Taylor, Duncan Alexander (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 57 and 105 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1940; served with 84 Sqdn in Greece, Crete and Middle East, 1940-1942; served with 21 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943-1944; evaded capture in France, 1944

REEL 1 Background in Elgin and Manchester, 1921-1939: family; education; attitude towards Spanish Civil War; sight of Blackshirt activity in Manchester during 1930s. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB, 1939-1940: obtaining RAF short service commission; pattern of flying training in GB; opinion of quality of flying training excluding operation training; question of allocation of trainee pilots to flying boats, fighters and bombers; mechanical problems with Bristol Blenheim. Recollections of operations as pilot with 57 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940: joining squadron at RAF Lossiemouth; problems attacking German coastal shipping; losses during attacks on German coastal shipping; squadron morale; attacks on Norwegian airfields. REEL 2 Continues: attempts to develop defensive formations; attacking Junkers Ju 88 over North Sea. Recollections of operations as pilot with 105 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940: night bombing operations from RAF Swanton Morley; deception of German anti-aircraft over Poix airfield; use of cloud cover on raids; squadron personalities; volunteering to fly Bristol Blenheims to Egypt, 12/1940. Recollections of operations as pilot with 84 Sqdn, RAF in Greece and Crete, 1940-1941: posting to squadron in Greece, 12/1940; Italian belief that Greeks would allow them to occupy Greece; problems of fraternisation with females in Athens; relations with Greeks; evacuation from Greece, 4/1941. REEL 3 Continues: attending cocktail party prior to evacuation; story of taking tea at German Embassy in Athens, 1/1941; quality of Italian fighter pilots and contrast with German pilots; attacks on advancing German columns; visit to Greek Army on River Styx; his beating up of Greek fascist youth leader; contact with Greek royal family; flight to Crete in Short Sunderland, 4/1941; airfield defence arrangements at Heraklion; march to south coast of Crete for evacuation. REEL 4 Continues: evacuation from Crete. Aspects of operations with 84 Sqdn, RAF in Middle East, 1941-1942: reforming in Palestine, summer 1941; support given to Arab Legion at Fort Rutbah in Iraq, 6/1941; attacking Iraqi artillery shelling Habbaniyah airfield, 6/1941; role during Syrian campaign; opinion of Vichy Air Force; allocation to ferrying work in Western Desert, 7/1941; fate and role of squadron in Far East, 1942; memories of squadron adjutant Ashmole in Greece and Sumatra, 1941-1942. Memories of ferry work on Takoradi run, 1942-1943. Recollections of operations as pilot with 21 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943-1944: posting to unit, 10/1943; acquiring Free French navigator Philippe Level including his background; character of intruder operations; opinion of De Havilland Mosquito. REEL 5 Continues: types of low level attacks carried out over France; character of Operation Jericho the attack on Amiens Prison, 2/1944; sight of breaching of prison walls; difficulties attacking V1 sites; incident when he took over leadership from Flight Sergeant he had given command to; communicating with French ploughman; dangers of low level attacks; dealing with crew who were keeping out of danger; story of Lack of Moral Fibre case transferred from RAF to army where he won Military Cross; occasions when he saw individuals whom he killed. REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of shooting down and evading capture in France, 1944: shooting down over Alsace,8/1944; securing aid from civilians; acquiring false documents and cover story; character of his Resistance contacts; sight of aftermath of German atrocity against civilians near Nomexy; his refuge in hut in Vosages; narrow escape from German checkpoint; joining unit of French Resistance; ambush of German unit. REEL 7 Continues: wounding during clash with German troops; liberation by US 3rd Army, 9/1944; dinner with General George Patton, 9/1944; evacuation to GB. Attitude towards killing Germans. Memories of Michael Wedgewood-Benn who was reluctance to kill Germans and story of how he was killed during forced landing at RAF Thorney Island, 1944