Browse Items (96 total)

  • Tags: strafing

ADeansJAG[Date]-030001.jpg
Dixie Dean was shot down over the German/Dutch border and became a prisoner of war. He was elected as camp leader at the first prisoner of war camp which was a post he maintained at all further camps where he was held. He sent/received coded messages…

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ADeansJAG[Date]-010001.jpg
James ‘Dixie’ Deans was captain of a Whitley bomber when after twenty five operations he was shot down on the 10th of September 1940 and became a prisoner of war. He was imprisoned initially at Stalag Luft 1 where he became Camp Leader. He then moved…

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BAllisonTAllisonTv1.pdf
Bomber Command wartime memoirs 1939-45 by Ted Allison. He completed 35 bomber operations as wireless operator/air gunner 1941-43, which he described as being looked down upon. The introduction describes his role as a Wop/Ag and how they're replaced…

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AWilliamsR200505.mp3
Rosita Williams nee Semler grew up near Frankfurt during the Second World War. Her education was very disrupted by the war including her piano lessons when there were no local teachers. She was on a train when it was shot up by fighters. She was…

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PWilliamsJR2501.jpg
Rudolph describes his father’s (James) life, from his childhood years in Trinidad, through to volunteering for and serving in the RAF in the UK. After demobilisation, James returned briefly to Trinidad before returning to the UK where he worked for…

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SThomsonGB1572977v50012.jpg
Provides some description of evacuation from Stalag Luft 7 at Bankau. Mentions that 400 had died since leaving and provides some other details about cigarettes, food, air raid risk, Hitlers edict that allied airmen should be shot (not carried out).…

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SClarkeBE1867619v20023-0001.jpg
A narrative about prisoners of war marching initially east from Frankfurt.

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SBondS-GwilliamAv10028.pdf
Transcript of interview with Les Francis, who flew as a Mosquito navigator with Alan Gwilliam in the Far East. He covers his training and posting to India and, eventually, Burma. He relates flying experience in Burma on 47 Squadron. He provides…

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SBondS-GiddingsLv10002.pdf
Leslie gives account of his last operation to Leipzig on 19/20 February 1944. He commences with brief description of his join up and training. He mentions operations to Kassel and Berlin, completing 7 operations completed before Leipzig. He rists…

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ABiltonW[Date]-01.mp3
William (Bill) Bilton recounts his 6 years of service in the RAF Marine Section, from 1940-1946. During his time in Air Sea Rescue, he served in the UK and Europe, assisting RAF operations from the waters. At his first posting in Dover, William was…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v610006.mp3
Doug Marsh was the son of a Royal Navy officer and, as a child, frequently moved around between Kent and Lincolnshire. When his father retired from the Navy his parents bought a fish and chip shop in Grimsby but shortages meant that the business…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v150002.mp3
Christoper Franciss Allison, born 1925, (3007708, Royal Air Force) answers questions from school children about what it was like to fly in a Lancaster. He served as a flight engineer on 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington and was demobbed after two…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v090002.mp3
Leading Aircraftsman Richard Moore joined up aged 18 and completed his basic training in Lincolnshire. He served as ground crew at RAF Locking, RAF Squires Gate and RAF Wickenby, working on several types of aircraft. He was able to take the controls…

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SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v030002.MP3
Anthony Edward Mason grew up in the area around RAF Waddington and was aged seven when the Second World War commenced. He recalls some of the war time activities there, such as aircraft taking off at night and coming in to land in the morning. Tony…

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PTeasdaleA22020005.jpg
Audrey left school aged 14 and began work as a clerical assistant for a tailoring firm in Leeds, before moving into furniture sales. She was 23 when the war started and was conscripted on 15 December 1942, electing to join the Women's Auxiliary Air…

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EPickfordLPickfordA[Date]-03.jpg
He apologises for not writing but he has been busy on operations.

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MAnkersonR[Ser#-DoB]-180129-77.jpg
The pastor describes the burial of prisoners and guards who were shot by low flying RAF aircraft. The pastor officiated at the burial with an English padre. In the second part he describes damage to the cemetery during a bombardment from the other…

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MB CR 4. Ada Breschi.mp3
L’intervistata è Ada Breschi, nata a Pistoia il 22 settembre 1917, impiegata. L’intervista è effettuata da Claudio Rosati a Pistoia, presso l’abitazione dell’informatrice, il 22 settembre 1983. Dopo l’Armistizio, Ada Breschi aiutò numerosi militari…

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MWilsonRC1389401-170113-100001.pdf
The account begins with the time he was shot down on an operation to Berlin. He was then transferred to Frankfurt for interrogation then by train to his camp. Camp life involved food, the preparation and acquisition of extra food by theft, trading…

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BWatersIWatersDWv3.pdf
Douglas' autobiography which includes a section on his career after the war.

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BWatersIWatersDWv1.pdf
Douglas joined the RAF as a wireless operator. His aircraft was shot down on an operation and he baled out but was captured, spending the rest of the war as a prisoner of war.

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BScottEWScottEWv1.pdf
The memoir contains details of Eric’s wartime career between 1939-1946. It covers his initial training, elementary flying training and his journey to the US for further training. During this time, he sustained an injury which curtailed his pilot…

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BHumesELHumesELv1.pdf
Eddie recalls joining the RAF as a flight mechanic in 1939 and his subsequent selection for aircrew. He goes on to describe operational training on Wellington and beginning to crew up, followed by conversion to Lancaster at RAF Little Snoring. He…

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LValentineLD185002v2.pdf
Pilots flying log book two for Leslie Valentine, covering the period from October 1943 to 27 November 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and duties with 2nd Tactical Air Force communications flight. He was stationed at RAF Finmere,…

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BGambleATGambleATv1.pdf
Part 1. Covers the period from Alan Gamble's years as a schoolboy in Worthing in the late 1930's, up to joining the RAF in 1943, where he trained, before moving to RAF Fairford in 1944. He flew 29 bombing and mine laying sorties over Germany and…

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