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Interview with Frank Wilcox
Frank Wilcox was born in Wales and worked in aircraft manufacturing. He was later called up and served in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Anzio and became a prisoner of war. When he was released and returned to the UK,…
Interview with Stan Instone
Thomas (Stan) Instone was working at a factory making Bristol Hercules engines but volunteered to be aircrew as soon as he was of age. Initially his application was unsuccessful but he persevered and trained as ground crew. He later re-mustered as a…
Interview with Jack Kenneth Lyon
Jack Lyon was a navigator/ bomb aimer and a prisoner of war for almost four years. Born in 1918, he was employed with the London Gas Company as a bookkeeper until August 1939, when he transferred to Shell. At the outbreak of the war, Shell closed…
Flying Officer Theodore Arthur Lumb and Pilot Officer Raymond Fletcher Lumb
A biography of the two Lumb brothers.
Interview with James Douglas Hudson
James Douglas Hudson followed a friend to join the RAF, trained as a navigator and was posted to 101 Squadron at RAF West Raynham. On his final operational flight with the squadron he ran out of fuel and crashed. He was taken prisoner by the Vichy…
Interview with Les Rutherford
Les Rutherford was called up for the Army just short of his 21st birthday. He was in France at the time of Dunkirk and made it to the beach of St Valery where they were under constant bombardment. He and another soldier found a door and used it to…
From Hackney lad to air bomber
Written by his nephew, a narrative of Reg's early life, his participation in student exchanges in Germany, joining the Royal Air force, training, life on the station and the crash in which he died, together with air gunners Sergeant Leslie Johnson…
Letter to John Leigh's wife from RAF Foulsham
The letter advises that he has no further news about her husband.
Letter from Donald Baker to his mother
First letter as prisoner of war. Says he is well and that he would number letters. Suggests she should make sure from Red Cross what she might send him. Asks for photographs with letters. Requests: towels, soap and toothbrushes in first parcel and…
Letter from Donald Baker to brother Harry
Writes he is OK and asked that he persuade mother and father that he was OK despite shock when he was reported missing. Says he misses freedom and worried that time would hang, but in fact he had plenty to do. Hopes he would see them all in England…
Post card from Donald Baker to his mother
Writes that he is OK and in camp and well treated. Says Red Cross do them well and asks her to send cigarettes. Mentions friend who is OK.
Postcard from Donald Baker to Uncle Jack
Writes that he is well and that he had received no letters as yet. Writes that they had a merry Christmas as were allowed some beer. Mentions entertainment and seeing new year in. Says contact Red Cross or post office for most suitable writing paper.
Letter from Donald Baker to his mother
Reports arrival of letters and writes it was good news about Italy but they had no celebrations. Says they get war news from German papers or over radio and ignore what they do not like. Mentions coming winter and that the blankets she sent would be…
Letter from the Red Cross
Confirms that parcel had been dispatched but gives warning that at this stage of war is could be difficult to send prisoner of war parcels. In addition, further posting would be suspended.
Notice from Red Cross
Due to conditions in Germany no longer allow transport and delivery of next of kin parcels, those still in hands of GPO would be handed back to Red Cross and returned to sender.
Letter to Eric Sanger's father
From casualty branch expressing regret that his son was missing as result of air operations on night 25/26 February 1943 when his Lancaster failed to return. Enquiries would be made via the Red Cross.
Interview with Ronald Indge
Ronald Indge was a wireless operator on 578 Squadron and became a prisoner of war after his Halifax aircraft was shot down. Upon leaving school, and unable to obtain employment in his chosen career, his father arranged a bound apprenticeship with a…
Interview with Laura Hickey
Laura Hickey was living in Tottenham at the outbreak of war and was evacuated to Suffolk. Her brother, Charles Henry Clarke joined the RAF and was shot down, becoming a prisoner of war and enduring the Long March. She tells of her times as an…
Email from David Fell to Paul Handel
The email's subject is 'Ben Boothman', the flight engineer of Lancaster LM381. The message covers Ben's time in the air force but also covers his pilot, Alf Morren.
The document has handwritten annotations.
A second copy but with only pages 3 and 4…
The document has handwritten annotations.
A second copy but with only pages 3 and 4…
Book 5, Return to UK
Fifth and final diary kept by David Geach chronicling his time training and on operations. He writes about his return from Canada on the Queen Elizabeth then his training in England which began with arriving at the Posting Centre in Pannal Ash,…
Interview with Andrew Carswell
Andrew Carswell volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force in his native Toronto. He trained as a pilot and, on arrival in the UK and completion of his further training, he was posted to 9 Squadron. His first operation was to Berlin. On their final…
Interview with Eileen Widdowson
Born in Peterborough, Eileen's father died when she was quite young, which resulted in the family moving to Grantham. With the East Coast main railway line and also a munitions factory, Grantham was a regular target for the Luftwaffe. Eileen recalls…
Interview with John Cox
John Cox grew up in Lincolnshire and worked in banking before he joined the Royal Air Force. After training as a pilot in the United States, he served as an instructor for almost three years. He flew 20 operations as a pilot with 626 Squadron, from…
Interview with Fred Hooker. One
Fred’s talks about life before being called up for service, including his brother being captured in Hong Kong and becoming a prisoner of the Japanese. Fred joined the Boy Scouts, aged 11, and then the Air Training Corp when it was formed in 1941.…
Interview with Ronald Gard
After Air Training Corps membership, Ron joined the Royal Air Force. From Oxford, he went to Lord’s Cricket Ground, followed by RAF Bridlington. He was posted to No. 7 Air Gunners School at RAF Stormy Down and passed out as a sergeant air gunner. …