Magrath, William John Quirke (Oral history)

Irish NCO served as observer with 64 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1/1940-4/1940; served with 82 Sqdn, No 2 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 5/1940-8/1940; prisoner of war in Germany, 1940-1941; escaped from repatriation camp Heilag Rouen in Rouen, France to GB via Spain, 1941-1942

REEL 1 Background in Ireland, 1920-1938: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1938-1939: reasons for joining Royal Air Force, 1938; character of observer and gunnery training course at RAF Stormy Down, 1939; opinion of Royal Air Force training, 1939; memories of German Air Force attack on Norwich. Aspects of operations as navigator with 64 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1/1940-4/1940: joining unit at RAF Church Fenton; lack of readiness for operations, 1/1940; navigation equipment in Bristol Blenheim Mk.IF; character of operations. Recollections of operations as NCO navigator with 82 Sqdn, No 2 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 5/1940- 8/1940: joining squadron at RAF Watton, 5/1940; memories of commanding officer Wing Commander Percy 'Paddy' Bernard The Earl of Bandon; nature of briefings; relations with his officer pilot; orders not to attack unless half cloud cover; ease of bombing target on first operation against power station at Cherbourg, France; arrival of new commanding officer Wing Commander Edward Lart; problem of length of time taken to change ammunition in Bristol Blenheim. REEL 2 Continues: rate of casualties; Wing Commander Edward Lart's insistence on pattern bombing from 20,000 feet; problems with height altitude bombing over Netherlands; Denmark, 13/8/1940: objectives of raid on Aalborg Airfield; premonitions about his comrades being shot down; shooting down of his aircraft and crash landing in Limfjord; rescue by Danish civilians. Recollections of period of hospitalisation as prisoner of war in Germany, 1940-1941: German NCO's reaction to his rank; nature of wounds and treatment he received; operation on his arm at Neumünster; suffering from lice under his plaster; his hospital experiences in Schleswig-Holstein. REEL 3 Continues: convalescent period in hospital at Schildberg near Posen; abortive attempt to escape from Schildberg, Posen, 2/1941; removal to Stalag Luft I, Barth; high morale at Stalag Luft I; knowledge of conditions in Germany gained from trips to local hospital. Recollections of escape from Heilag Rouen, Rouen, France to GB via Spain, 11/1941-3/1942: reasons for escaping from Heilag Rouen repatriation camp at Rouen, France, 21/11/1941; escape plan; journey to Elbeuf, France; aid from French priest; train journey to Paris, France; aid received from prostitute in Paris, France; request for help from Red Cross in Paris, France; aid given by Irish monk acting as British agent. REEL 4 Continues: escape line to Marseille, France; monetary offer made to Spanish smugglers at Carcassonne to cross into Spain; arrival in Barcelona, Spain; visit to British consul; feting by American consul; crossing into Gibraltar, 2/1942; lecture tour given on escaping techniques to Royal Air Force stations on return to GB, 3/1942-9/1942.