Mum's Photos
Mum in WAAF Uniform c.1945

My Mum's Photos



My Mother, Irene Eleanor Sheppard as she was in the war years, was a Radio Telephony Operator in the WAAF. She was stationed at RAF Binbrook with 460 Squadron RAAF, and later at RAF Blyton, home of 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU).


She met my Father during her time in the WAAF and they married in 1947. Their wedding photo is in the gallery here.


During her time with the WAAF she was mysteriously nicknamed "Inky" (if anyone knows why, please get in touch) and from that time I have an album of photo's some of which are reproduced in the gallery below. Click on any of the thumbnails for a larger version of the picture.


The easy ones have notes on the back saying who, when and where. Many have nothing. Any information on the people and places in the pictures would be much appreciated. Drop me an email if you can help to identify anyone in the pictures.


Many thanks to Aussie researcher Daryll Fell who contacted me to do just this and has been able to put names to many of the 460 Squadron pictures.


I have recently added a page dedicated to Pilot Officer Donald James Irving and his crew, 101 Squadron, shot down over Germany on the night of the 30th/31st March 1944, who are pictured in my mum's photos and she obviously knew well.


In 2014 I met Ray Whitely who is the brains and brawn behind the creation of the RAF Binbrook Heritage Centre at the airfield, which is now closed and has been largely dismantled. Ray is working to create an area to display the collection of pictures and artifacts from the airfield and has built a peaceful (if windy) memorial garden.


Ray was kind enough to plant a tree in my mum's memory, a Scot's Pine, which is in front of where the control tower previously stood, where she would have worked in 1944.


Following a request from the University of Lincoln during 2018, the RAF centenary year, some of my Mother's pictures were used to illustrate a walking trail around the city.


LACW Sheppard

Photo Gallery


Click on the images to enlarge.