Description
Object description
British NCO served as wireless operator/air gunner with 40 Sqdn RAF in GB and France, 1939-1940; served with Mobile Signal Unit in France, 1940; served as wireless operator/mechanic with RAF in GB, 1940-1944 and with 98 and 266 Sqdns RAF in GB and France, 1944; served with RAF in India, 1944-1947
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Yorkshire and Wales, 1918-1935: family; education; interest in amateur dramatics; story of joining RAF, 1/1935; entrance examination at Cranwell. Aspects of period as RAF aircraft apprentice, RAF Cranwell, 1935-1937: organisation of apprentices; accommodation; opinion of army instructors; attitude to discipline; daily routine; cleaning of barracks and inspections; story of being put on charge; education classes; reason for nickname Tiger; description of wireless training and laboratory work; story of learning Morse code; memory of wireless training in aircraft; recreational activities with YMCA; opinion of NAAFI.
REEL 2 Continues: sporting activities; weekend leave; relations with local civilians; leave; question of failing apprentice exam and selection as wireless operator; posted to RAF Abingdon, 1/1938. Aspects of period at HQ No 1 Bomber Group RAF in GB, 1-3/1938: accommodation; parades; description of duties with met forecasting in main signals centre; daily routine and shifts; recreational activities; question of rivalry between squadrons; posted to 40 Squadron RAF, 3/1938. Aspects of period with 40 Sqdn RAF in GB, 3/1938-9/1939: role as wireless operator on Hawker Hind; description of wireless equipment; memory of first flight in Hind.
REEL 3 Continues: flying clothing; oxygen mask; communications with ground; pre-flight preparations; discipline; comparison of role as wireless operator on Fairey Battle and Hawker Hind; description of 10/82 and 10/83 wireless sets and problems with operation; gunnery training; opinion of Flying Officer Moseby and other crew members; rank; question of wireless operators being designated as air crew; pre-flight preparations.
REEL 4 Continues: description of R/T equipment on Fairey Battle; location of wireless operator; length of flights; attitude to night flying; description of gunnery exercises with drogues; trades; armaments; bombing exercises; formation flying; number of aircraft in Squadron; story of crash landing in reservoir during training exercise, 14/Jul/1939; question of inquiry into crash.
REEL 5 Continues: question of adjusting to new aircraft; problem of using dinghy after crash; question of fear following crash; opinion of Fairey Battle; mobilised at RAF Abingdon, 8/1939; description of flight to France, 2/Sep/1939. Recollections of operations with 40 Sqdn RAF in France, 9-12/1939: attitude of French civilians; description of billets in barn and school; opinion of French civilians; moved to billets in factory; opinion of rations; daily routine and general duties; description of reconnaissance missions over Maginot Line; story of coming under fire from ground, 9/1939.
REEL 6 Continues: question of communication with French Air Force; briefings; relations with French civilians; memory of visits to Rheims and Paris; problem of cold weather. Aspects of operations with 40 Sqdn in GB, 12/1939-3/1940: posted to RAF Whitton and re-equipped with Blenheims; location of crew in Blenheim; opinion of Blenheim and problem of operating wireless equipment; question of coping with fear while flying; posted to RAF Digby and role as DF operator, 3/1940.
REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period with RAF Mobile Signal Unit in France, 4-5/1940: description of duties with Mobile Signal Unit; equipment; transportation; attitude to Germans; problem of refugees on roads; story of evacuation from Cherbourg, 5/1940. Aspects of period with RAF in GB, 5/1940-1942 : posted as DF operator to Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down; promoted corporal; qualified as wireless operator/mechanic; posted to RAF Hereford, 12/1941-1942; description of role as instructor; posted to RAF Dagnall, GB, 1942-1944: role in maintenance and repair of equipment and aerials at transmitter station; question of promotion; description of camp and accommodation; shift work; leave; posted to 98 Sqdn RAF, 1944. REEL 8 Continues: description of duties maintaining wireless equipment on Mitchell bombers; posted to 266 Sqdn RAF. Aspects of operations with 266 Sqdn RAF in France, 1944; story of journey to Lille; problem of German booby traps; posted back to GB, 10/1944. Aspects of period with RAF in GB and India, 10/1944-1947: posted to RAF Calverley; posted to out station at Wrexham; memory of VE Day celebrations, 8/May/1945; posted to India, 6/1945-1947. Summary of career in RAF, 1947-1973.