Kup, Edith Mary (Oral history)

British aircraftwoman served as plotter with Women's Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Debden GB, 11/1939-9/1941; intelligence officer served with 405 (RCAF) Sqdn, RAF and with Headquarters, No 92 (Operational Training) Group, RAF in GB, 10/1941-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1918-1939: family; education; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 9/1939-11/1939: enlistment in Women's Auxiliary Air Force, 9/1939; training at RAF Yeadon; relations between Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel. Recollections of period as section officer at RAF Debden, GB, 11/1939-1941: journey to station and initial impressions; training as Motor Transport (MT) driver; attitude of male personnel towards Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel; social life; training to be a radar plotter; plotting duties; duties at time of Dunkirk Evacuation, 6/1940; memories of pilots, Harold Bird-Wilson and Peter Townsend; increase of work during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; listening to voices of pilots during combat; German air raid on RAF Debden. REEL 2 Continues: belief that GB would win Battle of Britain; memories of fiancé Pilot Officer Denis Wissler; death of fiancé Pilot Officer Denis Wissler in action, 11/11/1940; other Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel who lost fiancés; bombing of house; discipline; reaction of Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel to German bombing raids; attitude towards pilot charged with Lack of Moral Fibre (LMF); returning to Motor Transport (MT) duties; officer training at Officer Training School, Women's Auxiliary Air Force, RAF at Loughborough, GB, 9/1941. Recollections of period as intelligence officer with 405 (RCAF) Sqdn, RAF at RAF Pocklington, GB, 1941-1942: duties; condition of crews on return from operations; story of pilot who fired gun at commanding officer. REEL 3 Continues: flying against the rules with air crews; attempts of air crew to make her air sick; Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel who went on operations against the rules; contrast between fighter and bomber pilots; position as 'Queen of Navigators'. Aspects of period as intelligence officer with Headquarters, No 92 (Operational Training) Group, RAF in GB, 1943-1945: posting to RAF Bourne; story of visiting a medium who gave her details of Pilot Officer Denis Wissler's death; duties debriefing De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito aircrew operating Oboe navigational aid; memories of D-Day, 6/6/1944; behaviour of American airmen in Cambridge; opinion of United States Army Air Force personnel; reprimanding two American airmen who behaved badly in mess; memories of VE Day, 8/5/1945.