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Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Thanks her for lovely parcel and contents. Comments on medical issue. Apologizes for lack of letters but had been 'genning up' for a recent board. Failure to reach a certain percentage meant having to transfer to the army. Describes how board…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Envelope is stamped 'RAF Censor 710'. Comments on letters crossing in the post and on the weather. Mentions that food and camp are good and on large size of camp cinema. Mentions not getting newspapers but now having wireless installed so they could…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Thanks her for letter and padlock. Says he was glad he had had a car as the basic training on engines came easily to him unlike many of his course mates. Writes a little about the organisation of the camp and his classes. Mentions classes in hangars,…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Writes about his colleagues going into Weston-super-Mare by bus. Mentions only getting late pass once a week. Writes a little about the local village. Talks about making friends with a French boy and describes him in detail. Writes about selling his…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Thanks her for letter card but says he does not have discs but is not in trouble over them. Comments on recent kit inspection and missing a groundsheet which he probably left at home. Writes about going into Weston and visiting the pier and describes…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Mentions that he has to study and take exams in maths, meteorology, morse code, aircraft recognition, gas, law, engine and armoury. Comments on rifle shooting and cross country running. Describes cinemas and describes films as awful. Mentions food…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Thanks her for food parcel and describes complicated procedure for registered mail. Writes about officer instructors and pay. Asks if she had received any allotment yet. Describes sleeping arrangements and the lack of facilities except small YMCA.…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Gives description of getting ready to depart from London to Newquay. Describes activity including getting dressed in uniform and equipment. Includes parading in the dark and being fed. Goes on to describe rail journey. Mentions that hotel was close…
Letter from Kenneth Smith to his mother
Write that he had sent clothes home and asks that she lets him know of their arrival. Describes activities involved in sending parcel. Describes some of his duties and having to send more articles home. Concludes with some description of food…
Rear gunner
An airman in the rear turret of a Lancaster. The turret has 'Ken' and 'Johnny' written on it.
Rear gunner
An airman wearing battledress with half brevet in the rear turret of a bomber. The turret has 'Ken' painted on it.
Four airmen by a shed
Four airmen lined up by a small wooden and corrugated iron shed with a small sign saying 'bombers arms'. Second man is holding a small practice bomb.
Navigator at work
An airman at the front of an Anson. On the front is annotated 'Back to work' and on the reverse 'Possibly in Anson'.
Overseas life
Covering the period 7 April 1941 to 19 November 1941 when Jack was serving in the Middle East and North Africa. He describes his last night with his wife Eileen, preparations for the transfer, time spent in camp, sightseeing, films watched, receiving…
Prisoner of war roll call and cemetery
#1 is prisoners of war lined up for a roll call.
#2 is prisoners of war returning to their huts some are using crutches or walking sticks.
#3 is the cemetery at Stalag IVB captioned De laatste rustplaats der in M-Stalag IVB overleden of omgekomen…
#2 is prisoners of war returning to their huts some are using crutches or walking sticks.
#3 is the cemetery at Stalag IVB captioned De laatste rustplaats der in M-Stalag IVB overleden of omgekomen…
Prisoner of war camp fence, watchtower and guard
#1 is of the fences with huts and a watchtower.
#2 is a watchtower. It is captioned 'Een van de zes om het kamp staande wachttorens'.
#3 is a guard posing for a photograph.
#2 is a watchtower. It is captioned 'Een van de zes om het kamp staande wachttorens'.
#3 is a guard posing for a photograph.
Harry Brabin memoir
Harry joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 25 June 1942 as a wireless operator/air gunner and received his initial training in Australia before going to Canada for his trade training.
He sailed on the SS Johan Van Barneve to San Francisco and…
He sailed on the SS Johan Van Barneve to San Francisco and…
Aircrew in cockpit
View looking up at three aircrew all wearing flying helmets in the cockpit of a bomber.
1946
From diary gives brief details of activities from January to August 1946. Includes leave and passes, promotion, sport, lectures, air tests, flying, parades, drill, entertainment, cinema. Makes reference to briefing for exercise bombing of Heligoland…
Dick Rooke
Dick wearing an oxygen mask in the pilot's seat of a Lancaster. On the reverse 'Me during fighter affiliation exercises Palestine '46'.
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Interview with Rex John Arnett
Rex was born in 1924 and grew up in Toronto, Canada. In 1942,aged 18, he joined the RCAF as aircrew. He initially started training as the second member of a Mosquito crew but was later changed to wireless operator/air gunner. Having completed his…
Bomb Aimer's Station
A bomb aimer's station showing the cramped location and instruments used. On the reverse 'Bomb Aimer's kitchen (Vickers Vincent)'.
Instructions for leave pass
Instructions to the holder. Covers rules for leave of servicemen.
Bomb loading and David in position
First, five men work underneath the fuselage of a Halifax in to which bombs are being loaded. Three further men are working on the port wing of the aircraft. The aircraft is held in place by chocks on the wheels. Second, David in flying suit,…