Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 9 Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1940-1941; commanded 311 (Czechoslovak) Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1941-1942; staff officer served as Wing Commander (Operations) at Headquarters, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF, Newmarket, GB, 1942; commanded 138 (Special Duties) Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1943; served as station commander at RAF Chedburgh and RAF Mildenhall, GB, 1943-1945; served as staff officer with No 1 Indian Group, RAF in India, 1945-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period with No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, RAF in GB, 1938-1939: providing practice for anti-aircraft gunners; fruitless air practice exercise, summer 1939; his attitude to Munich Crisis, 9/1938; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Recollections of operations as pilot with 9 Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1940-1941: bomber conversion course prior to joining squadron at RAF Honington; raids on France, 1940-1941; raids on Berlin, Germany; German North Sea searchlight barrier; techniques for evading searchlights; raid on Kiel, Germany, 1941; attacks on German capital ships in French dry docks, 1941; practicing gas laying.
REEL 2 Continues: de-icing problems; use of D/F fixes; problems with fog during raids; use of flares to aid landing; aircraft losses due to poor weather; blind approach system; amusing story of snowy conditions on airfield; problems of finding targets, 1941; question of role of Bomber Command in tying down German personnel and material; use of 4000 lb bombs with Vickers Wellington Mk IIs; squadron member's accident with Vickers Wellington Mk II. Recollections of operations commanding 311 (Czechoslovak) Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1941-1942: taking command of squadron; Czechoslovakian character of squadron.
REEL 3 Continues: visits by members of Czech Government-in-Exile; lack of recriminations from Czech aircrew about Munich Agreement; use of Gee, 1942. Aspects of period as Wing Commander (Operations) with Headquarters, No 3 Group, RAF in Harration Court, Exning Near Newmarket, GB, 1942: target illumination; memories of Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett; formation of Pathfinders Force; introduction of H2S Radar. Recollections of operations commanding 138 (Special Duties) Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1943: special duties role of squadron; squadron aircraft; personalities in squadron; raid on heavy water plant at Vermork, Norway.
REEL 4 Continues: occupied countries squadron operated to and airfields used in GB; character of agents; taking agents to Poland; importance of Special Operations Executive operations; problems finding dropping sites; use of Rebecca/Eureka device; operations to Denmark and Netherlands; recruitment of experienced aircrew to squadron; prior recollection of monitoring psychological and physical condition of bomber crews; theat of aircraft being hit whilst operating at low level. Aspects of period as station commander of RAF Chedburgh, GB, 1943-1944: posting as station commander to RAF Chedburgh; character of Short Stirling and problems with early marks of Handley Page Halifax.
REEL 5 Continues: character of Short Stirling; arrival of Avro Lancaster; German use of butterfly bombs on airfield; incident of aircraft crashing on take off; soloing in Airspeed Horsa Glider. Aspects of period as station commander of RAF Mildenhall, GB, 1944-1945: character of airfield; technique for marshalling squadrons on landing; raids launched on German oil installations; reasons for lack of provision for Avro Lancasters landing on three engines; Operation Manna to feed Dutch population, 1945.
REEL 6 Continues: Reflections on service with Bomber Command, 1939-1945: activities with Bomber Command Association since 1945; question of Bomber Command's role during Second World War including criticism of film 'Firestarter'; question of post-war political treatment of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris; question of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris' nickname; reasons for heavy Royal Air Force casualties during early years of Second World War; memories of Air Vice-Marshal Ralph Cochrane; story of Royal Air Force prisoners of war meeting with Hermann Göring at Christmas time, Germany, 12/1939. Aspects of period as staff officer with No 1 Indian Group, RAF in India, 1945-1947: posting to India.
REEL 7 Continues: role of group; punitive raid on villages in Waziristan, 1946; posting as air advisor to Rawalpindi; opinion of Lord Louis Mountbatten's decision to bring forward date of Indian Independence; British pressure on Mohammad Jinnah not to start war with India; tribal invasion of Kashmir, 1947.
