Bancroft, Bruce Douglas (Flying Officer b.1916 – d.2000); Bomber Command Association

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 421635 Flying Officer Bruce Douglas Bancroft, 158 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, 1941-1946. This collection also relates the post-war activities to the Bomber Command Association, England, 1981-2003.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of four folders of material relating to the service of Flying Officer Bancroft, and post-war activities of the Bomber Command Association, dated from 1941 to 2003.

Folder 1 of 4 contains three personal accounts written by Flying Officer Bancroft. In these accounts, Flying Officer Bancroft recalls air operations with the 158 Bomber Squadron in 1944. The air operations mentioned include an attack on Berlin, Germany, dated 24-25 March 1944, and Trappes, France, dated 2-3 June 1944.

Folder 2 of 4 contains photocopies and transcriptions of material relating to Flying Officer Bancroft, dated from 1941 to 1945. Materials include:

1x Document titled ‘Amended Record of Postings, Attachments and Movements’, dated 1941 to 1944.
1x Typed transcript of 8 Elementary Flying Training School Flying Logbook, dated 1942 to 1945. This typed transcription contains information regarding flight times and dates, duties, pilots and aircrafts.
1x Photocopy of flying log book, dated 1943 to 1944. This photocopy contains information regarding flight times and dates, duties, pilots and aircrafts.
1x Document titled ‘List of Operational Sorties’, dated 1943 to 1944.

Folder 3 of 4 contains items made by the Bomber Command Association, England, dated from 1981 to 1987. Items include:

1x Bomber Command Association Newsletter No 5, dated March 1981.
1x Letter written from Secretary Gordon E Haddock, dated June 1985. This letter relates to membership acceptance. Attached to this letter are documents relating to the First Annual General Meeting of the Bomber Command Association. Documents include the meeting’s agenda, attendance and nominations, chairman’s report and association’s objectives and merchandise.
1x Card written from Membership Registrar George Hart to Flying Officer Bancroft, dated 17 October 1986. This card relates to Flying Officer Bancroft’s membership application.
1x Letter written from Membership Registrar George Hart to Flying Officer Bancroft, dated 17 October 1986. This letter relates to the association’s membership updates and news.
1x Document relating to the Third General Meeting of the Bomber Command Association, dated 11 July 1987.
2x Membership application forms, [date unknown].
1x Bomber Command Association’s Chairman Report, [date unknown].
1x Mail order form, [date unknown]. This form relating to the association’s merchandise for sale.
1x Document relating to the sales of books and fine art prints for sale, [date unknown].

Folder 4 of 4 contains seven items of correspondence between Flying Officer Bancroft and Historian Dr Theo Boiten, Private Eric Tansley (Royal Air Force) and ‘Archie’ [exact identity unknown], dated from 1997 to 2003. In this correspondence, the servicemen share personal stories of air operations and associated research material. This folder also contains two contemporary prints of photographs, one of a serviceman [thought to be Flying Officer Bancroft], and one group portrait of unknown servicemen [thought to be 158 Squadron].