Garrod, Francis Roland (Oral history)

British civilian officer served as pilot with Air Transport Auxiliary at No 6 Ferry Pool ATA Ratcliffe, No 12 Ferry Pool ATA Cosford and Air Movements Flight, No 1 Ferry Pool ATA White Waltham in GB, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in Andover, GB, 1921-1939: family; education; employment; learning to fly with father, 1936-1937; reasons for not applying to enlist in Royal Air Force; eyesight problems. Recollections of enlistment and training with Air Transport Auxiliary in GB, 1941-1945: background to joining Air Transport Auxiliary; training with Acceptance Flight; importance of cross-country flying; attending course to fly high performance aircraft; problem when flying damaged Fairey Battle Mk I; incidents of engine failures when flying aircraft; problem with weather at night when flying Vickers Warwick; usefulness of having done aerobatic training; punishment for doing aerobatics; taxi flights; problems handling De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth on ground. REEL 2 Continues: attending Class 2 aircraft conversion course; first flight in Hawker Hurricane. Recollections of period as pilot with Air Transport Auxiliary at No 6 Ferry Pool ATA Ratcliffe and No 12 Ferry Pool ATA Cosford in GB, 1941-1944: posting to ATA Ratcliffe; ferry duties from ATA Cosford; types of aircraft in Class 3 aircraft group; conversion to Class 4 aircraft including American types; low flying in Bristol Beaufort in Scotland; problems of poor weather; story of being caught in low cloud during ferry flight; use of Air Authorisation Card; his increasing understanding of weather; effects of weather on ferry flights; recreational activities; hazard of balloon barrages; flying Vought Corsair on priority flight; flying aircraft with secret equipment on board; flying unserviceable Boulton Paul Defiant from Aberporth; degree of confidence in ground crew; incident when his cockpit became full of oil in Boulton Paul Defiant; importance of reading pilot notes; number of hours and aircraft types flown; question of fatigue. REEL 3 Continues: ferrying aircraft to United States Army Air Force in Scotland; monthly flying hours; relations with foreign pilots especially Poles; pay; accommodation at Royal Air Force stations; status of Air Transport Auxiliary pilots with Royal Air Force personnel; discipline. Recollections of period as pilot with Air Transport Auxiliary at Air Movements Flight, No 1 Ferry Pool ATA White Waltham in GB, 4/1944-10/1945: posting to ATA White Waltham, 4/1944; flights to North West Europe; problems of transporting chocolate in aircraft from Belgium; flying through anti-V1 Flying Bomb 'diver' barrage; flying ex-prisoners of war back from GB; flying aircraft to France during Battle of Bulge, 12/1944; degree of threat from German aircraft; testing aircraft armament prior to aircraft being flown overseas; ferrying aircraft back from North West Europe including Hawker Tempests; practising bailing out into water; question of change in engine sound on crossing coast; use of homing beacon; staying on Royal Air Force advanced landing grounds in Netherlands; relations with Dutch and Belgian civilians. REEL 4 Continues: role of Air Transport Auxiliary into North West Europe; flights with Air Movements Flight; photographic work; his flying skills; story of flying aircraft at low-level around west coast of Ireland; responsibility for authorising own flights; memories of VE Day, 8/5/1945; fate of aircraft at end of Second World War; leaving Air Transport Auxiliary, 10/1945; attitude to having served with Air Transport Auxiliary in Second World War; flying activities post 1945; question of differing characteristics of aircraft; post-war activities with Royal Air Force Reserve (RAFVR); activities of Air Transport Auxiliary Association.