ceskenoviny.cz reports: Former Czech war pilot colonel Milan Maly, one of the last surviving Czechs who fought in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War Two, died at the age of 89 on Wednesday, spokeswoman for the Ceske Budejovice town hall Jitka Welzlova told CTK today. Before he joined RAF, Maly also fought at Tobruk. “We must respect [...]
It’s a well worn axiom that any guide book is pretty much out of date as soon as it’s printed and I’m already thinking you can guess I am going to be harsh before we get out of the first paragraph. I am. At first glance this book looks like a supersized museum guide, like the type we used to [...]
An incredible collection of items charting the life of a Second World War pilot will go up for auction in Colchester on Friday. But Flight Lieutenant Ken Gatward wasn’t just any RAF pilot; his daring actions flying over Nazi-occupied Paris won him the hearts of two nations, not to mention a place in history. Watch the video here
Curator’s Choice: In his own words… David Keyne of the Royal Air Force Museum Hendon explains the appeal of the Supermarine Spitfire and discusses its role in the Battle of Britain. “This Spitfire is lovely. It’s a MK1 Spitfire, which was active in the Battle of Britain and claimed a half share of a shot down Junkers 88. It carried [...]
It would be in about December 1938 that I received all the bumph re- the RAFVR and began explaining to mum and dad it was safer than the RAF for we flew in little aircraft, and yes if war came the RAF would mobilise me, but then I would be called up in any case from civvy street–and that might [...]
Lamason’s Lancaster was shot down while attacking railway yards near Paris two days after D-Day. Two of his crew were killed; Lamason bailed out with the other four, three of whom eventually made it back to England. For seven weeks Lamason and his navigator were hidden by the French Resistance before they were betrayed to the Gestapo, who interrogated [...]
In a previous life I used to work for a music paper which was owned by IPC, the large publishing empire which was then based along the south side of the River Thames in Southwark. Every month I would happily stroll into the warehouse and tap up one of my mates in there to give me copies of my favourite [...]
During the late morning of August 26 1940, Walker and his squadron colleagues of No 616 (South Yorkshire) Auxiliary Squadron were scrambled from Kenley to intercept a raid of 40 enemy bombers approaching Dover. Too low to attack the raiders, the squadron turned north to gain height but were ambushed by a large formation of Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. Within [...]
In just two years, a young man stationed near Grimsby during the war rose to become one of the most elite of the Bomber Command. Pat Otter tells his story. ON THE afternoon of Friday, October 3, 1941, a young RAF officer stepped off a Grimsby-bound train at Barnetby station. He was one of a number of men in air [...]
A fairy godfather has stepped in to help veterans who missed out on seeing the memorial to the bomber command. JUNE this year saw the unveiling, by Her Majesty the Queen, of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park. I was honoured to be invited to the unveiling and was deeply moved by the stories of the young men and [...]
How Hitler’s U-Boats Are Still Attacking UsMay 23, 2013
Colonel Leonard T. Schroeder – 30 Years Service and First Man on Normandy BeachMay 23, 2013
“Useful Enemies”: U.S. admitted not just Nazis after WWII, but their sadistic collaboratorsMay 23, 2013
1900s-1920s: Lucky SwastikasMay 23, 2013
British WWII Spying and Propaganda in U.S. Shown in Secret FilesMay 23, 2013
Intelligence archive: Cross dressing spy who caused a headache for British mastersMay 23, 2013
Built by forced labour, Nazi bunkers being converted into modern homesMay 23, 2013
Intelligence archives: Britain bribed Spain to stay out of WWIIMay 23, 2013
Last two living survivors of WWII sinking of HMS Gloucester return to Plymouth for dedication of memorial stoneMay 23, 2013
Obituaries: Major David Taylor, who has died aged 92, won an MC in 1944 at the Normandy bridgehead.May 23, 2013
Bournemouth WWII air raid 70th anniversary memorial to be unveiledMay 23, 2013
Churchill and Stalin made ‘merry’ until early hoursMay 23, 2013
Reluctant hero’ of Warsaw Ghetto uprising dies at 93: Tributes paid to one of final survivors who took on Nazis in 1943May 23, 2013
Hell’s Angels Veteran flys againMay 23, 2013
Huntington State Office Building Will Be Renamed for Rosie the RivetersMay 22, 2013
‘I never knew people could love an old man so much’: WWII vet, 91, ‘saved from daughter’s eviction’ after $138,000 raised onlineMay 22, 2013
Bomber Command veterans boycotting ‘insulting’ awardMay 22, 2013
Countdown to raising the Dornier commencesMay 22, 2013
When wartime appearances were deceiving by designMay 22, 2013
American fighter still hidden under North Wales beachMay 22, 2013
