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Account of being shot down and prisoner of war
Shot down 12/9/44. Captured after 8 days. List camps Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft 7 and Stalag IIIIA. Liberated by the Russians.
Brief history of George Thomson's RAF career
Brief details covering, volunteering, reporting to aircrew reception centre, training, operations, shot down, prisoner of war
Route from where shot down to prisoner of war camp and evacuation on long march
Sketch map of Germany and Poland showing route from capture at Rastatt via Dulag Luft to Stalag Luft 7 and the long march to Luckenwalde.
My Bomber Command experience - George Thomson
George recalls his training over 18 months, including crewing up. He goes on to recall his first operation and mentions others involved, and describes being shot down on on 12 September 1944. George then describes evading and his time as a prisoner…
Shot down and escape - George Thomson
The first chapter, 'Shot Down', gives a detailed description of being on the flight out to Fankfurt and being shot down on their 20th operation. He goes on to describe his and other crews baling out. The second chapter, entitled 'Escape', describes…
Caught napping
Describes being shot down on his twentieth operation, He was navigator and lists remainder of crew. Describes crew bailing out, and details adventures while evading with the flight engineer for several days. Goes on to describe being found by German…
Brief account of being shot down and as prisoner of war
Brief details of shoot down, capture and time at Dulag Luft and Stalag Luft 7 in 1944 before moving to Stalag 3A early 1945. Liberated by Russians and flight home.
Account of events during final operation and capture
Give details of how crew get together before flight. Battle order, crew briefings, manning aircraft, operation flight details, baling out, evasion route/events and kit. Notes on interrogation, and dispersal to Stalag Luft 7.
Questions to George Thomson from Mair Harris
Twenty six questions about persons of interest, where previously based, operations, aircraft, casualties, evasion training, other questions about prisoners and camp life, food, locations and other matters. Answers provided on third page.
George Thomson prisoner of war debrief questions
Provides answers to 10 questions about personal details, operation, how brought down and how he escaped aircraft. Followed by 9 questions on capture and experiences in prisoner of war camp and effects it had on him. Concludes asking about post war…
Interview with Stanley Albert Booker
Stanley Albert Booker grew up in Chatham in a military environment surrounded with the sort of military paraphernalia he and his young friends found fascinating. He volunteered for the RAF at the earliest opportunity. He trained as a wireless…
The Lancaster of Tillières-sur-Avre
Details of operation and loss of Lancaster HK553 piloted by Tom Donaghy during operation to Dreux in France. Contains:
The needs of the landing of June 6 1944.
An effective German defence.
The bombing of Driex.
The Lancaster HK553 crash with…
The needs of the landing of June 6 1944.
An effective German defence.
The bombing of Driex.
The Lancaster HK553 crash with…
Forged identity card
French identity card made out for Emile Dufour with photograph of Richard Wensley and stamps. Submitted with caption 'Richard Wensley's forged identity card as Emile Dufour'. Additional information kindly provided by the donor.
Eight evaders
Eight men wearing suits and tie, standing in line in a road in front of a brick building. Man in centre is holding flowers. Submitted with caption 'Flixecourt's hidden airmen including Richard and Norman after liberation Flt Lt Jeka holding flowers'.…
A conversation with Oliver Wells
Transcript of oral history interview. He starts with a brief service history, 7 Squadron Oakington, Stirling and later Lancaster. He was shot down on his seventh operation, was captured after 4 months and became a prisoner of war. He begins with a…
List of Phrases
A list of useful phrases in French, Dutch, German and Spanish. The list was issued to assist aircrew evading if they were shot down on operations.
Conversation with Heinz Rökke & Jack Bromfield
Gives short details of participants mentioning that Heinz Rökke achieved 64 victories with NJG2. Flight Sergeant Jack Bromfield was wireless operator /air gunner with 158 (Halifax) Squadron. Starts with Rökke and Bromfield discussing the latter's…
Letter to Mrs JL Leigh from Red Cross
The letter advises that there has been no news of her husband despite efforts made by the International Red Cross.
If Love were all...the story of a Second World War bomber crew
The story of two members of a Lancaster crew from 626 Squadron at RAF Wickenby, their operations together and their final operation over Germany.
ME799 Lancaster Mk 1
Brief details about the fate of Lancaster ME799 and its crew.
Sergeant Cedric Charles Pettit DFM (562595 Royal Air Force)
DFM gazetted 2 Jan 1940 when he was a Corporal air gunner on 99 Squadron. Citation records action on 16/17 Jun 1944 as flight engineer in 550 Squadron Lancaster. Hit by flak which damage port engines, continued to attempt to bomb despite stuck bomb…
Transcript of conversations with Jack Bromfield
Jack talks in detail about joining the RAF, initial induction and training as a wireless operator and air gunner. He crewed up with an otherwise Canadian crew (pilot, navigator, bomb aimer and air gunners) at OTU and describes some of them, as well…
Lost over Hanover
Concerns crew captained by Flying Officer A Robertson RCAF including Flight Sergeant Jack Bromfield as wireless operation. Lists crew. Gives account of their 12th operation to Hanover where their Halifax was attacked and shot down by a Ju 88 flown by…
Michael Peel interview. Two
Michael Peel was posted to 44 Squadron based at RAF Dunholme Lodge. On one operation, at midnight, his crew wished him a happy 21st birthday. On another occasion, they found they still had a bomb in the bomb bay and, as the Flying Control did not…
Letter to Mrs Bratley from RAF records office
Confirms that her husband had arrived safely in Gibraltar. Two copies of same letter.