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Letter to Miss Roberts from the Red Cross
Reply to a letter asking information about a friend, Sergeant J McCormick. Regrets to inform her that he had been reported killed in action on 4 April 1943 and was laid to rest in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
The Story of Frank Vivian Gunning
A biography of Vivian, born in Beaminster in 1920. He trained at Aldergrove and served at Bassingbourne, Wattisham, West Raynham, Watton then Wyton. Losses were high. He was shot down near Le Bourget, his two crew members dying with him. Additional…
Walter Morris - 1939/45 War Record
A memoir covering Walter Morris’ early life before moving into his service in the Air Training Corps from 1941 and his entry into the Royal Air Force in February 1942 (as the first Air Training Corps Cadet from Kettering to be called up). The…
Pat Hogan's recollection of events on 3/4 March 1945 written to a relative of Flying Officer Alan Shelton
Recounts his attendance at an annual RAAF Air Crew Europe Dinner in September 1979 where the quest speaker was Donald Bennett. He then recounts his activities and training from July 1944 at Lichfield where he was crewed up and subsequently Church…
Letter from Pat Hogan to his father
Thanks him for cable and that he had just finished the last of his leave. Mention staying on base until the rest of his crew apart from one were buried at Harrogate. The other crew member's body was sent to Dorchester for a private funeral. Writes of…
Pilot in cockpit and funeral
Top - an RAF officer wearing tunic with pilot's brevet and medal ribbons sitting in the right hand seat of an aircraft cockpit looking back. Submitted with description 'S/Ldr Ron Churcher seated in an aircraft cockpit'.
Bottom - a group of German…
Bottom - a group of German…
War grave headstone
Headstone on grave for Sergeant G Fletcher, air gunner, 14 January 1945. Submitted with description 'War grave of 106 Sqn Sgt G Fletcher RAFVR, air gunner (service number 1585386), St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France - Block "S". Plot 1. Row…
Letter to Aubrey Read's mother from the Air Ministry
Covering letter for the photograph of the temporary cross marking the grave of Aubrey and the other members of his crew. Photograph of the grave. On the reverse 'Grave 9-12, Row B, Plot. Brittish [sic] Military Cemetary, Bad Tolz, Durnbach, Germany.'
Letter to Aubrey Read's mother from the Imperial War Graves Commission
Covering letter for a form that the Commission would like Aubrey's mother to complete to enable them to provide an appropriate headstone for Aubrey's grave. Specimen of the headstone.
The memoir of Sergeant Harry J Whitwell wireless operator / air gunner 50 Squadron RAF
A detailed account of an operation on Friday, 8th October 1943. The crew of Lancaster 'N for Nan' were Pilot PPilot Officer John Charles Peter Taylor from London, Flying Officer Stewart Stubby bomb aimer from Herefordshire, Warrant Officer James…
Letter from Air Ministry to Aubrey Read's mother
Letter is to inform his mother that Aubrey is being moved from his temporary grave to his final resting place.
Letter to Aubrey Read's mother from the Air Ministry
Letter sent in response to an enquiry about provision of a headstone for Aubrey's grave and obtaining a photograph of the grave. Letter informs his mother that the Imperial War Graves Commission provides head stones and that the British Legion have a…
Letter from Imperial War Graves Commission to Aubrey Read's mother
Letter from the Imperial War Graves Commission advising his mother that a head stone had been placed marking Aubrey's grave at the Durnbach War Cemetery and that the inscription that she had asked for had been inscribed and that if she wished to, she…
Henry Wagner's life story. Part one
Hand written by Henry, Part 1 covers his early life and time at university. It goes on to cover in some detail his time in the RAF, his time training in South Africa conversion to the Halifax and operations on 51 Squadron. It also covers his time as…
Henry Wagner visits the graves of his crew
This account was written by Henry for publication in 'The Digger'. Henry recounts that in 2010 he became aware that the National Lottery were awarding grants to veterans to visit places with special memories for them, he applied and was successful.…
Newspaper cutting 'Missing airman's grave found' and photograph of J H Dyer grave cross
On the right a newspaper cutting. Mentions that John Dyer failed to return from operation in January 1944. Gives account of RAF Missing Research and Enquiry Service findings on location of crash and the crew's graves. On the left a photograph of a…
T Sgt John Dyer
Note from his niece which gives outline of operation to Berlin on 2 January 1944. Mentions that Missing Research and Enquiry Service contacted his parents with news that his remains had been found and he and rest of crew were buried in the village of…
W A Colson's headstone
Headstone for Flight lieutenant W A Colson DFM 17 December 1943. With trees in the background. Submitted with caption 'Modern colour photograph of CWGC headstone for WA Colson taken by W Harrison' Additional information bout this item was kindly…
Flight Lieutenant William Alfred Colson DFM (141402) - Biography
Includes early life and marriage. Joined the RAFVR and served on 9 Squadron and served full tours on Whitley, Halifax and Wellington. Mentions his pilot and award of DFM and promotion. Went to 97 Squadron in 1943. Was navigator/bomb aimer. Gives…
I Flew with Nine Wing Commanders
The detailed and wide ranging story of Peter Baxter's service in the RAF from an Airframe Apprentice to Flight Engineer Leader.
Leslie Pulfrey
An account about an airman who parachuted to his death after his aircraft was shot down.
The discovery, recovery and identification of the Durston crew and their plane Lancaster ED867
Account from 2003 in German and English of research started in 1997. Shows aerial photo of crash site. Excavations in 1999 discovered parts of aircraft and remains of crew which were then buried in Berlin war cemetery in year 2000. Reports…
Letter to Harold Fry's father from the Air Ministry
Refers to letter of 10 May 1944 stated they had passed on a request to the British Red Cross to enquire about his son's cuff-links but they replied that no personal effects on any crew member had been recovered. Goes on to outline new enquiries since…
Ashes of dead pilot scattered at airport
Account of scattering ashes of Harold Dryhurst over Stanstead airport. He was killed in an aircraft crash. Includes accounts of funeral and of accident.
Recovery of bodies and burial
Account of recovery of eight bodies from Ernest Tansley's aircraft and burial on 6 December 1943. Continues with account of bodies being exhumed after the war. Re-buried at Chalottenburg, Berlin.