Browse Items (495 total)
Sort by:
Interview with Sandy Saunders
Sandy Saunders recalls Liverpool being bombed in 1941 and, while on a rescue squad, he sustained splinter injuries from a blast and required hospital treatment. After taking a science degree he served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers…
Interview with Norman George Smith
Norman George Smith grew up in Western Australia. After leaving school he became an assistant in a timber mill workshop before volunteering for the Australian Air Force at the age of 18. He flew operations as a pilot with 463 Squadron from RAF…
Interview with Donald Solin
Donald Solin grew up in Perth, Western Australia and worked in a store before joining the Air Force. He served in Europe and North Africa. and flew 40 operations as a pilot with 624 Squadron, a special duties squadron dropping supplies and agents…
Interview with Ken Thomas
Originally in the Merchant Navy, Ken moved to the Royal Air Force. He became a flight mechanic but, after night school, decided to apply for aircrew. Ken went to the Air Crew Receiving Centre at St John’s Wood. He proceeded to No 4 Initial Training…
Interview with Herbert Tinning
Herbert joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and was posted, initially, to a communication flight as a fitter. He managed to transfer to aircrew and describes the enlistment process. He went to Somers, then Cootamundra for navigator training…
Interview with Ernest Truman
Ernest Truman completed his initial training in Australia as a navigator before arriving in the UK. He was posted to 460 Squadron at RAF Binbrook. One of his ops was to destroy the oil refinery at Merseburg and he recalls the explosion was so bright…
Interview with Rusty Waughman. Two
Russell (Rusty) Waughman was born in Shotley Bridge, County Durham. Due to serious poor health as a child, his education was interrupted. He describes his training with the Empire Training School in Canada. He was posted to 101 Squadron which was a…
Interview with Ralph White
Ralph White grew up in Melbourne, Australia and originally joined the army. He later volunteered to become aircrew and undertook initial pilot training at Benella and Mallala in Australia before sailing to the UK via San Francisco and New York. He…
Interview with Harold Yeoman
Harold Yeoman volunteered for the RAF hoping to become an air gunner and was surprised to find he would be trained as a pilot. He describes a crash landing in a Wellington, returning from an operation to Cherbourg, and being sent to Essen twice…
Interview with Frank Tolley
Frank Tolley was born in 1921 in Tipton and left school at 14, to work as a grocery errand boy. He joined the Royal Air Force at 19 as a ground gunner, and was in at the inception of the Royal Air Force Regiment. After 18 months he volunteered to…
Tiger Moths Royal Air Force Mount Hampden
In the foreground a Tiger Moth with pilots in both cockpits and an airman standing behind the wing. In the background two more Tiger Moths. On the reverse 'Tiger Moths on the strip RAF Mount Hampden, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, 1941'.
Civilian Tiger Moth on airfield
Tiger Moth registration 'CR-AAG' parked on an airfield. On the reverse 'Self built Tiger out of scrap, sold to Portuguese Club de Beira for £700 - money went towards a swimming pool on the camp, (Silver and Red), 1942, RAF Mount Hampden, S Rhodesia,…
Tiger Moth ground collision
Two Tiger Moths upside down on a grass airfield after a collision. The right hand Tiger Moth's nose is under the rear fuselage of the one on the left. Several men are standing by or climbing on the aircraft. On the reverse 'Typical prang, RAF Mount…
Tiger Moth ground collision
Close up of the rear cockpit of a Tiger Moth with another Tiger Moths nose and propeller buried in the rear cockpit of the first. Both aircraft are inverted. On the reverse 'Bloke in the back bought it, RAF Mount Hampden, 1941, S. Rhodesia'.
Tiger Moth forced landing in the bush
In the foreground, four airmen, two standing and two sitting around a stove on the ground in long grass. To the left a car with open door. In the background a Tiger Moth with several men standing around it. On the reverse 'Forced landing in the bush,…
Tiger Moth dismantled and loaded on lorry
A Tiger Moth with wings dismantled loaded onto a lorry. There is an airman in topee on top of the aircraft. In the foreground a group of African on lookers, On the reverse 'Bush prang loaded on to a 3 toner and ready to return to camp, RAF Mount…
Interview with Andrew Deytrikh
Andrew Deytrikh’s family emigrated from Russia in 1919 and he was born in the Isle of Wight. He grew up in London before being employed in a laboratory testing metals. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and, after training as a pilot, he…
Interview with Jack Hayley
Jack Hayley was born in Caterham and worked for an insurance company before he joined the Royal Air Force and trained to be a pilot. He trained in Canada and, after going through an Operational Training Unit in England, he was posted to 625 Squadron…
Interview with Ken Hicks
Ken sat the RAF aircraft apprentice exam because of his father. He passed and went, aged 16, to RAF Halton. The three-year course was condensed into two because of the war. He describes his training and the aircraft on which he worked. After he…
Interview with William Barfoot
Bill Barfoot was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. On joining the Air Force, he trained as a wireless operator but re-mustered as aircrew. He trained as a navigator in South Africa, and flew operations with 296 Squadron, supplying the French and Norwegian…
Stephen Dawson's pilot's flying log book. One
Pilots flying log book for Stephen Dawson, covering the period from 11 June 1939 to 30 March 1942. Detailing his flying training, operations and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Southampton, RAF Hastings, RAF Hatfield, RAF Little…
Peter Hattersley's pilot's flying log book
Pilot's log book for Wing Commander Peter Hattersley, covering the period 10 April 1937 to 24 September 1948. It details his flying training, operations flown and other flying duties. He was stationed at Hanworth Park, RAF Reading, RAF Netheravon,…
John Chatterton's pilot's flying log book
Pilot’s flying log book for Flight Lieutenant John Chatterton 30 March 1942 to 15 April 1954 detailing training schedule, instructional duties and operations flown. Served at RAF Dunholme Lodge, RAF Syerston, RAF East Kirkby and RAF Swinderby.…
Interview with Peter Banting
Peter Banting grew up in London and was a member of the Air Training Corps before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. After training, he flew operations with 75 Squadron from RAF Mepal and 7 Squadron RAF Oakington. After the war he trained to be…
Interview with David Bowker
David Bowker joined the Air Force, originally training to be a wireless operator/air gunner but re-mustered as a pilot. He discusses rudder lock on early versions of Halifax. Jacqueline Bowker, his wife, discusses her life during the war and being…