Grice, Douglas Hamilton (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 32 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1938-1940 including Battle of Britain, 1940

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB, 1937-1938: background to enlistment, 11/1937; character of pre-war RAF service life; short service commission system; flying training with Miles Magister at 28 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF Woodley; flying training at RAF Sealand. Aspects of period as pilot with 32 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 8/1938-9/1939: re-equipping with Hawker Hurricanes; commanding officers; personnel of A Flight and their nicknames; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; inadequacy of pre-war fighter tactics; character of RAF Biggin Hill airfield. Recollections of operations as pilot with 32 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1939-1940: convoy escort patrols, 9/1940-5/1940; shooting down of German Air Force reconnaissance aircraft by 79 Sqdn, autumn 1939; sight of shooting down of Jimmy Davis over English Channel, 6/1940. REEL 2 Continues: operation over The Hague, Netherlands, 5/1940; first encounter with German Air Force over St Omer, France, 5/1940; problems of patrolling over Dunkirk; encounter with British troops in Evreux after being shot down, 6/1940; his shooting down during attack on Heinkel He III over France, 8/6/1940; story of attempts to return to GB through Normandy, 6/1940. REEL 3 Continues: flight back from Dreux to Hendon via Jersey; aerial engagements and successes over northern France, 6/1940. Recollections of operations as pilot with 32 Sqdn, RAF during Battle of Britain, 1940: lone encounter with four Messerschmitt Me 109s during convoy escort duties; activities during early stages of battle; shooting down and crash landing near Sandwich, 7/1940; damage to aircraft; aerial combat over Ashford, 12/8/1940; landing at RAF Hawkinge amongst unexploded bombs, 12/8/1940; shooting down over Harwich, 15/8/1940; bailing out. REEL 4 Continues: parachute descent into sea, 15/8/1940; treatment for burns to face at Shotley Naval Hospital; subsequent treatment by Doctor Archibald McIndoe and beneficial effect of sea water on burns; attitude to participating in Battle of Britain; talk given to pilots by Air Vice Marshal, 6/1940; question of aggression during battle and advantages of head on attacks; threat of invasion; relaxation at White Hart Public House, Brasted; relations with civilians; strain of the participating in battle; casualty rate in squadron; presence of inexperienced pilots in squadron.