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Interview with John Allbon Bonds
John Bonds was brought up in London and remembers bombs dropping nearby. He joined the RAF as an engine mechanic and, after training, worked on Spitfires before being posted to bombers. He was injured in a hangar accident and spent some time in…
Interview with Bertram Arthur Yeandle
After leaving school, Bertram Yeandle joined the RAF apprentice scheme and trained as an engine fitter at RAF Halton. After completing his apprenticeship at RAF Cosford, he was posted to 148 Squadron, RAF Harwell, where he serviced Wellingtons. In…
514 Squadron, RAF Waterbeach,1944
A large group of airmen arranged at the front and on top of a Lancaster. The image has a squadron crest at the top. Behind the aircraft is an open hangar.
Page 21 of D C Bradbury Scrapbook
Large group of airmen and ground crew arranged on, around and on top of a Lancaster, in front of a hangar. The photograph is in a mount with the RAF crest at the top and underneath '514 Squadron, RAF, Waterbeach, 1945'.
This item was sent to the…
This item was sent to the…
Half a Life, Half Remembered
From his youth to the award of his DFC by the King.
Save me an Egg
An operation undertaken to attack Wesseling, near Cologne. The aircraft suffered engine and fuel line damage and ditched in the North Sea. The crew survived the ditching and were rescued by a launch.
Large group of airmen in front of a Lancaster
A squadron photograph of four rows of airmen arranged in front of a Lancaster with hangars behind. Attached note on the reverse '4th from port innes prop HTA'.
Interview with Alma Leedham
Alma Leedham grew up in London and worked for Hawker aircraft on the Hurricane at the start of the war. She later trained as a driver in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and served at RAF Scampton driving tractors taking bombs to the aircraft. Alma…
Interview with Freda Fairweather
During the war, Freda Fairweather was called up to work for Avro and worked on Lancasters at RAF Waddington and RAF Swinderby. She describes cleaning the perspex windows and using her own box spanners to remove aircraft wings. She recollects flying…
104 (B) Squadron Group Photograph
A squadron photograph taken at Bassingbourn in May 1939. Four rows of airmen and ground crew positioned in front of a Blenheim.
My Time in the Royal Air Force 1942-1955
An autobiography by Jim about his time in the RAF. He was 17 when the war started and he applied and was accepted for the RAF, on deferred service. Training started at Ludlow, Newquay then grading at Sywell. He was selected for further training and…
H Jack Lazenby DFC
Harold Jack Lazenby's autobiography.
View from the hangar, Fiskerton 1945
A Lancaster framed by the door of the hangar. Behind there is a second Lancaster in a hangar and the front half of a third Lancaster parked outside.
Batiuszka Cywiński przy Wellingtonie
Item 1 is an annotated chart for an operation to Cologne. There are areas highlighted in red around major cities.
Item 2 is a photograph of a Wellington framed by the entrance to the hangar.
Item 3 is a photograph of Batiuszka Cywiński standing…
Item 2 is a photograph of a Wellington framed by the entrance to the hangar.
Item 3 is a photograph of Batiuszka Cywiński standing…
Reg Miles Audio Memoir
Reg Miles's memoir in three parts. Part one Reg describes his childhood in St Peter’s on the Isle of Thanet, his family, school, lack of money, and holiday jobs. Reg joined the Royal Air Force as an apprentice, known as a ‘Brat’, in January…
Interview with Audrey Poynter
Having worked in her father’s garage, Audrey was called up, aged 17½, and joined the Royal Air Force. After RAF Padgate, she did some square-bashing at Gloucester before going to RAF Halton. She was taught to change plugs, replace faulty studs and…
Biography of Reg Miles
A detailed Biography of Reg' service and post service life.
To war in a Stirling - the life and times of Flight Lieutenant Stanley Robert Grafton DFC RAFVR
Cover photograph of an airman with half brevet captioned 'Pilot Officer Stan Grafton during debrief at RAF Wratting Common, following the disastrous raid on Berlin on the night of 23/24 August 1943'. Chapter one covers enlistment and training…
Jim Ross in the gun turret of an Albemarle
Sergeant Jim Ross, wearing a Mae West and jacket with a whistle attached to the collar, is standing inside the gun turret of an Albemarle, the two machine guns are pointing at the camera. In the background, on the left, there is a parked Albemarle…
12 aircrew in front of an Anson
Group portrait of 12 aircrew in front of an Anson. Arms folded, six are standing and six sitting on a bench, all wearing khaki drill open-knecked shirts with rolled-up sleeves, shorts, long socks and shoes. Another airmanis looking out of the…
Air Gunners Qualifying Course No. 4 41 Air School
Group portrait of 42 airmen in three rows standing at ease. Those in the front row are sitting on a bench with arms crossed and two sitting on the ground; most are wearing khaki drill tunics, shirts and ties and shorts and most have khaki drill side…
Damaged Lancaster rear gun turret
Inside a hangar, a sergeant and other airmen are standing around damaged rear gun turret and fuselage of Lancaster. A tow bar is attached to the tail wheel, which has 'RAF Elshamwold [sic]' painted on it.
Group in front of a Hampden
Formal group photograph of personnel in front of a Hampden. They are arranged in three rows, some seated some standing. A dog is in the middle: a hangar, a gantry crane and sandbags are visible in the background.
Additional information about this…
Additional information about this…
Course 71 navigators
The class book for 71 Navigators course, March - July 1943. Cover includes course details and photograph of an Anson in flight over the airfield with landing gear down. Contains the list of names of the 19 students who completed the course as well as…
141 Squadron
Group portrait of 47 officers and airmen of 141 Squadron sitting front row and standing in three further rows. All are dressed in tunics with peaked caps or side caps. One person, eighth from left in third row up is in United States Army Air Force…