Browse Items (175 total)

  • Tags: Tallboy

MCheshireGL72021-181210-010002.jpg
To officer commanding Conningsby Base RAF Woodhall Spa passing on congratulations on success of Saumur tunnel operation.

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PLoosemoreLJ1501.jpg
Les Loosemore describes his upbringing and employment history in Swansea before joining the war in 1945. He describes the Blitz in Swansea before training to be a mid upper gunner for 61 Squadron. He describes his rather intensive training, including…

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MParryWE1172401-220531-03.pdf
A biography of Bill covering his RAF years.

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ABellJR150727.mp3
John was a bomb aimer and after completing a tour in Bomber Command, he and his crew volunteered to join 617 Squadron. Interviewed by wing commander Cheshire, who they found to be very compassionate, easy to talk to and who didn't give orders but…

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PGoodmanLS1501.jpg
Benny Goodman discusses some of his operations as a pilot with 617 Squadron. He discusses attacking the Tirpitz and the use of Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs, which required the Lancaster plane to be modified. On a flight against the U-boat pens in…

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ARogersH150409.mp3
Hugh Rogers was a cameraman during the war and remembers filming the sinking of the Tirpitz in November 1944. He gives a vivid and detailed account of the operation, describing the briefing, the technical modifications to the aircraft and the…

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AStopesRoeM150601.mp3
Mary (daughter of Sir Barnes Wallis) discusses her father’s design work and remembers both skipping stones on a river during holidays with her father and catapulting marbles over a washtub in their garden. She goes on to discuss the Eder Möhne and…

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AValentineM150724.mp3
Murray Valentine was a wireless operator with 61 Squadron and 617 Squadron. He describes his duties, as well as his job on board the Lancasters on bombing operations. He recalls going to an operational training unit and flying Wellingtons for three…

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BGoodmanLSGoodmanLSv1.pdf
Begins with his decision to cease his studies and join the Royal Air Force. Covers recruitment activities and life during initial training including employment as ground gunner while waiting for flying training. Describes basic training on Tiger Moth…

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SCheshireGL72021v10079-0001.jpg
On Vickers-Armstrong headed paper classified most secret. Congratulates Cheshire on award of bar to Distinguished Service Order. Goes on to discuss bomb plots sent to Wallis. Concludes with statement on penetration depths of the new Tallboy bomb.…

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NWarrenGC190813-020001.jpg
A newspaper cutting describing a night operation by Mosquitoes on the Ruhr followed by USAAF day bombing. Attacks were also made on Berlin and the Gestapo building in Copenhagen.
On the reverse are adverts.

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PGoodmanLS1501.jpg
Benny Goodman grew up in London and hoped to become a pilot. He volunteered for the Air Force and was, originally, posted to RAF Abingdon as a ground gunner before beginning his flying training. After qualifying as a pilot in Canada, he became an…

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PJohnsonKA1507.jpg
Ken Johnson was born in Doncaster. At the start of the war the family was living in Sheffield but his father decided to move the family back to Doncaster, to avoid bombing. Ken started work as a joiner and later made cables for barrage balloons.…

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PLancasterJ1501.jpg
Jo Lancaster grew up in Cumbria and joined the Air Force as soon as he was able. After training as a pilot he flew a tour of operations with 40 Squadron from RAF Alconbury. He became an instructor before his second tour flying Lancasters with 12…

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ATrentKL160112.mp3
Ken grew up in London and joined the Royal Air Force, as a pilot, on his 18th birthday. After exams and interview at RAF Uxbridge, he went to Number 9 Receiving Wing in RAF Torquay and an Initial Training Wing in Stratford-upon-Avon. He then trained…

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PMayBJ1601.jpg
Ben was born in 1925 in Kent and his first job was in the gas works. A member of the Air Transport Command, he was called up in 1944 and, after initial training at RAF Locking, he joined No.4 flight engineers’ course at RAF St Athan for one year.…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v340002.mp3
John Langston flew operations as a navigator with 630, 189 and 617 Squadrons.

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SClydeSmithD39856v10011.pdf
Starts with joining on short service commission and covers, in great detail, his pilot training activities, including a crash landing during a cross country. After receiving his wings award, he moves to trials work, target towing and aircraft…

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SGillK1438901v20027.pdf
Gives service history of Kenneth Gill including training in Canada as navigator, training in England, operations on 9 Squadron with list of his crew. Details targets attacked. Commissioned and awarded Distinguished Flying Cross. After tour on…

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SKingEJ182986v10093.jpg
Six items, Edward's very brief description of the operation, his navigation plot, the expected H2S return over the target. Two press clipping, captioned 'The result of Bomber Commands 12,000 lb bomb attacks on one of the Enemy's V.2 rocket sites'.…

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MRobertsEJH[See#-DoB]-170712-030013.jpg
The notes indicate the bomb distribution in the bomb bay, the total weight of the bomb load, the all up weight of the aircraft, height of the bombing, forecast winds and heading and target indicator colours.
In the notes are 12,000lb bombs dropped…

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SCheshireGL72021v20023-0002.mp3
Talks about the 617 Squadron and their operation against German dams. Continues with recollection of his time on the squadron and operations against v-weapons with Barnes Wallis designed bombs. Mentions development of low-level marking techniques and…

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SCheshireGL72021v20029-0001.mp3
First, talking to Catholic Overseas Aid in Auckland, Leonard starts with mention of previous visit when he got support for a project in India. He talks about his wife's organisation work in Poland, Yugoslavia and other parts of Europe. He gives…

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PWillettS19010004.jpg
A vertical aerial photograph of Heligoland with the caption '9 sqdn bombing photograph of Heligoland on the 19th April 1945 from S/L Allrose aircraft Tallboys & Grandslam bombs being used by 9 & 617 sqdn'. The image is captioned 'BURD. 19.4.45 //…

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PWillettS19020045.jpg
Target photographs. One captioned: 'BARD. 15.10.44 // 8". 14000← 217.0926 ½ SORPE. Y. 1x2000. C.31s F/O LAKE. Y.9.' Second image captioned: 'BARD. 15.10.44 // 8" 155090 ← 210 0927 SORPE. A. 1x12000.C.31s. F/O DUNNE. A.9.'

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