Groocock, Deryck Westley (Oral history)

British officer trained as pilot in GB and with Arnold Scheme in US, 1941-1942 including participation in thousand bomber raid on Düsseldorf, 1942; served with 99, 60 and 194 Sqdns, RAF in Burma and India, 1942-1944.

REEL 1 Reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Reasons for joining RAF, 1940. Period on ground defence duties at RAF Yeadon, 1940-1941. Period of training with RAF in GB, 1941: move to Initial Training Wing at Babbercombe; move to Officer Training Unit at Newquay. Voyage from GB to US, 1941. Period of pilot training with Arnold Scheme in US, 1941: nature of pilot training; 'hazing' system of discipline; aircraft trained on; hospitality of US civilians to RAF personnel. Voyage from US to GB aboard Vollendam, 1/1942 including abortive torpedo attack on ship. Period of operational training at RAF Harwell, 1942: conversion onto Vickers Wellington; participation on thousand bomber raid on Duesseldorf, summer 1942; crewing up; opinion of flying Vickers Wellington. Ferry flight from GB to Cairo, Egypt, 9/1942. Recollections of operations with 99 Sqdn in Burma and India, 1942-1943: joining squadron in Assam; 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 Pandarveswar. Period of converting to Bristol Blenheims at Peshwar, 1943 including accident he had on airfield. Period with 60 Sqdn in India 1943: arrival with unit; conversion from Bristol Blenheims to Hawker Hurricanes, 8/1943; contracting illness. Recollections of operations with 194 Sqdn in 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 airstrips Aberdeen and White City; 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. Period with Base Air Forces South East Asia Communications Sqdn at New Dehli, 1944- 1945 including role and duties.