Groocock, Deryck Westley (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 99, 60 and 194 Sqdns, RAF in India and Burma, 9/1942-9/1944

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF 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, Babbercombe; officer training at No 7 Initial Training Wing, RAF, Newquay. Aspects of flying training with Arnold Scheme in US 1941-1942: voyage from GB to US, 1941; flying training with Arnold Scheme in US, 1941 including nature of pilot training, 'hazing' system of discipline and aircraft trained on; hospitality of US civilians to RAF personnel; voyage aboard SS Volendam from US 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 Dusseldorf, 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, RAF in India, 1942-1943: 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, RAF in India, 1943: arrival with unit; conversion from Bristol Blenheim to Hawker Hurricane, 8/1943; contracting illness. Recollections of operations as pilot with 194 Sqdn, 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 airstrips Aberdeen and White City landing zones in Burma; 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 Base Air Forces South East Asia Communications Sqdn at New Dehli, India, 9/1944-8/1945: role and duties.