Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 601 Sqdn, Air Headquaters Malta, RAF on Malta, 3/1942-7/1942; served with 41 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1943; evaded capture in France, 1943-1944; prisoner of war in Fresnes Prison, Paris, France and Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, Germany, 1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, South Africa and Northern Rhodesia, 1915-1939: family; education; employment in copper mining industry in Northern Rhodesia; decision to return to GB and enlist in armed services, 9/1939; voyage to GB. Aspects of enlistment and flying training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1939-1940: method of enlisting in Royal Air Force in London; start of pilot training; effects of strong wind on De Havilland Tiger Moth at No 10 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Yatesbury; wish to be fighter pilot; story of friend's loss in Supermarine Spitfire in sea off Cromer, 1/1942.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 601 Sqdn, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 3/1942-7/1942: background to posting to Malta, 3/1942; reasons for unpopularity of Malta postings; voyage to Malta aboard USS Wasp; flight from USS Wasp to Malta including encounter with Italian aircraft; landing at RAF Ta Kali; loss of commanding officer; characters of Wing Commander Edward 'Jumbo' Gracie and Air Officer Commanding Sir Hugh Pughe Lloyd; German and Italian Air Force tactics.
REEL 3 Continues: problems obtaining supplies; Sir Hugh Pughe Lloyd's speech to squadron; German Air Force strafing attack on airfield; character of air controller Group Captain Alfred Woodhall; use of Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vcs; refuelling problems; quality of German opposition; treatment of Axis pilots by Maltese civilians; character of air tactics employed over islands; flying routine; health problems; squadron losses.
REEL 4 Continues: aircraft reinforcements; German use of Dornier Do 24 Flying Boat carrying Red Cross to pick up downed pilots; case of pilot who swam ashore; ration situation for servicemen; hospitality of local marquis; Maltese attitude towards Italians; relations between British forces and Maltese; how he came to leave Malta, 4/7/1942; living conditions in Gibraltar on route to GB, 7/1942. Aspects of operations as pilot with 41 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1943: equipping with Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIIs; squadron movements; attempts to claim thousandth aircraft shot down over metropolitan area.
REEL 5 Continues: escort duties for United States Army Air Force attacks on Abbeville and Beauvais, 24/9/1943; role leading wing; his shooting down in Supermarine Spitfire Mk XII (MB802) and bailing out, 24/9/1943; attempt by German pilot to shoot him in the air. Aspects of period evading capture in France, 1943-1944: landing in wood near Beauvais; narrow escape from searching Germans; taking shelter near crashed aircraft; problems of moving at night; seeking help from French civilian; amusing story of drinking calvados; obtaining civilian clothing from French civilian; encounter with French farmer; aid from French farmer in crossing River Seine at Vernon.
REEL 6 Continues: making contact with French Resistance; joining up with evading United States Army Air Force personnel; bout of dysentery; his medical treatment and recuperation; transfer to Paris; conditions in hiding in Paris. Recollections of capture and imprisonment in Fresnes Prison, Paris, France and Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, Germany; 1944: arrival of Gestapo, 14/2/1944; removal to Gestapo interrogation centre; encounter with Odette Hallowes; treatment by Gestapo; removal to Fresnes Prison.
REEL 7 Continues: processing on arrival at Fresnes Prison; character of Gestapo interrogation including mock executions; interrogation at Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, Germany; solitary confinement at Fresnes Prison; German attitude towards downed fighter pilots.