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... just ... Chapters in a Life .. and some History
A detailed autobiography by Ivan Ure.
1944/47 WAAF Life and After
Margaret Cuthill's account of her time in the WAAF. At the age of 17 she volunteered for the WAAF and was enrolled as a teleprinter operator. She was sent to Wilmslow for training. After four weeks of drill and physical exercise she was posted to…
Airmen exercising
Two photographs of groups of airmen doing gymnastics near the bottom of London Road, Grand Parade, St Leonards on Sea.
Identification kindly provided Neil Seymour and Robin Talbot of the Unidentified photos of the British Isles Facebook Group.
Identification kindly provided Neil Seymour and Robin Talbot of the Unidentified photos of the British Isles Facebook Group.
Boys physical training
Four lines of boys doing physical jerks. To the right and instructor standing on his own. Image is double exposed with faint image of buildings. Reported as Stowe school.
Bridlington, Lindholme and Sandtoft
Describes training at Bridlington, Lindholme and Sandtoft including navigation, Morse code, wireless and radio, basic piloting and gunnery as well as physical training. Mentions move to Bridgnorth. Finally to Pembrey for training on aircraft, moving…
Certificate for physical training instructors' course
Awarded to G Cruickshank
Derrick Allen physical fitness test record card
States physical fitness rating and swimming test for Derrick Allen.
Diary of events as member of air training corps -1
List a variety of activates with cadets from January to June in 1942. Includes: boxing, football, promotions, PT classes, talks, drill, navigation, inspections. route marches, church parade, running maths, wing parade, collection, swimming, and fire…
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…
Henry Moss physical fitness test record card
Two entries for 1944.
In my Younger Years
Two RAF forms issued to William Jones.
Form 1835A Physical Fitness Record.
Included is 'Achievement Scales' with annotations in the Good range.
Form 667B Flying clothing card.
Form 1835A Physical Fitness Record.
Included is 'Achievement Scales' with annotations in the Good range.
Form 667B Flying clothing card.
Interview with Alfred Huberman
Alfred Huberman volunteered for the RAF when he was 18 and trained as an air gunner. He describes the training and emphasises how physically hard it was. He flew 31 operations in Lancasters, from RAF Elsham Wolds. These included operations over the…
Interview with Charles McNally
Charles McNally spent his childhood in Dundee and Airdrie, Scotland. He began work at the Post Office as a Telegram Boy before joining the engineering department. This meant he now worked in a Reserved Occupation and he struggled to get permission…
Interview with Cyril Abbotts
Cyril Abbotts volunteered for the Royal Air Force while he was an engineering apprentice with W T Avery at Smethwick. After his reception and basic training at Lord’s Cricket Ground, he trained as a pilot at RAF Bowden and Moose Jaw in Canada. On…
Interview with George Haig
George Haigh was already a keen footballer when he volunteered for the Royal Air Force and became a physical training instructor. He was posted to RAF Morecambe, where he provided basic training to new recruits. He discusses the mixed level of…
Interview with Hugh Parry. One
Hugh Parry was born in Oswestry and joined the Air Force in April 1943 and volunteered to be an air gunner. Knowing that there was a height restriction of six feet on air gunners, he hid his height by wearing baggy trousers. After training, he was…
Interview with John Taylor
John Taylor grew up in Nottingham and was evacuated before he went into sixth form. He left school and started working as an analytical chemist at Boots the Chemist and, although, this was a reserved occupation he volunteered for aircrew. After his…
Interview with Margaret Habberfield
Margaret Habberfield was born in 1923. Aged 16 she joined the Royal Air Force, having declared her age as 18. She began her six-week general training at RAF Harrogate and was billeted with around 20 other girls. Margaret was then posted to RAF…
Interview with Reg Payne. One
Reg Payne was born in Kettering, left school aged 14 and worked for the British Legion. He volunteered for the RAF aged 17 and a half and trained as a wireless operator and air gunner. He describes his training, learning Morse Code and gunnery…
Ivor Cole's Physical Fitness Test Record Card
RAF Form 1835A recording Ivor's fitness records.
John Leadbetter and Two Colleagues
The three men are sitting on the beach at Torquay. They are dressed for physical training.
Leonard Dorricott's wartime letters to his parents
Note book containing 84 pages of letters covering the period 1 September 1941 to 4 July 1942. It covers his training in the UK, Canada and the USA. He describes, in detail, his social life and eating arrangements but very little about the actual…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father about being in the Royal Air Force, with details of training at Uxbridge and at RAF Bridgnorth. He bought a silver cigarette case with Royal Air Force wings.
Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife
He writes of activities at RAF Silverstone and encloses a bank statement from the National Provincial Bank Limited showing he is £149.9.7 in credit.