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The Pilgrimage of an English airman who in 1944 came down in the Spa region
Recounts that Derrick Allen contacted a M Rudi Simon who lived in Tongess, Belgium through the Association of Veterans. M Simon was researching aircraft brought down in the local area. Derrick Allen had stated that he would like to visit the where…
Aerial violation of Swiss airspace
![MWrightJ[Ser#-DoB]-150527-070001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/165/2252/MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-070001.jpg "MWrightJ[Ser#-DoB]-150527-070001.jpg")
Report form the Commander, District 1, Land Division regarding violations of Swiss airspace on night of 12/13 July 1943 when all areas covered by the Territorial Inspectorate of District 1 received alerts which began at 00.06 and continued until…
Telegram No. 787 from the Swiss Government to the Swiss Legation in London
![MWrightJ[Ser#-DoB]-150527-080003.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/165/2253/MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-080003.jpg "MWrightJ[Ser#-DoB]-150527-080003.jpg")
Telegram No. 787 from the Swiss Government to the Swiss Legation in London (A. 3080), concerning the violation of Swiss airspace on 13/14 July 1943, between 12.04am – 01.00am. Over 100 British aircraft flew over southern Switzerland, covering the…
Extracts from 'Nouvelliste Valaisan'
![MWrightJ[Ser#-DoB]-150527-11.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/165/2256/MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-11.jpg "MWrightJ[Ser#-DoB]-150527-11.pdf")
27 pages transcribed from a local newspaper covering the night 100 bombers overflew Switzerland leading to two being shot down. Bombs were dropped on Swiss territory.
14 airmen were buried at Vevey and the funeral is described. There is repetition…
14 airmen were buried at Vevey and the funeral is described. There is repetition…
Crashed Lancaster rudder
A rudder recovered from a crash site. It is annotated with dimensions in millimetres. It is largely intact but shows rippling. On the reverse ' Rudder, Lanc. Sion/CH 12/13.7.1943 via Roger Anthoine ex-pl.470'.
Lancaster wreckage on a Swiss hillside
The wreckage of Lancaster ED412Q at Bouvertet Switzerland shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Switzerland 12 July 1943. The pilot was Pilot Officer Horace Badge.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.
Lancaster DV396 crash site
In both photographs a pile of aircraft wreckage lying in the middle of an open field. To its left a notice on a pole. In the background a forest. On the reverse of the first photograph '2-11-44 Lancaster B DV396, Ops Dusseldorf crash site at La Reid,…
Lancaster DV396 crash site
Part of the fuselage of a Lancaster lying in a field. On the reverse '2-11-44, Lancaster B DV396, Operation Dusseldorf, crash site at La Reid, Belgium'.
Aircraft wreckage
Aircraft wreckage in the edge of a wood. behind the wreckage a field and road with a vehicle. Captioned 'on the road a US GMC'. In the background wooded hills. On the reverse 'F. Bourotte- Spa, Vieux-Pré, Photo:1'.
Aircraft wreckage in field
Part of the fuselage of an aircraft with roundel visible and unidentified letter annotated '8 or B or g'. On the reverse 'F Bourotte -Spa, Vieus-Pré?, Photo 3'.
Aircraft wreckage in field
A pile of aircraft wreckage in the middle of a field. The left a notice on a pole. In the background a hedge and forest. On the reverse 'F. Bourotte - Spa, Vieux-Pré, Photo 2', No 273'.
Lancaster DV396 crash site
Aircraft wreckage in the edge of a woods. Behind is a field and a road with a vehicle. In the background wooded hills. On the reverse '2-11-44, Lancaster B DV396, Ops Dusseldorf crash site at La Reid, Belgium'.
Aircraft wreckage
A pile of aircraft wreckage at the edge of a woods. Behind a field and a road with a vehicle. In the background wooded hills. On the reverse 'Burnt out wreckage at crash site 1944'.
Interview with Bob Frost. One
Bob Frost recounts experiencing the London Blitz as a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force and trained at the Air Gunnery School at RAF Evanton, Scotland. He was then posted to the Operational Training Unit at…
Interview with Philip Batty
Philip Batty grew up in Walsall. He discusses the death of his older brother Dennis, a wireless operator with 226 Squadron, early in the Second World War. Philip volunteered for aircrew. After training, he was posted to 50 Squadron at RAF Sturgate as…
The last flight of Lancaster DV396(B)
Derrick Allen's account of being shot down 2/3 November 1944. After a successful attack on Dusseldorf, the Lancaster was severely damaged by a night fighter. Goes on to describe battle with FW 190 and and order to abandon aircraft. Before bailing…
Newspaper account of Derrick Allen's heroic actions leading to award of Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, congratulatory wedding telegrams and banknote
On the left a newspaper cutting with an account of how Derrick Allen freed the rear gunner from his jammed turret while his Lancaster was going down. On the right top and bottom, congratulatory wedding telegrams wishing future happiness. Between the…
Accounts of actions leading to award of Conspicuous Gallantry medal and other congratulatory material
At the top a postagram congratulating Derrick Allen on his award of Conspicuous Gallantry Medal signed A T Harris. Six newspaper cuttings giving various accounts of actions in releasing rear gunner from jammed turret while Lancaster dives out of…
interview with Derrick Allen's family
Derrick Allen was the mid-upper gunner on a Lancaster that crashed near Spa in Belgium. He had been making his way to bale out when the pilot asked him to help the rear gunner who was trapped in his turret. He managed to do this but the plane broke…
Wallet, photograph and story
John Casey's wallet salvaged from a Stirling that he bailed out of near Normanton-on-Trent while training on 29 July 1944. Photograph of Rose who was an Irish woman who lived in the same digs as John Casey in Birmingham in 1941.
Interview with Harold Beech. One
Harold Beech was born in Middle Rasen, Lincolnshire. He was six when war was declared and saw the construction of many airfields near his home. As a schoolboy, he also watched aircraft being transported on the back of Queen Marys. The family housed a…
Interview with Harold Beech. Two
Harold Beech could see the activity of several airfields and witnessed stricken aircraft flying back to stations near his home. He also witnessed a crash and describes how he hid in a Lancaster, with the help of the engineer who was billeted with his…
Interview with David Brewster
David was born in 1931 in Sutton on Sea and recalls living in a spartan house with no toilet, lit by gas lights and with a water pump in the garden and his father keeping pigs to augment their income. His descendents had sailed to America in the…
Interview with Gerald John Castleton
John was called up for the Army at 18 but chose to join the Royal Air Force. He passed the exams for direct entry onto the flight engineers’ course. He was then sent to RAF Rufforth where he crewed up. After 10 hours’ training, he took his first…
Interview with Sue Chaplin
Susan Chaplin was born in North Marston and was a local teacher. She recounts the story her mother told her as a young girl, about Wellington HE740 which crashed near the village. With her local history group she researched and wrote a book “The…