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Interview with David Bowker
David Bowker joined the Air Force and was originally training to be a wireless operator / air gunner but remustered as a pilot. He discusses rudder lock on early versions of Halifax. Jacqueline Bowker his wife, discusses her life during the war and…
La Ricamerie factory
Low level oblique aerial photograph showing large bright explosions in the centre with a building to its left. Another building further left appears to be on fire. On the reverse 'Cam 2, Ops 142, Daylight/Night attack on La Ricamerie, Date 10/11-3…
1000 Bombern
Propaganda leaflet aimed at the German-speaking population.
Page 1. announces that the first two 1000 bomber raids have taken place and promises more.
Page 2 gives quotes from allied leaders outlining the rights a defeated Germany could expect from…
Page 1. announces that the first two 1000 bomber raids have taken place and promises more.
Page 2 gives quotes from allied leaders outlining the rights a defeated Germany could expect from…
12 airmen waving off a Lancaster
A group of 12 airmen waving off Lancaster U. They have their backs to the camera. On the reverse 'F/O Roberts F/S Pidding F/S Smale F/S Briggs F/S Rosario. Sgt Bewon Sgt Davies being waved off by members of 576 Sqdn when taking off on 1000 bomber…
189 Squadron detail for special duty
Lists 11 crews and aircraft with standby for special duty on 6 May 1945.
1943 Diary
Mentions anniversary of death of Uncle George December 1942. Daily activities for January and some of February and sporadic entries after that. Writes of going to pictures and walks. Contains some telephone numbers and addresses of friends.
1944 bombing operations
Four newspaper cuttings from 1944 describing four separate operations. Salzburg captioned 'Oct 17 1944', Essen captioned 'Oct 25th 1944', Dunkirk and Vienna captioned 'Nov 4th 1944' and Gelsenkirchen captioned 'Nov 6th 1944'.
205 Group Royal Air Force
A commemorative poster with a map of Southern Europe and North Africa. Around the outside is a list of locations where operations were carried out. There is a paragraph with details of the operations.
37 Squadron Operational Log
A list of 37 Squadron aircraft, with aircrew and role. 11 aircraft and 58 airmen are listed.
40 airmen
Group portrait of 40 airmen, formally arranged in three rows in front of huts. 14 are seated, the rest standing; all wearing side caps, some greatcoats. Two men in the back row are looking towards each other, the left hand of whom has been marked…
44 Squadron Operations Order book cover
Hard book cover annotated 'Secret' with label '44 Squadron Briefing Reports'.
5 Group intelligence - R.R.U. St Leu d'Esserent
Gives plots of six Tallboy craters and reports on damage to main railway, roads and access railway.
514 Squadron Operational Record
A commemorative document detailing the operations undertaken by the squadron during the Second World War, the weight of bombs dropped and the number of sorties. Also it states 73 aircraft did not return. At the bottom is handwritten 'Good Luck!…
617 squadron attack on St Cyr
Night oblique aerial photograph showing a town with flares top centre. On the reverse 'Cam 1, Neg 1, 10.4.44, 150, St Cyr Airpark, 617,S/Lfr Munro, Lancaster, 0200,orbiting,10000/6000'.
88 and 226 Squadron aerial photographs
Photograph 1 and 2 are sequential vertical aerial photographs of the marshalling yards at Arras. They are partly obscured by smoke. They are numbered 5018 and 5017 and captioned 'RS 636 88 30.APR44//D14" → 10,000'Z'. Captioned: '30 April 1944,…
9 Squadron photos and an aerial photograph
Photograph 1 is of 48 trainee airmen arranged in 4 rows.
Photograph 2 is a squadron plaque with 'Target for Tonight 1939 [crest] 19?? and There's Always Bloody Something'. It is captioned '3rd Dec 1943 "9" Squadron 22nd May 1944'.
Photograph 3 is a…
Photograph 2 is a squadron plaque with 'Target for Tonight 1939 [crest] 19?? and There's Always Bloody Something'. It is captioned '3rd Dec 1943 "9" Squadron 22nd May 1944'.
Photograph 3 is a…
97 Squadron operation honours, Milan, 14/15 February 1943
The aircraft is dropping bombs, there is a depiction of an explosion over a river with docks. In the distance searchlights are focused on a target. There is some anti-aircraft fire. The names of the crew are written on the card – 'Sgt Lennox, Sgt…
97 Squadron operation honours, Turin 28/29 November 1942
Drawing of Lancaster dropping seven bombs. Each bomb has a crew member's name – Sgt Lennox, F/Sgt Quinn, Sgt Ketley, Sgt Archer, Sgt Jordan, Sgt Martin, Sgt Page. Captioned ‘Turin – 28/29 Nov 42 97 Squadron’.
A few statistics
Statistics for overall bomber command crew number, casualties and total number of Lancasters built. Breakdown of Don Briggs’s operations by type. Statistics for 156 PFF Squadron including numbers of sorties, casualties and aircraft lost. Concludes…
A fire service memoir
The memoir written by Fred during his time with the Auxiliary Fire Service at the age of 18. He observes a land mine parachuting to earth. It landed on the fire service sub-station killing 28. He persuaded his Station Officer that he wanted out and…
A Kedesdelem Ara
Hungary is one of the few countries still aligned with Germany despite widespread damage inflicted by Allied bombing: MAVAG works, Szolnok, Szob, Budapest East and South, Baja, Nyiregyhaza, Cegled, Miskolc, Szekesfehervar, Hatvan, Csap, Szatmar,…
A survivor of the Voghera bombings (informant A)
The informant reminisces about her wartime experiences in the Voghera countryside, at the time when her three brothers where enlisted and it was hard for her parents to run the farm.
She remembers how she narrowly escaped an aircraft trying to…
She remembers how she narrowly escaped an aircraft trying to…
A-Able aircrew
Seven aircrew leaving a Lancaster 'A’, parked on a dispersal with bomb doors open following a daylight operation to Duisburg 14 October 1944. All aircrew are wearing life vests, carrying crew bags and helmets; two wearing Sidcot suits, two with…
“Russia Storms at 1945 Raid
A newspaper article reporting on East German and Soviet vilification of the Allied bombing of Dresden in 1945. The article refers to the bombing of Dresden having been carried out five years ago. The aim was to gain sympathy for German communists in…