Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Civilian]]> Second generation]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> South Africa]]> United States]]> Germany--Dresden]]> New York (State)--New York]]> South Africa--Cape Town]]> Washington (D.C.)]]> New York (State)]]> Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tilly Foster]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--London]]> England--Southampton]]> England--Hampshire]]> 1940]]> Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Canada]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> Poland]]> England--Yorkshire]]> Germany--Dortmund]]> Poland--Łambinowice]]> Poland--Tychowo]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> 1944-09]]> 1945-02-20]]> Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Peter Schulze]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Second generation]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> England--London]]> England--Nottinghamshire]]> Germany--Berlin]]> Germany--Schweinfurt]]> 1944-04-27]]> Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Second generation]]> United States Army Air Force]]> Jamaica]]> Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Peter Schulze]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> Germany--Cologne]]> Germany--Hamburg]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> 1940]]> 1941]]> 1942]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Ian Whapplington]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Leicestershire]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Nottinghamshire]]> England--Wiltshire]]> Northern Ireland--Down (County)]]> Germany]]> Germany--Dresden]]> Great Britain]]> Atlantic Ocean--Irish Sea]]> Poland]]> Poland--Gdynia]]> Italy]]> 1943-04-05]]> 1945-12]]> Henry describes The Long March from Bankau to Luckenwalde, the cold, the guards and lack of food. They walked for some three weeks to Goldberg and then spent two days in cattle trucks going to Luckenwalde. Anyone who fell was left at the roadside to die of exposure.
Henry refers to the large number of aircrew who lost their lives in Bomber Command and one of Air Marshal Harris’s speeches on the radio.]]>
Chris Brockbank]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Sally Coulter]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> Evacuation was never easy from the aircraft, particularly when there was damage to its infrastructure, and there were difficulties removing some of the crew safely. However, due to many drills to this procedure they left the plane in an orderly and pre-arranged fashion. There was also the added complication of any parachute malfunction, fire from other plane enemy/friendly, and anti-aircraft fire from the ground on top of any problems arising from the landing. Landing in an area already ablaze with the very bombs that you were there to drop was also a real concern.
When Henry had to bail out of his Halifax, they aircraft landed in Holland and was buried too deeply to be salvaged.
He describes his journey though Oberursel, Frankfurt to Stalag 7 Bankau, and the march they had to make because the Germans wanted to keep the POWs away from the oncoming Russians. He explains how the POWs survived their time in captivity, particularly after the ‘Great Escape’ from Stalag Luft 3 where fifty were killed. Towards the conclusion of the war, the POWs worried that they too were going to be killed like those of Stalag Luft 3.
The march from Bankau to Luckenwalde took place in the winter of 1944/45. The POWs never knew how far they would be marching each day, what they would be given to eat or where they would sleep. Henry calls modern reconstructions of the march ‘pantomimes’ as they bear little resemblance to the truth. The German guards would threaten to shoot anyone who failed to keep pace with the group, but Henry cannot recall this occurring. Rather those men who fell behind were left to die from exposure to the cold.
The interview concludes with Henry’s post-war life in teaching, his family and what he became involved with once he retired.

Claire Campbell]]>
eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Netherlands]]> Europe--Meuse River]]> Poland]]> Poland--Tychowo]]> Germany--Luckenwalde]]> Germany]]> 1945]]>
Chris Johnson]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sam Harper-Coulson]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> France]]> Great Britain]]> Germany]]> Poland]]> England--Shropshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> Germany--Dortmund-Ems Canal]]> Germany--Urft Dam]]> Poland--Police (Województwo Zachodniopomorskie)]]> 1945-07]]> Chris Johnson]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tilly Foster]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Canada]]> Great Britain]]> England--London]]> England--Oxfordshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> India]]> Indonesia]]> Singapore]]> 1944-06-18]]> Chris Johnson]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tilly Foster]]> Anne-Marie Watson]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Croydon]]> England--Suffolk]]> France]]> France--Lorient]]> Germany]]> Germany--Berlin]]> Germany--Duisburg]]> Germany--Düsseldorf]]> Germany--Kiel]]> Germany--Peenemünde]]> Germany--Stuttgart]]> Poland]]> Poland--Szczecin]]> Netherlands]]> Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> 1939]]> 1940-07-10]]> 1940-08-15]]> 1940-12-25]]> 1941]]> 1942]]> 1943-06-27]]> 1943-08-17]]> 1943-08-23]]> 1943-08-29]]> 1943-09-23]]> 1944]]> 1945-08]]> 1946]]> 1947-05]]> On his return, he went to Harrogate and was then posted to RAF Dumfries where he did a specialised bomb dropping course for Pathfinders. Frederick crewed up at RAF Chipping Warden and trained on Wellingtons. He did one operation, dropping leaflets over France.
Frederick then went onto Stirlings at RAF Chedburgh before Lancasters at the Lancaster Finishing School at RAF Feltwell. He carried out several operations with 218 Squadron at RAF Methwold. Frederick then moved with his captain to RAF Mildenhall when the latter was promoted. He carried out several operations on major cities. Frederick was appointed as bombing leader for 15 Squadron as well as the squadron adjutant.
Frederick was chosen to accompany Arthur Harris, flying with Charles Calder as a co-navigator. The crew were all section leaders. Frederick describes Harris’s personality and the leadership challenges he faced, expressing his sympathy and respect. Having refuelled in the south of France, they went through Africa and on to South America and the United States, arriving in Washington on VJ Day.
Frederick signed on for another six months and went to RAF Marham in the experimental unit for Manna before leaving the RAF.]]>
Clare Bennett]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sally Coulter]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Cornwall (County)]]> England--Manchester]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Northamptonshire]]> England--Suffolk]]> England--Wiltshire]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> United States]]> Washington (D.C.)]]> Canada]]> France]]> 1941]]> 1942]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> 1945-08-14]]>
Item 2 is a letter thanking Sir Arthur Harris from a couple bombed out of their home in Liverpool.
Item 3 is an article titled 'Remembering Bomber H'.
Item 4 is a letter from Group Captain Lord Cheshire arguing the bombing was justified.]]>
Daily Telegraph]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> David Bloomfield]]> Anne-Marie Watson]]> eng]]> Text]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> United States Army Air Force]]> Wehrmacht. Luftwaffe]]> British Army]]> Royal Navy]]> Royal Air Force. Fighter Command]]> Germany--Dresden]]> Ukraine--I︠A︡lta]]> Great Britain]]> England--Liverpool]]> England--Coventry]]> Germany]]> Ukraine]]> England--Lancashire]]> England--Warwickshire]]> 1991-10]]>
Anecdotes include a low flying incident near Skegness for which they were in trouble with the group captain, and the issue of guns and ammunition when some German prisoners escaped. They lost their possessions to the Committee of Adjustment when they were diverted to another airfield.
Harry received army-type training at RAF Bridlington and continued his flight engineering training on Stirlings at RAF St Athan. He was sent to RAF East Kirkby on Lancasters.
Harry collected prisoners of war from Italy and Brussels. He describes people’s recollections of Guy Gibson.
He stayed for seven or so years in the RAF, flying Lancasters and Lincolns at RAF Waddington. Harry relates the delayed publication of a photograph, with a Lincoln and Lincoln cathedral.
Harry outlines his encounter with a group captain who helped him to change his wheel, subsequently inviting him to dinners at the Petwood Hotel and Bomber Command headquarters. Harry received a two minute standing ovation for one of the longest bombing trips of the war. ]]>
Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Emma Bonson ]]> Sally Coulter]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> Wales--Vale of Glamorgan]]> Germany]]> Germany--Wesseling]]> England--Woodhall Spa]]> England--Lincoln]]> 1944-06]]>
Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Dawn Studd]]> Pending review]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> This content is available as embedded video:

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Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Moving image]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> Germany]]> Germany--Sorpe Dam]]> 1943-05-16]]> 1943-05-17]]>
Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Gemma Clapton]]> Pending review]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--London]]> England--Manchester]]> England--Lancashire]]> 1920]]> 1921]]> 1928]]> 1940]]> 1943]]> 1945]]> 1946]]> 1947-08-23]]> In the early 1970s the Lancaster PA474 was flown to RAF Waddington from RAF Henlow ostensibly to be a gate guardian. In 1973 the Lincolnshire Echo announced that it was to be moved to RAF Coltishall. A group gradually formed to oppose the move because of the Lancaster’s connections to Waddington; the Lincolnshire Lancaster Committee. A public meeting was held and the City Council agreed to adopt the Lancaster. The Lancaster moved to RAF Coltishall. The committee collected over 17,000 signatures in 15 weeks and eventually the Lancaster returned to RAF Coningsby.
The committee became Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association so funds could be raised. While Stuart was Chair for c. 36 years, £½ million was donated to projects, including the digitisation of manuals.
Stuart describes how unfairly he felt Bomber Command and Sir Arthur Harris were treated.
Stuart lists a large number of people he has met, received letters or signatures from.]]>
Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sally Coulter]]> Vivienne Tincombe]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Second generation]]> Great Britain]]> England--Norfolk]]> England--Lincolnshire]]>
Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Carolyn Emery]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Canada]]> Manitoba--Brandon]]> Manitoba--Virden]]> Manitoba--Winnipeg]]> New Brunswick--Moncton]]> Egypt]]> Egypt--Cairo]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> England--Cambridgeshire]]> England--Westward Ho]]> England--Yorkshire]]> Israel]]> United States]]> New York (State)--New York]]> North Africa]]> New York (State)]]> New Brunswick]]> Germany--Ruhr (Region)]]> England--Devon]]> Manitoba]]> 1942]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 1945]]> Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Civilian]]> Netherlands]]> 1943-06-12]]> 1943-06-13]]> Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Benjamin Turner]]> Pending review]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Second generation]]> Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tilly Foster]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Second generation]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Royal Canadian Air Force]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> Canada]]> 1942]]> 1943]]> 1944]]> 2017]]> 1991]]> 2018]]> ]]> Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Sue Smith]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> Pending revision of OH transcription]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Lincoln]]> 1939]]> 1941]]> Dan Ellin]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Julie Williams]]> Pending review]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> England--Yorkshire]]> England--Sheffield]]> 1940]]> 1941]]> 1945]]>