Raymond Kirk Images

RAY KIRK (1921) Wartime Images. © Ray Kirk.

Pre-War

Below : Ray at Clacton-on-Sea. August 1939.

At the Registry Office Leicester - 21st of March 1942

Ray Kirk & Joan Almond

Joe (Best Man), Ray Kirk & Joan Almond, Henry & Eddie Almond.

Ray's War Photos

Letters back home to Joan were signed with xxxxxxxxx (9 kisses for luck).

Joe & Ray

Posing after capturing German Boat !

Log Book of the captured German boat.

The Squadron with one of the Pup Tents carried with them on reconnaissance.

Ray & Joe with one of the Squadron's Trucks.

Ray's mate Joe.

Joe in his digs !

Joe & another member of 2798.

Ray's fellow Squadron 2798 members.

Ray relaxing

Joe & Ray

Postcard from Holland sent home to Joan.

Postcards from La Roche-en-Ardenne sent home.

Coastal Base - Travemünde

One of the last locations Ray was based at was Travemünde on the North German coast. This is just north of Lübeck and Hamburg. Below are some of the photos from Travemünde and the surrounding area.

Some of the memories Ray has from this time include seeing Goering's private sea plane at Travemünde on the baltic coast. Travemünde airfield (german: Flugplatz Travemünde) was also known as Lübeck-Travemünde. 'E-Stelle See' (Test Center Sea) was based there and was responsible for the testing of all naval aviation. Three labour camps existed near by and provided the forced labourer for the site.

Towards the end of the war the airfield operated a small number of BV222 'Wiking' flying boats for the secretive Special Operations Unit KG200 (Kampfgeschwader 200). The BV222 was the largest flying boat and aircraft to achieve operational status during the war.

You can read a little more information here -

http://www.forgottenairfields.com/germany/schleswig-holstein/holstein/travemunde-s321.html

Giant airfield hangers

Cookhouse and dining room.

Ships in port

Here you can see examples of the sea planes flying in and out of the base at Travemünde.

You can see where Ray has noted the two planes on the sea had been flown in from Norway on VE Night.

The German pilots were not aware the war had ended.

Ray working on the base

Here you can see Ray's picture of the runway at Travemünde.

You can clearly see the damage to the runway made by the RAF.

Ray also notes it was damaged by 500 lb bombs dropped by RAF Mosquitoes.

On the right are some of the Squadron Radio waggons.

Below is a photo Ray took of the massive BV222 sea plane, which had possibly been used by Reichmarshall Goering (Göring) according to Ray's notes.
You can see it's giant size when compared to the small fighter in the foreground.
In September 1939 Hitler designated Goering as his successor and deputy in all his offices and after the fall of France in 1940, he was bestowed the specially created rank of Reichmarshall giving him seniority over all officers in Germany's armed forces. The Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking was the largest German sea plane in production during the war. It was 121 feet in length and had a wingspan of over 150 feet. Powered by 6 Junkers Jumo 207c engines.

Hangers at Travemünde

Cranes on the coast

Lübeck

Lübeck is a city in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany on the river Trave.

It is famous for its extensive Brick Gothic architecture. Ray visited while based at Travemünde and took the following photos.

The city of Lübeck.

Lübeck. Leading into the city though the North Gate.

Lübeck. Town Hall.

Misc Photos

Above is a excerpt from the 2798 Squadron's Operations Record Book. These records and his diary helped me track his movements during World War II. Some extracts were ordered and some I studied while visiting the National Record Office at Kew.