Evans, Douglas (Oral history)

British aircraftman served as flight mechanic with No 15 Service Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Kidlington, GB, 1941; trained as pilot with Arnold Scheme in United States of America, 1942; NCO and officer served as pilot with 10 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 8/1943-5/1944; civilian pilot with British South American Airways during Berlin Airlift, 4/1949-8/1949

REEL 1 Background in Fishguard, GB, 1922-1940: family; education; employment; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training as flight mechanic with Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: volunteering for RAF; training as flight mechanic at RAF St Athan. Aspects of period as flight mechanic with No 15 Service Flying Training School, RAF at Kidlington, GB, 1941: posting to RAF Kidlington; attending ground instruction lectures; request to remuster as aircrew. Aspect of flying training with Arnold Scheme in United States of America, 1942: varying standards of American instruction in flying and ground instruction; American honour system of service discipline and demerit system; pattern of flying training; relations with civilians in Georgia. REEL 2 Continues: enduring friendships with civilians in Georgia; return to GB, 1/1943. Recollections of operations as pilot with 10 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 8/1943-5/1944: posting to squadron at RAF Melbourne, 22/8/1943; characteristics of Handley Page Halifax B.Mk II and B.Mk III; method of crewing up at No 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF at RAF Riccall; emblem on aircraft 'F for Freddie'; operating Handley Page Halifax; first operations as second pilot to Mannheim and Munich, Germany, 9/1943; importance of good relations between crew members; importance of weaving aircraft and problems weaving caused navigator; diverting to Norfolk after raid on Hanover, Germany; loss of engine during operation, 10/1943; how navigator accidentally cut his oxygen tube and collapsed on route to operation, 4/10/1943; landing at wrong airfield after operation to Hanover, Germany, 8/10/1943; use of Drem Lights around Royal Air Force airfields; night fighter attack on aircraft after coning by searchlights during raid on Ludwigshafen, Germany, 18/11/1943. REEL 3 Continues: wind problems during raid on Berlin, Germany, 20/1/1944; minelaying operations in Baltic and Bay of Biscay, 2/1944; attacks on French targets, 3/1944; commissioning, 2/12/1944; problems during raid on Nüremberg, Germany, 30/3/1944-31/3/1944; pattern of operations, 3/1944-4/1944; preference for operations over France; atmosphere in briefing room on discovery of identity of target; reaction of crew to completing tour with 32 operations; posting as instructor after completion of tour; question of accuracy of bombing carried out; attitude to hostility shown to erection of memorial to Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of group commander Air Commodore George 'Gus' Walker. Aspects of period as civilian pilot with British South American Airways during Berlin Airlift, 4/1949-8/1949: joining company as pilot flying Avro Tudor; basing of aircraft at RAF Wunstorf; using northern air corridor to RAF Gatow; fuel carried in Avro Tudor; character of airlift; last reporting point; lack of interference by Soviets; lack of contact with civilians in Berlin.