Foster, Robert William (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 605 Sqdn, Nos 13 and 11 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1940-9/1941 including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; served with 54 Sqdn, No 13 Group, Fighter Command in GB, 4/1942-6/1942; served with 54 Sqdn, RAF, No 1 (RAAF) Wing, Royal Australian Air Force in Australia, 9/1942-2/1944

REEL 1 Background in Battersea, London, GB, 1920-1939: family; joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1/5/1939. Aspects of training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1939-1940: call-up to RAF, 1/9/1939; flying Hawker Hurricane; character of instructions about aerial combat at No 6 Operation Training Unit, RAF at RAF Sutton Bridge. Recollections of operations as pilot with 605 Sqdn, Nos 13 and 11 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1940-9/1941: posting to squadron at RAF Drem, 8/7/1940; squadron personnel; move to RAF Croydon, 6/9/1940; character of first day in action, 9/1940; shooting down of Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Limpsfield, 7/10/1940; forced landing at RAF Gatwick, 10/1940; sharing in destruction of Junkers Ju 88 south of Redhill, 8/10/1940; morale during Battle of Britain; opinion of German Air Force pilots; move to RAF Martlesham Heath, 2/1941; bombing of RAF Martlesham Heath, 3/1941. REEL 2 Continues: move to RAF Tern Hill and reforming of squadron; introduction of Hawker Hurricane Mk II; posting to No 62 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Usworth, 9/1941. Aspects of operations as pilot with 54 Sqdn, No 13 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 4/1942-6/1942: posting to squadron as flight commander at RAF Castletown, 14/4/1942; opinion of Supermarine Spitfire; background to squadron posting to Australia. Recollections of operations as pilot with 54 Sqdn, RAF, No 1 (RAAF) Wing, Royal Australian Air Force in Australia, 9/1942-2/1944: voyage aboard HMT Stirling Castle from GB to Australia, 6/1942-9/1942; arrival in Melbourne and move to Sydney; move to RAAF Nightcliff, near Darwin, 17/1/1943; character of RAAF Nightcliff; organisation of squadron and proposed role; shooting down of Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance aircraft, 6/2/1943; Japanese bombing tactics; comparison between Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc and Mitsubishi A6M Zero; degree of warning of Japanese air raids; successes against Japanese Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty' bombers, 15/3/1943-6/7/1943; attitude towards Japanese; living conditions at RAAF Nightcliff; attitude of Australians towards Royal Air Force personnel.