Murray, Thomas Charles (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 49 Sqdn, No 5 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 10/1939-9/1940; served with 207 Sqdn, No 5 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 4/1941-6/1942; commanded 138 (Special Duties) Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 11/1944-8/1945

REEL 1: Background in Blandford Forum, GB, 1918-1937: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1937-1939: enlistment, 1937; training course at Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, 1937-1938. Recollections of operations as pilot with 49 Sqdn, No 5 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 10/1939-9/1940: joining squadron at RAF Scampton, 10/1939; squadron morale; flying the Handley Page Hampden; first operation leaflet dropping over Germany, 11/1939; hunt for German pocket battleship off coast of Norway; navigation problems during return from Norway to GB and narrow escape flying over Oslofjord, Norway, 5/1940; comrade's bailing out and reaction of fisherman; attacks on Berlin, Germany, 8/1940; mine-laying operations in Little Belt off Denmark, 4/1940. REEL 2 Continues: log book details of squadron operations, 4/1940-7/1940; operations against Dortmund-Ems Canal, Germany, 7/1940; mining of Lorient Harbour, France, 22/8/1940; attacks on Berlin, Germany, 8/1940; question of Lack of Moral Fibre (LMF) cases in Royal Air Force; story of subordinate's refusal to fight. Recollections of operations as pilot with 207 Sqdn, No 5 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 4/1941-6/1942: joining squadron at RAF Waddington, 4/1941; flying Avro Manchester; tests for engine problems in Avro Manchester, 4/1941; intent to go down with aircraft and use of revolver as mercy killing for himself; log book details of his targets, 1941; dangers of attacking the Ruhr, Germany; tactics as squadron commander in flying aircraft either side of searchlight cones in the Ruhr, Germany. REEL 3 Continues: attempts to escape coning during attack on Krupp factory at Essen, Germany; background to squadron's abandonment of Avro Manchester and return to Handley Page Hampden, 7/1941; prototype flying on Avro Lancasters, 1/1942; failure to attack Scharnhorst and Gneisenau because of mechanical failure, 2/1942; start of operations using Avro Lancaster, 5/1942; flying the Avro Lancaster. Recollections of operations commanding 138 (Special Duties) Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 11/1944-8/1945: taking command of squadron at RAF Tempsford, 8/11/1944; role of 161 and 138 Sqdns in Secret Intelligence Services (SIS) and Special Operations Executive operations; Air Marshal Arthur Harris' request for 138 Sqdn to be returned to Main Force, Bomber Command operations; low morale and high casualties in 138 Sqdn on arrival; orders to keep below 400 feet over Denmark; outmanoeuvering Focke-Wulf Fw 190s in Short Stirlings; effects on losses and morale; decision not to circle directly over dropping zones, effects on losses on ground; container drops; problems finding dropping zones; dropping supplies to lights of Danish farmer breaking blackout; stopping contact between agents and aircrew at parties at STS 61, Gaynes' Hall near RAF Tempsford for security reasons; contact with Special Operations Executive agents at parties at STS 61, Gaynes' Hall. REEL 4: Continues: impressions of female radio operator met at party; preference for special duties over operational bombing; opinion of efficiency and organisation of Special Operations Executive operations; log book details of operations to Scandinavia, 11/1944-2/1945; conversion to Avro Lancasters for bombing operations and 138 Sqdn rejoining Main Force at RAF Tuddenham, 3/1945; contact with Air Marshal Arthur Harris and aspects of work at Headquarters, Bomber Command, High Wycombe, 1943-1944; carrying of carrier pigeons in Bomber Command and Special Duty Squadron aircraft.