Higginson, Frederick William (Oral history)

British NCO served as pilot with 56 Sqdn, RAF in GB and France, 1937-1940 including Battle of Britain; officer served with 56 Sqdn, RAF evaded capture in France and escaped to GB, 1941; served with Engine Handling School at D Napier Ltd in GB, 1942-1943; served with 83 Group, RAF in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Swansea, 1913-1929: family; education. Aspects of period with RAF in GB, 1929-1937: period as apprentice metal rigger at RAF Halton, 1929-1931; memories of T E Lawrence at RAF Worthy Down c 1932; inadequacy of pre-war bombers; selection for sergeant pilot's course at RAF Sealand c1935; forced landing in which he killed sheep at RAF Duxford. Aspects of period as NCO with 56 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1937-1939: operating from RAF North Weald; flying the Gloster Gladiator; importance of unit museum; preparations to move family during Munich Crisis, 1938; use of his personal car as 'squadron car'; re-equipping with Hawker Hurricane, 6/1938; landing using glim lamps, 6/1939; appearance of variable pitch air screw, 8/1939. Recollections of operations as NCO with 56 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1939-1940: preference for Hawker Hurricane to Supermarine Spitfire for warfare; convoy protection work, winter 1939-1940. REEL 2 Continues: problems ships had in aircraft recognition; move to RAF Gravesend, 10/5/1940. Recollections of operations as NCO with B Flight, 56 Sqdn, RAF during Battle of France, 5/1940-6/1940: move to Vitry; failure to shoot down Fieseler Storch east of Brussels, 17/5/1940; shooting down of Dornier 215, 17/5/1940 and Heinkel 111, 19/5/1940; attack by German fighters whilst taking off at Vitry, 19/5/1940; attempts to destroy equipment and fuel at Vitry; evacuation of Norreat Fontes to GB, 5/1940; patrolling over Dunkirk; tactics employed over Dunkirk; opinion of army complaints about RAF role over Dunkirk, 5/1940-6/1940; opinion of operating as wing with 151 Sqdn; escorting Bristol Blenheims over France, 6/1940. Recollections of operations as NCO with 56 Sqdn, RAF during Battle of Britain, 1940: shooting down of Dornier, 15/7/1940; award of Distinguished Flying Medal, 23/7/1940; his method of attacking aircraft from underneath; escorting damaged destroyer in English Channel, 1/8/1940; shooting down Dornier, 12/8/1940. REEL 3 Continues: crash landing his aircraft after destruction of Dornier 17 over Whitstable; shooting down of Dornier 215, 18/8/1940; shooting down Messerschmitt 110, 25/8/1940 and Messerschmitt 109 at Herne Bay, 26/8/1940; damage to his aircraft during German attack on Luton, 30/8/1940; destruction of Messerschmitt 109 near Colchester, 31/8/1940; problems engaging Germans during Battle of Britain; commissioning, 9/1940; destruction of Dornier 17, 14/8/1940; two kills during German raid on Weymouth, 30/9/1940. Aspects of operations as officer with 56 Sqdn, 1940-1941: re-equipping at RAF Middle Wallop, 11/1940; bomber escort and convoy protection duties, spring 1941. Recollections of shooting down and evading capture in France, 1941: bailing out of his damaged aircraft near Lille, 17/6/1941; aid from French civilians in move from Abbeville to Paris. REEL 4 Continues: problems in hiding false papers in toilet; encounter with German officer and sergeant on border between Occupied and Unoccupied zones of France; train to Marseilles; accommodation in Marseilles; meeting with Pat O'Leary who ran escape line; how his wife received a message that he was not a prisoner; imprisonment in police station at Banyals sur Mer; imprisonment in Montpellier and Perpignan Prisons; move to internment camp at St Hippolyte-du-Fort; move to Fort de la Revere; organising escape team and method of escape from Fort de la Revere; his escape from Fort de la Revere, summer 1941. REEL 5 Continues: aid received from Miss Eva Trenchard's staff of Scotch Teahouse in Monte Carlo; move to Canet Plage; escape by boat from Canet Plage to Gibraltar; imprisonment in Scotland prior to debriefing, autumn 1941; refusal of RAF to send him to front-line squadron. Story of setting up Engine Handling School at D Napier Ltd engine works. Aspects of period as officer with 83 Group, RAF in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945: formation of unit at RAF Thorney Island and RAF Redhill; flying Fieseler Storch with British markings to Normandy, 6/1944; role of unit in North West Europe. Attitude to serving with RAF in Battle of Britain. Attitude towards Germans. Memories of Pat O'Leary.