Parsons, Diana Pitt (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

British aircraftwoman trained as radar operator with No 2 Radio School, RAF Yatesbury in GB, 6/1940-7/1940; served as radar operator at RAF Hornchurch, GB during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-9/1940; served at RAF St Eval, GB, 9/1940-4/1941; aircraftwoman and NCO served with Headquarters, No 74 Wing, RAF at RAF Bawdsey and RAF Humberston, GB, 4/1941- 4/1943; served with Headquarters, No 73 Wing, RAF at RAF Danby Beacon, GB, 7/1943-5/1944; served as instructor with No 8 Radio School, RAF Cranwell, GB, 5/1944-3/1945; served with Headquarters, No 74 Wing, RAF at RAF Bard Hill and RAF West Beckham, GB, 3/1945-3/1946

Content description

REEL 1 Background in GB and Bermuda, 1918-1940: family; father's overseas posting; education; trip to India, 1931-1932; father's service with Royal Air Force; attending art course at Northampton School of Art; Munich Crisis, 9/1938 and anticipation of Second World War; memories of Phoney War, 1939-1940; attitude towards war service. Aspects of enlistment and training with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1940: decision to enlist, 6/1940; recruitment procedure and selection for training as radar operator; training at No 2 Radio School, RAF Yatesbury, GB, 6/1940-7/1940; operation of radar; night watch system; camp layout and accommodation; attitude to service; uniform worn; medical treatment; discipline; hairstyle. REEL 2 Continues: discipline; relations with Women's Auxiliary Air Force officers and Royal Air Force personnel; question of elitism of Women's Auxiliary Air Force; relations with other services; drill; expectations of radar posting; content and evaluation of radar course; daily routine; lectures and instructors. Recollections of period as radar operator at RAF Hornchurch, GB during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-9/1940: watch system; pay; staff composition. REEL 3 Continues: camp canteens and entertainments; medical provisions; discipline; social life; Women's Auxiliary Air Force relations with RAF personnel; official Royal Air Force attitude to service romances; intensity of plotting work during Battle of Britain; first experience of heavy bombing. Aspects of period as radar operator at RAF St Eval, GB, 9/1940-4/1941: posting to RAF St Eval; mobile nature of camp; billets; social life; rations; cycling; daytime attack by single German aircraft; attitude of civilians to camp. Aspects of period as radar operator with Headquarters, No 74 Wing, RAF at RAF Bawdsey and RAF Humberston, GB, 4/1941-4/1943: accommodation; army dances. REEL 4 Continues: recreational activities; Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) facilities; damage from German Air Force bombing raid; leave; morale amongst Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel; move of headquarters to RAF Humberston, 10/1941; nature of CHL work and plotting ships; accommodation; relations with Canadian and Australian servicemen; social activities in hostel; promotion to sergeant and attitude to commission; presence of nearby naval decoy; intensity of air activity and plotting work; social life and contact with civilians; attending ground controlled interception course at RAF Patrington, 2/1942. REEL 5 Continues: atmosphere at RAF Patrington; attitude to leaving Humberston, 4/1943. Aspects of period as NCO with Headquarters, No 73 Wing, RAF at RAF Danby Beacon in GB, 7/1943-5/1944: posting to RAF Danby Beacon, 7/1943; sergeants privileges and watch duties; meeting future husband. Aspects of period as instructor with No 8 Radio School, RAF Cranwell, GB, 5/1944-3/1945: posting to school; accommodation; quality of rations; orchestra; flying experience; staff at RAF Cranwell; Sergeant's Mess; recreational activities; rules about the wearing of civilian clothing; parade; prior recollection of visit by Duke of Kent to RAF Humberston. Aspects of period as NCO with Headquarters, No 74 Wing, RAF at RAF Bard Hill and RAF West Beckham in GB, 3/1945-3/1946: posting to RAF Bard Hill, 3/1945; accommodation; move to RAF West Beckham, 3/1945; social activities; opportunity of attending cookery course. REEL 6 Continues: attending cookery course at Malton; service rations; waiting for demobilisation; handing in equipment. Reflections on service with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1940-1946: content of Administration and Discipline course at RAF Compton Bassett, 11/1944-12/1944; content of Radar Operator Mechanic course at RAF Yatesbury, 2/1943-3/1943; leave; pay and purchasing gramophone records; experience of air raid on Plymouth, 1941; demobilisation procedure, 3/1946; discharge certificate; post-war marriage.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Stovold, Jan R (Recorder)
Parsons, Diana Pitt (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1987-07-12
Dimensions: whole: Duration 180, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 9948

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Parsons, Diana Pitt (Oral history)

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