Description
Object description
British NCO served as air gunner with 141 Sqdns, Nos 11 and 13 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 12/1939-7/1941 including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-9/1940; officer served as navigator with 255 Sqdn, No 328 Wing, RAF in Tunisia and Italy, 5/1943-4/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as air gunner with 141 Sqdn, Nos 11 and 13 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 12/1939-7/1941 including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-9/1940: background to enlistment in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; operating Bristol Blenheim Mk FI; character of Boulton Paul Defiant; air gunnery tactics; use of parachutes; heavy squadron losses during Battle of Britain, 7/1940; squadron morale; opinion of operational capabilities of Boulton Paul Defiant; replacement of commanding officer; opinion of German Air Force; attitude towards Germans; experiences during Battle of Britain; night fighter work, 1940-1941; squadron movements and changes of number.
REEL 2 Continues: lack of success during night defence of London; sight of London burning. Aspects of period of training as navigator with RAF in GB, 6/1942-5/1943: status as navigator/radio operator; character of AI Radar system. Recollections of operations as navigator with 255 Sqdn, No 328 Wing, RAF in Tunisia and Italy, 5/1943-4/1944: initial basing of squadron at Le Sebala II in Tunisia, 5/1943-8/1943; operating Bristol Beaufighter; behaviour of Italian Air Force pilots; support for Sicilian landings, 7/1943; sense of chaos heard over radio during Sicilian landings; defensive work over Italy; proneness of United States Army Air Force to fatigue; return of United States Army Air Force aircraft from raids on Ploesti oilfields in Romania, 1/8/1943; problems with water in fuel; patrolling over Anzio beachhead; danger of fire from Royal Navy ships over Anzio, 1944; duration of patrols over Royal Navy vessels.
REEL 3 Continues: meeting with wounded army officers at Anzio; living conditions for Royal Air Force personnel; contact with Italian civilians; attitude of Italian civilians towards Allies; apprehension about Mafia in Sicily, Italy.