Armitage, Dennis Lockhart (Oral history)

1913397056
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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Description

Object description

British officer served as pilot with 266 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB and during Battle of Britain, 12/1939-5/1941; commanded 129 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 6/1941-9/1941

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of period with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1936-1939: joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1936; anticipation of coming war; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of operations as pilot with 266 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB and during Battle of Britain, 12/1939-5/1941: posting to squadron, 10/12/1939; forced landing in snow at RAF Sutton Bridge; changes in commanding officers; qualities required of squadron leadership; need for relaxation after operations; flying Supermarine Spitfire; interception of German bombers over Portsmouth, 8/8/1940; technique for attacking German aircraft; appointment as flight commander with A Flight; flight commanders' conference at RAF Eastchurch; German bombing attack on RAF Eastchurch, 13/8/1940. REEL 2 Continues: effects of bombing of RAF Eastchurch; attempts to replenish ammunition lost in raid on RAF Eastchurch; move to RAF Hornchurch, 14/8/1940; problem of gaining height during battle; loss of commanding officer Squadron Leader Rodney Wilkinson over Deal, 16/8/1940; question of shooting at parachuting pilots; strain of his responsibilities as acting squadron commander; sight of German Air Force formations; need to break up German formations. REEL 3 Continues: technique for attacking German formations; incident of being shot down by Messerschmitt Bf 109; German fighter attack on squadron whilst on ground at RAF Manston; salvaging radio transmission coils from damaged aircraft after attack; flight from RAF Manston to RAF Hornchurch in De Havilland Gypsy Moth; squadron losses during battle; method of squadron ascending through cloud; return of squadron to RAF Wittering, 21/9/1940. REEL 4 Continues: transfer to No 12 Group at RAF Duxford; opinion of the 'big wing' formation; participation in 'fighter nights' during German bombing of cities. Aspects of operations commanding 129 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 5/1941-9/1941: formation of squadron at RAF Leconfield, 5/1941; participation in sweeps over France and attitude towards such operations; circumstances of being shot down over France and capture by Germans, 21/9/1941.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Armitage, Dennis Lockhart (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1989-05-18
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 10709

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Armitage, Dennis Lockhart (Oral history)

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