MacDonell, Douglas Ivor (Oral history)

British civilian apprentice with Vickers (Aviation) Ltd and Vickers-Armstongs (Aircraft) Ltd, Weybridge, GB, 1937-1941; aircraftman trained as bomb aimer with RAF in GB, United States of America and Canada, 1941-1942; officer served as bomb aimer with 103 Sqdn, No 1 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1943; served as navigator with 271 Sqdn, No 46 Group, Transport Command, RAF in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of period as apprentice toolmaker at Vickers (Aviation) Ltd and Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd at Weybridge, GB, 1937-1941: obtaining employment with company; apprentice training; supervision of apprenitices; working hours; membership of Home Guard; German Air Force bombing of factory, 4/9/1940; precautions taken during air raids; camouflage of factory; working hours; dispersal of factory; aircraft worked on; sight of Joseph 'Mutt' Summers looping Vickers Wellington; nature of work; opinion of training; pay. REEL 2 Continues: status in reserved occupation and attempts to join armed services. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, United States of America and Canada, 1941-1942: background to enlistment in Royal Air Force, 1941; attitude of father to his volunteering; reaction to joining RAF; pattern of training at No 1 Initial Training Wing, Babbacombe; first flight at No 17 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Peterborough; flying training at No 1 British Flying Training School, Terrell, Texas, United States of America, 1942; reaction to failing flying training; re-mustering as bomb aimer at RCAF Trenton, Canada; bomb aimer training; commissioning; return to GB. REEL 3 Continues: advanced bombing and gunnery course with 1481 (Bombing and Gunnery) Flight. Recollections of operations as bomb aimer with 103 Sqdn, No 1 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1943: posting to RAF Elsham Wolds; reaction to arrival at operational squadron; first flight in Avro Lancaster; first raid on Essen, Germany, 1/1943; taking photograph of target; first raid on Berlin, Germany; wounding in eye by anti-aircraft fire during second raid on Berlin, Germany; treatment for wounds; return to squadron; fate of his crew; incident of sighting Avro Lancaster when about to drop bomb; attending medical board and subsequent navigation course. Recollections of period as navigator with 271 Sqdn, No 46 Group, Transport Command, RAF in GB, 1944-1945: background to posting to squadron. REEL 4 Continues: memories of Flight Lieutenant David Lord VC; training and character of squadron; intensity of training; dropping paratroopers on D-Day, 6/6/1944; contracting German measles; transporting petrol to continent, 6/1944-8/1944; reasons for missing Operation Market Garden, 9/1944; loss of Flight Lieutenant David Lord and his crew, 19/9/1944; under attack by German fighters; presence of Flight Lieutenant Jimmy Edwards in squadron; duties with 105 Staging Point in Evere, Belgium, 5/1945-11/1945; award of Victoria Cross to Flight Lieutenant David Lord; return to civilian employment, 1946.