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Interview with Jack Cook
Jack Cook was born in Mexborough. He left school at 14 and went to work at a Gentlemen’s Outfitters. At 16 he worked on the footplate for LNER. At the age of 18 he volunteered for aircrew and trained as a wireless operator/air gunner; joined 100…
Interview with Iris Done
Upon leaving school until her marriage, Iris worked for London County Council. After her marriage she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She reported to Bridgenorth in June 1942 to be sworn in. After that, she went to Morecambe where she learned…
Interview with Harold Stanley Gardner
Harold Gardner was a navigator on 106 Squadron based at RAF Metheringham during the final months of World War 2. Known throughout his RAF career as Stan, he was born in Brighton. In 1937 when 14-years-old, his father arranged employment for him with…
Interview with Ronald Last
Ronald Last grew up in Dorset and worked as an apprentice for the local Gas and Water company before volunteering for the Air Force. He attended the reception centre at Lord's Cricket Ground and describes the medical tests and inoculations recruits…
Interview with Geoffrey Lenthall
Geoffrey Lenthall was born in Nottinghamshire but spent most of his youth in Scunthorpe. He happily volunteered for aircrew but found himself working as ground personnel. He eventually trained as a wireless operator and was posted to 9 Squadron. He…
Interview with Taff Owen
Aneurin ‘Taff’ Owen was born neat Dolgellau, near Penmaenpool in Wales, and joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18 in 1942. Taff was a farmer’s son and as such was put into a reserved occupation, so some of the areas of the Royal Air Force…
Interview with Arthur Pocklington
Arthur Pocklington grew up in Hull and was hoping to join the RAF as aircrew but failed the medical. He trained as a mechanic servicing the radar equipment on the aircraft. He served at RAF Scampton, RAF Dunholme Lodge and RAF Strubby before being…
Interview with Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders joined the RAF as a wireless operator rear gunner and served on 114 Squadron during the war. Remembers, as a little boy, seeing the airship R 101 and the Hindenburg flying in the distance. Describes his training in England and in Egypt…
Interview with Dinah Smith
Dinah Smith was born in Bamford, Derbyshire in 1937, moving to Darley Dale when her father found a new job as an aqueduct linesman. Dinah outlines her experiences of school, friends, foraging for food, and celebrations during the war. She also…
Interview with Rex Statham
Rex Statham was born in Luton. His father died in a motorbike accident when he was very young. Although Rex had been very keen to join the Navy he volunteered for the RAF as a flight mechanic. When he realised that many trained mechanics were being…
Interview with Eric Horsham
Eric Horsham was born in East London in 1923. Leaving school at 14 he was a messenger at the Royal Ordnance Factory before working for the railways. In 1937 he joined the Air Training Corps and learned about aircraft maintenance. On his first attempt…
Interview with Leonard Ralph Tyrell
Leonard Ralph Tyrell mentions always being keen on aircraft since he was a boy. He was sent to RAF Syerston near Nottingham for Lancaster Finishing School, and then an advanced flying unit near Wolverhampton, before heading to number 17 OTU at RAF…
Ernest Smith's Service and Release Book
Service and release book of Flying Officer E W Smith, last day of service 30 November 1945.
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…
Letter from Ted Neale
![ENealeETH[Recipient][Date]-030001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/1246/16338/ENealeETH[Recipient][Date]-030001.jpg "ENealeETH[Recipient][Date]-030001.jpg")
He refers to feeling 'isolated and diminished' when returning to civilian work. He rejoined the Royal Air Force, but the jobs became more menial and supplies and maintenance were poor. He describes the contrast with some of the operations he took…
Interview with Andrew Barron. Three
Andrew said that during leisure time the crew drank, sang silly songs but didn’t really socialise much. He recalled an occasion when the Germans sent in about 200 night fighters infiltrating the main force on its ways home. They shot down a B-17…
The Story of Flight Lieutenant John J Blair, DFC
![MBlairJJ[Ser#-DoB]-160509-01.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/711/17279/MBlairJJ[Ser -DoB]-160509-01.jpg "MBlairJJ[Ser#-DoB]-160509-01.pdf")
A 52 page document detailing the history of John Blair's RAF service from 1942 to 1963, and his childhood in Jamaica. Introductory note says it was based on a taped interview with John Blair by his nephew in 1997.
John was born in 1919 to a poor…
John was born in 1919 to a poor…
Letters in a newspaper cutting
Two letters, the first referring to RAF warrant officers being reduced in rank to sergeants from 1 July 1946 and the second about older veterans mocking young soldiers for not having overseas service ribbons.
Page 20 of D C Bradbury Scrapbook
Photo 1 - Denis Bradbury in uniform standing behind his parents, who are seated, outside a house. His father is smoking a pipe and Denis is holding one.
Photo 2 - a head and shoulders portrait of Denis Bradbury in uniform. smoking a…
Photo 2 - a head and shoulders portrait of Denis Bradbury in uniform. smoking a…
Robert Holman personal service record
List of locations and jobs from 1941 ATC summer camp, and from joining Royal Air Force in May 1943 until demobilisation in March 1946. Includes transfer to Navy in June 1945, where he worked on Barracuda, Firefly and Oxford aircraft.
Keith Bruhn's record of service
R.A.A.F. P/P 149 records that Keith was demobbed on 19 February 1946 after 2 years and 9 months service.
'On the Way'
Letter written by Bill from India to his parents telling them that he was coming home - leaving for Bombay tomorrow and should be home by March.
Royal Air Force Journal
Volume 4, number 5, May 1946, the final edition. The Journal contains information from the Air Ministry, stories from around the world and humour.
Interview with Bob Smith
Bob Smith was born in Brisbane, Australia. He recalls moving to the family farm in 1932 and being a member of the Air Cadets during his school years. Upon leaving school, Smith undertook training as a bank clerk. Following the events of Pearl…