Browse Items (99 total)
- Tags: lack of moral fibre
Interview with David Bowker
Tags: 103 Squadron; 150 Squadron; aircrew; bombing; briefing; Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); crash; demobilisation; Halifax; Halifax Mk 1; Hurricane; lack of moral fibre; Lysander; Magister; military living conditions; military service conditions; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; pilot; RAF Cardington; RAF Elsham Wolds; RAF Pershore; RAF Rufforth; RAF Shawbury; RAF Snaith; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington
A year in the Life
Tags: 12 Squadron; 1656 HCU; 18 OTU; 460 Squadron; 625 Squadron; 626 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; air gunner; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; B-17; B-24; bomb aimer; bombing; bombing of the Pas de Calais V-1 sites (24/25 June 1944); Distinguished Flying Cross; entertainment; evading; FIDO; Gee; H2S; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; incendiary device; Ju 88; killed in action; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Me 110; mine laying; Mosquito; navigator; Nissen hut; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Oboe; Operational Training Unit; P-51; Pathfinders; Photographic Reconnaissance Unit; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Binbrook; RAF Blyton; RAF Boscombe Down; RAF Cardington; RAF Dumfries; RAF Dunholme Lodge; RAF Finningley; RAF Hemswell; RAF hospital Rauceby; RAF Kelstern; RAF Lindholme; RAF Manby; RAF Manston; RAF Methwold; RAF Wickenby; RAF Wigtown; RAF Woodbridge; Spitfire; tactical support for Normandy troops; target indicator; training; V-1; V-2; V-weapon; Wellington; Window; wireless operator
An Airmans Tale
Chapter 1. Under Training.
Having been assessed in Birmingham Geoff sets off to London in August 1942 for training, at Lords. Initial training was at Bridlington then gunnery school at…
Tags: 115 Squadron; 12 OTU; 1651 HCU; 1678 HCU; 514 Squadron; 75 Squadron; 90 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bale out; bomb aimer; bombing; Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; escaping; evading; flight engineer; ground personnel; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Harvard; Heavy Conversion Unit; Initial Training Wing; Ju 88; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lancaster Mk 2; Lancaster Mk 3; Martinet; Me 109; Me 110; Me 410; Meteor; Mosquito; navigator; Navy, Army and Air Force Institute; Nissen hut; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; Pathfinders; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Andreas; RAF Brackla; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Bridlington; RAF Chipping Warden; RAF Coningsby; RAF Cosford; RAF Downham Market; RAF East Kirkby; RAF Feltwell; RAF Foulsham; RAF Halfpenny Green; RAF Hornchurch; RAF Jurby; RAF Little Rissington; RAF Mepal; RAF Newmarket; RAF South Cerney; RAF Stradishall; RAF Ternhill; RAF Waterbeach; RAF Witchford; RAF Wratting Common; Spitfire; Stirling; target indicator; the long march; Tiger force; training; V-1; V-weapon; Wellington; wireless operator; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Bomber Command and Notes of Some of My Experiences During 1941-1945
Tags: 102 Squadron; 4 Group; 617 Squadron; 77 Squadron; air gunner; Air Observers School; aircrew; Anson; anti-aircraft fire; bale out; Bismarck; bomb aimer; bomb trolley; bombing; bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945); Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Flying Medal; entertainment; Flying Training School; Gee; H2S; Halifax; Halifax Mk 2; Halifax Mk 3; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Heavy Conversion Unit; Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945); Initial Training Wing; killed in action; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Me 110; memorial; mid-air collision; military living conditions; military service conditions; mine laying; missing in action; navigator; Nissen hut; Oboe; Operational Training Unit; Pathfinders; perception of bombing war; pilot; prisoner of war; RAF Driffield; RAF Elvington; RAF Full Sutton; RAF Hartford Bridge; RAF Jurby; RAF Kinloss; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Melbourne; RAF Pocklington; RAF Rufforth; RAF Syerston; RAF Torquay; service vehicle; Stalin, Joseph (1878-1953); Stearman; target indicator; Tiger Moth; training; V-1; V-2; V-weapon; Wellington; Whitley; Window; wireless operator
G Cruickshank Memoir
Tags: 44 Squadron; 50 Squadron; 617 Squadron; 630 Squadron; air gunner; Air Gunnery School; aircrew; bombing; Bombing of Augsburg (17 April 1942); bombing of Cologne (30/31 May 1942); Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992); crash; Distinguished Flying Medal; Gibson, Guy Penrose (1918-1944); Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Manchester; military living conditions; military service conditions; mine laying; RAF Abingdon; RAF East Kirkby; RAF Evanton; RAF Swinderby; RAF Westcott; training
General Memories
He describes training in London, Bridlington, Morpeth and Wymeswold. Later training as a crew was at Castle Donington, Lindholme and Hemswell. He describes in detail his crew, aircraft and operations.…
Tags: 12 Squadron; 626 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; bomb aimer; Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; escaping; flight engineer; Halifax; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); Heavy Conversion Unit; Initial Training Wing; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Martinet; Me 262; military ethos; navigator; Operational Training Unit; pilot; RAF Brackla; RAF Bridlington; RAF Castle Donington; RAF Hemswell; RAF Kirkham; RAF Lindholme; RAF Morpeth; RAF Tilstock; RAF Wickenby; RAF Woodbridge; RAF Wymeswold; superstition; target indicator; training; V-1; V-weapon; Wellington; wireless operator
If you can't take a joke...
Tags: 16 OTU; 1657 HCU; 622 Squadron; 84 OTU; Advanced Flying Unit; Anson; Battle; Blenheim; briefing; Distinguished Flying Cross; flight mechanic; Flying Training School; Fw 190; Gee; ground crew; H2S; Harvard; Heavy Conversion Unit; Initial Training Wing; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Me 109; mechanics engine; military service conditions; Operational Training Unit; Oxford; perception of bombing war; RAF Bridgnorth; RAF Cranage; RAF Desborough; RAF Feltwell; RAF Heaton Park; RAF Hednesford; RAF Llandwrog; RAF Mildenhall; RAF Paignton; RAF Penrhos; RAF Shepherds Grove; RAF Silloth; RAF Silverstone; RAF South Cerney; RAF Stradishall; RAF Torquay; RAF Upper Heyford; sanitation; Stirling; strafing; training; Wellington; Whitley
Interview with a navigator from 101 Squadron
Tags: 101 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; bomb aimer; bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); briefing; C-47; coping mechanism; flight engineer; Gee; ground crew; ground personnel; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; mid-air collision; military ethos; navigator; Operational Training Unit; perception of bombing war; pilot; RAF Blyton; RAF Wymeswold; shot down; superstition; training; Wellington; wireless operator
Interview with Alan Payne
Tags: 630 Squadron; aerial photograph; aircrew; Anson; bomb aimer; bombing; Bombing of Mailly-le-Camp (3/4 May 1944); bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); coping mechanism; crewing up; debriefing; Distinguished Flying Cross; ground crew; ground personnel; H2S; Halifax; Ju 88; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Me 109; military living conditions; mine laying; Nissen hut; observer; RAF Dumfries; RAF East Kirkby; RAF Silverstone; RAF Torquay; RAF Turweston; RAF Winthorpe; superstition; target photograph; training; Wellington; Window; Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Interview with Alexander Elliott Jenkins
Tags: 460 Squadron; aircrew; bombing; bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945); Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); Cook’s tour; final resting place; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Me 262; memorial; Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945); perception of bombing war; pilot; RAF Binbrook; shot down; Tiger force; training
Interview with Alun Emlyn-Jones
Tags: 51 Squadron; aircrew; animal; Anson; bale out; bomb aimer; bombing; crash; Distinguished Flying Cross; gremlin; Halifax; Hurricane; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; memorial; military ethos; military service conditions; pilot; radar; RAF Rufforth; RAF St Athan; Spitfire; Stirling; training; Whitley; York
Interview with Andy Andrews
Tags: 10 Squadron; 1663 HCU; aircrew; B-17; bombing; crewing up; Dulag Luft; evading; FIDO; Halifax; Halifax Mk 2; Halifax Mk 3; Heavy Conversion Unit; Ju 52; Ju 88; lack of moral fibre; lynching; military living conditions; mine laying; Operation Exodus (1945); Operational Training Unit; prisoner of war; RAF Cardington; RAF Cranwell; RAF Melbourne; RAF Rufforth; Resistance; shot down; training; Wellington; wireless operator
Interview with Arthur Hulyer
Interview with Bill Lucas. One
Flew 14…
Tags: 15 Squadron; 162 Squadron; 8 Group; 9 Squadron; bombing of Cologne (30/31 May 1942); fear; grief; ground crew; H2S; lack of moral fibre; military ethos; mine laying; Mosquito; Oboe; Operational Training Unit; Pathfinders; RAF Bourn; RAF Honington; RAF Kinloss; RAF Lossiemouth; RAF Woodbridge; RAF Wyton; Stirling; target indicator; training; Wellington; Whitley
Interview with Bill Spence
Tags: 44 Squadron; aircrew; Anson; bomb aimer; bombing; bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945); coping mechanism; crash; crewing up; fear; FIDO; Gibson, Guy Penrose (1918-1944); Heavy Conversion Unit; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Operational Training Unit; perception of bombing war; RAF Bitteswell; RAF Bowden; RAF Bruntingthorpe; RAF Dunholme Lodge; RAF Heaton Park; RAF Swinderby; RAF Syerston; Stirling; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington
Interview with Bill Thomas
Tags: 153 Squadron; 166 Squadron; aerial photograph; aircrew; bomb aimer; bombing; bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945); Bombing of Peenemünde (17/18 August 1943); Churchill, Winston (1874-1965); crewing up; ground personnel; Heavy Conversion Unit; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; memorial; observer; Operational Training Unit; perception of bombing war; promotion; RAF Bicester; RAF Hemswell; RAF Kirmington; RAF Sandtoft; RAF Scampton; RAF Strubby; target photograph; training; Wellington
Interview with Bluey Mottershead
Tags: 158 Squadron; aircrew; bomb struck; crewing up; Distinguished Flying Cross; Flying Training School; Halifax; Hampden; Harvard; Initial Training Wing; lack of moral fibre; love and romance; memorial; military ethos; Oboe; Oxford; pilot; RAF Hampstead Norris; RAF Harwell; RAF Heaton Park; RAF Honington; RAF Lissett; RAF Little Rissington; RAF Marham; RAF Riccall; RAF Scampton; recruitment; Tiger Moth; training; Wellington; Window
Interview with Bob Lasham
Tags: 5 Group; 9 Squadron; 97 Squadron; Advanced Flying Unit; African heritage; aircrew; Beaufighter; Blenheim; bombing; C-47; Distinguished Flying Cross; Flying Training School; Harvard; Initial Training Wing; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; love and romance; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); pilot; RAF Bardney; RAF Cranfield; recruitment; Stearman; training
Interview with Bob Leedham
Tags: 10 Squadron; 463 Squadron; 5 Group; 57 Squadron; 617 Squadron; 86 Squadron; 90 Squadron; aircrew; Bennett, Donald Clifford Tyndall (1910-1986); bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); C-47; flight engineer; Gneisenau; Halifax; Harris, Arthur Travers (1892-1984); lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Pathfinders; pilot; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021); radar; RAF Alconbury; RAF Halton; RAF Ridgewell; RAF St Athan; RAF St Mawgan; RAF Stradishall; RAF Swinderby; RAF Tuddenham; RAF Waddington; RAF Woodhall Spa; RAF Wratting Common; Scharnhorst; Stirling; Sunderland; Tiger force; training; Window
Interview with Cecil Harry Chandler
Tags: 15 Squadron; 622 Squadron; aircrew; anti-aircraft fire; bombing; bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944); control caravan; crash; fear; flight engineer; forced landing; Heavy Conversion Unit; Ju 88; killed in action; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Me 110; military service conditions; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); RAF Mildenhall; RAF Woodbridge; sanitation; service vehicle; Stirling; training
Interview with Charles Frederick Green
Tags: 1664 HCU; 24 OTU; 429 Squadron; 75 Squadron; air gunner; Air Raid Precautions; aircrew; Anson; bombing; bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944); civil defence; coping mechanism; Distinguished Flying Cross; H2S; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Operation Manna (29 Apr – 8 May 1945); Operational Training Unit; perception of bombing war; RAF Croft; RAF Honeybourne; RAF Leeming; RAF Mepal; RAF Padgate; superstition; training; Whitley
Interview with Christopher George McVickers
Tags: 101 Squadron; 12 Squadron; 218 Squadron; 90 Squadron; aircrew; B-29; bombing; bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945); crash; forced landing; Heavy Conversion Unit; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Lancaster Finishing School; Lincoln; Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944); Operational Training Unit; RAF Binbrook; RAF Compton Bassett; RAF Hemswell; RAF Woolfox Lodge; RAF Yatesbury; Shackleton; Stirling; training; Wellington; wireless operator; wireless operator / air gunner
Interview with Colin Hynd
Interview with Dave Fellowes
Tags: 1656 HCU; 30 OTU; 460 Squadron; air gunner; aircrew; bombing; Halifax; Heavy Conversion Unit; Ju 88; lack of moral fibre; Lancaster; Me 262; mid-air collision; military living conditions; military service conditions; Operational Training Unit; RAF Binbrook; RAF Hixon; RAF Lindholme; RAF Manston; taxiway; training; Wellington