TWO history enthusiasts are looking for Second World War Bomber Command veterans to come forward and share their memories.

Sandra and Pete Jones, from Kidlington, are volunteers for the International Bomber Command Centre, a national charity which is looking to build up a database of former soldiers and find out more about their role during the war.

As part of their project, the married couple want to interview Oxfordshire Bomber Command veterans or the family.

While Mr Jones, 63, is a keen WW2 collector, his wife's interest comes from her late uncle Ronnie Boone, who was a sergeant in the 35th Squadron Pathfinders and died in June 1943 aged just 20.

He was flying over the Netherlands when his plane was shot down, but his tale inspired his niece to get involved in the project.

Mrs Jones, 59, said: "I've always been interested in finding out about flying history and when we heard about the centre we went along to some of their fundraising sessions where we found out more about the project.

"I'm very proud of the work we are doing, it makes me feel quite emotional when you see the names of your family members who were involved.

"My uncle was so much younger than my children are now.

"My mum used to talk about him and his memories from the war, once when he came home she surprised him by dressing up in his flying gear."

Bomber Command played a key role in the war, with pilots helping to target bombing in Germany and other enemy countries.

Mr and Mrs Jones, who have two children, are currently training to conduct oral history interviews.

If a former veteran gets in touch with the centre, they will be asked if they are happy to be interviewed.

If the answer is yes the couple will visit them at home, or wherever is convenient, to take a journey back in time.

Mrs Jones, whose family have lived in Kidlington for more than 30 years, added: "It's not just the air crew we want to speak to, there's everyone from ground crew to those who repaired the planes, and clerks as well.

"If there are sons or daughters of people involved who have their own memories then we'd love to hear from them as well."

So far the IBCC, which is building a new visitors centre in Lincoln, has more than 230 oral history recordings.

When the centre is opened, scheduled to be next year, these will be available for visitors to listen to.

The IBCC has also built a memorial on which it would like to include all 55,573 names of the Bomber Command who were killed during the war.

It will consist of a memorial spire and a series of steel walls which will contain the names, one of them being Mrs Jones's uncle.

If you are or know someone who was a Bomber Command veteran, call the Oxford Mail on 01865 425433 or email kieran.davey@oxfordmail.co.uk.