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Interview with Jim Auton
Jim Auton grew up on Royal Air Force stations and joined the Royal Air Force at seventeen. He trained as a pilot navigator and bomber at RAF Ansty near Coventry, then in South Africa under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He trained on B-24 at Lidder…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father about being stationed in Scotland, waiting to start the air observers school. He has visited Edinburgh and been swimming locally.
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father about his daily activities after leaving Scotland for Hastings, and visiting his mother and Steve whilst passing through London. He comments the current military situation.
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from Leading Aircraftsman David Boldy to his father about becoming a qualified air gunner, his celebrations on qualifying and now he and the five others are awaiting posting, so he is spending some time with his friends and his girlfriend…
Letter to his sister from Ellis Edwards
![EEdwardsEDEdwardsM[Date]-010001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/104/981/EEdwardsEDEdwardsM[Date]-010001.jpg "EEdwardsEDEdwardsM[Date]-010001.jpg")
Apologizes for not writing and relates daily goings on at RAF Stradishall. Mentions a visit to Doncaster, having to get up early for flying almost every day, a football match, not night flying yet and the fact that they are very isolated.
Letter to his sister from Ellis Edwards
![EEdwardsEDEdwardsM[Date]-020001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/104/982/EEdwardsEDEdwardsM[Date]-020001.jpg "EEdwardsEDEdwardsM[Date]-020001.jpg")
Thanks for parcel and comments on how slow the post is. Describes activities at Royal Air Force Lakenheath including a concert, a play and a dance. Thinks that he may get to see sister in a months time. Comments huge funeral in Wales.
Letter to his wife from Herbert Gray
![EGrayHMGray[Wi]440707.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/107/1044/EGrayHMGray[Wi]440707.jpg "EGrayHMGray[Wi]440707.pdf")
Begins with slight admonishment over wife’s letter writing regularity and discussion of progress on wife’s health issues. Provides details of 11th operation which involved an extremely long sortie, taking off in daylight and recovering next…
Letter to his wife from Herbert Gray
![EGrayHMGray[Wi]440715.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/107/1045/EGrayHMGray[Wi]440715.jpg "EGrayHMGray[Wi]440715.pdf")
Expresses concern over regularity of wife’s letters and length of time that letters take to get through. Mentions that they might not be able to depart on leave until Tuesday as the might be on operations Monday night. Recounts that planned 13th…
Letter to his wife from Herbert Gray
![EGrayHMGray[Wi]440801.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/107/1046/EGrayHMGray[Wi]440801.jpg "EGrayHMGray[Wi]440801.pdf")
Starts with thanks for letter number 3 but complains about lack of letters for a couple of days particularly as he had been on operations. Sets up times for future phone calls. Noted that the crew’s original aircraft had been lost while being flown…
Letter to his wife from Herbert Gray
![EGrayHMGray[Wi]440806.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/107/1047/EGrayHMGray[Wi]440806.jpg "EGrayHMGray[Wi]440806.pdf")
Starts with complaint that phone calls from wife are replacing letters which he does not like, but did enjoy hearing his wife’s voice. Letter is then a long explanation of why he cannot answer her last letter as it is in his locker at the squadron…
Four off duty airmen round a table
Four airmen, three seated, round a table in a hut, holding and drinking from pint tankards; one is a pilot, two are observers and one an air gunner. On the windowsill in the background are enamel jugs and mugs. On the reverse 'Ted' with a large…
Letter to his wife from George Wilson
Letter from George Wilson to his wife telling her he has arrived at RAF Elsham Wolds with other people who were late. Discuss details of their recent marriage, asks for certain items of clothing to be sent to him and states he has his wife’s…
John Bagg playing bowls
Three men in shirts and ties are playing bowls. One is wearing dark glasses. John Bagg is in the middle. A wall covered in vegetation and a bench with items of clothing on it are in the background.
John Baggs off duty
John Baggs is sitting on a bench type bed, in a brick built room, smoking a cigarette in front of a wood burning stove. He is wearing gumboots. Posters, including a pin-up, are on the walls.
Additional information about this item has been kindly…
Additional information about this item has been kindly…
A poem to Billy
A poem sent to Betty Turner's friend Billy to celebrate their 80th. Betty describes the wartime hardships she endured, hint at the bereavement after the loss of the men she loved, stresses the sense of duty toward her country, friendship and…
Interview with Peter Bellingham
Peter Bellingham worked as a post office engineer before volunteering for the Royal Air Force. He trained in Rhodesia and South Africa and completed a tour of operations as a bomb aimer, dropping supplies with 138 Squadron from RAF Tempsford. He…
Three men, two in swimming trunks, one in airman's uniform
Two men sunbathing whilst an airman is hiding with his head under a tent made from a chair and a towel. They are seated outside a wooden building. On the reverse 'Humewood Port Elizabeth August 1942'.
Letter to Mr and Mrs Wright from Arthur Wright
Letter to brother Henry, Lil and Barbara from 75 Air School in South Africa from Arthur Wright. He describes sailing to Durban. He is impressed with the food, the city and the people. Then a 23 hour train journey to the camp. He discusses his social…
Interview with Harry Parkins. Two
Harry Parkins discusses his training, his operations and life on an operational station. He discusses what it was like to be shot at, lucky charms and superstition, plus flying a Lancaster close to Lincoln Cathedral after the war.
Interview with Harold Beech. Two
Harold Beech could see the activity of several airfields and witnessed stricken aircraft flying back to stations near his home. He also witnessed a crash and describes how he hid in a Lancaster, with the help of the engineer who was billeted with his…
Lou Morgan and John Round
Two airmen, one in uniform and one topless standing by a Nissen hut. On the reverse 'Lou Morgan & John Round in Nissen hut'. On the reverse of another copy of the same photograph
'Jack and Lou
[underlined] NOTE [underlined] this was not taken…
'Jack and Lou
[underlined] NOTE [underlined] this was not taken…
Four airmen by Nissen huts
Three quarters length portrait of four airmen standing in front of two Nissen huts.
Interview with Joyce Bell
Joyce Bell grew up in Hertfordshire and joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1940. She served as a clerk in 1 Group Bomber Command where she met her husband and she travelled with him to Canada where he was posted.
Interview with Charles Philip Blackham
Philip Blackham became an apprentice engineer at Diesel engine company Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day, of which became a sales manager post war. He served in the Home Guard becoming a driver, then he enrolled in summer 1940 with initial training at…
Interview with Clarence Keith Bruhn
Clarence Keith Bruhn's parents were of German descent. He grew up in Australia and joined the Royal Australian Air Force. After training, he flew operations as a navigator with 463 Squadron. On one operation his aircraft was hit by friendly fire from…