non-fictionThe Story of 74 Squadron RAF in two World Wars

Index, ill, p.372.non-fictionIn 1931, at the age of 21, Douglas Bader was the golden boy of the RAF. Excelling in everything he did he represented the Royal Air Force in aerobatics displays, played rugby for Harlequins, and was tipped to be the next England fly half. But one afternoon in December all his ambitions came to an abrupt end when he crashed his plane doing a particularly difficult and illegal aerobatic trick. His injuries were so bad that surgeons were forced to amputate both his legs to save his life. Douglas Bader did not fly again until the outbreak of the Second World War, where his undoubted skill in the air was enough to convince a desperate air force to give him his own squadron. The rest of his story is the stuff of legend. Flying Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain he led his squadron to kill after kill, keeping them all going with his unstoppable banter. Shot down in occupied France, his German captors had to confiscate his tin legs in order to stop him trying to escape. Bader faced it all, disability, leadership and capture, with the same charm, charisma and determination that was an inspiration to all around him. world war 1939 - aerial operations - britain, douglas bader - biography

A SCION OF A PIONEERING HARCOURT FAMILY. KENNETH WARREN ENLISTED 3/1/1942. THE FLIGHT LOG REVEALS HIS SUBSEQUENT CAREER, WHICH COMMENCED WITH PILOT TRAINING AT BENALLA, VICTORIA 23/8/1942, TRANSFERED TO MALLALA SA OCT 1942 TO FEBRUARY 1943, THENCE TO CROUGHTON UK FROM 30 JUNE 1943 TO SEPTEMBER 1943 FOR FURTHER TRAINING, AT HUSBANDS BOSWORTH SEPTEMBER 1943 TO OCTOBER 1943, COMMENCED OPERATIONAL FLIGHTS OUT OF MARKET HARBOROUGH 18 OCTOBER 1943 THEN VARIOUS SQUADRONS IN BOMBING RUNS OVER EUROPE UNTIL 7TH MAY 1944 WHEN HIS LANCASTER BOMBER FAILED TO RETURN.. K R Warren was aged twenty when given command of a Lancaster bomber in the RAF. He was one of six Harcourt men who enlisted, trained and took to the air in defence of Britain during WW2BLUE CLOTH COVERED BOOK - BLACK PRINTINGROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

A rare example of a Type D Survival Knife issued to British RAF during the latter part of WWII.Heavy duty survival knife with single edged oval shaped broad blade and wooden handle contoured for grip. Two large screws secure the grips. The pommel end has a wrist cord hole (cord not present). See also item 2020.000034-2 (leather sheath). Blunt end of blade near grip there is engraved '27C/2360', reverse side is the makers mark 'Rodgers Sheffield England'.british airforce, survival knife, ww2, wwii, type d

A rare example of a Type D Survival Knife leather sheath issued to British RAF during the latter part of WWII.Burgundy stained thick leather knife sheath, folded over blade length and secured with stitching and studs, above sheath there is a belt loop, secured with three silver coloured studs at base. At top of the belt loop there is an additional attached loop for securing grip of knife with press stud. See also item 2020.000034-1 (survival knife). british airforce, survival knife, wwii, type d, ww2, sheath

Index, ill, p.372.non-fictionIn 1931, at the age of 21, Douglas Bader was the golden boy of the RAF. Excelling in everything he did he represented the Royal Air Force in aerobatics displays, played rugby for Harlequins, and was tipped to be the next England fly half. But one afternoon in December all his ambitions came to an abrupt end when he crashed his plane doing a particularly difficult and illegal aerobatic trick. His injuries were so bad that surgeons were forced to amputate both his legs to save his life. Douglas Bader did not fly again until the outbreak of the Second World War, where his undoubted skill in the air was enough to convince a desperate air force to give him his own squadron. The rest of his story is the stuff of legend. Flying Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain he led his squadron to kill after kill, keeping them all going with his unstoppable banter. Shot down in occupied France, his German captors had to confiscate his tin legs in order to stop him trying to escape. Bader faced it all, disability, leadership and capture, with the same charm, charisma and determination that was an inspiration to all around him. world war 1939 - aerial operations - britain, douglas bader - biography