Cordon, Alec (Oral history)

British aircraftman served as armourer with 98 Sqdn, Advanced Air Striking Force, RAF in GB and France, 1939-1940; NCO served as air gunner with 207 Sqdn, No 5 Group and 9 Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1943; prisoner of war in Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel and Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg, Germany, 11/1943-4/1945

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training as armourer with Royal Air Force in GB, 1938-1939: background to enlistment, 9/1938; pattern of training, 1938-1939. Aspects of period as armourer with 98 Sqdn, Advanced Air Striking Force, RAF in GB and France, 1939-1940: posting to squadron, 1939; activities in France; opinion of Fairey Battle. Recollections of operations as mid-upper gunner with 207 Sqdn, No 5 Group and 9 Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1943: volunteering as air gunner, 10/1942; problems of spotting night fighters; crew in Avro Lancaster; heavy losses during 1943; participation in raid on Peenemünde, Germany; detachment to 9 Sqdn, No 3 Group, RAF, 18/11/1943; late departure for raid on Berlin, Germany, 18/11/1943; collision between his Avro Lancaster Mk B.III (ED871) WS-Z and Avro Lancaster Mk B.III (DV361) of 207 Sqdn, RAF over Berlin, Germany, 18/11/1943; bailing out of aircraft. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Dulag Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, Germany, 11/1943-12/1943: capture by German troops; transfer to hospital in Potsdam; move to Dulag Luft at Oberursel; character of cell at Dulag Luft; nature of interrogation. REEL 2 Continues: removal to main camp at Dulag Luft. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg, Germany, 12/1943-4/1945: character of camp on arrival, 12/1943; accommodation; rations; different nationalities in camp; contact with Soviet prisoners of war in camp; state of Soviet prisoner of war huts; presence of bed bugs in bedding; prisoner of war morale; question of institutionalisation of prisoners of war; changing identity with British Army private, 3/1944; on work party in Dresden; work at waterworks; supervision of work. REEL 3 Continues: pace of work; relations with German workers; civilian conditions in Dresden; belief of Germans that Dresden would not be bombed; move to Brux; need for air raid shelters; complaint to prisoners of war about their work rate; lack of sabotage; rations; preparations and plans for escape; belief that aid would be given by poor rather than richer civilians; escape across country; recapture; interrogation; return to main camp at Mühlberg; solitary confinement on return. REEL 4 Continues: shooting of Soviet prisoner of War for stealing potatoes; strafing of wood gathering party by United States Army Air Force fighter aircraft; bailing out of American aircrew near camp; United States Army Air Force attacks on ammunition train in wood near camp; German reaction to Dresden Raid, 2/1945. Aspects of liberation, 4/1945-5/1945: liberation by Soviet Army; appearance of Soviet Army; reaction to liberation; prisoner of war organisation; Soviet Army indiscipline; foraging for food; decision to cross River Elbe at Torgau; obtaining lift with intoxicated Soviet Army driver; crossing River Elbe on pontoon bridge. Reflections on period as prisoner of war in Germany, 1943-1945: attitude towards Germans; long term effects of imprisonment. REEL 5 Continues: lack of treatment for fractured spine; incident when British prisoner of war was helped by German civilian women.