Description
Object description
Ms notebook (28pp), by an unnamed bomber crewman, but quite possibly written by Flight Sergeant William Henry Holmes RAFVR, containing descriptions of his 10 operations as a Flight Engineer, the first three with 90 Squadron (7 – 27 October 1943), flying Stirlings, dropping sea mines round the Friscian Islands, and a raid over Bremen, transferring to 7 Squadron flying Lancasters (3 December 1943 – 5th January 1944), and bombing operations on Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfurt, three more raids over Berlin, and lastly Stettin, where the entries end, with details of the courses flown, flying conditions, flak encountered, being stalked by enemy fighters, excitement overtaking nerves, watching the flares dropping over the target, seeing planes being shot down, the results of the bombing, and damage to the planes. Flight Sergeant Holmes and his crew were killed in a bombing raid , 14/15 January 1944. The notebook also has, in a different hand, a list of phone numbers, a ms circuit diagram for engine starting and propellor feathering, and a list of RAF form numbers, written by Cyril Lacey.
Content description
Ms notebook (28pp), by an unnamed bomber crewman, but quite possibly written by Flight Sergeant William Henry Holmes RAFVR, containing descriptions of his 10 operations as a Flight Engineer, the first three with 90 Squadron (7 – 27 October 1943), flying Stirlings, dropping sea mines round the Friscian Islands, and a raid over Bremen, transferring to 7 Squadron flying Lancasters (3 December 1943 – 5th January 1944), and bombing operations on Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfurt, three more raids over Berlin, and lastly Stettin, where the entries end, with details of the courses flown, flying conditions, flak encountered, being stalked by enemy fighters, excitement overtaking nerves, watching the flares dropping over the target, seeing planes being shot down, the results of the bombing, and damage to the planes. Flight Sergeant Holmes and his crew were killed in a bombing raid , 14/15 January 1944. The notebook also has, in a different hand, a list of phone numbers, a ms circuit diagram for engine starting and propellor feathering, and a list of RAF form numbers, written by Cyril Lacey.
History note
Cataloguer SJO