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Lancasters
Three Lancasters preparing to take off. One is lined up on the runway.
RAF Westcott
Map plan of RAF Westcott showing airfield / runways, dispersals, bomb store area, various facilities sites and Westcott village area. Top right off the end of runway just beyond a road marked A41 is an aircraft symbol annotated 'Lancaster overshoot,…
Scott Field
Air to ground view of Scott Field with runways left to right and running middle right to top. Buildings bottom left and left side.
Lancaster over RAF St Mawgan
Air-to-air view of Lancaster TL-B in light paint scheme flying right over an airfield with runway running from middle right to bottom.
Scott Field
Air-to-ground view of Scott Field, Illinois, with several runways and buildings in the foreground.
Approaching runway Long Beach Army Airfield, California
Air to ground view from cockpit of runway threshold of Long Beach Army Airfield, California. Aircraft on taxiway to left and cars parked on perimeter track in foreground.
Kelly Field
Air to ground view of Kelly Field taken from turret. Barrel of gun visible top left. Hangars on the ground bottom left with aircraft parked on their right.
Leonard Cheshire on a bicycle
In the foreground, Leonard Cheshire in shirt sleeves riding a bicycle along the perimeter track. Behind on the left a car a a small lorry, on the right another servicemen wearing tunic. A Lancaster on dispersal can be seen in the background on the…
We're On Tonight
A description of what happened before and during and operation. The battle order was posted, the crew checked over their aircraft, the bomb load was planned, the crew received their briefing, dinner was eaten (bacon and eggs), they dressed,…
Interview with William Joseph Longhurst
William Longhurst served as an engine mechanic through the Second World War. He was a member of the Hackney Wick Air Defence Cadet Corps before volunteering to enlist in the RAF after his seventeenth birthday. Following basic training at Skegness,…
Interview with Percival Robert Court
Percival Robert Court joined the Air Training Corps in March 1941, volunteering for the Royal Air Force at the earliest age of seventeen and a half. Training at RAF Cardington, he became a flight mechanic. He then moved to Skegness to continue into…
Lancasters in the snow
Snowy landscape, taken from an elevated view point showing large number of Lancasters lined up either side of the cleared taxiway or perimeter track. Some personnel are standing in the snow. Engine trestles, bomb trolleys with bombs, and hangars in…
Four Lancasters taxiing
Four Lancasters taxiing nose to tail on perimeter track, airfield scene in background.
WO Donald Keith Fraser
Memoir describing his life and service career in the RAF. He also gives a list of 29 operations he participated in with notes on specific operations, and recounts a brief history of the Lancaster.
Interview with Edward Allan McDonald. Two
Allan McDonald was born in Hull and watched Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus as a child. He worked as an apprentice electrician before joining the Air Force. He served as ground personnel in Northern Ireland until he passed the exams to become aircrew…
RAF Skellingthorpe
Map of Birchwood section of Lincoln with runways drawn over. Also indicated are the control tower and parts of perimeter track. Taken from Air Ministry plan ref. 214/45
Interview with Ron Baker
Ron Baker, originally from Willesden was in the ATC before joining the RAF and trained as a flight mechanic. He was posted to 463 Squadron at Waddington. On one occasion he had to help to remove the body of a gunner who had died during the flight. He…
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of arrangements for his pending 48 hour leave, flying activities and the weather.
Interview with Peter Charles Hearmon
Peter was born in London and evacuated for part of the war. For National Service, he was taken on by the Air Force for a short time engagement and subsequently accepted a permanent commission.
After RAF Padgate, Peter was selected as…
After RAF Padgate, Peter was selected as…
Interview with Fred Hooker. One
The interview begins with some details of Fred’s life before being called up for service, including that his brother became a prisoner of the Japanese captured Hong Kong. Fred joined the Boy Scouts aged 11 years, and then the Air Training Corp…
Interview with Bernard Charles Mabey
Bernard Mabey was born in London and experienced the Blitz at first hand. He was a member of the Air Training Corps in 1941 before volunteering for the RAF. He trained as an air frame mechanic at RAF Locking. His first posting was RAF Marston Moor…
Interview with Benny Goodman. Two
Benny Goodman grew up in London and hoped to become a pilot. He volunteered for the Air Force and was originally posted to RAF Abingdon as a ground gunner before beginning his flying training. After qualifying as a pilot in Canada, he became an…
Wellington HA-A parked on grass
Front quarter view of Wellington parked on grass with taxiway in background.
Interview with Margaret Hourigan
Margaret Hourigan grew up in and around Nottingham. Despite holding Labour principles she volunteered for the WAAF’s as soon as War was declared and was called up in January 1940. She Hourigan served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force as a…
Interview with Les Rutherford. Three
Les Rutherford joined the army and was in the 51st Highland Division which formed the rear-guard defence, allowing for the evacuation of Dunkirk. He escaped out to sea on a barn door and was picked up and taken to England by a French trawler. He…