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Interview with Susan Chapman
Susan Chapman talks about her father, Charles Reginald (Reg) Jaques. Reg Jaques grew up in County Durham and, to improve his prospects for employment, he studied by the light of the streetlight. He secured a job with a local authority in Shropshire.…
Interview with Fred Crawley DFC
Fred enrolled in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in May 1939. He wanted to be a navigator and was sent to an Initial Training Wing at Bexhill. He received excellent training on DH Rapides at RAF Scone, near Perth. Bombing and gunnery training were carried…
Interview with John Eppel
John Eppel grew up in Australia and joined the Royal Australian Air Force. After training, he completed 30 operations as a navigator with 550 Squadron. He describes initial training in Australia and the journey by sea via the United States, then…
Interview with Colin Fraser
Colin joined the British Army in December 1941 and, eventually, moved to his preferred Royal Air Force in March 1943. He went to Number 2 Initial Training School at RAAF Bradfield Park in Sydney as a navigator, graduating in February 1944. His first…
Interview with Hugh Lorimer
Hugh Lorimer skipped school to see a flying circus and won a flight in one of the aeroplanes. He later volunteered for the RAF and began training as a wireless operator. He was, initially, posted to Special Duty Flight test flying in India. However,…
Interview with Iris McClements. One
Iris McClements was a member of the Women’s Junior Air Corps and then the Royal Observer Corps. She met her husband on one of his visits to York.
Interview with Donald McDonald
Because of his dislike of the army, Don enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He went to Somers Initial Flying Training School and became a pilot. At Elementary Flying Training School at Western Junction, Don flew Tiger Moths although he…
Interview with Roy White
Roy White was born in Perth, Scotland but grew up in London. He joined the Air Training Corps, went on as a volunteer reserve and then served as an air gunner in the RAF. He tells of his brother serving in Coastal Command and surviving an aircraft…
Interview with Les Munro
John Leslie Munro was born in the area of Gisborne, New Zealand. He only completed two years of secondary education because of the economic slump and, in 1936, began work on a sheep ranch and then a mixed farm. On the outbreak of the Second World…
Interview with Sinclair Nutting
Clair was born in Radisson, Canada and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in December 1940. He flew 45 operations. He enlisted at Saskatoon and trained at Brandon. Guard duty in Saskatoon followed before Calgary for wireless training. He was…
Interview with Douglas Reed
Douglas Reed was working in the Town Clerk's Department, Goole when he volunteered to serve in the RAF. After completing operational training at RAF Peplow he was posted to 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington. He flew operations over Germany before…
Interview with Simson Reid
Having his interest piqued by aircraft, including Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus, Simson was attracted to flying boats. He was sent to Coastal Command at Abbotsinch and RAF Wick but without wireless operator mechanic training, he was unable to pursue…
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 Joe Shuttleworth
Joe Shuttleworth was born and raised in Brisbane but spent a lot of time with family in the Melbourne area. He volunteered for aircrew and began training as a gunner. After initial training he sailed to the United States and on to the UK. While at…
Interview with Jean Smith
When war broke out, Jean was working in the Ministry of Aircraft Production. She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1942 and did two months’ training at Innsworth camp. Jean was posted to 27 Operational Training Unit at RAF Lichfield, as…
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 Jan Black. One
Jan Black flew operations as an air gunner with 300 Squadron. He was badly burned when his aircraft crashed during a training flight and became a member of the Guinea Pig Club. He underwent 10 operations at East Grinstead Hospital. He describes his…
Interview with Jack Wakefield
Jack Wakefield grew up in New Zealand and volunteered for the Air Force and the Army. He trained as an air gunner on Defiants before being posted to 75 Squadron at RAF Feltwell where he completed a tour on Wellingtons, flying operations to locations…
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 Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey was born in Stafford. After finishing school, he went to work for the Post Office Telephones service as a telegram boy. He decided to join the Royal Air Force and began training as a rear gunner at RAF Dalcross. He joined 31 Squadron of…
Interview with Thomas Waller
Thomas Waller volunteered for the Royal Air Force and hoped to be a driver. However, he undertook training as an armourer and was based, initially, at the Special Operations Executive 138 Squadron. He was posted to RAF Stradishall, RAF Wyton and RAF…
Reg Jaques biography
Account of wartime service of Charles Reginald Jaques who joined the Royal Air Force in 1941 despite being in a reserved occupation. Includes training as a navigator in Canada and Great Britain, his commission, posting to 103 Squadron at Royal Air…
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,…