Johns, George Binmore (Oral history)

British NCO served as pilot with 229 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB and France, 11/1939-9/1940; served with 229 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB during Battle of Britain, 9/1940-10/1940; NCO and officer served as pilot with 229 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 11/1940-5/1941; officer served as pilot with 229 Sqdn, No 262 Wing, Air Headquarters Western Desert and Western Desert Air Force, RAF in North Africa, 5/1941-3/1942; served as instructor with No 71 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Gordon's Tree, Sudan, 3/1942-2/1943; commanded 250 Sqdn, No 239 Wing, Desert Air Force, RAF in North Africa and Italy, 2/1943-9/1943; commanded 260 Sqdn, No 239 Wing, Desert Air Force, RAF in Italy, 5/1944-12/1944; served with No 1 Mobile Operations Room, Desert Air Force, RAF in Italy, 12/1944-5/1945

REEL 1 Aspects of period as aircraftman with Royal Air Force in GB, 1934-1939: reasons for enlistment in Royal Air Force; opinion of training as apprentice at No 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton, 1934-1936; duties at fitter with 4 (Army Co-operation) Sqdn, RAF at Farnborough; flying training, 1939. Recollections of operations as pilot with 229 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB and France, 11/1939-9/1940: personnel at RAF Digby; flying Bristol Blenheim Mk I; night flying during winter, 1939-1940; convoy patrol duties; arrival of first Hawker Hurricane Mk Is, 3/1940; move to Vitry-en-Artois, France, 5/1940; first combat with Messerschmitt Bf 109, 18/5/1940; evacuation via Boulogne, France, 5/1940; operating over Dunkirk, France from RAF Biggin Hill, 5/1940-6/1940. REEL 2 Continues: question of quality of aerial shooting; move to RAF Wittering, 6/1940. Aspects of operations as pilot with 229 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB during Battle of Britain, 9/1940-10/1940: move to RAF Northolt, 9/9/1940; commanding officer Frederick Rosier's advice on attacking bombing formations; confidence in victory during Battle of Britain; his landlord's influence on use of leisure time; loss of inexperienced pilots during Battle of Britain; fitting Hawker Hurricanes with rear mirrors. Aspects of operations as pilot with 229 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 11/1940-5/1941: night defence of Liverpool from RAF Speke, 12/1940-5/1941. Aspects of operations as pilot with 229 Sqdn, No 262 Wing, Air Headquarters Western Desert and Western Desert Air Force in North Africa, 5/1941-3/1942: voyage aboard HMS Furious from GB to Malta, 5/1941; reformation of squadron at Sidi Birrani, Egypt, 6/1941; strength of German Air Force; problems locating Axis ground targets. REEL 3 Continues: night defence of Mersa Matruh, Egypt, 8/1941; use of air filters on Hawker Hurricane; threat of sand storms; collecting Hawker Hurricane Mk IIs from Takoradi, Gold Coast, 9/1941; degree of knowledge of Axis air forces. Aspects of period as instructor with No 71 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Gordon's Tree in Sudan, 3/1942-2/1943: posting to unit; opinion of Curtiss Tomahawk. Aspects of operations commanding 250 Sqdn, No 239 Wing, Desert Air Force, RAF in North Africa and Italy, 2/1943-9/1943: role supporting 2nd New Zealand Infantry Div at El Hamma, Tunisia, 1943; tactics employed Axis air forces in Tunisia, spring 1943; sinking of Italian destroyer in Gulf of Sirte, 24/4/1943; support for invasion of Sicily, Italy, 7/1943; ground attack performance of Curtiss Kittyhawk, Mk III; preference for desert fighting rather than Italian Campaign; composition of squadron. Aspects of operations commanding 260 Sqdn, No 239 Wing, Desert Air Force, RAF in Italy, 5/1944-12/1944: opinion of North American Mustang Mk III; attacks on railways and bridges; lack of German opposition. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period with No 1 Mobile Operations Room, Desert Air Force, RAF in Italy, 12/1944-5/1945: posting to unit, 12/1944; allocation of targets; marriage in Cairo, Egypt, 5/1945.