Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 42 Sqdn, No 18 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1940-1941; prisoner of war in Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, Oflag IX-A/H, Spangenburg and Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany, 1/1942-10/1943 including participation in the 'Wooden Horse' escape from Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany, 10/1943-11/1943
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Canada and GB, 1913-1934: family; education. Recollections of membership of Oxford University Air Squadron in GB, 1932-1934: early interest in aviation; membership including length of time to go solo; opinion of Avro 504K; falling leaf aerobatics and blind flying; handling Armstrong Whitworth Atlas; aerobatics in Avro Tutor; aristocrats in squadron; memories of Keith Park; different methods of handling aircraft by different personalities; story of his instructor FH Mellish's role in final action of Manfred von Richtofen.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of visit to Germany, 1936: lodging with Nazi supporters; German rationing system; attending Olympic Games in Berlin; opinion of Nazis and belief that they posed a threat to GB. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1939-1940: membership of Royal Air Force Volunteer Resserve (RAFVR);; attitude to night flying at RAF Yatesbury; accident at RAF Brize Norton; impact of fall of France, 6/1940; reasons for volunteering for torpedo bombers. Recollections of operations as officer with 42 Sqdn, No 18 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1940-1941: posting to squadron at RAF Wick; remoteness of RAF Wick; opinion of Bristol Beaufort; brief attachment to 269 Sqdn, RAF; capture of German submarine U-570 by Squadron Leader James 'Tommy' Thompson, 27/8/1941.
REEL 3 Continues: hazards of patrols to spot German submarines; degree of contact with Germans; character of bombing raid on Kristiansand, Norway including damage to aircraft and casualties, 10/6/1941; torpedo attack on German ship off Norwegian coast, 5/1941; mine laying operations at Haugesund, Norway; nature of attack on German heavy cruisier Lützow off Norway, 13/6/1941.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of role of Royal Air Force controllers; sight of Fuller Plan to attack German battle cruisers; his shooting down during attacks on German shipping off Norwegian coast, 11/12/1941. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in in Norway and Germany, 12/1941-1/1942: period in sea prior to capture by German Navy; effect of cold water on his feet; initial interrogation and medical treatment in Oslo, Norway; transfer to Germany; lack of evidence of Royal Air Force bombing. Aspects of period as prisoner of war at Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, Germany, 1/1942-2/1942: arrival at interrogation centre; German attempt to undermine prisoners of war morale; tunnel escape.
REEL 5 Continues: how Wing Commander Harry 'Wings' Day prevented shooting of escapee by Germans; transfer to Oflag IX-A/H Spangenburg Camp, Germany, 3/1942-4/1942. Recollections of period as prisoner of war at Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany including participation in 'Wooden Horse' escape, 4/1942-10/1943: transfer to camp; initial impressions of camp; obstacles to escape; previous abortive escape attempts; reasons for discovery of tunnels; need to start tunnels near the wire; first proposal for 'Wooden Horse' escape; approval of escape; construction of wooden horse; German suspicion of wooden horse; methods of disposal of sand from tunnel.
REEL 6 Continues: security scares; testing direction of tunnel. Recollections of participation in 'Wooden Horse' escape from Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany, 10/1943-11/1943: attending roll call; carrying wooden horse out for last time; making preparations to break out of tunnel; breaking out of tunnel and sheltering in woods; his disguise as Norwegian businessman; exhilaration on escape; purchasing tickets at Sagan Railway Station; boarding Berlin express train; cancellation of his Kustrin train.
REEL 7 Continues: problems with lavatory in Frankfurt an der Oder Railway Station; night spent in open at Frankfurt an der Oder; encounter with German civilian in train to Kustrin; use of lavatory to prepare for his journey; inspection of his documents on train; revelation of the inaccuracy of his documents; arrival in Danzig; problems of entering Danzig Docks and booking into Hotel Continentale; overnight in hotel; pleasure trip around Danzig Harbour; targeting of Swedish escape ship; change of disguise to Swedish merchant seaman; boarding Swedish ship SS Aralizz.
REEL 8 Continues: orders to leave ship and attempt to change captain's mind; attempt to hide in coal; hiding in oily tank; leaving Danzig; interview with captain and clean up; arrival in Sweden and arrest; conditions in Stockholm, Sweden; reception at British Legation in Stockholm, Sweden and testing of his story; reunion with Eric Williams and Michael Codner; return to GB. Reflections on period as pilot with Royal Air Force and prisoner of war, 1940-1945: similarity of morale of British Army and Royal Air Force prisoners of war; influence of Nazism on German populace.
REEL 9 Continues: effects of imprisonment on prisoners of war; reasons for choice of best pilots for flying boats; his influence over arrangements for repatriation of prisoners of war; his lecture tour giving advice about escaping and guarding of information; work of MI9; lack of publicity about his escape during war; fate of Great Escapers; civil servant's failed attempt to secure expenses for his stay in Sweden. Reasons for his support for a united Europe.