War in the Air - Allied: British and Commonwealth

RAF

Air Commodore John Ellacombe DFC
John flew Hurricanes while serving with 151 Sqn during the Battle of Britain, then joined 253 Sqn as Flight Commander.

F/O Ron Fairburn
Ron, as a Flight Engineer, operated with an Australian Squadron over N W Europe.

W/O Wireless Operator/Navigator Stanley Hope
Stan Hope began his service career in Blemheims and Beaufighters then was transferred to the Mosquito photo-reconnaissance unit. In 1942 he was forced to bale out over Belgium. Despite help from escape teams he was captured in January 1943. He spent long months suffering severe conditions and brutal treatment in prison before transfer to the first of a series of POW camps. He remained a POW until the end of the war.

Acting Corporal Thomas North
Thomas North was posted to Burma with the RAF and served in the front line as a member of No. 3 Repair and Salvage Unit.

Squadron Leader Denis Peto-Shepherd
Denis Peto-Shepherd was a Flying Instructor at RAF Montrose who took part in various bombing operations including raids on Kiel, Bremen and Le Havre and a 'Special' Operation at Arnhem. His material is one of the best RAF accessions the Centre has received to date.

Warrant Officer Ernie Reynolds
Warrant Officer Ernie Reynolds began training in Bomber Command in 1943 and joined 195 Squadron flying Lancasters the following year.

Sgt Pilot 'Boy' Webster
'My Boy's last Letter'. Sgt Pilot 'Boy' Webster was killed in action in 1940. His mother treasured his last letter and after her death, her family donated it to the Centre to be preserved in our archive.

W/O Roy Woodcock
W/O Roy Woodcock trained in Canada and the UK before flying special duties in the Far East

WAAF

Plotter Marilyn Richardson
Marilyn Richardson joined the Womens' Auxiliary Air Force in September 1941 and worked as a plotter at Duxford.