Hamer, Harry (Oral history)

British NCO served as wireless operator with RAF Sydenham and RAF Long Kesh in Northern Ireland, 1941-1943; served with No 382 Wireless Unit, No 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Greetland, GB, 1920-1939: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939; German bombing in Halifax area. Aspects of enlistment as wireless operator with Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: joining Royal Air Force, 1940; training in Morse Code and wireless telegraphy at RAF Compton Bassett. Recollections of period as wireless operator with RAF Sydenham and RAF Long Kesh in Northern Ireland, 1941-1943: work on wireless watch at RAF Sydenham, 1941; German Air Force raid on Belfast, 1941; move to RAF Long Kesh; work at RAF Long Kesh; flying accidents at RAF Long Kesh. Aspects of period as wireless operator with No 382 Wireless Unit, No 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force in GB, 1943-1944: posting to unit and question of it's name; role of detachment at Eastbourne, autumn 1943; composition of detachment; move to Folkestone; German shelling of Folkestone; crossing English Channel, 6/1944; waterproofing of vehicles, Recollections of operations as wireless operator with No 382 Wireless Unit, No 83 Group 2nd Tactical Air Force in North West Europe, 1944-1945: disembarkation on beaches in Normandy, France; setting up at Bazenville, Normandy, France. REEL 2 Continues: work in Normandy, France; relations with French farmers; unit move into Belgium; liberation of Brussels, Belgium, 9/1944; move to Advanced Landing Ground B-80 at Volkel, Netherlands, 1944-1945; regularity of German V1 Flying Bombs passing overhead at night; attitude towards German V weapons; shooting down of German jet aircraft; cartoon character 'Pilot Officer Prune'; crossing River Rhine at Xanten, Germany; passing through Germany to Osnabrück; relations with Germans in context of non-fraternisation in Schleswig, Germany; reaction to VE Day, 8/5/1945. Aspects of period as NCO with No 382 Wireless Unit, RAF in Germany, 1945-1946: reaction to dropping of atomic bombs, 8/1945; VJ Day activities, 15/8/1945; accident on VE Day at Lüneburg Heath, Germany, 8/5/1945; General Election, 7/1945. REEL 3 Continues: return from Germany to GB, 1/1946. Aspects of demobilisation and return to civilian life from 1946: demobilisation at RAF Stapleford Tawney, 1/1946; setting up of first No 382 Wireless Unit reunion in 1946; importance of friendship in unit; quality of demobilisation clothing; political feeing at the end of Second World War.