Marshall, Charles William James (Oral history)

British NCO served with 460 (RAAF) Sqdn, No 1 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 10/1943; prisoner of war at Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel and Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg in Germany, 10/1943-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Hampstead, London, GB, 1922-1939: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of period as civilian in London, GB, 1940-1941: aiding rescue services; German bombing of Kenton and Camden Town; German bombing of Colindale Underground Station; listening to broadcasts by William Joyce Lord Haw Haw. Aspects of enlistment and training as flight engineer with Royal Air Force in GB, 7/1942-9/1943: enlistment, 7/1942; basic training at RAF Padgate; training as flight engineer on Avro Lancaster, 1943; crewing up. Aspects of operations as flight engineer with 460 (RAAF) Sqdn, No 1 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 10/1943: joining squadron at RAF Binbrook, 1/10/1943; character of Australian personnel; participation in raid on Munich, Germany, 2/10/1943; monitoring of fuel supply; raid on Stuttgart, Germany, 7/10/1943. Aspects of operation as flight engineer in Avro Lancaster Mk B.III (ED658), 460 (RAAF) Sqdn, No 1 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in which he was shot down during raid on Hanover, Germany, 8/10/1943- 9/10/1943: problems with brakes on take-off. REEL 2 Continues: problems with communicating with mid-upper gunner; attack on aircraft by German night fighters during bomb run; damage sustained by aircraft; his parachute descent; evasion attempt and capture. Aspects of period as prisoner of war Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, Germany, 10/1943: attitude of German civilians towards him as aircrew, 10/1943; attempt by local official to interrogate him; treatment at German Air Force base; behaviour of civilians in Celle; removal to and processing at Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre. REEL 3 Continues: nature of interrogation; contact with defector Warrant Officer Raymond Hughes. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg, Germany, 11/1943-1945: journey from Frankfurt am Main to Mühlberg; haircutting on arrival; seperation of Royal Air Force, Airborne Forces and Special Air Service prisoners of war; living conditions; problems with Red Cross parcel supply after 6/1944; theft of coal supply from French prisoners of war; hiding of Soviet prisoner of war in British compound; plight of Soviet and Italian prisoners of war; abortive escape attempt; discovery of escape tunnel; German commandant's encouragement of camp entertainment; hearing news of D-Day landings, 6/6/1944; guard who volunteered for service in France; how guards tipped off prisoners of war about Schutzstaffel (SS) searches. REEL 4 Continues: memories of prisoner of war celebrities; prisoner of war football matches; German Air Force aircraft which crashed low-level flying over camp; overflights by German Air Force jet aircraft; identity swaps; contact with home; promotion in camp; his friend in camp. Recollections of liberation of Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg, Germany and return to GB, 5/1945: liberation by Soviet cavalry troops; looting of empty houses by prisoners of war; fraternisation with German civilians; temporary arrest by Soviet Army troops; conflict between American and Soviet personnel over prisoner of war cards; delays caused by Soviets over return of prisoners of war to GB; flight to GB, 29/5/1945; processing of former prisoners of war at RAF Dunsfold and RAF Cosford in GB; effects of imprisonment on his stomach; attitude towards Germans; attitude of Soviets to Royal Air Force prisoners of war; behaviour of Soviet Army in Germany, 1945.