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Logbooks
Do you have a WW2 Flying Log Book in your possession?
If so it would be a huge help if you could add logbook entries to our new database. Thank you.
View Logbook entries
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
- The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 25 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
- 16th Jan 2025 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than
265273 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
- Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please read our Family History FAQs
- The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
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Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Want to know more about No. 72 Squadron Royal Air Force? There are:2078 items tagged No. 72 Squadron Royal Air Force available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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F/O Paul John Davies-Cooke 72 Sqdn. (d.27th Sep 1940) My uncle Flying Oficer Paul John Davies-Cooke was shot down in June 1940 near Biggin Hill during combat with BF109s over Sevenoaks, Kent, on 27th September 1940. His Spitfire crashed onto houses in Queensway, West Wickham. Davies-Cooke baled out but was found dead near Hayes Station.
He is buried in Rhydymwyn (St John) Churchyard, Mold.
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P/O. D. C. Winter 72 Squadron D.C. Winter served in 72 Sqn. I have a hand written combat report for this officer dated 15th August 1940.
He reports shooting down 2 ME110s 30 miles east of Farne Is. He was in Green Sect. of "A" Flt.
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F/Lt. Mervyn F.S. Young 129 Sqn, 72 Sqn   A good friend of mine was based at RAF Hornchurch in 1943 - Flt Lt Mervyn Young of 129 Sqn & later 72 Sqn in Italy & Europe. He flew Spitfire DV-R (Serial No MH384).
Mervyn told me that he was inspired to become a fighter pilot after watching the Howard Hughes Movie Hells Angels about WW1 Fighter pilots. He said his flight commander ‘Wag’ Haw had the same thoughts after seeing the movie.
He flew many missions in Europe including Ram-rod missions in support of the daylight bombing raids, mostly B17’s including the famous Memphis Belle at one time.
On one sortie his No 2 Sgt Carmichael was shot down & killed but in 2003 his aircraft was recovered & in Sept' 2003 Mervyn was among the memorial parade with full miltary honours for Sgt Carmichael; lost on a sortie over Belgium & located 60 years later, the fateful sortie was flown while Mervyn was based at RAF Hornchurch.
Sadly Mervyn passed away in March 2006, I enclose a photo taken at RAF Ibsley in his Spit' DV-R (MH384) complete with his mascot logo of Jiminy Cricket.
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F/O. Oswald St. John "Ossie" Pigg 72 Squadron (d.2nd Sep 1940)  Oswald St John Pigg was born in Jarrow in 1918 and was the son of the Reverend John James Pigg and Mabel Tyson Pigg of Chatton Vicarage, Northumberland. He went to the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle. Rev John Pigg, was curate at St John's Church in Grainger Street, Newcastle, then chaplain at Durham Prison and vicar of Chatton in Northumberland.
F/O Oswald St John Pigg served in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. He joined the RAF in March 1937 on a Short Service Commission and was posted to 72 Sqn at Church Fenton on 27 November 1937. On June 2, 1940 he shot down a Ju87 over Dunkirk, then crash-landed, slightly wounding himself, at Gravesend. On 15 August 1940 Oswald shot down a Bf109. The 22-year-old had been involved in an aerial fight and he died when his Spitfire, P9458, was shot down by a Messerschmitt 109 at 11:15am on September 1, 1940. His aircraft crashed and burned out at Elvey Farm, Pluckley.
Oswald lies in the Cemetery at Durham, St. Oswald’s Burial Ground and is commemorated on the WW2 Roll of Honour Plaque in the entrance of Jarrow Town Hall.
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William Smith 72 Squadron I am the Grand Daughter of William Smith (Bill), and I have been learning the stories today of his time in service in the RAF WW2, Squadron flying Spitfires from Biggin Hill. I have heard some totally mind blowing events, and I am so proud of my Granddad! I feel now, I have to try and do something for him... He has just recently lost his wife, and I would love him to know we all care, and honour him as a person/ Granddad, and a war hero, as many of you are. I would love to find out if there are any events, I could bring my Granddad to in relation to the Spitfires, or 72 Squadron of Biggin Hill. He has not managed to attend such things in the past, but I will make sure we get him there now. His ultimate dream would be to go up in a Spitfire! I have been reading that there is only 3/4 two seaters in the uk, but they are not licensed to carry paying passengers. Would anyone be able to let me know if there is any possibility that a old servent of the RAF, would be able to attend a display, or get a flight in one of these planes. I am so desperate to spark his spirit again, I would appreciate any information on where to bring him for a reunion, or see Spitfires flying again.
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