
Bfst. Nav sect. Went to SS4. Saw accident tween car & cycle. Not fatal. [Underlined] 2 letters from Mum. Election card. [/underlined] Lecture on Resettlement also Maths (logs) lecture. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to dance in Reepham.
Wednesday 5
Bfst. As usual. Cleaned office up a bit. Air test in G-George. (35MIN.) Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Guestwich to fetch bat woman’s bike. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to picts. Bing Crosby in “Paris Honeymoon” Quite good & funny [Underlined] Parcelled laundry at last. [/underlined]
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Thursday 6
Bfst. Rhur [sic] Tour with Bill. (4.15hrs) 2 waafs & 2 airmen. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Replied to same. [/underlined] Went with Peck & Jimmy to Reepham.
Friday 7
Bfst. Ferrying to Edzell. Went in Hally & came back in Fort . Got negative of 199 Sqdn. Crest. [Underlined] NO MAIL. [/underlined] Took Bill & 3 girls to Creake. Went to Picts. Saw News reel of Parade also “Sea Hawk with Errol Flynn. Quite good. Crew photo printed OK
[Page break]
[Boxed] * MUM [/boxed] SEPTEMBER 1945
Saturday 8
Up for bfst. C.O’s parade inspected by Sqdn,. Cmdr. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Read papers [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Lunch. Went to village. [Underlined] Got & sent card to Mum. [/underlined] Had tea. Did a bit to Lanc & watched Jimmy do his shield. Dinner. Eventualy [sic] found Cawston Manor & Had a good time Bed at 1.30 M!!
Sunday 9
Didn’t get up till 11.30. Lunch. Read papers. Joyce pressed blue for me. Went to Swannington after dinner. Wandered round peri-track & runways. Found Off Mess & Gym & Kath all ready there Back to billet at 2 AM.
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Monday 10
Bfst. Briefed for Schleswig T/O about 11.0. Took Drs, stuff not ready got lift to town & billets after getting load & changing 10/- to 20 marks. Bryant & self roamed aroundtill feet sore. Met Bill & Bob. Went to RAF Stn for dinner. WIZARD too. Soup; fish; steak, cab, roast & boiled spuds, carrots & sweet! A few ports & a bottle 10 Mks (8/-) Bed at 10 BST 11 C.G.T.
[Underlined] Letter to Mum from Schleswig. Beer & STINK [/underlined] (Seaplanes)
Tuesday 11
Up at 8.30 (7.30 BST.) Bus to Drome. Met duff. Bfst & bus back to town. Tried for picture. Got another 10 Mks. & went back. Got it for bar of choc (2d – 7M.50F – 3/9.) Bought 10 pict. DC’s for 9M50F. Left 2d & 3d bit. Daughter spoke a little English. Sat by lake for a bit. Glass milk & cake in “Malcom Club.” Bus back. Met duff but took off. 2.45 or so, RF25. U/S. Honed at 2-300ft Went to dance with Jack & Jimmy. [Underlined] 2 letters Mum & Newsletter from Clifton [/underlined]
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Wednesday 12 30 Secs Tokio
Up for bfst. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to flights Bill on cricket. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Filled leave book in & got petrol form & had is signed by adj. Bill cricketing. Car sticky again. Had tea & bath. Took Kath to Aylsham. Saw “30 secs over Tokio” Spencer Tracy. Ran out of juice. Pushed car to a garage – pub & got some. Bed at 2.30
Thursday 13
Bfst. [Underlined] Letter from Doris. [/underlined] (in leave box.) [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Bags of rain. Nowt from Mum. Got petrol app. Signed by Sqdn. C.O. Went to dance at Reepham. Took Kath home. Brought Jimmy & Jack back.
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Friday 14
[Underlined] Letter to Mum & Doris (13 pgs) 2 Letters from Mum. [/underlined] Went & had tooth put back then went up to section. Lunch. Went to SHQ for petrol coupons then went round Horsa, Warwick (lifeboat) Ju 188 Typhoon & Mosquito. Tea. Changed. Took Kath & her sister to Swannington then Camp pictures. “Fugitives at Large”. Alan Holt. Gangster effort.
Saturday 15
Bfst. C.O’s parade. NO INSPECTION. Went to sections then I went off to Fham for petrol for tomorrow. [Underlined] Letter & parcel from Mum. [/underlined] Nowt doing in SNO. Eventualy [sic] got Rlwy war. & ration card [underlined] s. [/underlined] Went round Lanc & Hangar. Took two chaps to see Gee & H2S. No tea. Shaved & had dinner. Went to Reepham. Had a few words with Joe. Bed at 2.30 AM!!!!
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Sunday 16
Bfst. Packed & loaded. S/C at 10.40. Took Bill & Jock. Had dinner & got gears at Sleaford. Arr. Sheff at 4.40 PM. Train for Bill at 5.5 & Jock after 8 PM. Home about 5.45. Unloaded bike etc. Saw rabbits. Gnpa & ma for tea. Got busy on short in Gnpa’s car. U.E. & A.E. called. Bed at 1 AM Gave mum port & towels for B.D. present.
Monday 17
Up at 10.30. Gnpa here to see us. No spring for his car. Took “motor” to stn. 3/10d. Fetched bread. Took Sallie with me. Got busy & greased round & dug flints out of tyres. Mr. Dixon called to see us. Washed, shaved & changed. Pam cleaned buttons. Went to Dance. Had good time. [Underlined] Letter to Kath. [/underlined]
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Tuesday 18
Up about 11.30. Lunch after starting on bike. Got cotter out OK but can’t budge crank. Went to O & D for some oil, parafin [sic] & grease. Moved crank!!! but can’t get it off. Banged, hammered, filed & twisted it off & my thumb, with Dad’s help. Sorted Mum’s & Avice’s letters.
Wednesday 19
Up at 10.30. Took spindle out of crank & sorted balls out. 2 smashed. Got two new pins for back brakes on car. Ground spindle down to fit chain wheel. Fitted it on return home but cone too loose. Fitted pins on brakes & attempted spot light. Went to Jock’s to ask about valves. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & Avice. [/underlined]
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Thursday 20
Up at 8.30. Took Dad to work also bike & bits. Got busy & took head off & de-coked it. Bags of carbon. Eventualy [sic] got sump off. Had lunch with Mr. Carpenter. No 1 big end bad. Changed it. Also checked tothers [sic] No 4 not too good but will do. Cleaned rods etc up a bit. Ready to put sump on now.
No mail from Cath.
Friday 21
Early again. Got sealing wax & pen nibs. Only half gasket for sump, no pins for wheels. Finished cleaning & oiling springs. Put sump back. Collected £sd from SP & T. Fetched qt. oil from down road. Cyl. head gasket leaked so had to put on again. Filled up with oil & water & started up eventualy [sic]!!! One plug not working. [Underlined] Letter from Cath. [/underlined] Went to Gnpa’s. Got couple of lugs off him. [Underlined] Letter to Cath [/underlined]
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Saturday 22
Up at 8.30. Took Dad to O & D. Got busy on dyno fixture. Did it all but having bit taken off fully. Dennis arrived when we got home. Gnpa & Ma called at 3. Got off eventualy [sic] at about 4. Went to Sherwood Forest. Couldn’t go & see Major Oak. Out of Bounds. Had tea & came back. Got to No 8 just after dark. Home at 11.0.
Sunday 23
Up at 11.0. Mended ? Pat’s puncture. Helped Dad with Shelter. Got a bit of the end out. Went down to O & D for pulley & to take Percy Lowe & Whiting up towards home. Hanna & pals came to tea & had a bit of a sing song. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined]
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Monday 24
Up at 11.0. Read paper & [underlined] letter from Cath. [/underlined] Got busy on brakes. Took nearly all afternoon. Fitted dyno on & its OK for the moment. Fetched Dad from O & D in my “muck.” Went to dance at Wickersly with Mr. D. P & P. Gave Dad £38 cheque for £11.10 for 20 certs.
Tuesday 25
Up about 10.0. Did my shoes. Read paper. Went to Gran’s for case for shed Took shoes to Timsons & went for Dad. Took him to Station then went to Jock & Dick’s. Got some oil off Dick & returned Jock’s con-rods. Uncle Wilf [inserted] came [/inserted] for tea. Went up to Hanna’s for evening. Returned at 11.30. Mary gave me razor & [indecipherable].
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Wednesday 26
Up about 9.0. Packed a bit Went to O & D for bike Not done but brought it with me. [Underlined] Haircut [/underlined] Had 2 cups of tea with Mr. Carpenter. Loaded up. Took Mum to town. S/C about twenty to 3. Arrived at 5 to 8. Dinner. [Underlined] Letter from Violet & Bank Stmnt. [/underlined]
Put bike together. Lads arrived at about 10 or 11.
Thursday 27
Bfst. Nowt doing. RAIN. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Lunch. No Mail. [Underlined] Letter to Mrs. Hanley & Doris R. [/underlined]
Gave RLWy warrant in. Unused.
Nowt doing in afternoon. Went to Dance at Reepham didn’t get to bed till 3-0.
[Page break]
SEPTEMBER 1945
Friday 28
Up for bfst. Naval movmnt op WORK!! New gen on M/F fixes. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & note from Avice with ring Letter to Mum. [/underlined] In Nav. off. all afternoon. Had tea & went for bath. Worked late. Went to Aylsham to see “Kiss the Bride Goodbye.” Got back to Cawston about 9.45. Showed Cath the photos. Gave her one of me in café. Bed at 2 AM.
Saturday 29
Up at 7.45. Damn cold & damp. Roll call. Insp. by Sqdn. Cmdr. Went to billet & did some Chemistry!!! [Underlined] Letter from Mum & P.C from Ford Depot. [/underlined] Read papers. Collected fire wood. Shaved in Mess. Picked Cath up at 6.30. Went to Cawston Social. Red X do. Finished about 11-0. Bed at 2.0.
[Page break]
SEPT.-OCT. 1945
Sunday 30
Up at 8.50. Bfst. Church Parade. Sat in mess & wrote [underlined] letter to Mum. [/underlined] & read papers. Tried to do some Chemistry Had sleep. Tea late. Washed & shaved. Arr. at Cawston at 7.45. Tea & cake. Went to dance at 9.0. Stayed till 12.0. Bed at 2.15.
Monday Oct. 1
Up for bfst. I/C Nav Section. Messed about generaly. [sic] [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. [/underlined] Did Chem problems. Had tea & changed. Cawston at 6.30 Cath got to go to Red X Lecture. Sat at home & read paper. Went for Hellen not on train. Fog. Left at 12.30. Fog gone.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Tuesday 2
Bfst. Sorted a few maps out for myself. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum [/underlined] Collected maps. Messed about with landing Cat. Went fit lead light. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Tea. Washed & changed. Went to Aylsham. & saw “Slam Business.” Bed at 2.30!!!
Wednesday 3
Bfst. Short talk by C.O on Watton. Maps again [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum Letter from Doris. [/underlined] Tearing old logs & charts up. Tea. Washed & changed. Cath’s at 6.45. Red X lecture again. Bed at 1.0 AM – improvement!
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Thursday 4
Bfst. paper tearing. Went to Watton. Late lunch. Mess Bill (£2) [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Mucked out a bit in Section. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Tea then went to see “Prisoner of Zenda.” Quite good. Washed & changed. Took Johnny to Reepham & went to Cath’s. Didn’t go out. Bed at 1.0AM.
Friday 5
Bfast. Air Test. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. [/underlined] Ferrying Scrubbed. Went to Watton with load. Back tor tea. Cath’s 6.45. Went to Swannington to see Humph. Bogart in “To Have & Have not.” Left at 12.30. Party just finished in Mess.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Saturday 6
Bfst. Run up then trip. Scrubbed. Bags of Ribbon off “winds” Went over after lunch. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. [/underlined] Cath’s at 6.30. Went to her pal’s wedding party, had pretty good time. Bed at 2AM. Watch back an hour.
Sunday 7
Didn’t get up till 12.15. Went to Cath’s for tea. Dance at Swannington. Dead loss. No one there & darn cold. Bed at 2. AM.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Monday 8
Bfst. Nowt doing so came back to billet & did bit of sorting out & packing. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. [/underlined] Went on scrounge for some juice. Tea after shave. Kay Keyser at cinema Changed for dinner. Cath’s at 9.15.
Tuesday 9
[Deleted] Bfst. [/underlined] Didn’t get up till 10.15. Paid mess bill & got clearances finished. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Pam. [/underlined] Lunch. [Underlined] letter to Mum [/underlined] Went scrounging petrol. Packed bag then went for tea. Cath’s at 6PM. Went to see “Make your Own Bed” at Swan’ton. Bed at 12.0. at Mrs. Budrey’s.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Wednesday 10 [Drawing]
Cath woke me at 8.50. Bfst. then went off in van. Back for tea at 5.30. Had tea & usual [underlined] “fight.” [/underlined] then went to Aylsham & saw “Twilight Hour” also a Dogwood effort. Camp at 2.0.
[Underlined] Photos from Avice [/underlined] but no negatives.
Thursday 11
Bfst. Packed & loaded up. Full to top. Fetched coupon for juice & set off. Took about 45 mins. Booked in. Unloaded & fixed billet up. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Sorted kit out & furniture. [Underlined] P.C. to Bank, Letter to Mum Cath, Avice & Doris. [/underlined]
Bed at 11.30.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Friday 12
Bfst. Parade at 9.45. Few words by G/C Willis. Went to F.Ham to clean up Nav. Section. Had lunch there. Came back at 3PM. [Underlined] Letter from Mum P & P. Letter to Mum & Violet. & Cath & Pam. Bath. [/underlined]
Saturday 13
Bfst. Jock Barren going on leave. Few “brushes” with O’Leary Deputy Nav Ldr. [Underlined] Letter to & 2 letters from Mum. [/underlined] Messed about with boiler for ages. Finaly [sic] got off at 4PM. Got licence in. Dereham. Cawston at 5.15. No one at home. Vera & Cath came a few mins later. Joe arr’g Norwich 11.PM. Went to fetch him. Ride for an hour or so. Train early so missed Joe. Bed at 12 PM.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Sunday 14
Up at 10. After Cath dragged me out. Bfst. Messed about till lunch. Went nutting for chestnuts on Peter’s bike. Joe went at about 5PM. Sat around reading. Bed at 1 AM.
Monday 15
Up at 7. Bfst at Cawston. Camp at 9 AM. Went to flights in car. Nowt doing except cleaning up section. Lunch [Underlined] No Mail. [/underlined] Went to section (s) roamed around. Tea & still no mail. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Went to dance with Johnnie.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Tuesday 16
Bfst. Flights. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined] Filled leave application in & took to Central Movements. Got Car & bike forms. Filled em in. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum. [/underlined] Applied for petrol & fixed forms up for bike & car. [Underlined] Letter to Loughboro [/underlined] Dinner. [/Underlined] Letters to P & P. [/underlined]
Wednesday 17
Bfst. Went to flights. Usual amount of work. Went round kite checking on H2S etc. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Cath, Mum & Mr. Dixon [/underlined] Went to see about petrol Had to write another letter a bit stronger. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined] Missed camp post. Changed for tea. Took Bill, Bob, Les & Dick to Norwich. Peck & I went to picts. Saw Hedy Lamarr & Paul Heinrich in “The Conspirators” also “G.I. Honeymoon” Back at 11.15. CRAZY
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Thursday 18
Bfst. Messed ahout. Went down to Watten for haircut. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Cath. [/underlined] Left section about 3. Took box for fire wood. Cleaned car & polished same after tea. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined] Post went before 3.50. Turned bur round & did back. Changed tyres for a bit better one & messed with wiper. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
Friday 19
Bfst. Went to flights. Had look in locker & got flying times. Had look at H2S trainer. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Cath, Mum & Pam. [/underlined] Flights. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined] SNO’s office. Bath. Changed. Tea. Set off about 5. Got 1 1/2 galls juice. Arr. 6.15. Rough House!!! Didn’t go out.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Saturday 20
Bfst about 10.30. Cath fetched me. Messed about all day till tea time. Took Vera & Cath to Reepham to dance. Joe came down on bike. Brought him back.
Sunday 21
Bfst at 10. Up before Cath!!! Chick for dinner Messed with wiper & cleaned inside out. Tea. Took Joe to Norwich Train at 10. so went to picts. Laurel & Hardy in “Jitterbugs” & E.G. Robinson in “I am the Law!” RAIN!!
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Monday 22
Up at 7. Cath called me. No X. Bfst at 7.45. On the road at 10 past 8. Camp at 9.5. [Underlined] Letter from M. & Cath [/underlined] Ready changed, got bike & went to flights. Hours wanted & ops. XC. briefed. Early lunch. SCRUB. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & Mum Letter from Mum & Calendar from Loughboro. [/underlined] Discussion in Section on teaching. [Indecipherable] on Pecks bike. Putty!! Supper Fixed loop on dyno. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Mrs. Hanley. [/underlined]
Tuesday 23
Bfst. Rain. Went up to section. No flying. Read TM’s till 11.0. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Section. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & Mum. [/underlined] Went to EVT Bod & got some gen also collected 10 coupons for leave. Had tea & wired insp. lamp up for car. Dinner. Listened to news at 9. Kit sorting for leave.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Wednesday 24
Bfst. Very dull. Rained. Moved map chests. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Cath. [/underlined] Lunch. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined] No one in section. Went to billet. Fitted plug on insp lamp & on car. Tea. Cake hauling after “lifting” box for rabbits. Dinner. [Underlined] Letter to Mum [/underlined]
Did lesson III of Chemistry
Thursday 25
Bfst. Late! Nobby playing patience. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Cath & Mum. [/underlined] Lunch [underlined] Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined] Packed bag. Pouring with rain. Went to Fham Had two near misses. Cath at Red X Exam. Still bags of rain.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Friday 26
Up at 7.0. Bfst at 8.0 Camp at 9.50!! Loaded up & got on way at 10.30. Bags of rain & wind got wrong road at Watten. Dropped Johnnie at K. Lynn. Had lunch at Sleaford. 3lb. pears 3/-. Gal juice. Still blowing & raining. Out with family to picts to see “Waly Time.” with Anne Zeigler & Webster Booth & Richard Tauber.
Saturday 27
Quick bfst at 11.30. Went to see Elsie Storey married Spoke to Mr. Dixon & Joyce Richardson & her young man (Sgt. 14th Army.) Took Pam to Music Lesson. Took crank out of bike. Helped Dad with hutch. Took bike to O & D. Brought Percy Lowes & Stan Brab. to town. Got gal juice. Picked Mum up in town. Stuck sabs on shoes. Went to Gran’s. Bed at 2.0 AM.
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Sunday 28
Up at 10.30. Fetched car & got two spares off. Took tyres off. Cleaned & painted 3 best rims. Dinner. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined] Put new tyres on & blew ‘em all up. What a job too. Tea. Messed about with switches & landing light. [Underlined] Letter to Elsie. [/underlined]
Monday 29
Up about 10.30. [Underlined] 2 letters from Cath. [/underlined] Put switch on for lead light & made heater switch ring. Also put trafficator together & drilled & painted it. Poured with rain all day. Went to Dance at Wickersly
[Page break]
OCTOBER 1945
Tuesday 30
Up at 9.30. Fitted heater ring & altered head light switch. [Underlined] GNPA gave me 2 gals. [/underlined] Painted roof. Filled a few holes with Bostic & put some “draught excluder2 on doors. [Underlined] Letter from Cath [/underlined] Took Dad to Chadwicks, then went to Hacker’s. Ran out of juice. Fetched wood & Dad from work. Dad [indecipherable] by me made small insp. lamp. Made some fire works. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined]
Wednesday 31
Up at 9.45. Packed bag Fetched car & changed wheels Packed odds & ends inside Set off about 11.30. No spare petrol anywhere. Lunch at Sleaford. No pears Got spare gal at F’ham. Went via Foulsham to avoid traffic. Arr. 6.10. Shaved with interruptions as usual from Cath. Both lost tempers. [Underlined] Letter to Mum [/underlined]
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Thursday 1
10.0 o’clock as usual. Put trafficator on & had glance at dyno. Did spot of mixing! Changed & went to camp. Car bad starting. Took Cath, Marg & Dad. Got changed & went into Norwich. Went to Cove & then to see Phyllis Calvert & James Mason in “They Were Sisters”.
Friday 2
Up about 10.0. Put windscreen wipers on, two together. Car wouldn’t start so Cath & Marg pushed a bit. Went & got 3 gals juice to improve the paraffin. Went to Norwich then on to Betty’s. Had tea & played cards Locked to [sic] car up with keys inside so had to cut the chain. Home about 12.0. Bags of rain.
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Saturday 3
Up about 10. Put new lamp holder in rear light on bike. Had to earth front lamp. Fixed insp. lamp up that Dad made me. Went to Norwich after dinner. Roamed around & bought new chain. Saw Bob & Les. Had tea at Haymkt. Went & saw “Dillinger” & “Twice Blessed.”
[Underlined] 2 letters from Home. [/underlined]
Sunday 4
Up at 9.30. Bacon & egg bfst. Filled [sic] bit off trafficator to free it. Fitted switch on dash & “backing light” on back. Puttied round ventilator to keep rain out. Went to Norwich. Picked Joe up on our way in. Saw Kay Keyser in “My Favourite Spy.” also “We Meet Again” for second sitting. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Joe locked me out so woke Cath & slept in chairs.
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Monday 5
Dad up at 5.15. 2 cups of tea. Cath up at 7.15 another cupa. Vera up later & another cupa twice. Another with Hellen & Marg then one before I left. FTB!! [Underlined] Letter from Mess Bill & BIET. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined] Rations. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Garage TAKEN by [indecipherable] Bed at 10.30.
Tuesday 6
Up at 8.10. Bfst. Flights. Gee XC. T/O 11.10. Airborne 3 hrs. Joe did bit of Gee for about half hour. Down at 2. Lunch in A/mns Mess No Mail. Car wouldn’t start so had tow. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined]
Fixed dyno. Needs new brush. Went short run to pep battery up. Head lamp bulb gave on “full.” Bed at 11.0.
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Wednesday 7
Lousy bfst. H2S. X.C. H2S U/S so used GEE. Only up 2.20. Had lunch in our mess. NO MAIL. Made log book up & took it down to flts. Went in car for some stamps. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined] Did bit of Handicraft Drawing. Bed at 10.15.
Thursday 8
Up for Bfst. Fixed up to take 2 lads to Norwich & on to Cawston. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & two from Cath Letter to Cath. [/underlined] Witnessing officer on pay parade in No I & III hangar. Picked lads up at gate & 3 more. Nice big load. Caths at 5.30 – 6PM. Went to Aylsham & saw “The Agitator” Rather queer but Good. Bed at 2AM.
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Friday 9
Up at 5 to 7 without being called. Bfst & off at 10 to 8. Picked lads up at 25 past & on camp for 9. Did Taff Owen’s “0.0.” Nowt unusual as yet. (8.30PM.) [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Mrs. Dixon & SPT. [/underlined] Sat in Adj’s office & ans’d his phone & C.O’s. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & Mum [/underlined] Party in mess. Went to Curly’s room.
Saturday 10
Up at 8.0. Got flag up OK in end. Bfst. Gave Key to Ast. Adj. & handed over to Warner. X wind again Ferrying tomorrow! so No Church Parade. Took Curly to Norwich. No Mail. Got 3 gals juice & 3 pints oil in Nwch. Had tea & went to picts in Norwich. Sonya Heni. Bed at about 2!! Picked Joe up on way back.
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Sunday 11
Up at 10.0. Bfst. Put 2 gals in. Had ammeter out & cleaned terminals. Changed door straps at back & put lock catch on offside one. Went to Heydon Memorial Service. Had tea & went to Haymarket Cinema in Norwich. [Underlined] Tears. [/underlined] Bed at 12. for a change.
Monday 12
Up at 7.10. after Cath called me. Left at 8.40. Camp at 9.40. Flying scrubbed. [Underlined] Letter from & to Mum from Cath. [/underlined] (written in section.) Got changed & put g’tcoat on. Caths at 5.30 affn. Went to dance at Cawston. Left at 11.45. with some of the lads from Swannington & Valerie. Bed at 1.30.
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Tuesday 13
Called by Cath at 8!!! Slice bread & cup cocoa for bfst. Left at 10 to 9. Camp at 10. to 10. Nowt doing except lecture for A/B’s. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined] Took Peck home. Met wife & people he is staying with. Little girl took to me OK. Retnd. & changed. Car in garage. Conjuring tricks by Sports officer. Bed at 9.30. Sleep at 10.0
Wednesday 14
Up at 8.0. Bfst. 55 mins air to sea. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] P.T. & basket ball. Tea. [Underlined] BATH Letter to Cath & Mum. [/underlined] Went on scrounge for juice. Had spot of supper in YM in Swaffham. Shave at 10.30. Bed afterwards
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Thursday 15
Bfst. Frost in night. Flights. Not flying. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Cath Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Had look at Kira’s bike £2/10s but not so hot so don’t think I’ll bother. Got changed etc & went to Nwch & Cawston. Didn’t go out so drained rad. Bed at 12.0? or maybe 11?
Friday 16
Up at 7.15. Tried car at 7.45. No joy. Stuck till 10.15. Tow by beet lorry. Cost me 4/-. Got to camp at 11.30. Not flying thank goodness. Saw F/Lt. Yates about seeing A.O.C. tomorrow re – Gee map. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & wedding cake from Elsie Storey. [/underlined] Got rods for car & wired them up. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Saturday 17
Bfst. Went to flights then to see A/C. Weston. He got [indecipherable] on plane & I was held for 3/4 hr. Had to ring up “Maps” for a set of the World. [Underlined] Letter from Cath & Mum. Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Picked up Harry. Got drop of “aqua” & set off for some eggs. Stuck an hour with petrol pump Caths about 6. Went to 2nd house. Aylsham. George Brent & Hedy Lamarr.
Sunday 18
Up at 10.10. Cath just getting up. Helped Joe with tyre and started my head light. Finished after lunch. Did path before lunch & helped Joe again after lunch with another tyre. Took gang less Marg to Norwich. Joe went for train we went to Haymarket to see Sonja Heni in “Lovely to Look At” (1933!!!)
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Monday 19
Up at 7.15. Took Cath & Hellen to Norwich. Didn’t see Harry. Not flying till 1.30 PM. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Violet. Bank stmt [/underlined] 1.25hrs flying. Gee Homing & SBA. Had Elsies wedding cake. [Underlined] Letter to M & Cath. [/underlined]
Did some woodwork drawing.
Tuesday 20
Bfst. Nowt in Nav. section. Went to SHQN. Maps not arrived. Made up topo for local area. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] SHQN. Haircut. Gave Harry 2 gals back & 10/- Took car out garage & put close to house. [Underlined] Letter to Mum, Cath & Elsie. [/underlined]
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Wednesday 21
Bfst. Sat around in section. Went to SHQN. Maps not arrived as yet so rang up Command again. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Cath. [/underlined] Went & watched F’ball match & hockey. Dyno’s won 4/3. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Got bus going. New bloke in billet. Too foggy to go out. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined] Supper, Geom. Drawing.
Thursday 22
Bfst. Rain. Went to section. Nowt doing. SHQN. Maps arrived so got busy. Penciled [sic] circles in for areas. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Cath. [/underlined] Section & SHQN Put circles in in coloured pencil. Went to see A/C. Weston again. Wanted local map. 6” – miles. Had to order some over phone. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined]
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Friday 23
Bfst. Posted letters. Bags of organising to buzz off. Went to SHQN. Took Les to Thetford. Went to Mkt. for a few eggs. Got a “few” 3!!! Got some petrol & had lunch in Swaffham Didn’t get changed to go to Cath’s. Put car in Mr F’s shed. Didn’t go out. Bed at 12.0.
Saturday 24
Got up at 10. Fetched bus. Petrol pump NBG. Had look at it. Sucks OK. Pipes clear. Cleaned round a bit. Spare wheel rubbed. Had one of whipers [sic] to pieces. Battery topped up Took M. to Norwich for glasses & some apples. Saw Bry. Went to Aylsham & saw “Between Two Women” & “[indecipherable] in Hollywood”
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Sunday 25
Up at 10. Trafficator bulb reqs. re-soldering. Topped up with oil. Other whiper [sic] to pieces. Hole in side of new tyre. Worn by spare wheel bracket. Hole filling soln. gone hard Put tyre back on Vera’s bike. Filled bath with water. Scrap with Cath. Tea. Shaved & changed & went to “Ship”. Had shandy & thanked landlord for use of shed. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
Monday 26
Cath called me at 7.15. Raining a bit. Bfst. Ted arrived at 8.45. Beginning to give him up. Camp at 9.50. Whipers [sic] not quite synch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Two from Cath. [/underlined] Parcelled laundry & posted it. Nav Sect. SHQN. back to Sect. Tea. Put maps up on A/Cmdrs office wall had to do list of Clrs a bit bigger. Washed & changed. [Underlined] Letter to M & G. Bed. 10.30. [/underlined]
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Tuesday 27
Bfst. 3 1/2 hr DR. X.C. with F/L. Dickinson. Lunch in AMn’s mess. OK too. [/underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Read papers Section. Stores. No A/C. Europe. Tea. Read papers. Changed. Supper. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & Mum. [/underlined]
Bed. 10.30.-45.
Wednesday 28
Bfst. Short natter by G/C re parade tomorrow. Dug grass up outside Section with Barnstack. [Underlined] 2 Letters from & 1 to Cath [/underlined] Tooth filled at 4PM. riddled coke. No fresh left. Changed. Took Bill, Bob & Les to [indecipherable] Fog. 6/- for 2 new “spot” bulbs. Saw “Over 21.” Not too bad, bags of fog on way back.
[Page break]
NOVEMBER 1945
Thursday 29
Up at 7.10. Bfst. Parade at 8.10. Insp. by A/Cdr. Flights. Nowt on but sat nattering. Lunch. [Underlined] 2 letters from Mum. [/underlined] None from Cath. Section after lunch. Made log book up for month. Warned out of flying with G/C. Willis. [Underlined] Letter to Ma [/underlined] after tea.
Friday 30
Bfst. Went with Bill for aqua. Took him, Bob & Jimmy Knox to Stn. Lunch. [Underlined] 2 letters from Cath, one from Mum & Elsie. [/underlined] Read papers. Packed luggage/picked map Clerk up & S/C about 4.15. Cath’s at 5.15-30. Went to Aylsham “Tarzan’s Secret Treasure” Seen it before. Dad home.
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Saturday 1
Up at 10.0. Had a go at table & fixed some of it up. Read paper. Took Vera to Cawston Joe arrived when we got back & Cath passed us on the way. Drop of rain. Hellen & Marg went to Norwich.
Sunday 2
Up at 10.0. Bfst. Got some water. Fetched “bus.” Tried to grease round but no grease in gun. Had dinner & sat reading papers. Took bus back to Camp. 3 lads from Swannington came for tea. Ddn’t go out.
[Page break]
DECEMBER
Monday 3
Up at 7.15. Cath only just up. Went on round with here. [sic] Got 2 pairs of stockings [deleted] with [/deleted] for Cath. Vera off club so we can go home tomorrow. Sat reading till 11.0. Car frozen stiff when I tried to put her to bed. Got her going with bags of pushing. Bed at 1. AM.
Tuesday 4
Up at 8.45. Set off at 10.40. Bags of carb trouble Got some juice & cleaned jets out. Had lunch in K’s Lynn. Home at 5 PM. Dad not home. Went to take Pat to Bessie’s. Came home & changed & went to Gran’s.
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Wednesday 5
Up at 9.45. Bfst. bacon & egg. Mucked cupboard out. Dinner. Fetched bus. Changed & went to Gran’s. Gnpa in bed. Went shopping. Got diary, Bible, drawing sets. Fetched Dad from work. Went to Grans after tea. A. Les. there & quite affable. Mum & Dad arrived at 10 PM. Glass of wine.
Thursday 6
Up at 9.15 & again at 9.45. Bfst. bacon & egg. Went shopping again. Got pair of gloves & lamp plug. No gloves for Cath. Got wood for Gnpa. Took Pat for Exam. Went to Grans for tea Xmas Crackers. Had P & P & Cath pushing to get home. Went to see Jock & Dick & Ford Depot. Gave Cath my ring.
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Friday 7
Up at 9.0 & 10.0. Changed plug & pipe on pump re-fastened carb on. Packed & loaded S/C at 3.30. Arr. 8.15. Got puncture in re-tread. Joe helped change wheels. Put “her” on corner & covered “her” up. Bed at 1.0.
Saturday 8
Up at 6.10. Had to push with Joe’s help to get her going Ran big end out after first mile or two. Got to Stn at 7.5 Train still in. Home again at 7.40. Cath still in bed. Went on round with her. Bags of tea snow & cold! Dad home [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Sunday 9
Bfst at 10.0. Busy mending puncture & filling holes in tyre. Before & after lunch. Read paper. Went & tried to start car but no joy. Had shandy at home. Bed at 1230.
[Underlined] Letter to Mum [/underlined] (Cath & I)
Monday 10
Up at 7.50. Just saw Cath as she left home. Car almost started Got tow & she went OK after 5-10 yds. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Cath [/underlined] Paid mess bill. Flights. Started on car did one or two odd jobs.
[Underlined] Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined]
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Tuesday 11
Up at 8.20. Posted letters. Bfst. Flights. H2S. X-C. Curly as B/A. Scrubbed FOG. Lunch. No mail. Got busy. Took car’s exhaust & inlet manifold off, pump, valve cond cyl lead sump & No 1 piston out or off. No’s 1 & 3 valves (EX) burned out. Stripped front brake pads & cleaned them. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Cath [/underlined]
Wednesday 12
Up at 7.15. Bfst. Posted letters. Parade. Insp. by Sqdn Ldr. Due to do A/S & 3 eng ldg. Fog so scrubbed. Did speed test. [Underlined] Letter from Cath [/underlined] Got away in car with Harry’s help. Tea & busy again. Dinner. Read a few papers. Geoff Kim on run for some valves. [Underlined] Letter to Cath. [/underlined]
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Thursday 13
Up at 8.15. Flying on & off. Eventualy [sic] went on GEE homing. Had to cut. Escape hatch falling out. Took off eventualy [sic] (H) for 50 mins. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Cath. [/underlined] Went to try for valves etc. No joy. Got 2 exhaust out & inlet. Put sump back. Got Xmas cards. Drawn for bottle of gin. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & Xmas cards to Violet & Elsie [/underlined]
Friday 14
Bfst. F/A & 3 eng landing. Lunch. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Cath [/underlined] Got busy & eventualy [sic] wangled some valves. Got paste & funnels. In hours c & l’s night. Flat tyre. Had tea & ground a few [deleted] more [/deleted] in. Dinner. Busy & did lot Put cover on, pump & exhaust cone inlet same carb. Bed at 1AM
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Saturday 15
Up for bfst. Got cyl. head on OK. Harry put wheels on. Going OK but rattles a good bit. More oil quietened it down a lot. Got nearly to Dereham & she ran out again [Underlined] Letter to Mum, Cath St. James & Bank stmnt. [/underlined] Left her at little garage between Dereham & Nwch. £2 odd for 4 new cam rods. Caths at 6.
Sunday 16
Up at 10.0. Rain. Didn’t go out at all. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] Bed at 12.30.
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Monday 17
Up at 6.30. Bfst. On road at 8. Camp at 10.30. Lecture on Lanc. fuel systems. [Underlined] Letter from Mum & Cath [/underlined] Went for car towed to Dereham. Took engine out. I stripped it. Tea in “Sally Ann”. Bust!! Couple of shandies. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & Mum Cards to Dennis, Mrs. Hanley, David, Doris, Les Swales, Joe, Ken, Mrs. Mace, U. G. G.T. U.G.M. Vera, Dad F. Mum & Dad. [/underlined]
Tuesday 18
Bfst. X wind again. Lecture on Lanc. Went to Dereham. Took pulley wheels off & studs out. Towed chassis back to camp. No mail. Went for some juice in Chuck’s car. [Underlined] Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined]
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Wednesday 19
Bfst. No flying. Lecture by F/O. Bates. Went to village & got some stamps. [Underlined] Posted Xmas Cards. Card & letter from Cath. [/underlined] Did some Chemistry & a bit of Geom. Drawing. Tea. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & card. [/underlined] Supper. Took “Lady” out for trot round garden. Finished lesson No 4. Chem
Thursday 20
Bft. DR XC. in K. (3.35.) Dinner in AMs mess at 3.15. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. Card from Corby. [/underlined] Read papers. [Underlined] Letter to BIET supplies. [/underlined] Changed. Dinner. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Friday 21
Bfst. On XC. 5hr DR but Bill O.O. so got out of it. Got ration cards for weekend & 4 days (3 x 48’s.) Lunch [Underlined] 2 letters from Cath. [/underlined] Bath. Packed. Bill £2/10s for bike. S/C at 3.0PM Dereham at 4. PM. Train 5.35. 1/1d ticket. Bottle of ink from Wooley’s. Nowt else. Cath’s at 7.0 One change. Icing cakes Bed at 12.0.
Saturday 22
Up at 7.0. [Deleted] Met [/deleted] Cath at Dents at 8.15. Finished round at 5. Cold turned warmer. Bit of heavy rain. Several cups of tea the odd apple & biscuit. Dad home. Sos & spud tea. [Underlined] Letter to Mum. [/underlined] (under Cath’s orders.) Joe home
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Sunday 23
Up at 10.0. Cath didn’t get up. Got her some gin from “Ship.” Had her dinner in bed. Gather up for tea Nellie, Cliff, & Kennie came for tea.
Monday 24
Up at 7.0. Walked to Cawston with Helen. Cath got flat battery. Chased round Buxton finished all but 7 by lunch. Had to go back for fresh load. Cup-a-at home & at (Mrs) Winnie Dents. Finished Buxton & went to Aylsham. Got two boxes powder (Helen & Marg.) Lost temper with Marg. Filled! stockings with Cath.
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Tuesday 25
Up about 10.0. Nothing extra special. Didn’t go anywhere.
Wednesday 26
Went to Cawston to see about bus for Joe. They left in a panic for 4.30. Waited in rain. Joe had to hitch. Family returned.
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Thursday 27
Scramble to get ready to catch 12.18 train. Made it with 10-15 mins to spare. Went to Samson Tea Dance. Went round faire for few mins. then went to Carlton & saw “Duffy’s Tavern.” 8.40 train filled out at 9.30. Home at 11.0 Fetched couple of loaves from bakery with Cath Bed at 12.30.
Friday 28
Up at 7.0. Raining!! Walked to Cawston with Cath’s bike. Left it to be done up. Train at 10.10 (10.25) Still wet at Thetford. No hitch for 1/2 hr or so. Geoff Kira picked me up in the end. No flying. [Underlined] 2 Letters from Mum, Gran, Violet Card from David & Doris [indecipherable] [/underlined] Went with Chuck to Warton His gasket gone. [Indecipherable] 12-6. [Underlined] Letter to Cath & Mum. [/underlined]
[Page break]
DECEMBER 1945
Saturday 29
New battle dress etc. No flying. [Underlined] Letter from Mum. [/underlined] Had lunch & left about 3.PM. Bought inner tube for Cath. Bags of rain & sludge. Lunch 4PM. Roamed around for odds & ends. S/C for Cawston 4.30. Arr. at 10 to 6. Didn’t go out at all. Sewed braids, wing & ribbons on battle dress.
Sunday 30
Up about 9.30. Helped a bit. Sewed new ribbons on best tunic. Went with Cath to Cawston to Dents for a new loaf. Bed at 11.30. Locked out!
[Page break]
DEC. 1945-JAN. 1946
Monday 31
Cath called me at 7.20. Bfst. Roads icy & fog. S/C at 8.10. Arr. at 10.25. Foggy at Watton so I was OK. Put clean dry clothes on & left others to dry. No flying morning or afternoon because of fog. [Underlined] Letter from Mum Letter to Mum & Cath. [/underlined] Bed at 11.0.
[Page break]
[Deleted] 27 MARCH } GNPA & FLO
28 MARCH } [/deleted] THOMPSON
OCT GNMA &
AUG PA. MACHIN
[Deleted words]
4 AUG DAD 12 APL – PAT & CATH
SEPT MUM 28 JUN – PAM.
TYRE GOODYEAR 58 D 89554
79,182 aircrew lost.
[List]
[Sets of Figures]
[Page break]
[Flower]
Pressed flower inserted between
Mon 26 – Thurs 29 March 1945.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Keith Thompson diary 1945
Description
An account of the resource
Covering all of 1945, Keith Thompson was a navigator on 1659 Conversion Unit at RAF Topcliffe flying Halifax III on his rest tour, having finished his first tour in May 1944. In February posted to 199 squadron, RAF North Creake flying operations on Halifax Mk 3 until VE day. In July posted to 192 Squadron, RAF Foulsham and in October to R.W.E. at RAF Watton, all on the Halifax. Diary covers all aspects of his life during this period.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Keith Thompson
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
one booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Diary
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
YThompsonKG1238603v5
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
England--Norfolk
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Anne-Marie Watson
aircrew
entertainment
Gee
Halifax
Halifax Mk 3
military living conditions
military service conditions
navigator
RAF Foulsham
RAF North Creake
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Watton
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1236/18295/PThompsonKG15010147.2.jpg
bdc89d91d8b4163c2191c96d53213499
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thompson, Keith G
K G Thompson
Description
An account of the resource
95 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Keith Thompson DFC (1238603 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, photographs and training material as well as his navigation logs. He flew operations as a navigator with 101 and 199 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Mark S Thompson and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-09-07
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Thompson, KG
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Keith Thompson's time on 115 Squadron
Description
An account of the resource
115 Squadron badge.
Three colour postcards of Malta, two of Grand Harbour Valetta, one captioned Maltas stone buildings and one of a horse powered carriage.
A colour postcard of a military cemetery captioned 'Tobruk, Knight Bridge Cemetery near El Adam'.
Four postcards of Gibraltar, one of the Rock with Viscount on airfield captioned 'Rock from airfield, Gibraltar', one of street scene captioned 'Main street Gibraltar' and one of gates in town wall captioned 'South Port Gates, Gibraltar'.
A colour postcard of part of the Rock and a beach captioned 'Gibraltar's water catchment area'.
Page annotated 'No 115 Sqdn, Watton & Cottesmore. May '67-Sept 69. Made my first visit to Berlin & other places in Germany since the war. Went to Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus & El Adem, Libya'.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Five b/w photographs and three colour photographs on an album page
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Gibraltar
Libya
Malta
Libya--Tobruk
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PThompsonKG15010147
115 Squadron
final resting place
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Watton
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1236/18905/LThompsonKG1238603v1.1.pdf
871bd909c7b25612385eece8ca7fbc06
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thompson, Keith G
K G Thompson
Description
An account of the resource
95 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Keith Thompson DFC (1238603 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, photographs and training material as well as his navigation logs. He flew operations as a navigator with 101 and 199 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Mark S Thompson and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-09-07
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Thompson, KG
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Keith Thompson's flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
Flying log book for Keith Thompson covering his two periods of service as a navigator from 23 August 1942 to 28 March 1946 and post war from 12 September 1950 to 27 April 1960. The entries cover his training in Canada, advanced training on his return to Britain, converting to the Lancaster and a first tour on 101 Squadron, his rest tour and then 12 operations on the Halifax with 199 Squadron undertaking Radio Counter Measure operations. His post war flying was initially as a bombing instructor and then with Coastal Command on the Shackleton. This period included three round trips to Christmas Island for operation 'Grapple'. Units served at include No 1 AOS at RCAF Malton, 15 AFTS at RAF Carlisle, No 4 AOS at RAF West Freugh, 28 OTU at RAF Wymswold, RAF Castle Donington and RAF Bircotes, 1662 HCU at RAF Blyton, 101 Squadron at RAF Ludford Magna, 30 OTU at RAF Hixon, 1659 HCU at RAF Topcliffe, 199 Squadron at RAF North Creake, 192 Squadron at RAF Foulsham, RWE at RAF Watton, RAF Shawbury, CGS at RAF Leconfield, 2 ANS at RAF Thorney Island, 6 ANS at RAF Lichfield, 236 OCU at RAF Kinloss, 206 Squadron at RAF St Eval and St Mawgan and Coastal Command Communication Flight at RAF Bovingdon. Aircraft in which flown, Anson in Canada Mk unknown, Mk 19 & 21, Tiger Moth, Wellington 1c, X and T10, Halifax II and III, Lancaster I and III, B17 Fortress, Valletta, Varsity, Shackleton I and II. His pilots on operations were Pilot Officer Corkill, Wing Commander Alexander and Pilot Officer Sharples. Operations carried out against Berlin, Frankfurt, Stettin, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Schweinfurt, Essen, Nurnburg, Aulnoye, Rouen, Koln, Bois de Maintenon, Lyon, Hasselt, Orleans, Duisburg, Brunswick, Aachen, Trappes on his first tour and was awarded the DFC. He did 12 RCM Operations on his second tour and two Cook's Tours. The log book has the usual comments about weather and unusual sightings and events.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LThompsonKG1238603v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force. Coastal Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Germany
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Leicestershire
England--Nottinghamshire
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Schweinfurt
Germany--Essen
France--Rouen
France--Lyon
Belgium--Hasselt
France--Orléans
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Aachen
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Cologne
Poland--Szczecin
Ontario--Malton
Poland
France
Ontario
Belgium
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Trevor Hardcastle
Cara Walmsley
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1943-08-11
1943-08-12
1943-12-02
1943-12-03
1943-12-20
1943-12-21
1943-12-24
1943-12-29
1944-01-02
1944-01-03
1944-01-05
1944-01-06
1944-01-20
1944-01-21
1944-01-27
1944-01-28
1944-01-30
1944-01-31
1944-02-15
1944-02-16
1944-02-19
1944-02-20
1944-02-21
1944-02-24
1944-02-25
1944-03-15
1944-03-16
1944-03-18
1944-03-19
1944-03-22
1944-03-23
1944-03-24
1944-03-25
1944-03-26
1944-03-27
1944-03-30
1944-03-31
1944-04-10
1944-04-11
1944-04-18
1944-04-19
1944-04-20
1944-04-21
1944-04-30
1944-05-01
1944-05-02
1944-05-11
1944-05-12
1944-05-19
1944-05-20
1944-05-21
1944-05-22
1944-05-23
1944-05-24
1944-05-25
1944-05-28
1944-05-31
1944-06-01
1945-02-28
1945-03-01
1945-03-07
1945-03-08
1945-03-09
1945-03-14
1945-03-15
1945-03-16
1945-03-17
1945-03-20
1945-03-23
1945-03-24
1945-03-27
1945-04-04
1945-04-22
1945-04-23
1945-04-24
1945-05-15
1945-06-22
1945-09-03
1945-09-06
101 Squadron
1659 HCU
1662 HCU
192 Squadron
199 Squadron
28 OTU
30 OTU
Advanced Flying Unit
Air Observers School
aircrew
Anson
B-17
bombing
bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944)
Cook’s tour
Distinguished Flying Cross
Flying Training School
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 3
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 3
navigator
Operational Training Unit
RAF Blyton
RAF Castle Donington
RAF Foulsham
RAF Hixon
RAF Kinloss
RAF Leconfield
RAF Lichfield
RAF Ludford Magna
RAF North Creake
RAF Shawbury
RAF St Eval
RAF St Mawgan
RAF Thorney Island
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Watton
RAF Wellesbourne Mountford
RAF West Freugh
RAF Wymeswold
Shackleton
Tiger Moth
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/691/20281/LBarnesJ[Ser -DoB]v1.pdf
a3e3d4ddf01f980e35c432f7d0e24561
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Barnes, J
Description
An account of the resource
Two items. Two log books belonging to Flight Lieutenant J Barnes. He served as a pilot instructor and flew operations with 630 and 106 squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Sue Barnes and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-01-09
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Barnes, J
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
J Barnes’ pilots flying log book. One
Description
An account of the resource
Pilots flying log book for J Barnes, covering the period from 10 December 1940 to 6 march 1946 and 24 September 1948 to 2 march 1951. Detailing his flying training, Instructor duties, operations flown and post war flying duties. He was stationed at RAF Staverton, RAF Ternhill, RAF Upavon, RAF Netheravon, RAF Watton, RCAF Kingston, RAF Tatenhill, RAF Wheaton Aston, RAF Market Harborough, RAF Swinderby, RAF East Kirkby, RAF Metheringham, RAF Lindholme and RAF Rochester. Aircraft flown were, Tiger Moth, Master, Avro Tutor, Hurricane, Battle, Harvard, Anson, Lysander, Oxford, Wellington Lancaster and Chipmunk. He flew one daylight and one night operation with 630 squadron, Targets were Pilsen and Flensburgh. His pilot for his first 'second dickie' operation was Wing Commander Grindon. He flew 8 operation Firebrand and one Operation Dodge to Bari with 106 squadron.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LBarnesJ[Ser#-DoB]v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Czech Republic
Germany
Great Britain
Italy
England--Gloucestershire
England--Kent
England--Leicestershire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Shropshire
England--Staffordshire
England--Wiltshire
England--Yorkshire
Germany--Flensburg
Italy--Bari
Ontario--Kingston
Czech Republic--Plzeň
Ontario
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1948
1949
1950
1951
1945-04-16
1945-04-17
1945-04-23
1945-08-28
1945-09-29
1945-10-01
106 Squadron
14 OTU
1660 HCU
630 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
Battle
bombing
Cook’s tour
Flying Training School
Harvard
Heavy Conversion Unit
Hurricane
Lancaster
Lysander
Operation Dodge (1945)
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
RAF East Kirkby
RAF Lindholme
RAF Market Harborough
RAF Metheringham
RAF Netheravon
RAF Staverton
RAF Swinderby
RAF Ternhill
RAF Upavon
RAF Watton
Tiger Moth
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1343/22172/BTyrieJSBTyrieJSBv1.2.pdf
a3c3d60d1ceae9d6dcc5d3d3cbdad658
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tyrie, Jim
Tyrie, JSB
Description
An account of the resource
34 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Jim Tyrie (1919 - 1993, 87636 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, photographs, correspondence and prisoner of war log as well as a photograph album. He flew operations as a pilot with 77 Squadron before being shot down in April 1941.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Brian Taylor and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-06-01
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Tyrie, JSB
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[centred] JIM TYRIE [/centred]
James Sedric Bruce [Tyrie] - b. Montrose Scotland 18.10.19
Educated Secondary School Dundee and took Scotts Higher Leaving Certificate in German
Joined General Accident Insurance Co. Dundee
RAFVR 1938 as A/C 2 but automatic promotion to Acting Sgt. to learn to fly.
Called up 1.9.1939, No 3 IPW Hastings Oct 1939.
No 1 EFTS May 1940 (Tiger Moths)
Cranwell as Officer Cadet July-Oct 1940 (Oxfords)
Commissioned P/O Oct 1940, posted No 10 OTU Abingdon.
Joined 77 Sq. Topcliffe (Whitleys, 4 Group Bomber Cmd.) as 2nd pilot.
Flew 7 Ops.
10.4.41 Target Railway Station in E.Berlin
Sgt Lee 1st pilot
F/Lt. Tyrie 2nd pilot
Sgt. Young Observer
Sgt. Budd Wireless Operator
Sgt Hull Rear Gunner
No of A/C Taking Part 98
No of A/C Lost 10
Hit by flak over target & set on fire
Famous Last Words:
Sgt. Budd "Do you know the Port Engine is on fire"
Sgt. Young wounded in leg, headed N for Sweden but forced to abandon A/C 15 mins later.
[page break]
Bailed out and landed in garden of house in Bernau
Followed down by searchlights and caught immediately on landing.
Taken to Police Station where midst [sic] much noise and chaos, Young's leg was bandaged by elderly VAD Lady. Photographed by all and sundry
Taken to Flak School cells, later interrogated and spent night in cell.
Next morning complained to visiting Luftwaffe officer of poor breakfast - rewarded by white bread, jam and some jellied meat. - also permitted to visit freely rest of crew.
About 10 am proceeded in wagon to Berlin, Anhalter Rly station, where caught train for Frankfurt - On - Main and Dulag Luft - arrived about midnight at cooler.
Interrogated and searched nex [sic] morning and allowed into main camp in the afternoon.
11.4.41 Telegram to J.B.Tyrie Esq. 1 Robson St Dundee - "your son reported missing as result of air operations on 10.4.41 [sic]
2.5.41 Telegram - now prisoner of war. - reported 'missing' in local press which stated he was in big raid on Kiel at beginning of week
17.4.41 - 9.4.42 Stalag Luft 1 Barth
"Among the most dedicated tunnellers [sic] of the early inmates at Barth was Jim Tyrie [sic]
[page break]
Jim Tyrie's tunnelling [sic] efforts also included one from his own block. Besides digging he copied maps, planned prospective escape routes and brushed up his German - He tried whenever he could to chat to the guards to perfect his German and exploit any opportunities conversation might present. Information on gate-passes and travel permits would be passed on via the escape cttee [sic] to Mike Bussey, a brilliant artist who was one of the first officers at Barth to apply his skills to forgery.
Towards the end of March '42 after a camp wide search of Stalag Luft 1 by SS and Gestapo it was announced that officers would start leaving for a new camp in 3 days time
The move was in 3 groups
1st group Friday 20th March '42
2nd group Sat. 7th April 42
3rd group, incl. Jim Tyrie moved Tues 10th April
11.4.42 - 20.3.43 Stalag Luft 3 (East Camp) SAGAN
30.3.43 - 29.2.44 Stalag Luft 3 (North Camp) SAGAN
29.2.44 - 28.1.45 Stalag Luft 3 (Belaria) SAGAN
28.1.45 - 4.2.45 By sledge, foot and cattle truck via Kunau, Gross Selten, [?] Birkenstedt, Raustein [?] Spremberg to Stalag 3A, Luckenwalde.
4.2.45 - 12.4.45 Stalag 3A (OFlag) Luckenwalde
12.4.45 - 14.4.45 in Cattle Trucks in Luckenwalde Goods Sation (intended destination ST.7A Moosberg nr Munich.[sic]
[page break]
14.4.45 Stalag 3A (Luckenwalde)
21.4.45 Germans evacuate camp.
22.4.45 (0603 hrs) Russian Tanks and Motorized Infantry Arrive
20.5.45 Proceed by Russian Transport to Elbe, where met by American Trucks and go to Halle, arriving 10 pm
25.5.45 By Air in DC3's to Nivelles (Brussels) arriving 2 pm - By lorry to Brussels
26.5.45 By lorry to Schaacht, by air in Lanc to Dunsford, by train to Cosford (106PRC)
27.5.45 By train to Dundee.
10.4.41 to 26.5.45 - 4 years 1 month 16 days
Worked tirelessly for SSAFA and Royal British Legion, organising The Poppy Appeal - organised a trip for volunteers to visit Poppy factory and I spent many hours with him counting the poppy collections in Shenfield Essex.
A real gentleman and a man I was proud to know.
[page break]
About middle of January 1945 a wager of One D-Bar was made between
Flight Lieutenant W H Culling [?] and
Flight Lieutenant J S B Tyrie
- the latter stating that the war would not be over by 15th of March 1945
- it has been decided mutually that in view of the present lack of parcels, the wager shall be
One good dinner in London - to be consumed when convenient to both parties - Expenses to be paid by loser who will present winner with a Half a [sic] pound of milk chocolate, to be consumed the same evening.
Both signed the above 26th Feb 1945 Luckenwalde.
2nd March '45 - autographed photo of Max Schmelling [?] obtained during his visit to Luckenwalde
- Reason of visit unknown, perhaps connected with visit of unknown SS Obergruppenführer - air raid alarm that morning for 2 hrs.
[page break]
Post-war. Stayed on in RAF
Joined 90 Squadron flying Avro Lincolns as F/L and short time as acting Sq cdr. [?]
Still as A/S/L four years in Germany (3 in Berlin) as interpreter with Foreign Office 1948-52.
Met Glemnitz at Gatow [?]
Then back to F/L.
Full medical in London revealed failing eyesight, so changed to Air Traffic Control at RAF Workshop [sic]
1953-56, a Meteor FTS.
Air Traffic Control Germany 1956-58, then Chivenor, North Devon.
RAF Shawberry as Ground Control Approach/Radar Instructor.
Cyprus, Akrotiti, Nikosea: [sic] led evacuation of families from Limmasol [sic] during Turkish Insurgence 1964.
Then RAF Walton, I/C joint military/civilian installation of area radar control.
Bishops Court NI.
Retd 1969 Joined Barclays Bank and spent fifteen years as First Cashier in various branches
Retd. 1984.
Jim Tyrie died in April 1993.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jim Tyrie
Description
An account of the resource
A biography of Jim Tyrie. He was called up on 1st September 1939 and learned to fly on Tiger Moths. He was shot down on his 7th operation over Berlin. In POW camp he was described as a dedicated tunneller. There is a list of the camps he was kept in with dates and details of their transport. After the war he stayed in the RAF until his eyesight meant he could no longer fly. He was transferred to air traffic control.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Six handwritten sheets
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
BTyrieJSBTyrieJSBv1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Great Britain
Poland
England--Hastings
Germany--Barth
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Luckenwalde
Belgium--Nivelles
Belgium--Brussels
Cyprus--Limassol
Poland--Żagań
Scotland--Dundee
Poland--Żagań
Germany--Bernau (Brandenburg)
Belgium
Cyprus
England--Sussex
Cyprus--Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Joy Reynard
David Bloomfield
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1939
1940
1942
1945
10 OTU
4 Group
77 Squadron
90 Squadron
aircrew
anti-aircraft fire
bale out
C-47
Dulag Luft
escaping
Flying Training School
Lancaster
Lincoln
Meteor
missing in action
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
prisoner of war
RAF Abingdon
RAF Bishops Court
RAF Chivenor
RAF Cranwell
RAF Shawbury
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Watton
RAF Worksop
Stalag 3A
Stalag Luft 1
Stalag Luft 3
Tiger Moth
training
Whitley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1343/22177/LTyrieJSB87636v1.1.pdf
2593c27faef4f15089ccae84e95bc4f2
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tyrie, Jim
Tyrie, JSB
Description
An account of the resource
34 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Jim Tyrie (1919 - 1993, 87636 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, photographs, correspondence and prisoner of war log as well as a photograph album. He flew operations as a pilot with 77 Squadron before being shot down in April 1941.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Brian Taylor and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-06-01
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Tyrie, JSB
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jim Tyrie's flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
Flying log book for J S B Tyrie covering the period from 1 July 1939 to 9 August 1959. Detailing his flying training and operations flown Following which he was shot down 9 April 1941 and became a prisoner of war. Returning to flying duties 25 May 1945 to 27 October 1964 detailing his duties as instructor and with 90 squadron. Also included his flying in various aircraft including his airline flying. He was stationed at RAF Perth, RAF Hatfield, RAF Cranwell, RAF Abingdon, RAF Stanton Harcourt, RAF Topcliffe, RAF Wheaton Aston, RAF Seighford, RAF Perton, RAF Moreton, RAF Finningly, RAF Lindholme, RAF Wyton, RAF Shallufa, RAF Khormakser, RAF Hendon, RAF Gatow, RAF Shawbury, RAF Worksop, RAF Wunstorf, RAF Bruugen, RAF Chivenor, RAF Akrotiri, RAF Nicosia, RAF Sopley, RAF Watton and RAF Bishops Court. Aircraft flown in were, Tiger Moth, Oxford, Whitley, Wellington, Dakota, Lancaster, Vengeance, Anson, Lincoln, Proctor, York, Viking, Valetta, Auster, Meteor, Varsity, Prentice, Canberra, Vampire, Whirlwind, Hunter, Shackleton, Viscount, Brittania and Hastings. He flew 7 operations with 77 squadron. Targets were St Nazaire, Hamburg, Berlin, Brest and Kiel. His first or second pilots on operations were Pilot Officer Bagnall and Sergeant Lee.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LTyrieJSB87636v1
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Cyprus
Cyprus--Nicosia
Egypt
Egypt--Suez Canal
France
France--Brest
France--Saint-Nazaire
Germany
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Niederkrüchten
Germany--Wunstorf
Great Britain
England--Berkshire
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Devon
England--Gloucestershire
England--Hampshire
England--Hertfordshire
England--Lincolnshire
England--London
England--Norfolk
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Oxfordshire
England--Shropshire
England--Staffordshire
England--West Midlands
England--Yorkshire
Northern Ireland--Down (County)
Scotland--Perth
Yemen (Republic)
Yemen (Republic)--Aden
North Africa
Great Britain
Cyprus--Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1939
1940
1941
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1941-03-10
1941-03-11
1941-03-12
1941-03-13
1941-03-14
1941-03-23
1941-03-24
1941-04-03
1941-04-04
1941-04-07
1941-04-08
1941-04-09
10 OTU
21 OTU
77 Squadron
90 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
bombing
C-47
Flying Training School
Initial Training Wing
Lancaster
Lincoln
Meteor
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
prisoner of war
Proctor
RAF Abingdon
RAF Bishops Court
RAF Chivenor
RAF Cranwell
RAF Finningley
RAF Hatfield
RAF Hendon
RAF Khormakser
RAF Lindholme
RAF Moreton in the Marsh
RAF Seighford
RAF Shallufa
RAF Shawbury
RAF Stanton Harcourt
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Watton
RAF Worksop
RAF Wyton
Shackleton
shot down
Tiger Moth
training
Wellington
Whitley
York
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/540/23324/LGilbertAC186764v1.1.pdf
38ddea336417bf8ba52ad3f92fa027c2
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Gilbert, Alexander Charles
A C Gilbert
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Gilbert, AC
Description
An account of the resource
21 items. An oral history interview with Squadron Leader Alexander Charles Gilbert DFC (b. 1921, 1336682, 186764 Royal Air Force) his log book, documents and photographs. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 9, 514 and 159 Squadrons. He was Awarded the Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 2020.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Alexander Gilbert and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-01-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Alexander Gilbert’s navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
Navigator’s, air bomber’s and air gunner’s flying log book for A C Gilbert, flight engineer, covering the period from 16 June 1943 to 3 July 1956. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Winthorpe, RAF Bardney, RAF Foulsham, RAF Waterbeach, RAF Feltwell, RAF Woolfox Lodge, RAF Methwold, RAF Tuddenham, RAF Stradishall and RAF Watton. Aircraft flown in were Manchester, Lancaster, Oxford, Flying Fortress, York, Dakota and Anson. He flew a total of 33 operations, 10 night operations with 9 Squadron, 14 night operations with 514 Squadron, 5 daylight and 4 night operations with 149 Squadron plus two Operation Manna. Targets were Hamburg, Mannheim, Nurnberg, Leverkusen, Monchen Gladbach, Berlin, Munich, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Laon, Rouen, Wiesbaden, Hohenbudberg, Dresden, Bocholt, Hallendorf, Kiel, Rotterdam, and The Hague. His pilot on operations was<span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}"> Squadron Leader Payne. </span>The book also records flights on Operation Exodus, Cook's Tours and one Operation Dodge flight.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LGilbertAC186764v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Germany
Great Britain
Netherlands
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean--North Sea
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Rutland
England--Suffolk
France--Laon
France--Rouen
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Bocholt
Germany--Dresden
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Krefeld
Germany--Leverkusen
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Mönchengladbach
Germany--Munich
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Salzgitter
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Wiesbaden
Netherlands--Hague
Netherlands--Rotterdam
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1950
1955
1956
1943-07-27
1943-07-28
1943-07-29
1943-07-30
1943-08-02
1943-08-09
1943-08-10
1943-08-11
1943-08-22
1943-08-23
1943-08-27
1943-08-28
1943-08-30
1943-08-31
1943-09-03
1943-09-04
1943-09-06
1943-09-07
1943-11-03
1943-11-06
1943-11-18
1943-11-19
1943-11-22
1943-11-23
1943-11-26
1943-11-27
1943-12-16
1943-12-20
1943-12-23
1943-12-29
1943-12-30
1944-01-01
1944-01-02
1944-02-15
1944-02-16
1944-02-20
1944-04-10
1944-04-18
1944-04-19
1945-01-28
1945-02-01
1945-02-02
1945-02-03
1945-02-09
1945-02-13
1945-02-14
1945-03-11
1945-03-22
1945-03-29
1945-04-09
1945-04-10
1945-04-30
1945-05-04
1945-05-23
149 Squadron
1661 HCU
514 Squadron
9 Squadron
aircrew
Anson
B-17
bombing
bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945)
bombing of Hamburg (24-31 July 1943)
C-47
Cook’s tour
flight engineer
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 2
Lancaster Mk 3
Manchester
Operation Dodge (1945)
Operation Exodus (1945)
Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945)
Oxford
RAF Bardney
RAF Feltwell
RAF Foulsham
RAF Methwold
RAF Stradishall
RAF Tuddenham
RAF Waterbeach
RAF Watton
RAF Winthorpe
RAF Woolfox Lodge
training
York
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/530/23972/LShawSR3002545v1.1.pdf
773c5f8cba859cc92a945416183f8997
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Shaw, Stanley R
S R Shaw
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Shaw, SR
Description
An account of the resource
37 items. An oral history interview with Stanley Shaw (3002545 Royal Air Force) Photographs, documents and his log book. He served with a Repair and Salvage Unit and attended many crashes. He later served in North Africa and the Middle East.
The collection also contains two photograph albums; one of his RAF service and one of his time in a cycle club.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by Stanley Shaw and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-01-14
2016-02-11
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Stanley Shaw’s observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for S R Shaw, covering the period from 21 July 1942 to 1 March 1947. Detailing flying with the Air Training Corps and following training as an airframe fitter his service flying, and his flying with the communications flight at Aden, where he was reclassified as flight mechanic air. He was stationed at RAF Burnaston, RAF Ashbourne, RAF Bobbington (aka RAF Halfpenny Green), RAF Hixon, RAF Hethel, RAF Watton and RAF Aden. Aircraft flown in were Magister, Anson, Wellington, Liberator, Mosquito and Lancastrian. The log book also lists his civilian flying details and that of I M Shaw for the period 1963 to 1984.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LShawSR3002545v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Yemen (Republic)
England--Derbyshire
England--Norfolk
England--Staffordshire
Yemen (Republic)--Aden
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
Anson
B-24
fitter airframe
flight mechanic
ground crew
ground personnel
Lancastrian
Magister
Mosquito
RAF Halfpenny Green
RAF Hethel
RAF Hixon
RAF Watton
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/530/25990/MShawSR3002545-160211-15.2.jpg
64233735a3dc7bb38205a8314df55045
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Shaw, Stanley R
S R Shaw
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Shaw, SR
Description
An account of the resource
37 items. An oral history interview with Stanley Shaw (3002545 Royal Air Force) Photographs, documents and his log book. He served with a Repair and Salvage Unit and attended many crashes. He later served in North Africa and the Middle East.
The collection also contains two photograph albums; one of his RAF service and one of his time in a cycle club.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by Stanley Shaw and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-01-14
2016-02-11
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Aircraft Recovered by No 9 Party, 54 MU
Description
An account of the resource
A list of 29 aircraft recovered during 1944-45 by No 9 Party, 54 Maintenance Unit.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Stan Shaw
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One handwritten list
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MShawSR3002545-160211-15
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Bedfordshire
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Suffolk
England--Wiltshire
England--Thurleigh
England--Ely
England--Felixstowe
England--Desborough
England--Northamptonshire
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944
1945
B-17
B-24
B-25
Battle
C-47
Halifax
Lancaster
Mosquito
P-51
RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Bourn
RAF Castle Combe
RAF Chedburgh
RAF Desborough
RAF Duxford
RAF Felixstowe
RAF Gransden Lodge
RAF Graveley
RAF Henlow
RAF Hethel
RAF Kimbolton
RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF Mepal
RAF Oakington
RAF Podington
RAF Stradishall
RAF Sutton Bridge
RAF Swannington
RAF Swanton Morley
RAF Tempsford
RAF Upwood
RAF Warboys
RAF Watton
RAF Woodbridge
RAF Wratting Common
Stirling
Walrus
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/530/25993/MShawSR3002545-160211-18.2.jpg
60a35022b79fcf174b96b3e632431e01
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Shaw, Stanley R
S R Shaw
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Shaw, SR
Description
An account of the resource
37 items. An oral history interview with Stanley Shaw (3002545 Royal Air Force) Photographs, documents and his log book. He served with a Repair and Salvage Unit and attended many crashes. He later served in North Africa and the Middle East.
The collection also contains two photograph albums; one of his RAF service and one of his time in a cycle club.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by Stanley Shaw and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-01-14
2016-02-11
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
(3b)
6) [underlined] SWANNINGTON MOSQUITO [/underlined]
METHOD OF TRANSPORT. FUSELAGE LIFTED FROM WINGS. (3 QUEEN MARY’S). HUMAN BALAST ON TAIL. BOLT CROPPERS TO CUT CABLE. CRANE JIB. HIGH WIND.
7) [underlined] LITTLE PORT B.24. LIBERATOR [/underlined]
A/C BLEW UP AT 16,000 ft. WRECKAGE SPREAD 3 MILES. BOMBS UNEXPLODED UNDER 4 ENGINES. CREW MEMBER IMPRINT. AMMUNITION. WING IN FARMYARD FILLED WITH EGGS. WIRELESS SET AND KITE ON PARACHUTE.
8) [underlined] DUXFORD. MUSTANG COLLISION [/underlined]
COLLIDED WITH WINGMAN OVER AIRFIELD. DOING VICTORY ROLLS. 1 AIRCRAFT LANDED WITH DAMAGED FIN. OTHER BY ROADSIDE. DIVED VERTICAL FORMED CRATER. PILOT OR ENGINE NOT RETRIEVED. 25 ft. DEEP.
9). [underlined] HETHEL [/underlined] 389 BOMBER SQDN. LIBS. SKY SCORPIONS
HALIFAX. CAT. B.
BILLETED WITH C109 CREW AIRCRAFT TRANSPORTING PETROL TO ADVANCED AIRFIELDS IN FRANCE. WENT ON TRIP. TRAINING DAK PILOT ONTO 4 ENGINES. 7 LANDINGS.
RETURNING AMERICAN AIRCREW P.O.W.s FROM SWITZERLAND. KNEE DEEP IN CHOCOLATE & ALPENHORNS
10). [underlined] WATTON. LANCASTER. CAT. B. [/underlined]
FLIP IN 8th AF PRY MOSQUITO. 3 IN FORMATION. RATTLING IN REAR FUSELAGE CONTROL BRACKETS FELL OFF – 2 FORTS ON COOKS TOUR OVER GERMANY. COLLIDED NEAR BASE IN MIST. 64 KILLED.
11). [underlined] BRIZE NORTON [/underlined] GERMAN A/C. FOR EXHIBITION IN HYDE PARK
12). [underlined] KEMBLE [/underlined] LANCASTER. COLCHESTER & CHELMSFORD EXIBITION. [sic]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Seven Aircraft Recovered by Stan Shaw
Description
An account of the resource
A list of seven aircraft recovered by Stan Shaw and his team.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Stan Shaw
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One handwritten sheet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MShawSR3002545-160211-18
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Gloucestershire
England--Norfolk
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945
B-17
B-24
crash
Halifax
Lancaster
Mosquito
P-51
RAF Duxford
RAF Hethel
RAF Kemble
RAF Swannington
RAF Watton
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1576/26032/LDentonDH1256316v1.1.pdf
5f6ad53a1df10feca9618224205170b6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Denton, Dennis Hugh
D H Denton
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2020-01-14
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Denton, DH
Description
An account of the resource
59 items. The collection concerns Dennis Hugh Denton (b. 1920, 1256316 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, album and photographs. He flew 62 daylight operations with 21 and 226 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Angela Sadler and Pamela Hickson and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dennis Denton's log book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LDentonDH1256316v1
Description
An account of the resource
Flying log book for Dennis Denton covering the period from 3 May 1941 to 8 March 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. Includes a map of part of France including the Vitry area, his Gunnery Course results, Certificates and Proficiency Assessment, the Battle Order of 226 Sqdn as at 21 September 1944 and his aircraft being hit by anti-aircraft fire. He was stationed at RAF Yatesbury (2 Signals School), RAF Evanton (8 BGS), RAF Upwood (17 OTU), RAF Watton, RAF Oulton (139 Squadron); RAF Methwold (21 Squadron), RAF West Raynham (1428 Flt), RAF Bicester (13 OTU), RAF Swanton Morley (2 GSU), RAF Hartfordbridge (226 Squadron) and Vitry-en-Artois. Aircraft flown were Dominie, Proctor, Botha, Whitley, Anson, Blenheim, Bisley, Ventura, Defiant, Mitchell, Master, Dakota. He did two tours and flew 62 daylight operations with 21 and 226 Squadrons. Targets were IJmuiden, Morlaix, St Omer, Courtrai, Abbeville, Den Helder, Dunkirk, Rotterdam, St Briac, Cherbourg, Zeebrugge, Yainville, Poix, Floret d’Eperlecques, Floret d’Headine, Boulogne, Clermont, Rouen, Bergen op Zoom, Calais, Arnheim, Breskens, Amersfoort, Cadzand, Roermond, Deventer, Dunkirk, Wesel, Geemund, Duisburg, St Vith, Meppen, Neersbroich, Rees, Wegberg, Uden, Rheinberg, Xanten, The Hague. <span>His pilots on operations were </span>Sergeant Bellis, Wing Commander Kerr, Wing Commander Wood and Squadron Leader Edmond.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
Netherlands
Belgium--Saint-Vith
Belgium--Zeebrugge
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Hampshire
England--Norfolk
England--Oxfordshire
England--Wiltshire
France--Abbeville
France--Calais
France--Cherbourg
France--Clermont-Ferrand
France--Dunkerque
France--Watten
France--Morlaix
France--Poix-du-Nord
France--Rouen
France--Saint-Briac-sur-Mer
France--Vitry-en-Artois
France--Yainville
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Meppen
Germany--Rees
Germany--Rheinberg
Germany--Wegberg
Germany--Xanten
Netherlands--Amersfoort
Netherlands--Bergen op Zoom
Netherlands--Breskens
Netherlands--Den Helder
Netherlands--Deventer
Netherlands--IJmuiden
Netherlands--Roermond
Netherlands--Rotterdam
Netherlands--Uden
Scotland--Ross and Cromarty
Belgium--Kortrijk
France--Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais)
Germany--Wesel (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Netherlands--Hague
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike French
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1943-01-09
1943-01-22
1943-01-26
1943-01-29
1943-02-02
1943-02-03
1943-02-13
1943-02-17
1943-02-19
1943-02-26
1943-02-27
1943-03-29
1943-04-04
1943-04-15
1943-04-20
1943-04-21
1943-05-17
1943-05-24
1943-05-29
1943-06-11
1943-06-22
1943-06-24
1943-07-27
1943-07-29
1943-08-12
1943-08-30
1943-08-31
1943-09-02
1943-09-03
1943-09-04
1943-09-06
1943-09-08
1943-09-09
1944-08-25
1944-08-26
1944-08-28
1944-09-08
1944-09-09
1944-09-12
1944-09-13
1944-09-14
1944-09-15
1944-09-21
1944-09-23
1944-09-25
1944-09-26
1944-10-06
1944-10-13
1944-10-15
1944-10-24
1944-11-11
1944-11-15
1944-11-29
1944-12-02
1944-12-05
1944-12-24
1945-01-01
1945-01-05
1945-02-22
1945-02-23
1945-02-24
1945-02-25
1945-02-26
1945-02-28
1945-03-01
1945-03-03
13 OTU
139 Squadron
17 OTU
2 Group
21 Squadron
226 Squadron
air gunner
Air Gunnery School
aircrew
Anson
anti-aircraft fire
B-25
Blenheim
Botha
C-47
Defiant
Dominie
Operational Training Unit
Proctor
RAF Bicester
RAF Evanton
RAF Hartford Bridge
RAF Methwold
RAF Oulton
RAF Swanton Morley
RAF Upwood
RAF Watton
RAF West Raynham
RAF Yatesbury
training
Ventura
Whitley
wireless operator / air gunner
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1027/26179/LMcVickersCG1042135v1.1.pdf
2345da87e3c847e2ac316c46eb50751b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
McVickers, Christopher George
C G McVickers
Description
An account of the resource
Five items. An oral history interview with Flight Sergeant Christopher George McVickers (1922 - 2018, 1042135 Royal Air Force), his log book identity card and disks and his decorations. He completed a tour of operations as a wireless operator with 218 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Christopher McVickers and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-10-06
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
McVickers, CG
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Christopher George McVickers' flying log book
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LMcVickersCG1042135v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Egypt
France
Germany
Great Britain
Oman
Singapore
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
North Africa
England--Cornwall (County)
England--Cumbria
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Rutland
England--Suffolk
England--Yorkshire
England--Wiltshire
France--Calais
France--Le Havre
France--Saint-Omer Region (Pas-de-Calais)
Germany--Borken (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Germany--Braunschweig Region
Germany--Castrop-Rauxel
Germany--Chemnitz
Germany--Dortmund
Germany--Dresden
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Gelsenkirchen
Germany--Hattingen
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Kleve (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Germany--Krefeld
Germany--Merseburg
Germany--Mönchengladbach
Germany--Neuss
Germany--Recklinghausen (Münster)
Germany--Saarbrücken
Germany--Wesel (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Gibraltar
Northern Ireland--Ballykelly
Oman--Masirah Island
Scotland--Kinloss
Wales--Bridgend
Germany--Wuppertal
Egypt--Suez Canal
Great Britain
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1944-07-08
1944-09-05
1944-09-06
1944-09-08
1944-09-12
1944-09-13
1944-09-28
1944-10-05
1944-10-07
1944-10-15
1944-12-31
1945-01-01
1945-01-03
1945-01-06
1945-01-13
1945-01-15
1945-01-29
1945-02-01
1945-02-03
1945-02-13
1945-02-14
1945-02-15
1945-02-18
1945-02-19
1945-02-23
1945-02-27
1945-03-09
1945-03-12
1945-03-18
1945-03-22
1945-03-29
1945-04-04
1945-04-05
1945-04-09
1945-04-10
Description
An account of the resource
Flying log book for C G McVickers, Wireless operator, covering the period from 6 April 1943 to 16 August 1965. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and post war flying duties with 90, 97, 12, 100, 101, 199, 192, 220, 210, 224 and 205 squadrons. He was stationed at RAF Compton Bassett, RAF Stormy Down, RAF Topcliffe, RAF Millom, RAF Ossington, RAF Bircotes, RAF Gamston, RAF Chedburgh, RAF Wratting Common, RAF Stradishall, RAF Woolfox Lodge, RAF Methwold, RAF Feltwell, RAF Tuddenham, RAF Full Sutton, RAF Binbrook, RAF Scampton, RAF Hemswell, RAF Shallufah, RAF Watton, RAF St Mawgan, RAF St Eval, RAF Kinloss, RAF Ballykelly, RAF Gibraltar, RAF North Front, RAF Masirah Island and RAF Changi. Aircraft flown in were Dominie, Proctor, Anson, Wellington, Stirling, Lancaster, Lancastrian, Lincoln, Mosquito, Washington, Canberra, Shackleton, Prentice, Neptune, Varsity, Viking and Comet. He flew a total of 31 operations with 218 squadron, 21 Daylight and 10 night. Targets were Wemars/Capel, Le Havre, Frankfurt, Calais, Saarbrucken, Kleve, Wilhelmshaven, Vohwinkel, Castrop Rauxel, Neuss, Gelsenkirchen, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Dortmund, Dresden, Chemnitz, Wesel, Datteln, Hattingen, Bocholt, Hallendorf, Merseburg and Keil. His pilots on operations were Flying Officer Lloyld, Flying Officer Hill and Flying Officer Boome.
100 Squadron
101 Squadron
12 Squadron
1651 HCU
1653 HCU
1657 HCU
192 Squadron
199 Squadron
205 Squadron
210 Squadron
218 Squadron
220 Squadron
82 OTU
90 Squadron
97 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
Air Gunnery School
aircrew
Anson
B-29
bombing
bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945)
Dominie
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 3
Lancastrian
Lincoln
Mosquito
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operational Training Unit
Proctor
RAF Binbrook
RAF Chedburgh
RAF Compton Bassett
RAF Feltwell
RAF Full Sutton
RAF Gamston
RAF Hemswell
RAF Kinloss
RAF Methwold
RAF Millom
RAF Ossington
RAF Scampton
RAF Shallufa
RAF St Eval
RAF St Mawgan
RAF Stormy Down
RAF Stradishall
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Tuddenham
RAF Watton
RAF Woolfox Lodge
RAF Wratting Common
Shackleton
Stirling
training
Wellington
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/813/30566/LElliottFW1865520v1.2.pdf
54abbc3d20a7e0efde5842283e2f6637
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Elliott, Frank William
F W Elliott
Description
An account of the resource
Seven items. The collection concerns Frank William Elliott (b. 1924, 1865520 Royal Air Force). He flew as a wireless operator on Wellington of 192 Squadron. Collection contains an oral history interview, flying log book and photographs of people and aircraft.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Frank Elliott and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-05-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Elliott, FW
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Frank Elliot's wireless operator’s flying log book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One photocopied booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LElliottFW1865520v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Description
An account of the resource
Wireless operators flying log book for F W Elliott, covering the period from 1 October 1943 to 13 July 1947. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and post war flying duties with Radio Warfare Establishment. He was stationed at RAF Madley, RAF Llandwrog, RAF Chipping Warden, RAF Foulsham, RAF Watton and RAF Mildenhall. Aircraft flown in were Proctor, Dominie, Anson, Wellington, Halifax, Mosquito, Fortress and Lancaster. He flew a total of 38 operations with 192 squadron. Targets were Brest, Pas de Calais, Belgian-Dutch coast, Heligoland, Frisian Islands, North Sea patrol, Sylt, Julich, Mannheim, Munchengladbach, Ruhr and Stuttgart. His pilots on operations were Pilot Officer Earl, Flight Lieutenant Ford, Flying officer Irvine, Flight Lieutenant Hayter-Preston, Flight Sergeant Love and Squadron Leader Crotch.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944-06-23
1944-06-24
1944-06-25
1944-06-27
1944-06-28
1944-06-29
1944-06-30
1944-07-04
1944-07-05
1944-07-07
1944-07-08
1944-07-12
1944-07-13
1944-07-14
1944-07-15
1944-07-16
1944-07-17
1944-07-18
1944-07-19
1944-07-20
1944-07-21
1944-08-05
1944-08-08
1944-08-09
1944-08-10
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-14
1944-09-28
1944-09-30
1944-10-01
1944-10-02
1944-10-03
1944-10-05
1944-10-06
1944-10-11
1944-10-17
1944-10-21
1944-10-23
1944-10-25
1944-11-23
1944-11-24
1944-11-27
1944-11-28
1944-11-30
1944-12-12
1945-01-02
1945-01-03
1945-01-05
1945-01-06
1945-01-28
1945-01-29
1945-06-02
1945-06-15
1945-07-18
1945-08-02
1946
1947
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Germany
Great Britain
Netherlands
Atlantic Ocean--North Sea
England--Herefordshire
England--Norfolk
England--Northamptonshire
England--Suffolk
France--Brest
France--Pas-de-Calais
Germany--Helgoland
Germany--Jülich
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Sylt
Netherlands--West Frisian Islands
Wales--Gwynedd
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
12 OTU
192 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
B-17
bombing
Cook’s tour
Dominie
Halifax
Halifax Mk 3
Lancaster
Mosquito
Operational Training Unit
Proctor
RAF Chipping Warden
RAF Foulsham
RAF Llandwrog
RAF Madley
RAF Mildenhall
RAF Shepherds Grove
RAF Watton
training
Wellington
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1389/31248/OWilliamsonGR1568572-150224-01.2.pdf
a16a3d2e50d1bb691d9d9e555333351d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Connock, Mike
Michael Connock
M Connock
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Connock, M
Description
An account of the resource
Eight items. The collection concerns (Royal Air Force) and contains people who served with 50 and 61 Squadrons at RAF Skellingthorpe.
They include:
W Dixon
GR Williamson
BV Robinson
GA Walker
L Barber
HJ Whitwell
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Mike Connock and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
GR Williamson Service and Release Book
Description
An account of the resource
RAF Form 2520A issued to GR Williamson. It contains a summary of his service record.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One printed booklet with handwritten annotations
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
OWilliamsonGR1568572-150224-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Norfolk
Scotland--Glasgow
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
aircrew
RAF Watton
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/623/32342/BPayneTPGunningFVv1.1.pdf
a5c7559446dbdbd1e7d2cbfdab3c125b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Payne, Thomas Peter
T P Payne
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Payne, TP
Description
An account of the resource
Six items. Two oral history interviews with Flying Officer Peter Payne (b. 1925, 1398674, 199071 Royal Air Force)auto biographies and his log book. He flew as a pilot with 90 and 15 Squadrons.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Peter Payne and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-04
2016-07-06
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
MALLEVILLE-LES-GRÉS CHURCHYARD
Index No. Fr. 662
Malleville-les-Grés is a village and commune 41 kilometres west of Dieppe and 10 kilometres south-west of St. Valéry-en-Caux. It lies 2 kilometres south of Veulettes, which is a seaside village 9 kilometres west of St. Valéry-en-Caux on the G.C.71ET road running south from Veulettes.
South-west of the church, near the main entrance to the churchyard, are the graves of 3 airmen of the Royal Air Force.
GUNNING, Sgt. (Obs.) FRANK VIVIAN, 580613. R.A.F. 15 Sqdn. 12th June, 1940. Age 19. Son of Frank Victor and Florence Gunning, of Bridport, Dorsetshire.
PÈULEVE, Sgt. (W. Op./Air Gnr.) DAVID HILARY, 614230. R.A.F. 15 Sqdn. 12th June, 1940. Age 21. Son of Auguste Albertand Alice Florence Peulevé, of Castle Bromwich, Warwickshire.
TAKIDELI, Pilot Offr. (Pilot) ALEXANDER, 42368. R.A.F. 15 Sqdn. 12th June, 1940. Age 20. Son of Gregory John and Grace Maud Takideli.
[black and white full length photograph of Sergeant Gunning in his uniform]
[page break]
THE STORY OF FRANK VIVIAN GUNNING – 580613
OBSERVER – R.A.F. 1939 – 1940
FRANK VIVIAN GUNNING, CALLED VIVIAN BECAUSE HIS FATHER WAS ALSO NAMED FRANK, BORN IN BEAMINSTER JULY 13th 1920. THE ONLY CHILD OF FRANK AND FLORRIE GUNNING. EDUCATED AT BRIDPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL. ON LEAVING SCHOOL HE WORKED IN THE LOCAL ELECTRICITY COMPANY SHOWROOMS AS AN ASSISTANT. BY THE TIME HE ENLISTED FOR SERVICE INTO THE RAFVR, JANUARY 9th 1939 HE HAD GROWN INTO A 6ft TALL, FAIR HAIRED, YOUNG MAN.
Starting at the lowest rank, A.C.2 it was changed to LAC on January 10th being posted to H.Q. Reserve Command then to RTW No 1 Depot Uxbridge where he was kitted out and undertook basic drill training. Followed on April 17th with a move to No. 3 Air Observer School Aldergrove. After nearly 2 months in Northern Ireland, during which time he was promoted to Acting Sergeant and obtained his Observer brevet, Vivian was posted to No. 104 (Bomber) Squadron, based at Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire. Within a few weeks, on July 10th he was posted to No. 110 (Bomber) Squadron based at WATTISHAM Suffolk.
Having spent the whole of August preparing for the war, which was so inevitably going to happen, Vivian had no illusions about his future. In a letter written on the 4th of September, the day after war was declared, to his closest school friend John Wilkins, (copy of letter attached to this story) he writes “… we have achieved the seemingly impossible and got messed up in a war, it looks like me for Valhalla!” Explaining his reasons for the comment he continued, “I am not trying to elicit sympathy from you, or exaggerating danger, or anything like that. For once I’m perfectly serious. You see, all we bomber crews are quite aware of the fact and are quite resigned to it …” he continued, “ … it’s only a matter of weeks before we all get pipped”. The young airman’s point was made in the conclusion of his letter, when he wrote of the 10 Blenheims which had been despatched for a raid that day “ … I have just seen 3 return” exactly one year and 2 days after he had enlisted into the RAFVR, on 11th January 1940, he was posted again. Mainly due to heavy losses he went to West Raynham on No. 101 Squadron as did several other survivors. During his period with 101 he was made up to full Sergeant on 3rd March 1940.
[page break]
Another move came on 3rd of April, this time to RAF Watton on No. 21 Squadron, still flying on Blenheim Mk IV’s Finally on May 27th 1940 he was posted to XV Squadron based at Wyton. 17 days after his arrival on XV Squadron, on June 12th 1940, he was posted as “Missing – presumed killed”
The Squadron was ordered to slow the German advancing forces that were trying to reach the coast and capture Allied troops trying to escape from French ports. Every German column was supported by Anti-aircraft guns. Our slow moving aeroplanes didn’t stand a chance.
As an only child, the loss of Vivian Gunning was a devastating blow to his parents, particularly his mother who never recovered from the shock.
The official report stated “580613 Sgt F V Gunning – Observer – RAFVR Age 19 was killed on Wednesday 12th June 1940, whilst flying as Observer on Blenheim Bomber R3747, during an attack against enemy columns at Le Bourget. The aircraft, which was shot down, crashed approximately 3 kms from the coast, near the road, on the eastern side of the D.271 road, south of Malleville-les-Gres. The point of impact being approximately 0.7 kms from the village.
All 3 crew members, Pilot – 42368 P/O A Takideli aged 20
Observer – 580613 Sgt. F V Gunning aged 19
Wireless Operator/Gunner – 614230 Sgt. D. H. Peuleve aged 21
Share a grave, side by side, in the village church yard of Malle-les-Gres. It is maintained by local villagers, overseen by The War Graves Commission. They are the only War Graves in this Cemetery, Index Ref: No: Fr 662. (A photograph of the grave is included in this story)
The headstones are engraved as follows:-
P/O A Takideli
“At the going down of then [sic] sun and in the morning we will remember them”
Sgt. F V Gunning
“Death may hide but cannot divide”
Sgt. D H Peuleve
“Requiem Aeternam Doha Els, Domine: Et Lux Perpetua Luceat eis”
Having visited the crash site and the churchyard on several occasions I was struck by the peacefulness of the area. The village is 10 kms south-west of St. Valery-en-caux, (some 41 kms west of Dieppe).
[page break]
It lies 2 kms south of Veulettes, which is a seaside village, 9 kms west of St. Valery-en-caux on the G.C.71ET road running south from Veulettes on the D.271.
During one visit I was fortunate to meet with a lady, who as a school girl saw the wrecked Blenheim, and showed me the field where it crashed. It was just off the D.271 south of the village and to the east of the road. The field is now used for growing peas, the Blenheim had crashed some 100 meters from the road, and in the 1990’s one could still see the spot due to lack of growth of the plants. The lady also advised that the 3 crew were originally buried near to the aircraft, she and friends placed flowers there regularly, eventually the bodies were re-buried in the Churchyard where they were tended by local parishioners. The Blenheim remained there for several months until removed for scrap.
The Book “1939 – 1945 THE WAR DEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH” lists Minor Cemeteries in Seine Maritime issued by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Maidenhead. Extract from Page 24 attached.
This book also has a summary of military action up to Dunkirk and includes the raids on Bruneval, St. Nazaire and Dieppe plus the war in France, all leaving many graves to be cared for, and to be listed in their books for relatives to locate their loved ones.
John Wilkins was a school friend of Vivian, his widow Rosa sent the letter to me in 2001, she told me that John carried the letter with him throughout his wartime service. The original letter is in Bridport Museum Trust files with other information and photographs.
Despite extensive advertising in RAFA and Aircrew Association journals no response about relatives of the Pilot, P/o A Takideli was received. The Ministry advised that in 1940 he had a sister living in London. However the widow of another XV Squadron pilot recalled his name because it was unusual being of Greek origin. A Niece of Sgt. D H Peuleve contacted me, from the Birmingham area, and advised that no other relative was known.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Story of Frank Vivian Gunning
580613 - Observer -RAF 1939-1940
Description
An account of the resource
A biography of Vivian, born in Beaminster in 1920. He trained at Aldergrove and served at Bassingbourne, Wattisham, West Raynham, Watton then Wyton. Losses were high. He was shot down near Le Bourget, his two crew members dying with him. <br /><br />Additional information on Frank Gunning is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/211402/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
TP Payne
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four printed sheets
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
BPayneTPGunningFVv1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Beaminster
England--Bridport
France--Le Bourget
France--Dieppe
England--Birmingham
France
England--Dorset
England--Middlesex
England--Warwickshire
England--London
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1940-06-12
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
101 Squadron
104 Squadron
110 Squadron
15 Squadron
21 Squadron
aircrew
Blenheim
final resting place
killed in action
navigator
observer
pilot
RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Wattisham
RAF Watton
RAF West Raynham
RAF Wyton
wireless operator / air gunner
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2160/41026/LSweeneyAE573980v1.2.pdf
ed313baa3dff5563a54732513ab64e74
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sweeney, Alfred Edward
Description
An account of the resource
One item.
The collection concerns Flying Officer Alfred Edward (Todd) Sweeney (Royal Air Force) and contains his log book. He flew a tour of operations as a pilot with 115 Squadron from RAF Witchford.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Malcolm Sweeney and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-02-20
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Sweeney, AE
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Alfred Sweeney’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book
Description
An account of the resource
Alfred Sweeney’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 17 May 1942 to 30 July 1962 detailing training, operations and post-war duties as a pilot and instructor, including VIP duties. (Several logbooks bound into one volume).
He was stationed at RAF Stoke Orchard (No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School), RCAF Station Neepawa (No. 35 Elementary Flying Training School), RCAF Station Carberry (No. 33 Service Flying Training School), RAF Carlisle (No. 15 Elementary Flying Training School), RAF Church Lawford (No. 18 (P) Advanced Flying Unit), RAF Desborough (No. 84 Operational Training Unit), RAF Wratting Common (No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit), RAF Feltwell (No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School), RAF Witchford (115 Squadron), RAF Langar (1669 HCU), RAF North Luffenham (1653 HCU), RAF Waterbeach (514 Squadron), RAF Syerston (1333 Transport Support Conversion Unit), RAF Almaza, RAF Aqir, RAF Kabrit (78 Squadron), RAF Palam (AHQ(I) Communications Squadron), RAF Fassburg, RAF Lubeck, RAF Bassingbourn and RAF Waterbeach (24(C) Squadron), RAF Marham (115 Squadron and Bomber Command Jet Conversion Flight), Bassingbourn (No. 231 OCU), RAF Boscombe Down (Handling Squadron), RAF Lyneham (216 Squadron) and RAF Watton (51 Squadron).
Aircraft in which flown: DH82C, Anson, DH82A, Oxford, Wellington X, Stirling I, Stirling III, Lancaster I, Lancaster II, Lancaster III, Dakota III, Horsa, Dakota IV, Halifax VII, York, Harvard, Lancastrian, Valetta, Washington, Meteor, Canberra, Varsity, Firefly, Pembroke, Valiant, Sea Venom, Vampire, Jet Provost, Sea Devon, Hunter, Pioneer, Whirlwind, Chipmunk, Comet, Beverley, Seamew, Venom, Javelin, Gannet, Swift, Vulcan, Hastings, Victor, Skeeter, Prentice, Auster, Devon, Heron, Bristol Freighter, Dragonfly, Shackleton, Viscount, Sea Prince, Sycamore, Sea Balliol, Lincoln, Sea Hawk.
Records 30 completed operations (22 night, 8 day) on the following targets in France and Germany: Amaye-Sur-Seulles, Beauvoir, Bec D’Ambes, Biennais, Bordeaux Bassens, Brunswick, Cap Gris Nez, Chambly, Cologne, Coulonvillers, Domleger, Dortmund, Dreux, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Foret de Lucheux, L’Hey, Le Havre, Le Mans, Lens, Lisieux, Montdidier, Nantes, Ouistreham, Vaires (Paris), Valenciennes, Watten and Wissant.
Also includes photographs of various aircraft, various documents, technical notes, medal awards paperwork and VIP passenger lists (including Pandit Neru, Sir Claude Auchinleck).
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force. Transport Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LSweeneyAE573980v1
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Egypt
France
Germany
Great Britain
India
Israel
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Cumbria
England--Gloucestershire
England--Norfolk
England--Northamptonshire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Rutland
England--Warwickshire
England--Wiltshire
Middle East--Palestine
France--Domléger-Longvillers
France--Beauvoir-sur-Mer
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
France--Calvados
France--Dreux
France--Gironde Estuary
France--Le Havre
France--Le Mans
France--Lens
France--Montdidier (Hauts-de-France)
France--Nantes
France--Normandy
France--Oise
France--Opale Coast
France--Pas-de-Calais
France--Somme
France--Vaires-sur-Marne
France--Valenciennes
France--Watten
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Dortmund
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Düsseldorf
Manitoba--Carberry
Manitoba--Neepawa
France--Coulonvillers
France--Cap Gris Nez
Egypt--Kibrit
North Africa
France--Ouistreham
Manitoba
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943
1944-04-20
1944-04-21
1944-04-22
1944-04-23
1944-05-01
1944-05-02
1944-05-07
1944-05-08
1944-05-09
1944-05-10
1944-05-19
1944-05-20
1944-05-21
1944-05-22
1944-05-23
1944-06-02
1944-06-03
1944-06-05
1944-06-06
1944-06-07
1944-06-10
1944-06-11
1944-06-12
1944-06-14
1944-06-15
1944-06-16
1944-06-17
1944-06-18
1944-06-21
1944-06-23
1944-06-24
1944-06-27
1944-06-28
1944-07-02
1944-07-05
1944-07-06
1944-07-07
1944-07-08
1944-07-12
1944-07-30
1944-08-01
1944-08-04
1944-08-05
1944-08-08
1944-08-09
1944-08-11
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
115 Squadron
1651 HCU
1653 HCU
1669 HCU
216 Squadron
51 Squadron
514 Squadron
84 OTU
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
B-29
bombing
bombing of the Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944)
bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944)
C-47
Cook’s tour
Flying Training School
Halifax
Halifax Mk 7
Harvard
Heavy Conversion Unit
Horsa
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 2
Lancaster Mk 3
Lancastrian
Lincoln
Meteor
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operation Dodge (1945)
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
RAF Aqir
RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Boscombe Down
RAF Carlisle
RAF Church Lawford
RAF Desborough
RAF Feltwell
RAF Langar
RAF Lyneham
RAF Marham
RAF North Luffenham
RAF Syerston
RAF Waterbeach
RAF Watton
RAF Witchford
RAF Wratting Common
Shackleton
Stirling
tactical support for Normandy troops
Tiger Moth
training
Wellington
York
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Smith, Bob
Robert Wylie Smith
R W Smith
Description
An account of the resource
125 items. An oral history interview with Bob Smith (b. 1924, 425992 Royal Australian Air Force) photographs, documents and navigation logs and charts. He flew operations as a navigator with 15 Squadron at RAF Mildenhall.
The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Bob Smith and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-03-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Smith, RW
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Operation to Beauvoir
Description
An account of the resource
Navigation calculation sheets and chart for an operation to a V-1 site at Beauvoir.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Bob Smith
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-07-02
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Beauvoir-sur-Mer Region
Great Britain
England--Norfolk
England--Suffolk
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Technical aid
Map. Navigation chart and navigation log
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Three printed sheets with handwritten annotations
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SSmithRW425992v20001-0001, SSmithRW425992v20001-0002, SSmithRW425992v20001-0003
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-07-02
15 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
navigator
pilot
RAF Lakenheath
RAF Watton
V-1
V-weapon