Groocock, Deryck Westley (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 99 and 60 Sqdns, Air Forces in India in India, 10/1942-10/1943; served with 194 Sqdn, No 229 Group, 3rd Tactical Air Force, RAF in India and Burma, 11/1943-9/1944

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; reasons for enlistment in RAF, 1940; ground defence duties at RAF Yeadon, 1940-1941; joining No 1 Initial Training Wing, RAF, Babbacombe; officer training at No 7 Initial Training Wing, RAF, Newquay. Aspects of flying training with Arnold Scheme in United States of America, 1941-1942: voyage from GB to United States of America, 1941; flying training with Arnold Scheme in United States of America, 1941 including nature of pilot training, 'hazing' system of discipline and aircraft trained on; hospitality of American civilians to Royal Air Force personnel; voyage aboard SS Volendam from United States of America to GB, 1/1942 including abortive torpedo attack on ship. Aspects of operational training as pilot with No 15 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Harwell, GB, 1942: conversion onto Vickers Wellington; participation on thousand bomber raid on Düsseldorf, Germany, 10/9/1942-11/9/1942; crewing up; opinion of flying Vickers Wellington; ferry flight from GB to Cairo, Egypt, 9/1942. Recollections of operations as pilot with 99 Sqdn, Air Forces in India, RAF in India, 10/1942-4/1943: joining squadron in Assam, 10/1942; reception at unit; aircraft issued to unit. REEL 2 Continues: bombing of Japanese communication and supply facilities in Burma, 1942-1943; lack of preparations for crash landing in jungle; question of accuracy of bombing; height of bombing and types of bombs carried; lack of facilities at Pandaveswar, 10/1942. Aspects of converting to Bristol Blenheim at RAF Peshawar, 1943 including accident he had on airfield. Aspects of period as pilot with 60 Sqdn, Air Forces in India, RAF in India, 8/1943-10/1943: arrival with unit; conversion from Bristol Blenheim to Hawker Hurricane, 8/1943; contracting illness. Recollections of operations as pilot with 194 Sqdn, No 229 Group, 3rd Tactical Air Force, RAF in India and Burma, 11/1943-9/1944: posting to squadron, 11/1943; supply missions to Chindits; opinion of flying Douglas Dakota; problems of carrying mules; coping with terrain and monsoon; problems of using Chindit Aberdeen and White City Landing Zones in Burma, 1944; flying into Imphal and Kohima; near accident on supply run to Kohima. REEL 3 Continues: attitude to Japanese, 1944; reaction to end of tour of duty, 9/1944. Aspects of period as pilot with Communication Sqdn, Base Air Forces South East Asia at New Dehli, India, 9/1944-8/1945: role and duties.