The E. Chappell World War II Royal Air Force Diary Collection consists of the original diary case and pencil, and assorted pieces of ephemera that were tucked between the diary's pages. The diary includes Chappell's height, chest measurement, waist measurement, collar, and shirt size, as well as his ID card number and maps of the London Underground. He was stationed near Norwich through most of 1941 and 1942, and often wrote about his boredom ("Not much to do but sit around"); leisure activities including table tennis, droughts, playing cards, playing darts, riding his bicycle, and sleeping through breakfast. He often noted films he went to see, and frequently noted overnight disturbances caused by "Jerry." Other typical entry topics include night flying assignments, leave, air raids, his work in the armory, and medical examinations. In August of 1942, he sailed to Cape Town, South Africa, about which he noted "Lots of fruit here. Everything's cheap." The last pages of the diary contain addresses of family and friends.