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Operation to Gelsenkirchen
Account of Lancasters bombing benzol plant near Gelsenkirchen. Spitfire's dropped bombs on railway trucks. Benzol plant and Gelsenkirchen is underlined. captioned '5.3.45'.
Ronald Mathers pilots flying log book. Two
Pilots flying log book for Ronald Mathers covering the period from 1 October 1944 to 24 February 1948. Detailing his flying training, instructor duties and duties with 35 squadron. He was stationed at RAF Swinderby, RAF Finningley, RAF Hullavington,…
Interview with Reg Payne. Two
Reg Payne was born in Kettering in 1923. He left school at the age of 14 and just before he was 18 he volunteered to join the RAF. He did his basic training at RAF Blackpool learning Morse Code in the tram sheds. From there he did his radio…
Interview with June Pauline Brandon
June Brandon was born in India, returning to England when her father died. She joined the WAAF and went into the Photographic Section, loading cameras on Spitfires then carrying out development of the films. She served at several RAF stations,…
Interview with Denis Francis Cockbill
Born in Newport, Denis volunteered for the Royal Air Force having already joined the Air Corps aged 17. Due to his interest in radio technology Denis wanted to train as a wireless operator and officially joined the Royal Air Force three months after…
Interview with John Eric Hatherly Dean
John Dean’s childhood memory of watching a Spitfire and a German aircraft having a dogfight in the sky above him spurred him to want to become a Spitfire pilot. He didn’t achieve his aim of becoming a Spitfire pilot and instead became a…
Interview with Lawrence Henry di Placito. One
Lawrence di Placito served as a second-class coxswain on the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches during the Second World War. He was born in Chertsey and attended Egham grammar school where he was a member of the cadet force. Upon leaving school in 1936 he…
Interview with Thomas Fisher
Thomas Fisher initially trained as a fitter in the RAF. When the Air Ministry announced that flight engineers were needed from the ranks of the ground mechanics he volunteered for training. The CO was surprised that he volunteered and asked him if it…
Interview with Betty Hedges
Betty Hedges grew up in South London during the final years before the war and she recalls a happy childhood. She describes a close family and community life where the children played unworried in the streets and she talks about the games they played…
Interview with George Hextell
George Hextell joined the RAF as a flight engineer and flew operations with 51 Squadron on Halifaxes. After being shot down over Holland, he became a prisoner of war. He gives a detailed account of his capture, imprisonment and liberation. He also…
Interview with Harry Hodgson
Harry Hodgson was ground crew during the war. He was based with 10 Squadron, working on Halifax Bombers at RAF Melbourne. Harry said it was a very busy time patching up the holes from both anti-aircraft fire and bullets on the Halifax. He remembers…
Interview with Fred Hooker. Two
Fred Hooker was a mid-upper gunner on 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington, where he flew three operations before being shot down. Born in Hartley Wintney in 1924, Fred’s first experience of the RAF was visiting RAF Odiham as a member of the Air…
Interview with James Lamb
Jim joined the RAF as an aircraft technician as soon as war broke out, thinking it would not last long. He joined 75 Squadron at RAF Feltwell on Wellingtons, then went to RAF Mildenhall, returning to RAF Feltwell. He went to RAF Oakington and RAF…
Coastline
Target photograph of an unidentified target, coastline and built-up area. Captioned '3026 D/490.542 SQDN 4 May 43 F/20→'.
Interview with Leslie Grantham Lunn
Leslie Lunn joined the RAF and, after basic training did flying training in America. On completing training, in the UK he joined 129 Spitfire squadron. The squadron later converted to Mustangs. His squadron covered the D-Day landings and was switched…
Newspaper cuttings concerning Paddy Finucane and pilgimage to Nijmegen by Kathleen Wynn
1. Title 'To lead wing at 21'. Relates to wartime history of Wing Commander Paddy Finucane. Handwritten note explains his death and that Ian Wynn was his engineer. 2. Title 'Brought Together'. Relates the meeting of Kathleen Harvey and Kathleen Wynn…
Interview with Robert Andrew Percival
Robert Percival was the son of a Second World War pilot and so grew up with an interest in aviation. His application to join the RAF as aircrew was not successful so he chose the engineering / technician route in to the service. He was seconded to…
Interview with Ken Sleaford
Ken Sleaford was born and raised near Coningsby on the family farm. He describes life on the farm before and during the war, when it was handed over to the Air Force, to be converted into an airfield and incorporated into RAF Coningsby. Ken recalls…
Interview with Geoffrey Charles Spencer
Geoffrey Spencer grew up in Birmingham and worked with his father in tool making, carrying out fire watching as a youngster. He joined the Air Force in August 1943, aged 18. After training, he served as a flight mechanic and fitter with 49 Squadron…
R J Mitchell 1895-1937
A stamp-label printed in 1995 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of R J Mitchell. It features a side profile of his head, a colour image of a Spitfire and, behind, a blueprint of a Supermarine S.6B.
To Jessie from Harry Redgrave
A letter and envelope from Harry Redgrave to his wife Jessie. Harry writes from RAF Finningley about his life including the bad weather. He describes a recent incident where, due to the weather, a Hampden was shot at by a Spitfire by mistake and the…
Spitfire
Head on view of a Spitfire at low level taken over an airfield,
Interview with Len Harper
Len Harper registered for the air force in April 1939, influenced by the positive experience of his brother, who had joined in January. Upon completing training at the Wireless Training School, RAF Yatesbury, he was posted to RAF Wittering, where he…
Young girl in front of Spitfire
Young girl wearing skirt and jacket sitting in front of a Spitfire on display at Trafalgar Square. In the background multi-storey buildings, one with Bovril and BOAC advertisement.
Flypast of Spitfire and Mosquito
Ground to air view of formation of twelve Spitfires flying towards bottom left followed by six Mosquitoes. Part of a building bottom left.