Description
Object description
British aircraftman trained with RAF in GB, 1941-1942; trained as pilot and flying instructor with US Army Air Force under Arnold Scheme in US, 1942-1943; officer served as flying instructor with Royal Canadian Air Force in Canada, 1943-1944; served as pilot with 82 Sqdn and 224 Group RAF in India, Burma and Java, 1945-1947
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Leicester, GB, 1922-1941: family; education; story of first flight, 1935; interest in flying; employment in shoe factory, 1939-1940; story of attempting to join RAF, 1940; hobby making aircraft models; description of duties with Home Guard and Auxiliary Fire Service; enlisted with Air Transport Auxiliary, 1939; description of duties in control tower and training as second pilot; called up to RAF, 8/1941; medical examination. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 8/1941-2/1942: induction in London; posted to Initial Training Wing, Stratford-on-Avon, 9/1941; description of training; pay; aircraft recognition; Morse code; posted to Elementary Flying Training School, Clyffe Pypard.
REEL 2 Continues: description of training; accommodation; question of leaving camp; daily routine; messing arrangements; flying training; navigation tests; problem of German air raids; posted to Heaton Park, Manchester, 11/1941; accommodation; memory of visiting cinema; church service; description of voyage to US via Canada, 1/1942; problem of U-boats in Atlantic; arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia; journey by train to US, 2/1942. Recollections of training with US Army Air Corps in US, 2-10/1942: attitude to American West Point discipline and class system; opinion of food and facilities; comparison of British and American training methods; daily routine; relations with American civilians.
REEL 3 Continues: posted to Caristrom Field, Florida; types of aircraft; opinion of civilian instructors; description of flying training; physical training; social life and recreational activities; problem of snakes; solo flying; opinion of accommodation; tests; ground school; description of Primary, Basic and Advanced training and types of aircraft; memory of English RAF instructor; parades; accidents during training; formation flying; relations with US pilots; cross-country flying; rank of Leading Aircraftman; posted to Turner Field., Georgia for advanced training on Cessna AT 17, Curtis AT 9 and Harvard AT 6; social life; opinion of instructors; comparison of aircraft flown; story of being commissioned as pilot officer, 9/1942; graduation ceremony and presentation of wings; story of buying RAF uniform; memory of visit to Niagara Falls; posted to Instructor's School, Maxwell Field, Alabama, 9/1942.
REEL 4 Continues: posted as instructor and Flight Commander to Cochran Field, Georgia, 10/1942; description of daily routine and duties; opinion of facilities; marriage; type of aircraft; posted to No 2 Flying Instructor School, Royal Canadian Air Force, Alberta, Canada, 8-9/1943; description of duties as instructor; posted to 32 Senior Flying Training School, Moose Jaw, 9/1943; problem of cold weather; description of role as instructor on Oxford; posted to 31 Operational Training Unit, Debert, Nova Scotia; description of operational training on Mosquito, 6/1944; posted back to GB, 10/1944. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 10/1944-Feb/1945: posted to 13 Operational Training Unit, Harwell, 10/1944; description of further operational training on Mosquito; gunnery and bombing practice; cross country flying; low level flying; posted to 100 Group, RAF Fersfield, 12/1944.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of accommodation; issued with tropical kit; story of journey to India via Egypt, 2/1945. Recollections of operations with 82 Squadron and 224 Group RAF in India, Burma and Java, 2/1945-7/1947: description of operations against Japanese over India and Burma; accommodation; flying conditions; bombing raids on Japanese positions; casualties; story of accident at night and death of crew in fire; story of journey to Madras and role in charge of troop train; memory of leave in Ceylon; transferred to 224 Group, Yelahanka, India; description of role as Dakota pilot for VIPs; posted to Singapore, 9/1945; duties as pilot for VIPs; posted as CO to Netherlands East India Squadron, Batavia, Java. 10/1945; description of duties and responsibilities flying VIPs; accommodation; story of atrocity and reprisal; medical facilities.
REEL 6 Continues: story of return to GB and demobilisation, 1947; problem of malaria. Post-war life and employment in GB and US. Reflections on period of service with RAF.