Description
Object description
British NCO served with 135 Sqdn, RAF and 1st American Volunteer Group in Burma and China, 1942
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as manager with Radio Rentals in Westcliffe-on-Sea, GB, 1939-1940 including German Air Force raids; call-up to Royal Air Force, 10/1940. Aspects of training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: training on radar at RAF Sopley; background to overseas posting, 11/1941. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1919-1939: influence of First World War on general opinion of war; individual street memorials in Brighton; food and coal shortages; disabled soldiers; information received from listening to Adolf Hitler's speeches on wireless set; changing attitude to anti-war movement and disarmament; attitude towards pacifists and conscientious objectors. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Duchess of Bedford from GB to India via South Africa, 11/1941-12/1941: conditions on board ship; troops reaction to conditions; sleeping on top deck; arrival in Freetown, Sierra Leone; rough weather on leaving Freetown, Sierra Leone; civilian hospitality in Durban, South Africa; journey across India from Bombay to Calcutta. Recollections of operations with 135 Sqdn, RAF and 1st American Volunteer Group in Burma, 1942: arrival in Rangoon during Japanese air raid, 1/1/1942-2/1/1942; conditions on Mingaladon Airfield; move to satellite landing strip; bombing of satellite strip; efforts to save fuel supply; reaction to having to use slit trenches during air raids.
REEL 2 Continues: reaction to Japanese air capability; Japanese bombing methods; arrival of three Hawker Hurricanes for 17 Sqdn, RAF; work as radio mechanic for American Volunteer Group; background to 1st American Volunteer Group; use of Curtiss P-40 Tomahawks; returning to billet to discover that 135 Sqdn, RAF had left; joining 1st American Volunteer Group; relations with 1st American Volunteer Group personnel; incident of anti-British Burmese setting fires near airfield to attract Japanese aircraft; finding delayed action bombs; journey to docks to look for food; situation in Rangoon including role of 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt and 2nd Bn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in defending Rangoon, opening of prisons and leper colonies; character of looting and last sight of city in flames; reaction to service in Far East; evacuation by lorry from Rangoon to Magwe via Pegu; method of evacuating aircraft; sight of refugees on roads; question of anti-British attitude of Burmese.
REEL 3 Continues: problems of operating aircraft from Magwe and withdrawal to Lashio via Mandalay Recollections of period with 1st American Volunteer Group in China, 1942: entering China and becoming an honourary member of 1st American Volunteer Group; anti-British Chinese attitudes; story of Wing Commander W C Grey who unofficially flew with American Volunteer Group; conditions on lorry journey into China; terrain; ingenuity of Chinese drivers; sight of refugees; arrival in Paoshan; effects of Japanese Air Force raid on Paoshan; Allied assistance to China, 1942; opinion of group's role in defence of Burma; role in setting up radio system in Kunming; opinion of British defence of Burma; story of how General Claire Chennault helped Jepson contact his wife; character of pilots and their lifestyle; story of how wireless operator Philipp 'Boogie' Baumann contacted friends in Pacific; pilot's flying skills; bounty paid for Japanese aircraft shot down; treatment of Chinese who stole telephone wires; painting of aircraft and design of insignia worn by unit; opinion of General Claire Chennault.
REEL 4 Continues: initial meeting with General Claire Chennault; story of how General Claire Chennault gave Jepson his car; General Claire Chennault's personal qualities; role of setting up direct communication with US; General Claire Chennault's organisational skills; losses to unit; financial situation and access to PX stores; story of how General Claire Chennault tore up Jepson's mess bill on his return to Royal Air Force; Japanese bombing of Chungking; role in setting up air raid warning system and radio beacon in Buddhist temple at Peishiyi Airfield; contrast in service with 1st American Volunteer Group and in Royal Air Force; take over of American Volunteer Group by US Army Air Force, 1942; nature of pilot's service and lifestyle; morale of unit at the time of take over by United States Army Air Force, 1942; story of how local Chinese warlord attempted to recruit group into his private airforce; meeting Madame Chiang Kai-Shek; social activities; sight of Chinese walking wounded; contrast in attitude of Chinese to westerners to suffering.
REEL 5 Continues: lack of awareness of Chinese politics; effect of service in group; question of not being mentioned in any post-war accounts of group's activities; question of importance of American Volunteer Group's role; General Claire Chennault's character; state of health in China; story of pilot who was bitten by snake; medical facilities in group; meeting with small group of Royal Air Force in China and their experiences; flight from China to India via The Hump. Recollections of period with Royal Air Force in India, 1943-1944: witnessing Bengal famine, 1943; distributing food to Indian civilians; how American service personnel's generosity effected India society; lack of anti-British feeling; working with radar at Barrackpore; lack of interest in Royal Air Force about Jepson's experiences with 1st American Volunteer Group; return from India to GB, 11/1944; story of how he met airman he had travelled to Burma with and how he did not recognise him because of his weight loss; prior recollections of mail situation in China; question of effects of war.