Description
Object description
Photographic prints covering John Crewe's service with the Royal Air Force in Italy during the Second World War. These include his time with No.65 Staging Post at RAF Capodichino and Pomigliano near Naples. Photographs from this time show personnel of his unit at Capodichino; the airfield at Pomigliano, an interior of a billet and an RAF band concert. There are also street scenes of Naples. The collection also includes photographs taken at Formia on route from Naples to Rome. Crewe then served at RAF Ciampino with Nos.61 and 149 Staging Posts. From this time the photographs cover a number of aircraft: Royal Canadian Air Force Dakota (carried Roman Catholic bishops from Canada to meet the Pope); a C47 Dakota of BOAC (serial G-AGNC - first regular service between London - Rome after Allied occupation); BOAC Lancastrian (serial G-AGME); the first Vickers Viking to land at Rome (demonstration and exhibition flight); personnel of No.149 Staging Post; interior of the airmens mess at Stattuario and two English canteen workers from the Catholic Womens League. Finally, there is a series of photographs covering No.61 Staging Post (including 'B' and 'C' Detachments) during the advance to Bologna. These include photographs taken around Forli: shell hole and corpse; German soldier's grave; personnel during air evacuation of wounded from the Allied push on Bologna. There are also prints showing scenes around Meldola: general view; exterior view of building used as billets; annotated photograph showing the site of airstrip and Allied front line positions. Bologna itself is covered by general views of streets (including the Piazza Garibaldi), the Monastery and results of German demolition at the railway station. There are also two photographs relating to a visit by General Smuts including one showing Montgomery's personal Dakota aircraft (serial KN654) along with Smuts staff car and escort. Also included are two prints showing a USAAF P-38 Lightning taking off from Bologna in search of a downed Allied aircraft. Finally, there are two photographs showing bomb damage to the Ducatti factory at Borgo Panigale.