Dan Ellin
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danellin.bsky.social
Dan Ellin
@danellin.bsky.social
3K followers 1K following 1.5K posts
Historian, Gremlinologist, musician, and father. IBCC Digital Archivist. All views my own. He/him.
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danellin.bsky.social
I had my tea an hour or two ago, but I'm a bit peckish now...
Emergency Flying Ration Mk II IBCC Digital Archive item 57176 A metal ration tin (reference number 27P/7) with instructions printed on one side. IBCC Digital Archive item 57176
November 19, 2025 at 8:05 PM
danellin.bsky.social
My 'starring' role alongside James Bolam has been watched 28,000 times in three days! As @jamesjhistory.bsky.social said, the film's theme is 'what happened to the people...'
Selfie of Dan in front of a monitor paused on a scene from the film. An ex Likely Lad in the foreground, Dan standing with others in the background. Behind that the reception at the IBCC Digital Archive
November 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
danellin.bsky.social
Call that snow? This was snow. #snow #WW2 #History
Eight ground personnel standing alongside Lancaster NG485 holding shovels. RAF Waddington 1943/1944 IBCC Digital Archive item 42772 Three Lancasters parked, rear two in echelon behind and left. In the foreground two ground personnel in leather jerkins in front of the tail of the first aircraft and piled high snow. RAF Waddington 1943/1944 IBCC Digital Archive item 3625 RAF Skellingthorpe in snow. Three single story huts surround a stand with a large number of bicycles. The ground is covered by deep snow. In the background centre are three figures. 1943/1944 IBCC Digital Archive item 9911
November 19, 2025 at 8:49 AM
danellin.bsky.social
Damage to a 102 Squadron Halifax that landed at RAF Woodbridge returning from an operation to Julich in support of the American Army #OTD 16 Nov 1944. After landing at RAF Woodbridge in fog using FIDO Jim Finney, the mid upper gunner (left), was hospitalised and did not fly again. #WW2 #History
Starboard fuselage and rear inboard section of Halifax wing showing damage sustained during an operation over Germany. On the reverse 'Original photo Julich 16 Nov 1944 Landed Woodbridge Pocklington'. IBCC Digital Archive item 17780 Seven airmen in front of their Halifax. On a second image the same image is annotated - 'Mid-Upper Gunner Jim Finney Hull Flight Engineer Eric Horsham Wolwich SE London Navigator Owen Shirley Carshalton Surrey Pilot F/Lt Edgar Francis Seke St Michael Bomadier B/A John Norris Finchley London Wop/AG Alan Shepherd Ringwod Hants. Rear Guns Ronald Alderton Hampstead London'. On the reverse ' Pocklington 1944 Halifax III (Eshersham Instructor 346/347 F French) Loraine (1946) Sqdn - Elvington. March 1944-1947'. IBCC Digital Archive item 17769
November 16, 2025 at 2:46 PM
danellin.bsky.social
A busy day. A productive IBCC / University of Lincoln partnership committee meeting with @flyingarchivist.bsky.social, Alex trained new student volunteers, and we took in a wizard collection of POW material containing interviews recorded with Dixie Deans... #History #WW2 @nmtdambusters.bsky.social
A box file containing papers and 7 cassettes labelled J A G Deans and Dixie on the March.
November 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
danellin.bsky.social
Yesterday I though of Arthur Brett. He was a flight engineer with 57 Squadron and was killed 11 November 1944. His wife didn't learn what had happened to him until the Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Service located his remains in Jan 1949.
Mrs. A. C. Brett, of 40, Manland avenue, Harpenden, has been officially informed that her husband, Sergt. (Flight Engineer) Arthur Charles Brett, aged 33, of the R.A.F who was reported missing while returning from a raid over Germany in November, 1944, is now presumed to have been killed. Son of Mr. A. Brett, of 44, Manland avenue, and the late Mrs. Brett, Sergt. Brett was in the employ of Messers, [photograph] Chirney’s Garage. Ltd, at Harpenden, and later with Messrs, Hayward and Tylers, of Luton. He was a member of the Special Constabulary before he joined the R.A.F. about three years ago, and was a member of the Caterpillar Club. IBCC Digital Archive item 26452 2, Seville Street, Knightsbridge, London, S.W.1. 8 – JAN 1949 Dear Mrs. Brett, It is not without hesitation that I refer to this Department’s letter dated 15th January 1947 concerning the loss in action of your husband Sergeant A.C. Brett, but I feel sure you will wish to know that as a result of further investigations undertaken by the Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Service in Germany, his place of burial has now been located. These investigations show that he was buried by the Germans as unknown in the village cemetery at Heidenau, which is seven miles south of Beckdorf where the crash occurred. In accordance with the policy agreed upon by His Majesty’s and Commonwealth Governments that our fallen should be transferred to specially selected military cemeteries, he has now been re-interred in Grave 1, Row A, Plot 19, at Soltau (Becklingen) British Military Cemetery. His identity was positively established by the service number (1867875) found on his clothing, and the Flight Engineer’s badge worn on his tunic. Soltau Cemetery is situated 40 miles north of Hannover, and the graves there will be maintained for all time by the Imperial War Graves Commission. I am sorry that, owing to the formidable task of our search teams it has not been possible to let you have this information earlier, but I do hope this somewhat belated news will afford you a measure of comfort in your sad loss. Yours sincerely [signature] S Rowley [/signature] Mrs. K. Brett, 40 Manland Avenue, Harpenden, Hertfordshire. IBCC Digital Archive item 26450 White cross with 1867875 Sgt A C Brett RAF 11.11.44. IBCC Digital Archive item 26453
November 12, 2025 at 8:54 AM
danellin.bsky.social
The IBCC Losses Database is down at the mo. The IBCC Digital Archive is still up and running.
Temporarily Unavailable The IBCC Losses Database, which has taken 12 years to research and compile, has recently been subject to scraping attacks from unknown sources. Whilst we find a solution to protect the records of the 68,000 men and women honoured in the database, we have had to take the hard decision to take down the pages. Please bear with us whilst we try to resolve the issue.
November 12, 2025 at 8:30 AM
danellin.bsky.social
The IBCC Digital Archive is down at the mo. The IBCC Digital Archive is still up and running.
Temporarily Unavailable The IBCC Losses Database, which has taken 12 years to research and compile, has recently been subject to scraping attacks from unknown sources. Whilst we find a solution to protect the records of the 68,000 men and women honoured in the database, we have had to take the hard decision to take down the pages. Please bear with us whilst we try to resolve the issue.
November 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
danellin.bsky.social
The launch event was a success. You can see and hear the art work outside the Lincoln Arts Centre for the rest of the month.
The installation outside the LAC. A projection on the wall of the University of Lincoln's library building. It's of a couple in RAF uniform dancing. One of the panels of the art work, showing a VE Day street party in Lincoln. Logos of the projects supporters at the bottom. The panel on stage at the LAC. We're watching a film of the artwork coming together behind us.
November 10, 2025 at 11:09 AM
danellin.bsky.social
Will Just Jane fly again? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A man wearing a side cap sits in the cockpit of a Lancaster holding a hose which trails down from the open window. Under the cockpit is a cartoon of a woman reclining on a bomb under the citation 'Just Jane'. Above the cartoon is a bomb tally of 64, including two daylight operations together with a swastika symbol. IBCC Digital Archive item #44552 A cartoon of a naked woman sitting on a bomb. IBCC Digital Archive item #50475
November 9, 2025 at 8:19 AM
danellin.bsky.social
I used to be a werewolf but I'm alright nooooooow...
Grandsprog one with gappy teeth and Dan with black and white face paint.
November 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
danellin.bsky.social
How did the IBCC Digital Archive’s ethos of remembrance, recognition, and reconciliation as an approach to difficult heritage, lead to the way Bomber Command logbooks are described in the archive? Sign up, and I'll tell you... @avculturesconf.bsky.social @nmtdambusters.bsky.social #History #WW2
Aviation Cultures Spotlight Logbooks and AvDocs logo. Page from Len Dorricott's log book showing operations in G George and two newspaper cuttings about the aircraft.
November 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
danellin.bsky.social
Screen grab. Photo of Horace Coombes in uniform with pilot's wings. Subtitles 'and they're bequeathed to the Bomber Command Memorial at Lincoln.
November 2, 2025 at 8:44 PM
danellin.bsky.social
Lest we forget the speed limit @remembrancewatch.bsky.social
Poppy on a lamppost next to a 'your speed' sign.
November 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
danellin.bsky.social
25 Mosquitoes from the 2nd Tactical Air Force attacked the Gestapo headquarters at the University of Aarhus, Denmark #OTD 31 October 1944. Around 200 Gestapo members and 30 Danes were killed, and the Gestapo's files on the Danish resistance were destroyed. #History #WW2
Attack on Gestapo Headquarters. Most of area obscured by smoke and dust, two badly damaged buildings in the foreground, attacking Mosquito in distance. On the reverse 'Taken by Sid Moulds over the target 'Aarhus University Gestapo Headquarters raid 31 October 1944.' IBCC Digital Archive item 25517
October 31, 2025 at 9:30 AM
danellin.bsky.social
A productive day. I recorded an interview with Jacqui Whitehead from the Cross of Nails Flightpath to Freedom and Reconciliation, and discussed ways the Yorkshire Air Museum and the @ibccdigitalarchive.bsky.social can work together. They have a wizard preloved book shop there too. Curry for tea.
Ian Richardson, Heritage and memorial manager at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Jacqui Whitehead, Flight Path of Freedom & Reconciliation Cross of Nails, and me. Pic taken at the Yorkshire Air Museum NAAFI. Old wooden prop on the wall behind, Cross of Nails on the table in front. Three books, 'The RCAF Overseas', the first four years, the fifth year, and the sixth year.
October 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM
danellin.bsky.social
Been on a bit of a road trip today.
The French side of the Halifax at The Yorkshire Air Museum showing La Victoire nose art of H7-Q 346 Squadron.
October 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
danellin.bsky.social
Letter from from Kenneth Gill to his family #OTD 27 Oct 1943. His new aircraft has the same nose art as their previous one, and a friend is missing after an operation to Leipzig. Gill flew 45 ops as a navigator with 9 and 617 Squadrons. He was killed 21 March 1945. #History #WW2
155097. P/O GILL. K. R.A.F. STATION. BARDNEY. OCT. 25TH/43. [RAF Crest] Dear Mum & Dad & Nipper, Thanks for your letter, it came yesterday morning, and thanks to David too for his, he's doing well isn't he. We didn't have too bad a trip the other night, the weather was awful but we got back alright, and that's the main thing. The new kite is quite good and behaved very well indeed, the old sign isn't up yet but it will be before long. Hello again, it's the 27th, now. I hadn't time to finish before. I've just come back from the IBCC Digital Archive item 35698 2/ kite and Binder II is up there for all to see. We havn't changed the design any, except to enlarge the disc on her collar and put 39 in it for the trips the old Binder did. We're going to her [sic] her photographed when we've finished. I've just had an airgraph this morning from Ron, he's quite well but he says he's "Brassed off to the teeth" with the war, but so is everybody else I suppose. Leslie wrote the other day too so I'll have to have a session tonight and get straightened up a bit. I've to reply to Margaret too, and pass on some bad news that just reached me this morning. 3/ George is missing from the raid on Liepzig [sic], his 20th. trip I think, that cuts our number down again it certainly makes one think. The weather here has been awful lately, were having our fourth day of thick fog now, goodness knows when we'll get our last three trips in at this rate. Glad to hear Arthur & Aunt Muriel are a lot better now, hope they keep on improving. Well I'll have to close for now, it's time to start work ? again. Cheerio & Chins up. Your Loving Son. Ken. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx & David Lets here [sic] from you again sometime David. Kenneth and Vera Gill's Wedding photograph Full length image of an airman wearing tunic with half brevet and holding peaked cap standing arm in arm with a woman wearing dress and hat and holding a wedding bouquet. IBCC Digital Archive item 35695
October 27, 2025 at 8:50 AM
danellin.bsky.social
Archivists disassemble!
Photo taken in the archive's reception area. Left is Alex seen from behind. Centre are two four-sided wooden frames 2.4m high made out of whatever the metric equivalent of 4x2 is. The side of another frame is bottom right.
October 24, 2025 at 10:45 AM
danellin.bsky.social
Kassel was bombed #OTD 22/23 October 1943 by 569 aircraft dropping 1,800 tons of bombs & nearly half a million incendiaries. A firestorm was created, the city centre was destroyed, 10,000 were killed & 100,000 were made homeless. 43 aircraft were lost and 240 aircrew were killed.
#WW2 #History
A vertical aerial photograph taken during a bombing operation at Kassel Rail Depot.No ground detail is visible and the image is obscured by flares. It looks quite pretty and abstract. It is captioned '3485 PCK 22/23:10:43 // NT 8" 16000'--- Kassel RD. Z. 2 x 1000 8 x 4 3 x 30 S/L MIllson Y 102'. IBCC Digital Archive item 51110
October 23, 2025 at 7:45 AM
danellin.bsky.social
From an autograph book C1941.
War begets poverty Poverty, peace. Peace begets Riches, Then riches increase. Riches bring pride And pride is war's ground, War begets poverty, So goes the round. Anon
October 22, 2025 at 3:20 PM
danellin.bsky.social
Two identical photos of a Penguin, and a man playing bagpipes. Both are captioned almost exactly the same only the one on the left says: Piper Kerr (right), a member of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, plays the bagpipes for an indifferent penguin, March 1904.
October 19, 2025 at 7:15 AM
danellin.bsky.social
I made a new pal today.
Dan and a goat at Boston Park Farm.
October 18, 2025 at 7:22 PM
danellin.bsky.social
I did it in 16 minutes including waiting for the green at crossings. I win.
Google map walking from my office at the University of Lincoln to the Cathedral. The route says one mile 25 mins.
October 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
danellin.bsky.social
This was a new experience, but fun to do. The recording will be available online in a week or so.
PowerPoint title slide: Heritage Horizons webinar 15th Oct 2025 1-2pm The International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive: An inclusive approach to dealing with difficult heritage. Image: A large group of people including two females in variety of uniform (some with brevet), sitting and standing outside a single story hut.
October 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM