Browse Items (204 total)

  • Tags: searchlight

MSoltysiakB781032-170622-35.jpg
Instruction for using searchlights to help aircraft home to either a night fighter sector or other selected airfield.

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PMercierCG2101.jpg
Cyril Mercier was born in Jersey in 1925. He joined the Home Guard in 1940 and the RAF in 1943. After initial training, and training on gunnery at Bridgnorth he joined 14 Operational training Unit at Abingdon, where he crewed up. He trained on…

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AEllisS-U211116.mp3
Sidney and Una both experienced the effect of the war in Sheffield as a child. When Dunkirk survivors arrived at the nearby Reception Centre Sidney collected many souvenirs such as cap badges and his aunt also took two soldiers in to her home while…

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BBrindKJBrindKJv1.pdf
Ken Brind's autobiography detailing his tour of operations.

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MTerryD938465-170619-03.pdf
A story based on the service of Lancaster ME746 AS-R2 (Roger Squared). There is a slightly shorter version included.

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SKingEJ182986v10034.jpg
Four items, Edward's description of the operation, comments that their D.R. compass went U/S over their base, lots of searchlights but not so much anti-aircraft fire. Edwards nav plot, the expected H2S plot over Essen. Newspaper cuttings describing…

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SKingEJ182986v10050.jpg
Three items, Edward's description of the operation against the marshalling yards, he describes the events, flak and conditions over the target. Edwards navigation plot, a newspaper clipping describes the allied air activity including against Louvain.

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EWakefieldHEWakefiledWE-[Mo]430924.pdf
Writes about operations to Hanover and Mannheim. Describes fires after attacks, poor German defences and German fighter attacks. Offers some sympathy to Germans on the ground and describes a fighter attacking them. Describes their first trip to…

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BDavyHDavyHv1.pdf
Herbert's service life in an autobiography.
He describes training in London, Bridlington, Morpeth and Wymeswold. Later training as a crew was at Castle Donington, Lindholme and Hemswell. He describes in detail his crew, aircraft and operations.…

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BScottEWScottEWv1.pdf
Text and numerous b/w photographs (some of which are also located in sub-collection albums) covering from immediately before and during World War II - (1939-1946). First page has colour photographs and description of prisoner of war medal. Continues…

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S78Sqn19361201v30026.pdf
Gives background on what inspired him to write a memoir. Theme of chronical is 'Luck'. Writes of joining RAF as soon as he was old enough and of initial tests and selection as a wireless operator/air gunner followed by 18 months deferred service.…

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P78Sqn17020001.jpg
Target photograph showing light glare and tracer. Captioned '3059 HLM 24/25.3.44//NT 8", 218 degrees 22.36, BERLIN RD, S, 5x4 5x30, 30 SECS, F/L DAVIES, U78'. On the reverse 'Easier than our first raid on Berlin, Coned by searchlights. Only few small…

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BPayneGPayneGv1.pdf
Geoff Payne's autobiography divided into five chapters.

Chapter 1. Under Training.
Having been assessed in Birmingham Geoff sets off to London in August 1942 for training, at Lords. Initial training was at Bridlington then gunnery school at…

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BCotterJDPCotterJDPv1.pdf
Describes training and crewing up at operational training unit on Wellingtons. Mentions staying in London on leave with RCAF colleague, using the Canadian forces club London and dining at the Ritz. Includes diary entry describing operational baptism.…

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PFOMetheringhamAF19040030.jpg
Top - ground level photograph showing anti-aircraft tracer and searchlights with buildings silhouetted at the bottom. Submitted with description 'Night-time photograph of what appears to be searchlight and anti-aircraft artillery activity. Date and…

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BCleggPVGibsonAv1.pdf
Target Mailly-le-Camp attacked by Lancasters. Covers weather forecast, plan of attack, total number of sorties, narrative of attack, day reconnaissance, enemy defences air and ground, enemy aircraft destroyed, casualties, target details, route,…

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BBrookMBrookMv1.pdf
Opens with some details of 625 Squadron and introduction with reasons for writing. Writes of beginning of the war when still at school and experiences before joining up. Mentions activities with Air Training Corps and being awarded an RAF bursary to…

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BYeomanHTYeomanHTv1-01.pdf
Starts with a poem and then a series of stories which together form the memoirs of Harold Yeoman, an officer who served in Bomber Command during the war, initially as a pilot on Wellingtons and then as an Intelligence Officer. He relates his…

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MPotterPL1878961-150914-07.pdf
Starts with account of operation to Paris on 3 May 1944 when attacked by Me 109 and writes of crew actions. Continues with list of operations giving details of target, anti-aircraft fire, flight time, some bomb loads, events, results. From 3 August…

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BPotterPLPotterPLv1.pdf
Describes childhood in great detail and work after the war started. Continues with account of training after being called up.

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BPotterPLPotterPLv40003.jpg
Mention action on getting caught in searchlights, effects of altitude on aircrew, avoiding bombs from above, encounters with B-17 while on operations and getting a bottle of Bourbon from the American crew later. Mentions encounter with probable…

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BPageTJPageTJv2.pdf
Includes several b/w photographs of people and aircraft. Writes of early life and mentions beginning of the war and volunteering for the air force in January 1940. Continues with account of initial training and mustering as an airframe mechanic and…

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BPageTJPageTJv1.pdf
Writes of early life and mentions beginning of the war and volunteering for the air force in January 1940. Continues with account of initial training and mustering as an airframe mechanic and subsequent technical training. Describes first posting to…

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YHendersonIG19220504v1.pdf
Gives accounts of operations including target, opposition, anti-aircraft fire, success of bombing, day or night, weather conditions. From September 1944 through to April 1945. Last page has list of losses.

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BJonesTJJonesPWv1.pdf
Memoir including photographs of the crew and aircraft. Thomas Jones was a flight engineer on Stirling and Lancaster and completed 64 operations on two tours. Describes early life, joining the RAF, selection and training., crewing up and first posting…

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