Browse Items (206 total)

  • Tags: RAF Wickenby

MSmithEW174520-150713-010001.jpg
Album page including letter from Air Vice Marshal E A B Rice, 1 Group, congratulating Warrant Officer E W Smith on the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Caption on page '2nd Tour of Ops 12-626 Sqn, Wickenby, Lincs June - Nov 1943'.

Also…

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

B[Author]HumphreyEv10001.jpg
A summary of Liz Humphrey's service history from January 1942 to 1946. Her service activity included serving in 970 Balloon Squadron, 30 Operational Training Unit at RAF Hixon, 12 Squadron at Wickenby, 1657 Conversion Unit at RAF Stradishall and 1654…

PBeechH1703.jpg
Group photograph of the A V Roe civilian staff who serviced Lancasters at RAF Wickenby. In a grass field with buildings in the background, sixteen men are arranged in two rows, one standing, one kneeling. Some wear overalls, one or two are in suits;…

ARobinsonG150803.mp3
Geoff joined the Royal Air Force as a flight engineer in April 1943. He reported to Lord’s Cricket Ground and went to an Initial Training Wing near Sunderland. He moved to RAF Bridlington, followed by six months’ training as a flight engineer at…

PHorryMA1601.jpg
Margaret Horry was born in Spalding. She remembers aircraft taking off going on operations, and retells wartime stories of her relatives. Arthur served in Bomber Command as a bomb aimer. Frank was also in Bomber Command. He joined the Royal Air Force…

ALoudonAE160505.mp3
Arthur Loudon was born and raised in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. He talks about his early life, jobs and family, before he enlisted in 1943, aged nineteen, into the Royal Australian Air Force. He was trained as a navigator at various…

EAeroWickenBrennanW441005-0001.jpg
The telegram sent by RAF Wickenby to William's sister when he failed to return from an operation.

PBaxterPD16020032.jpg
From information provided by the donor. Two similar photographs of the crew, grouped around the rear of the aircraft, and the reverse of one of them, annotated ' Baxter 507, S/L Slade and crew, June 1943, 12 Squadron Wickenby'.

APlenderleithJ151007.mp3
John Plenderleith was in the Air Training Corps before he volunteered to join the RAF. He was posted to 626 Squadron at Wickenby and when the crew were allocated their hut they were surprised to find it was still occupied with another crew’s…

BPotterPLPotterPLv40003.jpg
Mention action on getting caught in searchlights, effects of altitude on aircrew, avoiding bombs from above, encounters with B-17 while on operations and getting a bottle of Bourbon from the American crew later. Mentions encounter with probable…

EOC626SqnRAFBrennanW441005.jpg
Letter to William's sister following up the telegram informing the next of kin that he was missing.

MBakerWB1392752-161128-39.jpg
Relates actions on operation to Berlin on 30/31 January 1944. Baker was wounded during night fighter attack. Finding wireless operator dead, the rear gunner unconscious and navigator wounded, he then manned the rear turret despite no communications…

PCarrollT1601.jpg
Tom joined the Royal Air Force as a flight engineer. He did his ground training at Mablethorpe, followed be a course at RAF Locking and RAF St. Athan. Tom speaks highly of the training he received. He went to RAF Lindholme where they crewed up as…

PButlerDWJ1602.jpg
David Butler, DFC, was born in Cherry Hinton in April 1920 and joined the Royal Air Force on the 11th January 1940, serving in France at Reims as the Germans advanced. After walking some distance, he was evacuated back to England on a Polish boat and…

EJonesJTJonesLM450217-0003.jpg
He writes about their daughter Carol and mess life at RAF Wickenby.

This is the last letter he sent home. It arrived after the news of his death.

Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.

PWilsonJS1601.jpg
James Stanley Wilson remembers serving as a flight engineer on 626 Squadron during the war. Tells of his baptism of fire on his first operation to Berlin, when his aircraft was targeted by enemy fighters. Mentions marking targets on D-Day. Talks…

PCoombesHS2043.jpg
Clive Coombes grew up on Royal Air Force stations, eventually joining and serving for 37 years before retiring in 2014. During this time, he served across the globe, including in Australia and Germany, as a ground branch officer. Clive outlines his…

DWynn146838.pdf
Diary commences on joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 3 October 1940 and training at Babbacombe, Newquay and passing out as an aircraft fitter. Posting to RAF Kenley 6 January 1942 and association with fighter pilots Bluey Truscott, Paddy…

EWynnIAWynnKXX0307-0001.jpg
Ian writes about his operations to Berlin and Essen and that he hates the war. Mentions he has now done 17 operations. Catches up with family news.
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