Montage of a photograph of Raymond Hartshorn, a page from his RAF flight log May-June 1945, noting ‘VE Day May 8th’, and a poem written by him about flying. Raymond Hartshorn was stationed at RAF Tiree during WWII, flying with 518 Squadron Meteorological Observers, and was a member of a crew sent out over the Atlantic in search of a missing aircraft: “23/1/45. 1405. Halifax LL511. Pilot: F/L. Eastman. A.S.R. search for W/C Morris and crew – unsuccessful. Flying times: 4.20 day, 1.25 night.”
Scanned correspondence between John Brown, Manager of the Scarinish Hotel, March-July 1949, and guests George and Kathleen Morton. George Morton was one of the flight crew based at RAF Tiree with 518 Squadron – Meteorological Observers, during WWII. George brought Kathleen back to Tiree for their honeymoon in 1949. The correspondence includes a receipt for £12 and 8 shillings for one week’s room and board, plus transfers, and instructions regarding the use of ration cards.
Click here to view 2019.86.1
Scanned copy of a Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Book belonging to Fred B Green, AFC, who was a pilot with 518 Squadron based at RAF Tiree from February 1943 to May 1945. The log book shows that he flew missions on 1, 2, 5 and 6 June 1944, all in Halifax LL294, including a stint of 9 hours 50 minutes on 2 June. That flight was diverted to Stornoway, presumably on account of weather conditions.
Click here to view 2019.82.1
Copy of a page from An Tirisdeach 679 about a visit to Tiree by the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Associates, an organisation dedicated to remembering the Czech men and women who served in the RAF during WW2. Includes a detailed biography of Flying Officer Leonard Revilliod (1922-1944) who died in a mid-air collision over Island House in 1944.
Click here to view 2019.63.1
Hardback book ‘Forecast for Overlord’, by J M Stagg, 1971. A first-hand account of the weather forecasting that allowed the D-Day operations to be carried out on June 6, 1944. Written by General Eisenhower’s chief weatherman. Airmen at RAF Tiree collected the weather data that was used to forecast D-Day.
Lapel or cap badge of RAF 518 Squadron found on a sports field in South Island, New Zealand, in 2019 (32 x 20 mm). Made in Birmingham by HW Miller – medal, badge and button manufacturers since the 1930s. 518 Squadron – Meteorological Observers was stationed on Tiree during WWII. Only a handful of New Zealand men served at RAF Tiree, and it is presumed that the badge belonged to one of them and was dropped on his returned to New Zealand. The badge depicts a hand holding a key with the inscription ‘Tha an Iuchair againn-ne / We hold the key’.
Black & white photograph of RAF personnel milling around the score board during competitions on Tiree in 1943. Team names include Cadets, SHQ, 518 Squadron, 281 Squadron, 8518 SE, 8281 SE, Works Flight, Kilkenneth, Sgts Mess, Messing, Signals, M&E.
Black & white photograph of officers and crew of RAF 518 Squadron on Tiree in 1943. Eric Crow is pictured front row, second from right. He “was a great one for organising social events, dances, etc.” (see 2019.37 for event photos).
Bound composition: ‘Eric Crow’s War’ – a summary of the wartime diaries of Eric Crow who was stationed at RAF Tiree during WWII. Includes photographs and family tree. Compiled by Eric’s son in 2018. Sections about Tiree on pages 17 & 18.
Click here to view 2019.37.1 extract
Printed images of the memorial to Czech men who volunteered and died serving with British forces in WWII. Built by the British community living in Prague. Includes Leonard Revilliod who died in a mid-air collision of two Halifax aircraft over Island House in 1944, while he was serving with 518 Squadron, RAF Tiree.
