Wray, John Basil (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 53 (Army Co-operation) Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1937-1939; served with 53 Sqdn, No 52 Wing, Air Advanced Striking Force, RAF in France, 9/1939-12/1939; served as instructor with No 1 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Netheravon in GB, 1940-1941; served with 25 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1942; served with 137 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 9/1942-1/1943; served as fighter liaison officer with Headquarters, VIII Fighter Command, US 8th Army Air Force and with 181 and 174 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1/1943-5/1943; commanded 137 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 5/1943-12/1943; served as staff officer with Headquarters, No 13 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1/1944-6/1944; served with No 150 Wing, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1944-8/1944; commanded Manston Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB, 8/1944-9/1944; commanded Nos 125 and 122 Wings, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in North West Europe, 9/1944-4/1945; served as staff officer with Middle East Air Force, RAF in Egypt, 1945-1948

REEL 1 Background in GB and Australia, 1917-1935: family; family move to Australia, 1927; visits to Munich, Germany, 1933-1934; his sight of British Union of Fascists activity in Crouch End, early 1930s; enthusiasm of Germans for Nazi regime, 1933-1934; first flight at Blackpool, 1921; development of early interest in flying at RAAF Point Cook in Australia; return to GB after death of his father, 1930; employment; enlistment in RAF, late 1935. Recollections of period as pilot with 53 (Army Co-Operation) Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1937-1939: role of squadron as army co-operation squadron; change of squadron to two-seater fighter squadron during Munich Crisis, 9/1938; shortage of air gunners, 1938-1939. REEL 2 Continues: use of lipstick to mark windscreens of Hawker Hector; role of squadron on re-equipping with Bristol Blenheim Mk IV; how pilot and rear air gunner communicated; degree of proficiency of navigators in 1939; arrangements for transfer to France on outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; question of loading ammunition tanks into aircraft for move to France at RAF Odiham, 9/1939. Recollections of operations as pilot with 53 Sqdn, No 52 Wing, Advanced Air Striking Force in France, RAF, 9/1939-12/1939: flight from RAF Odiham to Rheims Airfield, 9/1939; navigation failure over Le Treport during flight; landing at Plivot Airfield; reception from French civilians. REEL 3 Continues: socialising with French farmers at Plivot; billeting with French family; difference between Advanced Air Striking Force and Air Component of British Expeditionary Force; contact with French Army officers and civilians; opinion of quality of French Army; planning of night reconnaissance operation to Hanover, Germany; French Air Force identification system; execution of reconnaissance operation to Hanover and return to Vitry; sight of Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter attacking French Air Force Dewoitine D 520 over Metz Airfield, 10/1939; uneventful reconnaissance operation to Hanover, Germany; decision to conduct reconnaissance operations in daylight. REEL 4 Continues: realisation that reconnaissance flight tactics needed to be varied; transfer to Poix near Amiens; his unsatisfactory experience of being shaved by female barber at Poix; his hospitalisation for concussion during football match at Poix, late 1939; orders to fly Bristol Blenheim Mk IV to Amiens-Glisy, Airfield, 12/1939; crash landing at Crecy-en-Ponthieu Airfield after being hit by French anti-aircraft fire, 12/1939. Aspects of period as instructor with No 1 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Netheravon, GB, 1940-1941: posting as instructor, 1/1940; position of instructor and student in Fairey Battle Mk I; German Air Force Messerschmitt Me 110 attack on his Fairey Battle Mk I over Salisbury Plain and subsequent crash landing, 7/1940; amusing question of whether this incident should qualify him as a Battle of Britain pilot; his desperation to get back to operational squadron; volunteering for eye test for night vision capacity and how he managed to get a pass in Torquay, 1941. REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 25 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1942: posting to squadron; first contact with brothers David and Richard Atcherley; taking command of A Flight; effects of German Air Force attack on RAF Wittering, 1941; story about David Atcherley and unexploded bomb; memories of Basil Embry and his radar operator Peter Clapham; opinion of Boulton Paul Defiant and its use as night fighter; role of Turbinlite equipped aircraft; night fighter tactics employed by Richard Stevens of 151 Sqdn at RAF Wittering; move of squadron to temporary airfield at Ballyhalbert near Belfast; move to RAF Church Fenton, early summer 1942; problems operating Bristol Beaufighter at night; doubts about using black colouring for night fighters; Peter Scott's idea that night fighters should be white; recamouflaging and equipping his Bristol Beaufighter Mk VI with new gunsight. REEL 6 Continues: action against Dornier Do 17 and subsequent crash landing after flying through balloon barrage over Kingston upon Hull, 8/1942; interception of RAF Armstrong Whitworth Whitley near North Coates Fitties, 8/1942; use of 'Mother' and 'Father' blind landing facilities; problems landing in fog at RAF Kirton in Lindsey; his pressurising Basil Embry to remain on operations. Recollections of operations as pilot with 137 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 9/1942-1/1943: posting to squadron as supernumerary squadron leader at RAF Manston; character of Westland Whirlwind; production history of Westland Whirlwind; how 263 and 137 Sqdns, RAF used Westland Whirlwind; performance of Westland Whirlwind Mk I. REEL 7 Continues: nature of Rhubarb operations and targets; execution of Rhubarb operations; character of attacks on German coastal convoys with Westland Whirlwind; operating individually or in pairs; night-time attacks on targets in France; targeting by German long range guns at Calais, France; leaving squadron, 1/1943. Aspects of period as fighter liaison officer with Headquarters, VIII Fighter Command, US 8th Army Air Force and 181 and 174 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1/1943-5/1943: posting to Headquarters VIII Fighter Command at Ascot; role instructing American pilots; problems with Supermarine Spitfires allocated to VIII Fighter Command; organising Rhubarbs with novice American pilots over France; posting to 181 Sqdn, RAF; problems with overhaul of Rolls Royce Sabre Engine; character of and problems with Hawker Typhoon Mk I; brief posting to 174 Sqdn, RAF. Recollections of operations commanding 137 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 5/1943-12/1943: taking command of squadron at RAF Manston; unsatisfactory character of Westland Whirlwind Mk I. REEL 8 Continues: narrow escape from accident with bomb; reasons for conversion to Hawker Typhoon, 7/1943; his arrangement with Squadron Leader Roland Beamont to get his pilots trained; use of Walmer Castle Public House in Southend-on-Sea; reaction to news that squadron would be equipped with Vultee Vengeance; attending RAF Biggin Hill's '1000 Hun' party at Grosvenor House, London; problems of overloading of Hawker Hurricane Mk IV with cannon/rocket armament; disciplining of WAAF for losing service bicycle at Southend-on-Sea; harmonizing Hawker Hurricane Mk IV's weapons for ground attack; warheads used with rockets; why rockets preferred to cannon on Hawker Hurricane Mk IV. REEL 9 Continues: escape from Focke Wulf Fw 190 using extra boost during rocket attack on train; accident with firing of rocket from standing aircraft at RAF Manston, 8/1943; treatment of German pilot captured after accidentally landing at RAF Manston; German Air Force hit and run 'scalded cat' attacks on London, 1943; decision to attack bases used by German Air Force hit and run raiders with Westland Whirlwinds; liaison with Y Service for attacks; execution of attacks on German Air Force bases; capture of second German Air Force Focke Wulf Fw 190 and pilot who landed by accident at RAF Manston; handling of captured pilot. REEL 10 Continues: decision to carry out Operation Twitch the first ground attack by Hawker Hurricane Mk IV against canal in South Beveland, Netherlands, 9/1943; planning Operation Twitch; reasons for aborting Operation Twitch twice prior to obtaining fighter cover; effects in changes in command of squadrons participating in Operation Twitch; his dating of leading lady of 'Flarepath' show and arrangement he made with commanding officer of 164 Sqdn if he was killed during operation; execution of Operation Twitch; damage to his aircraft and slight wounding; outcome of Operation Twitch. REEL 11 Continues: lessons learnt from Operation Twitch; encounter with French commandos in the Walmer Castle Public House; briefing for Operation Starkey; result of Operation Starkey, 11/1943; further social contact with acting fraternity; night-time clash with Focke Wulf Fw 190 near Abbeville, France; attacks against fixed V1 Flying Bomb sites in France; reasons for withdrawal of Hawker Hurricane Mk IV from operations. Recollections of operations as staff officer with Headquarters, 13 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1/1944: posting to headquarters, 1/1944; participation in amphibious exercises in Moray Firth. REEL 12 Continues: attempt to intercept German Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over Caithness-Moray Firth; visit by Sir Stafford Cripps; amusing story involving turbulence, eggs, dead sheep and two hitch hiking seamen. Aspects of period as pilot with No 150 Wing, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1944-8/1944: formation of 1st Tempest Wing at RAF Newchurch; attachment to wing as supernumerary wing commander at RAF Newchurch; V1 Flying Bomb interception work and his narrow escape from V1 Flying Bomb in Ashford area; dangers of readjusting to operations. Recollections of operations commanding Manston Wing, RAF in GB, 8/1944-9/1944: composition of wing and memories of Squadron Leader Joseph Berry the leading V1 Flying Bomb interceptor pilot; taking command of wing at RAF Manston; orders to attack German Air Force at Leeuwarden, Netherlands and subsequent ditching of pilot in sea off Ramsgate. REEL 13 Continues: character of German anti-aircraft fire; orders to attack V2 Rocket target in The Hague area, Netherlands, 9/1944; discovery of target he had been given had a red cross on it and subsequent attack on wooded area hitting ammunition dump in The Hague, Netherlands, 9/1944; search for V2 Rocket convoys in Netherlands, 9/1944; breaking off anti-V2 Rocket attack on discovery it was tram cars, 9/1944; escorting Bristol Beaufighter attack on ships at Den Helder, Netherlands; improvements to runway at RAF Manston; impressions of airborne troops at RAF Manston, 9/1944; role of wing during Operation Market Garden, 9/1944; sight of glider formation heading for Arnhem during Operation Market Garden; protecting distressed glider. REEL 14 Continues: influence of weather on Operation Market Garden; escorting Boeing Fortress attempting to upset direction of V2 Rocket. Recollections of operations commanding Nos 125 and 122 Wings, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in North West Europe, 9/1944-4/1945: move of Tempest Wings to Belgium and renaming of wing; visit to Century Hotel in Antwerp, Belgium; sight of German atrocity and treatment of collaborators; reaction to production of large quantity of food at private party in Antwerp, Belgium; German use of anti-personnel bombs in Antwerp, Belgium; commandeering of cars by Belgian Resistance; move to Grave, Netherlands; Messerschmitt Me 262 attacks on No 126 (RCAF) Wing, RAF at Grave, Netherlands; digging of slit trench; problems ground crews had coping with Hawker Tempest; move of wing's Hawker Tempests to Volkel Airfield (B-80) and replacement with Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIVs at Grave Airfield (B-82), Netherlands; Geoffrey Page's crash in Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV at Grave Airfield (B-82), Netherlands. REEL 15 Continues: explanation of Geoffrey Page's crash; defence of Nijmegen Bridge, Netherlands and German use of Messerschmitt Me 163s; taking command of No 122 Wing on Wing Commander Roland Beamont being shot down, 12/10/1944; character of runway at Volkel Airfield (B-80); concern over vulnerability to attack of Volkel Airfield (B-80), Netherlands; German shelling of and V2 Rocket attack on Volkel Airfield, Netherlands; character of operations from Volkel Airfield (B-80), Netherlands; character of Messerschmitt Me 262 attacks; patrolling German Air Force airfields used by Messerschmitt Me 262 in Osnabrueck area, Germany; wing successes against German Air Force, 17/12/1944; his shooting down of Messerschmitt Me 262 into River Rhine, Germany, 3/11/1944; mess party thrown for local children at Volkel, Netherlands, 17/12/1944. REEL 16 Continues: attacking Arado Ar 234 over Liege, Belgium during Ardennes offensive, 12/1944; testing anti-glare googles; his second Messerschmitt Me 262 over Belgium, 12/1944; fate of Volkel Airfield (B-80) during German Air Force attack on Netherlands, 1/1/1945; success of German Air Force Messerschmitt Me 262s; German opposition experienced during his last three operations over Dutch-German border, 4/1945. Recollections of period as staff officer with Middle East Air Force, RAF in Egypt, 1945-1948: posting to headquarters in Egypt, 1945; role of Middle East Air Force; attachment to 3rd Infantry Div in Mossadeq, Iraq, 1946; decision to deploy India troops with Force 401 near Basra, Iraq; planning for air lift of from Iranian airfields; how he obtained information on Iranian airfields; situation in Palestine, 1947-1948. REEL 17 Continues: reconnaissance visit to Aqaba, Transjordan with Middle East Joint Planning Staff; Egyptian Air Force attack on RAF squadron at RAF Ramat David in Palestine, 22/5/1948; interception of Egyptian squadron on return attack and interview with Egyptian air commodore who thought that Israelis were in control there.