Hawker, Harry Conrad Vaughan (Oral history)

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Sound: © IWM (10886)

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.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Sound: © IWM (10886)

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.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British officer served as pilot with 208 Sqdn, Nos 253 and 285 Wings, Western Desert Air Force, RAF in North Africa, 7/1942-12/1942; served as ferry pilot with No 1 Air Delivery Unit, RAF in British West Africa, 1943; served with 680 Sqdn, RAF, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces at RAF Lakatamia, Cyprus, 4/1944-5/1944; served with 683 Sqdn, RAF, Mediterranean Allied Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces in Italy, 1944-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, Southern Rhodesia, Egypt and Palestine, 1941-1942: enlistment, 1941; pattern of training in GB and Southern Rhodesia; preference for becoming fighter pilot; obtaining wings, 23/12/1941; commissioning 2/1942; move to Egypt; training as Army Co-Operation pilot with No 74 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Aqir, Palestine; contrast between Hawker Hurricane and North American Harvard. Recollections of operations as pilot with 208 Sqdn, Nos 253 and 285 Wings, Western Desert Air Force, RAF in North Africa, 7/1942-12/1942: joining squadron, 7/1942; reconnaissance role over El Alamein Line; dangers from anti-aircraft fire and fighters; weaving; question of spotting Axis decoys; distinguishing between British and Axis positions. REEL 2 Continues: photographing Axis occupied airfield at El Dhaba, Egypt, 1/10/1942; operating photographic equipment; coping with fatigue; pattern of operations prior to withdrawal of squadron to Iraq, 12/1942. Aspects of periods as ferry pilot with No 1 Aircraft Delivery Unit, RAF in West Africa, 1943: duties; introduction to Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb; preference for Supermarine Spitfire to Hawker Hurricane. Aspects of operations as pilot with 680 Sqdn, RAF, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces at RAF Lakatamia, Cyprus, 4/1944-5/1944: posting to squadron after photographic reconnaissance course with No 74 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Aqir, Palestine; photographic reconnaissance duties over Dodecanese Islands, Greece; dangers of coming down in sea; Lack of Moral Fibre (LMF) case; successful photographic reconnaissance over Portolago Harbour, Leros Island, Greece, 10/4/1944. Recollections of operations as pilot with 683 Sqdn, RAF, Mediterranean Allied Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces in Italy, 1944-1945: story of loss of German hospital ship Tübingen in Adriatic Sea, 18/11/1944. REEL 3 Continues: operating from San Servero; attack on his aircraft by American Lockheed P-38 Lightnings near Modena, 7/1944; encounter with Messerschmitt Me 262 jet near Munich, Germany; memories of Adrian Warburton; use of Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIX; unarmed attack on German Army troops in harbour on Kos Island, Greece; incident of scaring away American Lockheed P-38 Lightning over Hungary, 10/1944; degree of discretion photographic reconnaissance pilots were given to carry out their missions. REEL 4 Continues: weaving technique used by photographic reconnaissance pilots.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Hawker, Harry Conrad Vaughan (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1989-09-11
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 10886

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Hawker, Harry Conrad Vaughan (Oral history)

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