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Interview with Gerald Joseph Abrahams
Gerald Abrahams was sixteen when war was declared. He volunteered for the RAF the day after the Armstrong Vickers factory where he worked was targeted by the Luftwaffe who bombed the local school resulting in the deaths of many children. He trained…
Interview with John Shipman
John Shipman was born in Stathern, Leicester and as a teenager would cycle to Melton Mowbray to attend ATC meetings. He joined the RAF and started training as a flight mechanic. He joined a troop ship to start his posting and the journey took a very…
Geoffrey Whittle's observers and air gunners flying log book. One
Observers and air gunners flying log book for Geoffrey Whittle, navigator, covering the period from 4 November 1942 to 26 July 1953. Detailing his flying training, instructor duties and post war flying. He was stationed at RAF West Freugh, RAF…
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 Douglas Frank Newham
Douglas Newham enjoyed his career as a navigator. Over his career he saw the development of technology in his chosen field. He and his crew spent some of their time as part of North West African Strategic Air Force. Following time as an instructor at…
Interview with John Alan Ottewell
John Ottewell was a member of the Air Defence Cadet Corps and volunteered for the RAF when he was eighteen. While undertaking initial training he was present when a Fw 190 attacked the town of Babbacombe. He took part in the clean-up at the church…
Interview with Eric Parker
Eric was born in 1924 in West Derby, Liverpool and volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 and a half, finally being called up in January 1942 where he became a navigator / bomb aimer on Lancasters. After completing his training in…
Interview with Audrey Poynter
Having worked in her father’s garage, Audrey was called up, aged 17½, and joined the Royal Air Force. After RAF Padgate, she did some square-bashing at Gloucester before going to RAF Halton. She was taught to change plugs, replace faulty studs and…
Interview with Neil Ramsey
Neil Ramsey flew operations as a pilot with 75 and 105 Squadron Pathfinders. Neil flew twin engine aircraft, including the Wellington and later the Mosquito. Neil talks about New Zealander Jimmy Ward, who was awarded a Victoria Cross. Neil Ramsey…
Interview with Ernie Tillbrook
Ernest Hector Angelo Pedrazzini was the son of an Italian father and an English mother. After the war he changed his name to Tillbrook. Ernie’s father escaped from a prison camp during the First World War and finding his way to Russia and…
Interview with Vivian David Williams
Vivian joined the Royal Air Force in July 1938 as a flight mechanic and served for seven and a half years. After square drills at RAF Uxbridge and a course at RAF Manston, he did a basic engineering course at RAF Henlow. After six months at RAF St…
Les Arrowsmith’s flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers
Warrant Officer Les Arrowsmith’s flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners and flight engineers, from 28 January 1946 to 18 July 1950. Mainly records his training and various postings in the Far East as navigator within Transport…
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 aged 18 in August 1943. After training he served as a flight mechanic and fitter with 49 Squadron at…
Eric Horace Woods’ observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for Eric Horace Woods, navigator, covering the period from 28 November 1939 to 10 July 1946. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties, operations with transport command and…
Avro York accident
Front view of an Avro York with starboard undercarriage collapsed in the snow. On the reverse 'Me in flat cap extreme right of photo Ottawa 1946 MW102 Prime Minister's a/c Passenger: J Strachey Minister of Food'.
Avro York accident
Close up of the collapsed starboard undercarriage of an Avro York, in the snow. On the reverse 'Ottawa 1946'.
Jim Allen’s Royal Canadian Air Force pilots flying log book
Royal Canadian Air Force pilots flying log book for J H Allen, covering the period from 2 December 1942 to 14 January 1947. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and post war squadron duties. He was stationed at, RCAF…
Avro York at airshow
Avro York on display facing left, parked on hard-standing with spectators walking past. In the foreground a military man with side cap and khaki uniform. In the background other display aircraft.
Aircraft lined up at air display
B-29 on the right (Betty Marion), light paint scheme Lancaster in the centre and Avro York on the left all lined up on airfield hard-standing with many spectators walking in front.
Goodwill tour of United States
Top- newspaper cutting and photograph. Shows two Royal Air Force officers and two United States army air force officers in line under a sign that says 'Welcome R.A.F.' Captioned 'Greetings. Group Captain R.C.M. Collard. officer in charge of RAF tour,…
Goodwill visit to United States
Left top - photograph of B-29, Lancaster and Avro York lined up parked on airfield. Spectators are walking in front.
Middle left - air-to-air view showing formation of Lancasters over open countryside.
Third row left - photograph of group of men…
Middle left - air-to-air view showing formation of Lancasters over open countryside.
Third row left - photograph of group of men…
Geoff Paine's pilots flying log book
Pilots flying log book for G H Paine, covering the period from 4 January 1945 to 25 July 1949. Detailing his flying training, post war squadron duties with 511 squadron and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Anstey, RAF Guinea Fowl, RAF…
Geoff Paine's time in the RAF
A five page document recording Geoff's time in the R.A.F. from August 1943 until August 1949, in addition to his flying career as a pilot he undertook many other tasks as the aircrew training machine wound down.
The Avro Repair Organisation. Bracebridge Heath
![MCleggPV[DoB]-150701-01.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/743/19914/MCleggPV[DoB]-150701-01.jpg "MCleggPV[DoB]-150701-01.pdf")
A history of the Avro Repair Organisation at Bracebridge Heath. Aircraft with Category B damage were disassembled and taken to Bracebridge for repair. Contractor’s Working Parties repaired Category A damaged aircraft on their station using spares…
The Avro Repair Organisation. Langar
![MCleggPV[DoB]-150701-02.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/743/20144/MCleggPV[DoB]-150701-02.jpg "MCleggPV[DoB]-150701-02.pdf")
A history of the Avro repair organisation at RAF Langar and a record of the aircraft that passed through it between 1942 and 1968.