Showing 62 results

Copies of extracts from 'Wells, a family history', produced by Tessa J Harfield, 1988, principally comprising a brief account of the life and RAF career of Sidney McLeod Wells (Wg Cdr Maurice Clunes Wells' brother), 1906-1941, written by Harfield in 1988; transcription of Brig (then Lt) Brian Gordon Wells' account of a big game hunt in Northern Rhodesia, 1931, written in [1931-1932], with his record of service, 1923-1955, dated 1955; transcription of 'My career in the RAF, 1935-1950' written by Wg Cdr Maurice Clunes Wells, written in [1980-1985]. Original manuscript of 'My career in the RAF, 1935-1950'. Photographs relating to Wg Cdr Maurice Clunes Wells' army career, dated [1940-1945] and [1980-1988], notably his internment as a POW, [1940-1945].

Frames 1-95: Copy reports and correspondence from participants in the Rosenstrasse Protest, Berlin 1943 and the 'Sovjet-Paradies Aktion', Berlin 1942 - Frame 6 includes a list of the members of the 'Baum Gruppe' who were executed.

Frames 96-245: transcript interrogations and interviews with Nazi officials and anti-Nazis regarding the effect on morale of Allied bombing, carried out by the USSBS, Morale Division.

Papers, 1940-1942 and undated, of Margaret Temple relating to the Ethiopian royal family, comprising three signed typescript letters to her, 1940-1942, from Fairfield, Bath, and from the Imperial Palace, Addis Ababa, including one from Haile Selassie, the subjects including care of the children, the situation in Italy, and air raids on Bath; four undated photographs of the royal family and an undated photograph of a building, possibly Fairfield.

Notebooks comprising lists of air-raid warnings in London, giving details of times, dates and areas affected, with related newspaper cuttings pasted in.

Photographs relating to bomb-aiming, 1943-1944, taken by Sutton during raids on North West Europe.

Microfilm copies of papers relating to his naval career, 1942-1946, principally comprising 'Africa Navy blues', an illustrated account of his experiences in the RN, 1942-1946, written in 1946, covering his service on HMS BIRMINGHAM in a convoy from Egypt to Malta (Operation VIGOROUS), June 1942, and on anti-submarine trawlers in the Bay of Bengal, 1942, during the Allied invasion of Madagascar, 1942, and in South Africa, 1942-1945; diary, 1943-1945. 'War time trawler', a transcript of a broadcast by James McClurg of the South African Broadcasting Corporation concerning his experiences on board an anti-submarine trawler during World War Two, written in [1940-1945].

Typescript 'Report on events leading to evacuation from Calais', with manuscript preparatory notes, May 1940; five printed maps and plans showing the extent of No 73 Wing Area, the distribution of anti-aircraft guns, and aircraft losses during the Battle of Britain, 1940; personal RAF documents, 1940-1945, including 'Service and Release book'; typescript unit history, by Scott-Taggart, entitled '73 Wing in action. Being a record of the work and operations of No 73 (S) Wing of No 60 Group, RAF, with special reference to the eight months ending 31st July, 1944'; correspondence relating to RAF service and radar equipment, 1940-1950; edition of Customs of the services (Gale and Polden, Aldershot, 1940) by 'AHS', Comrades in arms. Three talks to junior officers or officer cadets to assist them in the handling of their men (HMSO, London, 1942) and magazine entitled International broadcast engineer, containing article by Scott-Taggart on his career, Jul 1968. Also, manuscript document of commission, Corps of Royal Engineers, 1917, and two Mention in Despatches certificates, 1940 and 1945; letter, confirming the recommendation of the MC to Scott-Taggart, from Maj A G Richardson, Officer Commanding 55 Div Signal Company, Royal Engineers, 1919.

Papers of Schwarzheide concentration camp, 1990s, comprise copies of documentation regarding its bombing, including various short articles on the subject; details of the units employed in the bombing raids; maps of the camp and environs and correspondence with archives regarding relevant holdings.

'The history of 72 Wing', May 1944-Sep 1945, concerning the Wing's role in providing radar navigational and bombing aids for British and American forces during the Allied invasion of North West Europe, written in Oct 1945.

Papers of Wg Cdr James Redman, 1930-1943, comprise copy photographs relating to the career of Wg Cdr James Redman: aircraft including Vickers Victoria V, Bristol Type 105 Bulldog, Handley Page Heyford, Hawker Hart, Hawker Hind, and various crashed aircraft, 1930s; HMS GLORIOUS after refit as an aircraft carrier, [1935]; and group personnel photograph with an Avro Lancaster, [1943].

Hymn sheet in German, used in a memorial service in March 1939 at Potters Bar Cemetery.

Copy of letter from Nixon to Dr G C Linder concerning Nixon's post-mortem on Baron von Richthofen ('The Red Baron'), Oct 17 1934.

Copy of photograph album concerning his work on Operation BACKFIRE (the employment of captured military personnel to demonstrate the assembly and firing of V2 rockets), 1945, with copies of related newspaper cuttings, 1945, 1985, 1989.

Copies of papers relating to his service with the RAF, 1936-1950, principally comprising log books, 1936-1949, notably covering his service in World War Two, UK, 1939-1945, and North Africa, 1943; notebook containing descriptions of his active service, 1939-1943, notably his involvement in the defence of the Forth Road Bridge, Oct 1939, and the Battle of Britain, Jul-Oct 1940;press cuttings relating to the RAF in World War Two, dated [1940-1946].

Personal and military papers of Brig Gerald Charles Stokes Montanaro, 1938-1965. Comprising pocket diaries, 1938-1946, 1948, including detailed diaries for 1941-1945, of service with 101 Troop, Special Service Brigade (Commando Special Canoe Troop), 1941-1942 and as commander of MF Flotilla of large submersible diesel-engined craft designed for anti-submarine work, 1942-1945; correspondence and papers (3 files) on administration and training and operations of 101 Troop, Special Service Brigade, 1940-1942, comprising standing and daily orders, reports on training, including landing and anti-invasion exercises, shooting, map-reading and navigational work, swimming, canoeing, mountaineering, and signalling; chart of proposed general organisation for small boat operations; notes on proposed establishments for Special Boat Squadrons attached to the Royal Navy; memorandum 'Lessons from Crete, with points of particular interest to Commandos' by Brig Joseph Charles Haydon, Commanding Officer Special Service Brigade, Jul 1941; printed leaflet 'Commando Training Instruction No.1', Aug 1940; report on 101 Troop's raid on sinking of an oil tanker in Boulogne Harbour, Apr 1942, including correspondence about the raid with Maj Gen Ridley Pakenham Pakenham-Walsh, 1950; report on reconnaissance between Gravelines and Calais, France, Nov 1941; photographs (4 albums and 15 packets of loose photos) on personal and service subjects (1940-1945), including commando training construction and operation of midget submarines and photgraphs of girlfriends and family friends; propaganda material from Korea, 1952-1954; album of photographs of Montanaro's inspection of 653 Sqn, Army Air Corps, Aden, Feb 1965

Copies of editions of World War Two newspapers, including Daily Express; Daily Sketch; Daily Mail; Daily Mirror; Daily Herald; Evening Standard; and Union Jack, 1940-1945, with articles relating to the withdrawal of British and French forces at Dunkirk, France, May 1940; the German occupation of Athens, Greece, Apr 1941; German and Italian frontier assaults across the Egyptian border, Apr 1941; US naval protection of British merchant routes across the Atlantic, Apr 1941; the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, United States, Dec 1941; the Japanese declaration of war on Britain and the United States, Dec 1941; the US naval victory over the Imperial Japanese Navy at Midway Island, Jun 1942; the establishment of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in London, under the commander of US Gen Dwight David Eisenhower, Jan 1944; the Allied capture of Rome, Italy, Jun 1944; the Allied invasion of Northwest France, Jun 1944; the surrender of the German armed forces in Paris, France, Jun 1944; the unconditional surrender of all German armed forces in Italy, May 1945

US Strategic Bombing Survey, Civil Defense Division, report entitled Target Report of Civilian Defense Division Field Team No 82, covering air-raid protection facilities and allied subjects in the city of Hamburg, Germany, 1945. The report is in two volumes. The first volume contains the field report of the US Strategic Bombing Survey, Civil Defense Division, and includes information on the organisation and operation of German civil defence, including fire control and incident control precautions; German passive defence installations and precautions, including gas protection and camouflage; information on German evacuation techniques and civil defence training measures. The second volume contains photographic, manuscript, and typescript exhibits for the first volume. Included in the second volume are population figures of Hamburg, 1940-1945; damage statistics for dwellings, cultural buildings, and industrial buildings, 1940-1945; statistics on those killed during the bombing of Hamburg, 1940-1945; organisation of German anti-aircraft divisions; organisational chart of German air raid personnel; photographs of oil refinery and storage fires caused during Allied bombing raids in Jul 1943; photographs of civilians killed during Allied bombing raid in Jul 1943; translation of German instructional regulations on how to handle the dead; report on the activities of German medical and emergency personnel; statistics on the heavy raids on Hamburg, 24 Jul-3 Aug 1943; reports of interviews with German civil servants, police and fire personnel, and air defence personnel.

Edition of Squadron Histories, RFC, RNAS, and RAF, 1912-1959 by Peter Lewis (Putnam, London, 1959), a history of the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Naval Air Service, and the Royal Air Force, 1912-1959

Editions of His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) pamphlets relating to the British war effort during World War Two, including The Battle of Britain by the Air Ministry (HMSO: London, 1941); Bomber Command by the Air Ministry (HMSO, London, 1941) Coastal Command by the Air Ministry (HMSO, London, 1942); Frontline by the Ministry of Home Security (HMSO, London, 1942); Fleet Air Arm by the Air Ministry (HMSO: London, 1943); The Mediterranean Fleet by the Admiralty (HMSO, London, 1944); RAF Middle East by the Air Ministry (HMSO, London, 1945)

Official illustrated edition of RAF Middle East: The Official Story of Air Operations in the Middle East, from February 1942 to January 1943 (His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1945); official illustrated edition of Atlantic Bridge: The Official Account of RAF Transport Command's Ocean Ferry (His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1945)

Edition of History of British Aviation, 1908-1914 by R Dallas Brett (Aviation Book Club, London, 1933), with foreword by Rt Hon Sir Philip Alfred Gustave David Sassoon, 3rd Bt, Under Secretary of State for Air.

British publications relating to the Allied war effort and the Home Front, 1940-1954, including editions of His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) pamphlets Frontline, 1940-41; The official story of the civil defence of Britain (HMSO, London, 1942), Combined Operations, 1940-1942 (HMSO, London, 1943), Target: Germany. The US Army Air Forces' official story of the VIII Bomber Command's first year over Europe (HMSO, London, 1944), Among those present: the official story of the Pacific Islands at war (HMSO, London, 1946). Also pamphlet, 'The battle of South London', by Arthur L Woolf (Crystal Publications Ltd, London, c 1945), with photographs and accounts of bombing in South London, Second World War, and Westminster at War by William Sansom (Faber and Faber, London, 1947).

US Military Intelligence Reports: Japan, 1918-1941 is a themed microfilm collection relating to US Military Intelligence Division (MID) in Japan, 1918- 1941. Included in the collection are microfilmed copies of US MID reports from the military attaché and his staff, and correspondence and telegrams between the military attaché, his staff, US Army Headquarters and the Japanese Imperial Army Headquarters, and US and foreign diplomats throughout the Far East. These documents have been arranged into eight sections: general conditions, political conditions, economic conditions, general conditions in Korea, army, field artillery, navy, and aviation. These sections are not mutually exclusive and all include a range of routine and special reports. Reports on domestic policy cover the rise of right wing, socialist, and communist organisations in Japan; the effects of the 1923 earthquake; Japanese industrial expansion, notably the securing of raw materials from neighbouring countries; the South Manchurian Railway Company; oil prospecting; and the iron and steel industries. Military and foreign policy reports concern the occupation of Korea, Siberia, Manchuria (Manchukuo), and the 1919 independence demonstrations in Korea. Specific military reports cover Japanese military tactics; military regulations; combat principles; training; organisation, the social attitude of officers; civil-military relations; aviation technology and statistics; the annual budgets of the Japanese War Ministry; naval building programmes; the scrapping of warships in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922; naval operations in World War One; the use of air power against China; and the construction of offensive airfields in Indo-China.

Transcripts and Files of the Paris Peace Talks on Vietnam, 1968-1973 are microfilmed copies of the official transcripts of the Paris Peace Talks between political and military representatives from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), the Vietnamese National Liberation Army (Viet Cong), the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), and the United States, and accompanying files relating to the Vietnam War, 1968-1973. Transcripts include copies of the minutes of the Official Conversations between North Vietnamese and US delegates, 13 May 1968-30 Oct 1968 and the Plenary Sessions, 25 Jan 1969-18 Jan 1973. Collection also includes North Vietnamese communiqués relating to alleged American war crimes; North Vietnamese propaganda; official reports from the Viet Cong, including statement on the massacre at Ba-Lang-An, 8 Apr 1969; address before the International Conference on Vietnam by US Secretary of State Dr Henry Albert Kissinger, relating to the cease-fire, 26 Feb 1973.

The MAGIC Documents: Summaries and Transcripts of the Top-Secret Diplomatic Communications of Japan, 1938-1945, is a themed microfilm collection relating to US deciphers of Japanese diplomatic codes through the use of MAGIC decryption, 1938- 1945. The collection contains copies of deciphered official and unofficial Japanese diplomatic communiqués sent from Japanese personnel stationed at embassies and consulates in the Far East, Europe and the Middle East, to Tokyo, Japan, 1938-1945, and includes material relating to Japanese civil, political and economic conditions and policies, military expenditures, strategy, tactics, and campaigns, and eventual peace initiatives and surrender, 1938-1945. Included in the collection are deciphered messages concerning Japanese perceptions of Allied strategy against Japan; the effect of Allied air raids on Japan; Japanese relations with the German Foreign Office; Japanese relations with the governments of Burma, Indo-China; Korea, Netherland East Indies, Siam, China, the Philippines; perceptions of Allied chemical warfare capabilities; perceptions of Allied Lend-Lease naval forces and strategy; British and French relations with colonies in the Far East; control of industry in Manchuria (Manchukuo); perceptions of Axis strategy and Japan's role within it; Japanese interest in Indian nationalism and the Indian Independence League; the Burma-Siam railway; Japanese attacks on the Burma Road, the supply route which connected Burma to Generalissimo Chiang Kai- Shek's nationalist forces in China; administration of the government of Japanese occupied Nanking, China; the Chinese Communist Party; the rationing of clothing and food in Japan; perceptions of the Soviet Comintern Pact; Japanese relations with German, European, and Chinese banks; Japanese relations with Spanish Gen Francisco Franco Bahamonde, the German High Command and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini; interpretation of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere; concern for Japanese nationals abroad, 1937-1945; Japanese naval strategy and tactics; function of the Japanese Consular Police, China; territorial claims on the Kurile Islands; material relating to Japanese military campaigns during World War Two; Japan's search for strategic resources in the Far East; military strengths and dispositions of the German Armed Forces; the origins of the Russo-Japanese Neutrality Pact; Allied and Axis propaganda methods; the treatment of Allied prisoners of war; the surrender of Japanese armed forces in the Far East.

Papers relating to McNeill's career, 1942-1946, notably on Army-Air collaboration, 1942-1945, including typescript 'Eighth Army training memorandum No 1' by Lt Gen Bernard Law Montgomery, General Officer Commanding 8 Army, Middle East Forces [1942]; typescript memorandum by McNeill 'Recommendations for reorganisation of AASC (Army-Air Support Control)',1942; printed 'Middle East training pamphlet No 3B (Army and RAF). Direct air support', issued by General Headquarters, Middle East Forces and Headquarters, RAF, Middle East, 1943; typescript war diary of Detachment A, Air Support Control, 5 Corps, Italy, Mar-Jun 1944; typescript report produced by Headquarters 21 Army Group, British Liberation Army, North West Europe, entitled 'Notes on airsupport, June-October 1944', Nov 1944; typescript notes by McNeill entitled 'Offensive air support in the Burma campaign, 1944-1945'; two typescript draft chapters for a projected book entitled 'Air support in North Africa, Pantellaria, and Sicily, 1942-1943' and 'Air support in the Italian campaign, 1943-1945' [1946]; typescript account by Roy Smith entitled 'Air support in the desert: an account of the use of air forces in support of the Army from the Gazala battles in 1942 to the end in Tunisia', 1988.

Copies of papers collected or created by Maze, 1914-1975, principally comprising correspondence with his World War One colleagues, 1918-1972, mainly relating to the second Battle of the Somme, 21 Mar-5 Apr 1918, and including letters from Gen Sir Hubert (de la Poer) Gough, 1918-1919, 1935, 1939, 1951, 1954-1956, 1963, Lt Gen Sir (Arthur) Edward Grasett, 1965, 1970, and LtGen Sir Frederick Ivor Maxse, 1919; photographs of Maze, 1914-[1918] and Gough, 1915; correspondence with Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill concerning the Home Guard, 1943; photographs of ACM Sir Arthur Travers Harris, 1944; two typescript lists ofGerman towns attacked by British bombers, 1945.

Royal Naval Air Service/RAF pilot's flying log book, 1918-1924; three RAF pilot's flying log books, 1924-1926, 1934-1936 and 1937-1946. Four photograph albums, with many captioned photographs of Lynch's service in Turkey and southern Russia, 1919, and Iraq, 1931-1934, also 51 photographic negatives, mostly of southern Russia, 1919. Personal papers and photographs,1917-1946, including printed RAF certificate for the completion of a course in 'Aerial gunnery and bombing, Eastchurch, Kent, 1924, congratulatory letter to Lynch, concerning a successful air display, from AVM Cyril Louis Norton Newall, Air Officer Commanding Wessex Bombing Area, 1931, and printed service history, compiled by Lynch's son, 1994.

Report, dated 1946, prepared by the Civil Defence Department, Home Office, on a flying bomb incident at Lewisham, 28 Jul 1944; and draft report, apparently prepared for Deptford Borough Council, on rocket incidents in the borough, 1944-1945.

Papers relating to his service in Hedjaz (Hejaz), 1916-1919, dated 1916-1919, 1936, 1963, 1939, 1941, 1963, 1965, principally comprising official correspondence relating to operations against the Turks in Hedjaz, 1916-1918, and supplies and stores for bases at Rabegh, Wedj, Yenbo, Akaba and Abu Lissal, 1916-1918, and including letters to and from Thomas Edward Lawrence (laterShaw), Col Cyril Edward Wilson, Gen Sir Gilbert Falkingham Clayton, and Lt Col Alan Geoffrey Charles; correspondence and notes concerning the meeting between Emir Feisal (later Feisal I, King of Iraq) and Dr Chaim Weizmann on 4 Jun 1918, dated [1918] and 1963;typescript text on the history and future of the Arab movement, [1919]; scripts concerning his service with Lawrence in Hedjaz, 1916-1918, written for television broadcasts in 1939 and 1941; official reports on bomb attacks on the Hedjaz railway by X Flight and No14 Sqn personnel, 1917-1918; official reports of reconnaissance flights by X Flight and No 14 Sqn, 1917-1918; diary by Capt H S Hornby describing raids on the Hedjaz railway, May 1917 and May 1918; account by Lt Col Frederick Gerard Peake of Turkish attack on Tafas,Sep 1918, dated 1965.

Correspondence and papers of Sqn Ldr Anthony Thorburn Irvine, 1922-1941, including;
letters to his parents from Eton and Oxford, 1922-1935; letters to his parents from flying training, Yorkshire, 1935; letters to his parents from RAF Amman, Transjordan, 1939; letters to Katherine Lowick (subsequently Katherine Irvine) and to his parents, 1940, including an account of his unauthorised raid on the Italian naval base at Massawa, Eritrea, June 1940; telegrams to Katherine Irvine from Egypt, Feb-Mar 1941; letters of condolence to family, 1941; family correspondence with Red Cross and with Air Ministry, 1941-1942, concerning Irvine's death. Also papers relating to research on Irvine by James Irvine (son), including: correspondence, 1982-1996, relating to 211 Squadron in Greece, 1941; account of Irvine family history by James Irvine, with detailed account of Irvine's last raid, Parymythia, Greece, Apr 1941; autobiography by Diana Athill, Instead of a letter (this edition Granta, London 2001), detailing her relationship with Irvine (whom she names `Paul').

Papers, photographs and publications of Gp Capt James Henry Iremonger, relating to his career, 1936-1959, including: orders for 1 Airborne Allied Army for Operation MARKET, Netherlands, 17 Sep 1944; Second Army intelligence summaries, 2-4 May 1945; 83 Group intelligence summaries, 34 May 1945; stereoscopic slides of aerial photographs showing results of RAF bombing raids over France and Germany, 1943-1944; copy pages from Iremonger's flying log book, 1936-1958; Bag the Hun! (Air Ministry, Apr 1943), a booklet of mathematical exercises for fighter pilots.

59-page typescript foolscap volume with photographs and plans pasted onto and between the pages.

This volume is one of a set of seven that records the damage caused by the Independent Force's bombing raids during 1918 and the enemy counter-measures that were encountered. This volume starts with a general account of the bombing of Germany by the Independent Force and its predecessor, the 8th Brigade, Royal Flying Corps. The volume records bombing raids and their affect on railway targets including those at Metz, Thionville, Trier (Treves), Saarbrucken, Ehrang and other locations. Many of the photographs show bomb damage caused by specific raids and some of the plans are marked to show where bombs exploded.

18-page foolscap volume with photographs pasted onto the pages.

This volume is one of a set of seven that records the damage caused by the Independent Force’s bombing raids during 1918 and the enemy counter-measures that were encountered. This volume consists of 26 photographs each with a brief caption. The photographs show bomb damage to buildings, industrial works and railways in German towns attacked by the Independent Force.

35-page typescript foolscap volume with photographs and plans pasted onto and between the pages.

This volume is one of a set of seven that records the damage caused by the Independent Force's bombing raids during 1918 and the enemy counter-measures that were encountered. This volume records attacks and their affect on industrial targets including those at Thionville, Trier (Treves), Kaiserslautern, Coblenz, Saarbrucken, Wiesbaden and Bonn. Many of the photographs show bomb damage caused by specific raids and many of the town plans are marked to show where bombs exploded.

30-page typescript foolscap volume with photographs and plans pasted onto and between the pages.

This volume is one of a set of seven that records the damage caused by the Independent Force's bombing raids during 1918 and the enemy counter-measures that were encountered. This volume analyses German counter-measures to defend against air raids in the Independent Force's area of operations. The counter-measures studied were the German telephone communication system, the organisation and procedures for the warning of air raids, and anti-aircraft defence measures including AA guns, searchlights and balloon barrages.

31-page typescript foolscap volume with photographs and plans pasted onto and between the pages.

This volume is one of a set of seven that records the damage caused by the Independent Force’s bombing raids during 1918 and the enemy counter-measures that were encountered. This volume records attacks and their affect on blast furnaces in iron and steel works situated at Burbach, Maizieres, Karlshutte, Hagendingen, Rombach, Dillingen and Volklingen. Many of the photographs show bomb damage caused by specific raids and many of the site plans are marked to show where bombs exploded. A statistical appendix records loss of production ascribed to the air raids.

Printed topographical map made up of 7 separate sheets (one titled Mayence) glued together showing the border region of France and Germany with approximate centre on Homburg representing approximately 220 miles east-west and 250 miles north-south. The 1918 front line is hand drawn and coloured as are national borders. Enemy airfields housing bomber units are indicated by coloured markers. This map is complementary to JSCSC IF 2/2.

Printed topographical map, 1918, made up of 8 separate sheets (one titled Mayence) glued together showing the border region of France and Germany with approximate centre on Homburg representing approximately 220 miles east-west and 225 miles north-south. The 1918 front line is hand drawn and coloured as are national borders. Enemy airfields housing bomber units are indicated by coloured markers. This map is complementary to JSCSC IF 2/1.

50-page typescript foolscap volume with photographs and plans pasted onto and between the pages.

This volume is one of a set of seven that records the damage caused by the Independent Force’s bombing raids during 1918 and the enemy counter-measures that were encountered. This volume is a report of a post-war inspection by British officers of German airfields from Metz eastwards to Karlsruhe. The report concentrates on analysing the layout, organization and structures found on the airfields.

Papers of social scientist and progressive activist, Peter Hunot, 1939-1971, including: minutes, agendas, administrative correspondence and reports of the Central Board of Conscientious Objection, 1942-1945; pamphlets, leaflets and broadsheets published by the Central Board of Conscientious Objection, and general pamphlets relating to conscientious objection, 1940-1971; photographs of ARP (Air Raid Precaution) and NFS (National Fire Service) staff, committee meetings, bomb damage and the ARP at work, 1939-1945; papers, reports, statements, minutes and correspondence from Hunot's involvement with the National ARP Co-ordinating Committee and the ARP and NFS Review, 1940-1944; pamphlets, periodicals and publications regarding civil defence and ARP duty in Britain and America, 1942-1945.

Papers of (David) Colin Humphreys. Typescript background details of students on Imperial Defence College course, London, 1970; typescript paper by Humphreys entitled 'The history of British Defence Policy 1975-1985', written whilst a student at the Imperial Defence College, London, 1970; typescript and manuscript notes and texts of lectures by Humphreys and papers relating to various conferences, 1981-1984; typescript North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) confidential paper by Humphreys entitled 'Study on the politico-strategic aspects of maritime nuclear warfare in the NATO area', 1979; typescript copy of 1926 official memorandum entitled 'Organisation of the RAF, 1919-1926'; photograph album compiled by Lt James Cranmer (father of Mrs Humphreys), Royal Regiment of Artillery, Middle East, World War One [1915-1918].

Diaries of Wilhelm Hollitscher, a Jewish refugee in England, 13 Jun 1939-16 Oct 1943. Hollitscher begins his diaries by remembering his last days in Vienna, but soon turns to a discussion of the political news of the day. In this case a secret meeting between Hitler and Mussolini. Hollitscher is furious about Hitler's treachery, abandoning South Tyrol as a gift to Mussolini. From this time on Hollitscher chronicles the political, and later, military developments and the diaries become a history of the period seen through the eyes of a Jewish emigrant living in England. The tense months leading up to the war, the declaration of war and the war itself are described. Likewise is the landing of Rudolf Hess; the bombing of English towns and later of German ones; Stalingrad; and even events in the Pacific and China.

Comments on the political situation are regularly interspersed with notes on family and friends, most of whom, seem to have escaped Austria. Letters written and received and the more mundane events of daily life at Petts Wood are recorded faithfully.

Hollitzer is very conscious of the fate of the Jews in Germany, Austria and Poland and he notes any news he receives. On the fourth anniversary of his arrival in England he is grateful for four years of a 'blessed old age' and for the fact that his children and grandchildren are safe and healthy. In 1943 he mentions heart troubles, difficulties in sleeping and cramps. The diaries close rather abruptly on 6 October 1943.

Papers relating to his RAF career, 1939-1951, dated [1939-1951], 1984-1985, [1987], 1991, 1993, particularly his service in the USSR, 1941, and Sweden, 1948, principally comprising photographs of Haw and his RAF colleagues, [1939-1951]; press cuttings, 1941, [1946], 1948, 1956, [1987], 1991, [1993]; 'Pilot's notes for Spitfire 22 and 24 Griffon 61 engine' (Air Publication 2816 B andC), prepared by the Air Ministry, 1947, with amendments list, 1950. Audio tape of interview with Paul Hamlin, 1993, concerning Haw's service at Coolham Airfield in 1944.

Papers, 1898-1900, 1916-1945, of Brig Gen Percy Robert Clifford Groves, mainly comprising material on the development of aviation policy and the evolution of the Royal Air Force in the interwar period, and also including material on the Royal Flying Corps in the Middle East during World War One. The papers include Groves' Boer war diary, 1900; photographs of operations of 'C' flight No 17 Squadron in the Sudan, undated [1916]; report on arrangements for No 17 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and the Aircraft Park allotted to the Salonika Army, 1916; lecture on the organisation and work of the Royal Flying Corps, 1917, and related papers; papers relating to the Air Section of the British Delegation of the Inter Allied Aeronautical Commission of Control (Commission Interalliée de Controle Aeronautique), 1919-1922; minutes of the Committee of Enquiry on the Air League of the British Empire, 1926-1927, and associated correspondence; papers relating to publications by Groves on aviation matters, 1927-[1938], including vols I and II of the periodical Air, 1927-1929, reviews and cuttings for Behind the smoke screen [1934] and Our future in the air [1935], and a further survey of air power, This Air Business [1938], which went unpublished owing to the outbreak of World War Two. Personal papers include Groves' commissions in the militia and land forces, 1898-1899; photographs relating to Groves' attendance at the Versailles peace conference (1919-1920); papers relating to promotion, 1919-1924; financial papers; press cuttings on public affairs to 1945.

Papers relating to his RAF service, 1931-1961, principally comprising his flying log book, 1931-1954, including details of bombing missions, North West Europe, 1944-1945; unsigned typescript report recommending the rearming of No 232 Wing and No 252 Sqn with Mosquito XXVIs, [1945-1946]; photograph of portrait of MRAF Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, by Francis Beresford, signed by Beresford, 1955.

Papers, diaries and photographs relating to Glover's RAF service, 1940-1946, including typescript 'Notes on organisation of enemy aircraft section' by Flight Lt P B Horne, 5 Jul 1941; one manuscript narrative diary, 16 Nov 1941-9 Jan 1942, with RAF Officer's service and release book, 1946; two manuscript narrative diaries, 1943 and 1944, with copy of manuscript pocket diary, 1945; two typescript reports by Glover, as member of Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit, South East Asia, relating to landing by US 41 Div on Wake Island (north of New Guinea, Dutch East Indies), 16-17 May 1944, and Biak Island (north west of New Guinea, DutchEast Indies), 27 May 1944; typescript notes on the formation and operations of Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit, South East Asia, 1944-1945; manuscript list of US Navy, USAAF and RAF personnel, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit, South East Asia, [1945].Photograph album containing 29 captioned photographs, Feb-May 1942, containing Allied officers on board ship KOTA GEDE, following the evacuation of Java, Dutch East Indies, 26 Feb 1942; Calcutta, India, Apr 1942; Mandalay, Burma, Apr 1942; RAF Hawker Hurricane fighters landing at Chittagong, India, May 1942. Sixty seven loose photographs, some captioned, Far East, 1944-1946,including British and US personnel of Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit, South East Asia [1944-1945]; USAAF C47 Douglas Dakota transport aircraft in flight [1945]; aerial photograph of Allied POW camp, Burma, Aug 1945; official Japanese surrender ceremony, Saigon, French Indo China, 1946; portrait photograph of Glover as a Wg Cdr, RAF [1946].

Papers relating to Gibbs' early career, 1917-1927, including typescript copies [1972] of combat reports written by Gibbs, 17 Sqn, Macedonia, 1917-1918; typescript notes by Gibbs entitled 'Service experiences', 1926; typescript Staff College essay entitled 'Leadership and morale', 1927. Nine typescript texts of lectures by Gibbs, 1948-1972, on the RAF in World War Two, post war airpower, India and the Indian Air Force and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also 'Air power in modern war', by MRAF Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder of Glenguin, 1947. Papers relating to Gibbs' career in the RAF, 1945-1954, including correspondence and typescript notes by Gp Capt I C Bird on the war efforts of India, South Africa and the Colonies [1948]; letter andgraph by Wg Cdr J D Warne, dated 1949, on numbers of sorties flown and losses suffered by the Luftwaffe and the RAF during the Battle of Britain, 1940; typescript copies of correspondence between Gibbs and Adm Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, 1953; typescript report by Gibbs entitled 'Report on the progressand the policy problems of the Indian Air Force', 1954. Papers and correspondence, 1955-1984, including typescript article by Gibbs entitled 'The lessons of Skybolt, Britain's new defence plans', with letter from Sir Hugh (Nicholas) Linstead MP, 1963; typescript memorandum by MRAF Sir John Cotesworth Slessor entitled 'Integration of the Services within the new defence organisation', 1964;correspondence with Dr G Vincent Orange, History Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, dated 1982, concerning research for A biography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park GCB, KBE, MC, DFC, DCL (Methuen, London, 1984), with copy of letter from ACM Sir Keith Rodney Park, Air Commander-in-Chief, South East Asia to MRAF Sir Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, Chief of the Air Staff, relating to the possible replacement of Gibbs as Chief Air Staff Officer, Supreme Headquarters South East Asia Command [1945]. Copies of Gibbs' letters to the press, 1955-1982, relating chiefly to defence issues, service pensions, capital punishment, immigration and Rhodesia. Publications and articles, 1928-1961, including copy of Air Ministry Air Publication 1308 entitled 'A selection of lectures and essays from the work of officers attending the fifth course at the Royal Air Force Staff College, 1926-1927', (HMSO, London, 1928), including article by Gibbs 'Lecture on fighter squadrons in air defence'; article by Gibbs 'Aircraft types and strategical mobility', Journal of the Royal Air Force College, 1930; booklet by Gen Sir Archibald Percival Wavell entitled 'Generals and Generalship' (reprinted from The Times, London, 1941); three editions of Impact magazine, subtitled 'US Tactical air power in Europe', May 1945, 'Strategic air victory in Europe', Jul 1945, and 'Air victory over Japan', Sep-Oct 1945; restricted pamphlet by MRAF Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton, entitled 'Air power', 1946; restricted pamphlet by US Gen Carl A Spaatz entitled 'American views on air power', 1947; article by ACM Sir Keith Rodney Park entitled 'Background to the Blitz, from Hawker Siddeley Review, Dec 1951; article by Gibbs 'The development of defence in NATO's second decade', The British Survey, Feb 1959; article entitled 'Maintaining the deterrent in the future', by Gibbs, The Aeroplane, Mar 1961.

Thirty eight audiotapes of interviews, conducted by Gelb between 1983 and 1984, with veterans of the Battle of Britain, 1940, used as research material for Gelb's book Scramble: a narrative history of the Battle of Britain (Michael Joseph, London, 1986), including interviews with ACM Sir Christopher (Neil) Foxley-Norris, AM Sir Denis Crowley-Milling, AVM Harold Arthur CooperBird-Wilson, AVM George Philip Chamberlain, Maj Gen Basil Perronet Hughes, AVM Alexander Vallance Riddell Johnstone, Air Cdre Edward Mortlock Donaldson, Air Cdre John Lawrence Wemyss Ellacombe, Gp Capt Sir Hugh (Spencer Lisle) Dundas, Wg Cdr Robert Roland Stanford-Tuck, 1983-1984; two paperback editions of Scramble: a narrative history of the Battle of Britain (Pan, London, 1986).

Records of the London County Council Fire Brigade Department relating to emergency wartime measures, 1914-1949, including subject and policy files on the First World War History of the Brigade; First World War air raid measures; experiments to test the efficacy of dry-powder fire extinguishers against incendiary bombs; fire protection for munitions factories; coal and food rationing; war badges for off-duty wear by firemen of military age; employment of disabled ex-servicemen; medals and decorations awarded to Brigade staff (uniformed and non-uniformed) on war service; interwar consideration of air raid precautions; fire-fighting during air attacks; press cuttings on air raid precautions; auxiliary fire stations; air raid warning signals; unexploded bombs and shells; Fire Service Information Bulletins; co-operation between military and civil authorities; Ministry of Information Official Bulletins; duties of fire brigades in case of invasion; National Fire Service (London Area) Regulations, 1941; nationalisation of fire services on 18 August 1941; situation reports; decontamination; emergency vehicles; River Service; Emergency Water supplies; communications in wartime; observation posts; anti-gas and incendiary bomb control training; Auxiliary Fire Service recruitment; liaison arrangements with London Salvage Corps; honours and awards for gallantry; reports on individual air raids (in and out of London); long range rockets.

Original air raid fire reports, First World War, and original reports on incidents due to enemy action, Second World War. Daily returns of air raid fire calls, First World War and Second World War. Situation reports, Second World War.

"Fire Over London: The Story of the London Fire Service"; London Auxiliary Fire Service informative leaflets used for recruiting purposes; National Fire Service (England and Wales) Directory; London Civil Defence Region Directories; Directory of London Fire Brigade and London Auxiliary Fire Service Stations and Sub-Stations; registers of B Class auxiliaries (the fire-fighting category) enrolled in the Auxiliary Fire Service from 1938; Press Cuttings Book; London Auxiliary Fire Service Routine Orders.

London Fire Region (LFR) files, including messages received at night in the Regional Control Room; LFR Newsletters; air raids on Portsmouth and Southampton; incendiary bombs; Fire Service vehicles; Water Relaying Units; women auxiliaries; Regional Fire Officer duties; Regional Fire Headquarters staff; twice daily situation reports (London Civil Defence Region); Regional Fire Control Room Occurrence Book; London Fire Region Twice-daily Situation Reports; Home Office Daily Air Raid Intelligence Reports; Home Office Weekly Summary of Air Raid Intelligence; Home Office Detailed Reports on individual fires; training films; monthly returns of personnel and appliances in each outer-London brigade; medals, decorations and honours; underground control room; conferences; protection of fire stations against bombing and poison gas; aircraft crash fires; reporting of casualties.