Description
Object description
British officer trained as pilot with Royal Air Force in GB and Canada, 1941-1942; served with 182 and 181 Sqdns, No 124 Wing, No 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB and Normandy, France, 8/1943-8/1944; prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, Sagan and Stalag III-A, Luckenwalde, Germany, 8/1944-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Hawkhurst, GB, 1921-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as civilian in Hawkhurst, GB, 1939-1941: volunteering for Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR), 9/1939; German Air Force attacks on Hawkhurst area including own home; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; deferred service prior to call-up to Royal Air Force 4/1941; sight of London burning from Hawkhurst. Aspects of training with Royal Air Force in GB and Canada, 1941-1942: replacement of tooth fillings for aircrew; discipline at No 8 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Newquay; flying training at No 6 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Sywell; voyage aboard MS Batory from GB to Canada; pattern of training in Canada; reasons why he wanted to be a fighter pilot; question of ease with which he learnt to fly; attitude of Canadian civilians to Royal Air Force personnel; aircraft accident at No 2 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Uplands; eagerness of trainee pilots to get into action; return to GB, 1/1943; reasons for delay in training in GB, 1/1943-3/1943; teething problems with Hawker Typhoon Mk IB at RAF Milfield, 4/1943.
REEL 2 Continues: flying the Hawker Typhoon Mk IB. Recollections of operations as pilot with 182 Sqdn, No 124 Wing, No 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB, 8/1943-4/1944: joining squadron, 8/1943; role of dive- bombing and fighter cover; dive-bombing French airfields; nature of German anti-aircraft fire and lack of fighter opposition; preference for dive-bombing to fighter escort role; degree of success of dive-bombing work; attacks on French railway system. Recollections of operations as pilot with 181 Sqdn, No 124 Wing, No 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB and Normandy, France, 4/1944-8/1944: effect of re-equipping aircraft with rockets; attacks on V weapon sites; attitude to being equipped with rockets, 4/1944; understanding of significance of V weapon targets; attacks on radar installations and German military headquarters in Normandy; preparations for D-Day, 6/6/1944; operations on D-Day, 6/6/1944; use of black and white recognition stripes on aircraft; his reaction to Normandy being choice for landings.
REEL 3 Continues: degree of danger of low-level attacks; move to airfields in Normandy; opinion of spotter aircraft used; air attacks on area around Villiers Bocage; reaction to air attacks on Caen; operations in Falaise Gap, 8/1944; problem of attacking dug in tanks; his shooting down in Hawker Typhoon Mk IB (JP430) and capture, 2/8/1944. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in France, 8/1944 threat by Waffen SS troops to execute him, 2/8/1944; attack on German unit he was captive with by Hawker Typhoons, 2/8/1944.
REEL 4 Continues: Special Air Service prisoner of war who stole German's wallet; US Army Air Force attack on train carrying prisoners of war, 8/1944; story of how his family learned of his fate. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, Sagan and Stalag III-A Luckenwalde, Germany, 8/1944-5/1945 interrogation at Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel; Royal Air Force attacks on Frankfurt-am-Main; life at Stalag Luft III, Sagan; problems of newcomers fitting into camp life; trek westwards away from Soviet Army's advance, 1/1945; arrival at Stalag III-A Luckenwalde; friction between US and Soviet forces over release of prisoners of war; his disarming of German soldiers outside Stalag III-A, Luckenwalde; return to GB, 5/1945 and his relief at getting away from Soviet Army troops.