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Whitleys at Middleton St George 1941
Page caption: 'Middleton St George 1941'
Photograph 1 is of eight airmen under the nose of a Whitley. Captioned 'Pilot Sgt B. Jones with his Ground Crew, Whitley. A/C.'
Photograph 2 is of a sergeant pilot wearing a flying helmet and pointing to…
Photograph 1 is of eight airmen under the nose of a Whitley. Captioned 'Pilot Sgt B. Jones with his Ground Crew, Whitley. A/C.'
Photograph 2 is of a sergeant pilot wearing a flying helmet and pointing to…
78 Squadron Halifaxes
Photograph 1 is of the cockpit of a Halifax with damage below and in front of the pilot's position.
Photograph 3 is of the instrument panel of a Halifax showing damage. Captioned 'Halifax A/C, returned from a raid, Ruhr, Germany, damage to pilots…
Photograph 3 is of the instrument panel of a Halifax showing damage. Captioned 'Halifax A/C, returned from a raid, Ruhr, Germany, damage to pilots…
107 Squadron Bostons
Photograph 1 is an air-to-air view of two Bostons, starboard side.
Photograph 2 is an air-to-air view of five Bostons, port side.
Captioned 'R.A.F. West Raynham, 107 Sqd Boston A/C. Sept 1942.'
Photograph 3 is an air-to-air view of one Boston,…
Photograph 2 is an air-to-air view of five Bostons, port side.
Captioned 'R.A.F. West Raynham, 107 Sqd Boston A/C. Sept 1942.'
Photograph 3 is an air-to-air view of one Boston,…
RAF Hartford Bridge
Photographs 1 and 2 are of a crashed Mustang, AL999, behind are two Bostons and Nissen huts. Captioned 'R.A.F. Hartford Bridge Crashed Mustang A/C, French Pilot uninjured. Sept 1943.'
Photograph 3 is the port side of a Boston 'D' with invasion…
Photograph 3 is the port side of a Boston 'D' with invasion…
RAF Vitry en Artois
Photograph 1 is of a group of four airmen standing in front of a 6' high post and wire fence in heavy frost. They are wearing battledress and are armed. Reginald George Cavalier is second from the right. Captioned 'Dec 24th 1944 Jock Sadler, Chalky…
Crashed aircraft in field
Crashed aircraft inverted with just metal ribs showing. Tail wheel is visible in centre. Lying in open filed with tree line in the distance.
Dennis Raettig's wartime memoir
Wartime memoir covering Dennis Raettig's training at Blackpool and the posting to 104 Squadron at Royal Air Force Driffield in August 1941. Worked on Wellington aircraft and mentions that Driffield also hosted the blind approach landing flight…
Interview with John Derek "Bill" Bailey. One
Derek was in the Air Training Corps before enlisting at 18. He was given deferred service, eventually reporting to the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground. He proceeded to Ludlow and an Initial Training Wing at Paignton. Derek was…
Interview with Jamie (Jim) Barr
Jim joined the Royal Air Force after an engineering apprenticeship. He learnt navigation in South Africa at Oudtshoorn, followed by gunnery training at Port Alfred. After Dumfries, he went to an Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF North Luffenham…
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…
Interview with Royston Clarke and Diane Clarke
Warrant Officer Robert Royston Clarke joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and flew in Lancasters. He joined Bomber Command after seeing the bombing of Coventry. Robert tells about baling out and being manhandled by the local inhabitants, before…
Interview with William Cooke
William Cooke joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, becoming a rear gunner on Lancasters. He followed his brother and sister into the RAF. He tells of his spell of guard duty on board a troop ship, and losing one of the people he was showing…
Interview with Jim Copus. One
James Copus grew up in Oxfordshire. He volunteered for aircrew and, after training, became a mid-upper gunner and flew operations with 97 Squadron. He recalls a crash while taxiing to take-off, baling out of his empty Lancaster and how he kept…
Interview with Roy Eric Davidson
Roy was born in Lincoln in 1933 and was six years old when war broke out. He left school at the age of 15 and went to work for Lincoln City Council in the Pension department before being called up for National Service in 1951, doing basic training at…
Crashed Blenheims
Top, a crashed Blenheim from port side wheels up in a hedge, with two men sitting on top. Registration [..]U-N. Bottom, a distant shot of Blenheim, registration 'H-UX, wheels up in open field with trees behind. In the foreground an engine.
Crashed Blenheims
Top, a view of the front of a Blenheim wheels up in a field. A man is standing on the port wing between the engine and the fuselage. The front of the aircraft is surrounded by four fire extinguishers. Bottom, a head on view of a Blenheim wheels up in…
Crashed Mk 1 Blenheim and Hawker Henley target towing
Top, the front end of a Mk 1 Blenheim wheels up in a field with bent propellers. There are four fire extinguishers in front of the aircraft and a man is standing on the right looking at the aircraft. Bottom, and air to air view of a Hawker Henley…
Lifting crashed aircraft and Hawker Henley
Top, to the left side the front part of an aircraft wheels up in a field. In front of the aircraft a lifting frame with several men working. To the right side a flatbed trailer attached to a lorry. Bottom, a camouflaged Hawker Henley L3433 from rear…
Crashed Blenheim and Battle aircraft on airfield
Top centre, a Blenheim with squadron letters 'EP' lying wheels up and flaps down in a field. There is a bicycle leaning against the rear of the starboard wing and three men working on top of the fuselage near the cockpit.
Bottom left, a number of…
Bottom left, a number of…
Interview with Jack Brown Franklin
Jack grew up in Liverpool. His brother was the famous ballet dancer, Frederick Franklin CBE. He describes the Liverpool May Blitz and the paper merchants’ firm, where he worked, being bombed. He returned to his job after the war. After the Local…
Interview with Basil Goldstraw
Basil Goldstraw was classed as medically unfit for aircrew and, following training as a fitter, he was posted to 75 Squadron at RAF Mepal. He discusses aspects of his work as a fitter, being bombed, and life on and off the station. He was posted to…
Interview with Rosemary Lapham
Rosemary Lapham is the daughter of Roy Chadwick CBE, the designer of the Manchester and Lancaster aircraft. She tells her father’s story. Her father was born in 1893 and, when he left school at the age of 14, he became a draughtsman at…
Interview with Jan Black. Two
Jan Black Stangryciuk was born in Poland although his family emigrated to Argentina in 1934. He volunteered to join the Royal Air Force in 1939, recalls his journey to England and explains reasons for his decision. He describes, in detail, a crash…
Interview with Joan Watson
Joan Watson went to Bracebridge School and then worked as a printer at Ruddock’s of Lincoln. Joan discusses evacuees; the bombing war; home front (local men doing fire watching at work); and social life in wartime; dancing, cinema and gatherings.…
Interview with Bob Frost. Two
Bob Frost flew on a night operation on 16/17 September 1942 as a rear gunner on Wellington BJ877, 150 Squadron, from RAF Snaith. Before reaching the target at Essen, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the port engine was damaged. He…