Surcouf, prize of General de Gaulle's Free French Navy, has disappeared with all 130 crew in the Caribbean, after freighter sailed away from collision. It may have been subsequently mistaken for a German U-boat & bombed by American planes. https://t.co/mHTZeoeYXq
The world's largest submarine, the French "undersea cruiser" Surcouf, has sunk near Panama, after a crash with an American freighter in the middle of the night. https://t.co/kt08h2xF5Y
The first Japanese military plane is flying over Sydney: taking off from a submarine, pilot Nobuo Fujita surveys the Australian city for potential bombing. https://t.co/Z4laPjZorq
Before beginning massacre of Bangka Island, Japanese soldiers rape & sexually assault the Australian nurses: https://t.co/WtDUR98iS4
Vivian: "A bullet got me in the left loin, went straight through me & out at the front. The force knocked me into the water & there I lay." Feigning death until Japanese leave, she crawls into junge, lone survivor of the Bangka Island Massacre: https://t.co/CY8ht0KTbq
With the women waist-deep in surf, Japanese start to machine-gun them. Nurse Vivian Bullwinkel: "They just swept the line- girls fell one after another." https://t.co/uEtmoQHsur
23 female nurses, shipwrecked on Bangka Island, try to surrender; Japanese soldiers order them to walk into the sea at gunpoint. Matron, Irene Drummond, calls: "Chin up, girls. I'm proud of you & I love you all." https://t.co/xE2zZDE9c8
Nazi U-boats strike the Caribbean: 7 German submarines have attached Dutch island of Aruba, near Venezuela, shelling oil refineries & sinking tankers. https://t.co/hySNJCZLmM
Eyewitness Lt. Moore: “Japanese led small groups [of wounded patients] out of sight; ensuing yells & screams, coupled on one occasion with a Jap returning wiping blood from his bayonet, left little doubt as to the men’s fate.“ https://t.co/ZhbnGES749
~85,000 British, Indian, Australian & Malay troops have been captured by the Japanese at Singapore; it's the largest surrender in British history. https://t.co/yN9sb72cyu
Under a white flag & Union Jack, General Percival is crossing to Japanese lines to surrender his troops & city of Singapore. https://t.co/q8CAo8EdKD
The Preservation Group
The preservation group was formed around April 2008 from like minded people who had a genuine interest in saving the former Fighter Command Headquarters, a building that is now Grade II listed.
The name of the group was a very important aspect and various names were discussed. The name had to reflect the type of project we were involved in. Bunker Thirteen seemed to stand out and was quite significant in respect that 13 Group Fighter Command was based here in Newcastle and of course it is an underground bunker.
For the past few years, Bunker Thirteen have been searching intensively for veterans that served in or around the HQ. We got lucky – we found five, two of whom have been our inspiration. We are still actively searching for more veterans who served in the Bunker HQ during the years 1939 -1946.
In those past fewyears also, we have gathered a large following of supporters, ranging from ordinary people to large historical establishments such as Yorkshire Air Museum, Beamish Open Air Museum, Historical Branch of the RAF, Battle of Britain Sector Operations Room at RAF Uxbridge as well as various Aircrew Associations and Royal Air Force Associations from as far as the tip of Scotland down to North Devon.
Bunker Thirteen is going from strength to strength and has now become a company limited by guarantee.
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- Dropped in to the bunker today for a routine dehumidifier check. All working well and bunker pretty dry now. Had a… https://t.co/QmRmX6v1Ra
- Not posted for a while - been busy elsewhere - found some interesting booklets though. Will, hopefully end up on di… https://t.co/GkOFdiHyOO
- Found another section of the Ejector room door skin and scraped the wimpey dark green off to reveal more original l… https://t.co/Ft7AoQXEWc
- Popped in this Sunday to check the dehumidifiers and decided to have a quick look at the pile of rubbish in the to… https://t.co/NCT130O8jr
- Another Sunday another clean up session and a bit of door sliding. Once again the Vacmaster donated by… https://t.co/giF5OZfChn
hi, great to see the bunker on news tonight, i am a sign maker based in gateshead and would like to offer my sign and prop making service to the benefit of the bunkers restoration,
i make everything from vinyl graphics right through to 3d built, cnc machined lettering & engravings.
hope i can help.
Hi Ben,
although we are still at a very early stage with regards to restoration what you offer could be very useful. We have a meeting on Wednesday night and we’ll be in touch properly soon after that.
Cheers
Colin Anerson
Bnker 13
Saw the bunker on the TV and wondered if the Battlefields Trust could be of any use to you. Too little mention is made of the RAF,s defence of the NE. I am sure that members of the Trust will show great interest in this very worthwhile project. Please get in touch at the above email address.
Thanks for your support, we’ll be in touch shortly.