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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.
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…
Derrick Allen physical fitness test record card
States physical fitness rating and swimming test for Derrick Allen.
Letter to Henry, Lil and Barbara from Arthur Wright
Letter to his brother Henry, Lil and Barbara from Arthur Wright. He writes from the Hotel Metropole, Brighton. He is waiting for a posting but it is not clear whether it is before or after training in South Africa.
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…
Sporting activities
Photographs 1 and 2 are of men high jumping, watched by many spectators with houses in the background.
Photographs 3 and 4 are men long jumping, watched by many spectators in uniform with houses in the background.
Photograph 5 is of a running race…
Photographs 3 and 4 are men long jumping, watched by many spectators in uniform with houses in the background.
Photograph 5 is of a running race…
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
![ELampreyPGuntonW[Date]-35.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/372/6545/ELampreyPGuntonW[Date]-35.jpg "ELampreyPGuntonW[Date]-35.pdf")
Peter Lamprey reports that his crew turned back with an un-serviceable aircraft from operation to Berlin but that he was subsequently involved in a ferocious attack on Berlin with four hundred planes bombing inside 15 minutes. On their return they…
Tug of War
Seven men forming a tug of war team. In the background are spectators, huts and a marquee. On the reverse ' Tug O'-war team of junior [indecipherable] at N'avon.
L. to R. Chris Hackworth
C.R.H.
Lewis
Wicks
Webster
"Junior" (James)
"D.A."…
L. to R. Chris Hackworth
C.R.H.
Lewis
Wicks
Webster
"Junior" (James)
"D.A."…
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…
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 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 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…
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.
Letter from Jim to Gray
![E[Author]J[Recipient]G440329-0001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/830/10716/E[Author]J[Recipient]G440329-0001.jpg "E[Author]J[Recipient]G440329-0001.jpg")
Writes that is not possible to meet and cannot get leave. mentions tetanus shots and clothes coupons. Writes that he has a new pilot as his own was killed recently. Complains of too much training flying. but has done three operations recently to…
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 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…
Letter from Ian Wynn to his wife
Thanks her for parcel and states he has received first pay. Asks after his son and goes on to describe training and food. Discusses financial affairs and mentions other nationalities that are training.
To Jessie from Harry Redgrave
Letter and envelope from Harry Redgrave to his wife Jessie. Harry has passed his Maths exam and is on the list to be sent to Prestwick (after an initial confusion).
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.
Certificate for physical training instructors' course
Awarded to G Cruickshank
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…