Barron, Norman Percy Gerald (Oral history)

British student with De Havilland Aircraft Coy Ltd Technical School, Hatfield, GB, 1936-1939; NCO served with 236 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 12/1939-6/1940; NCO and officer served as pilot with 236 Sqdn, No 15 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 7/1940-9/1941; officer served as pilot with 1623 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight, No 19 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 10/1941-7/1942; served with 172 Sqdn, No 19 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 8/1942-6/1943; served with 221 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF on Malta, 6/1943-9/1943

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1919-1936: family; education. Aspects of period as student with De Havilland Aircraft Company Technical School at Hatfield, GB, 1936-1939: pattern of training; aircraft built by students; night-time lectures; emphasis on civil rather than military aircraft. Aspects of period with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in GB, 1/1938-11/1939: joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1/1938; pattern of training; atmosphere in reserve; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; attitude towards Nazi regime in Germany, 9/1939; his choice of twin engined aircraft to train on at No 2 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Brize Norton, 10/1939-12/1939. Recollections of operations as pilot with 236 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 12/1939-6/1940: posting to squadron at RAF Martlesham Heath, 9/12/1939; opinion of Bristol Blenheim Mk.IF; weather conditions, winter, 1939-1940. REEL 2 Continues: fighter escort work over France and Low Countries from RAF Detling; crash landing near RAF Detling; attitude of army personnel towards Royal Air Force after Dunkirk Evacuation; sense of clarity after fall of France; squadron losses and effect on morale; attitude towards Germans. Recollections of operations as pilot with 236 Sqdn, No 15 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 7/1940-9/1941: reaction to transfer to Coastal Command at RAF St Eval, 7/1940; observation of German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Brest, France; escort work in Bay of Biscay and Western Approaches; false report in book 'Men of the Battle of Britain' about his wounding. REEL 3 Continues: end of tour and reaction to being rested, 9/1941. Aspects of period as pilot with 1623 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight, No 19 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 10/1941-7/1942: posting to target towing unit at RAF Roborough, 7/10/1941; problems getting automatic towing equipment; attempt to get posting to flying boat squadron. Aspects of operations as pilot with 172 Sqdn, No 19 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 8/1942-6/1943: use of radar and Leigh Light equipped Vickers Wellington; anti-submarine work in Bay of Biscay; attack on German submarine in Bay of Biscay; anti-aircraft hit on his aircraft fired from German submarine; attitude to flying Vickers Wellington. Aspects of operations as pilot with 221 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF on Malta, 6/1943-9/1943: joining squadron at RAF Luqa, 9/6/1943; anti-submarine patrols off Italian coast; abortive attack on Italian submarine off Sicily, Italy, 8/1943. REEL 4 Continues: need to avoid accidentally attacking British submarines in Mediterranean; abortive attempt to attack Italian seaplane base in Greece; strength of anti-aircraft defences on Malta; question of safety in returning to base with depth charges.