Browse Items (162 total)

  • Tags: escaping

ABellJR160130.mp3
Jack Bell joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a wireless operator/air gunner and joined 216 Squadron, at Heliopolis, near Cairo. He flew in Valentia and Bombay aircraft in a transport role. On an operation over Libya, his aircraft was shot down…

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ALastRR151125.mp3
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…

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PFilliputtiA16010044.jpg
A girl with a bag brings supplies to a man in uniform who is walking toward her with outstretched hands. In a sparse wood, other servicemen are visible, dispersed amongst the trees under makeshift tents. A second girl is on the right. Meat on a spit…

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PMcNamaraL1502.jpg
Len McNamara was born in Bristol in 1924. While working as an apprentice plumber, he joined the Air Training Corps and volunteered for aircrew. He discusses his initial training at various stations, the gunnery course he passed with merit and…

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PWadeR1503.jpg
Ron was born in Stoke-on-Trent. He left school at 14 and tells of his experiences working in a pottery factory doing odd jobs, until he was called up. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 at the age of 22 and trained as an air gunner at RAF…

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PWilsonT1502.jpg
Gabi Wilson grew up in Berlin and was a schoolgirl in 1939. She discusses one brother training as an interpreter and another brother returning from Russian prisoner of war camps. She worked as an apprentice at a publisher firm. She met her husband,…

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SSmithRW425992v10003-0002 copy.pdf
The third book of memoirs by Bob Smith.
Covers his operational tour and bombing operations.

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PBaconSG1601.jpg
Stephen joined the Royal Air Force in Kingston upon Hull. He wanted to be a pilot but became a mid-air gunner instead. He started at RAF Dalcross where he trained on Boulton Paul Defiant aircraft and went to 12 Squadron at RAF Wickenby on Lancasters.…

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EClarkeDMVPickfordL440106-0001.jpg
The letter asks if he can write to a member of the association about a lady's husband.
He is also thanked for his donation.

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EThorntonEMPickfordA431119.jpg
The letter expresses delight that Les has arrived safely in the UK.

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MElliottJD19200425-210211-01.pdf
Experiences of the prisoners of war in the Belaria camp of Stalag Luft 3 by Squadron Leader Bryce Cousens. It contains stories, poems and illustrations.

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v270002.mp3
James Douglas Hudson followed a friend to join the RAF, trained as a navigator and was posted to 101 Squadron at RAF West Raynham. On his final operational flight with the squadron he ran out of fuel and crashed. He was taken prisoner by the Vichy…

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AHemsworthR150729.mp3
Ron joined the Royal Air Force in January 1941. Initially a wireless operator/air gunner, he failed morse code at Blackpool. He was posted to RAF Swinderby and worked in the stores and flying control. Air gunnery school followed at RAF Bridlington…

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SKnoxRW[Ser#-DoB]v80010.jpg
The letter advises than John has failed to return from an operation over enemy territory.

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SCosgroveAE968259v10028.jpg
The letter was written 12 days before his last flight over Germany. He expresses his feelings if he is captured or dies serving his country.

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BBurnsDRBurnsDRv1.pdf
Draft of memoir with contents page - giving service history. Followed by pages with reference to photographs for name and rank, deferred service, ground training dates and places, training in Canada, back home for service flying, 5 Group, 51 base,…

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MGeachDG1394781-160401-050001.jpg
RAF Form 2825 filled in by David Geach claiming 1939/45 star, Air Crew Europe Star and France and Germany Star

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PCarswellA1702.jpg
Andrew Carswell volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force in his native Toronto. He trained as a pilot and, on arrival in the UK and completion of his further training, he was posted to 9 Squadron. His first operation was to Berlin. On their final…

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PLawrenceJ1701.jpg
Jack ‘Lawrie’ Lawrence planned on making a career in the RAF and joined in 1938. He enjoyed those early days when it felt like he belonged to a flying club. This was interrupted by the start of war and operational flying. He flew in Blenheims and…

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BAutonJAutonJv10001.jpg
The author was shot down over Linz, Austria whilst bombing a Panzer works. The other six in his crew perished. He was taken to Dulag Luft at Frankfurt then Stalag Luft VII. In January his camp was evacuated and he joined the Long March to the west,…

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YIvesonD19171121v1.pdf
Douglas 'Hank' Ivseson's first tour in Europe and 16 days of operational duties in the Middle East covering the period 7 July 1941 to 26 February 1943. Hank served with 76 Squadron, 77 Squadron and 462 Squadron and flew in Whitley and Halifax…

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MHartE[Ser#-DoB]-151029-010003.jpg
Pencil sketch of four men playing cards round a table and explanatory note explaining 'sketch by Blenheim wireless operator Sgt E (Ted) Hart (who escaped from Le Kef with Douglas'.

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BHookingsEWHookingsEWv2.pdf
Describes operations as Lancaster pilot. Detailed description of last sortie to attack Dortmund-Ems canal on 6 November 1944. His aircraft was attacked by FW 190 which was driven of and then set on fire by another fighter attack. Describes bailing…

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EWitmeurEVLangloisRB450815-0001.jpg
Letter to Jack Newton's pilot from a member of the Belgian escape line He says he still does not know why Jack Newton was the only one of the crew to get successfully back to England. He goes on to describe in details his research into the trail of…

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EWitmeurEVLangloisRB450819-0001.jpg
Letter to Jack Newton's pilot providing more information about the Belgian people who had been involved in the escape line to help his crew. Includes places they stayed and show linkage of the organisation. Includes information on Belgian resistance…

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