Morton, Robert Alexander 'Butch' (Oral history)

British NCO served as pilot with 74 and 616 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1940-1941; POW in Stalag IX C, Bad Sulza and Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Stalag Luft VI, Heydekrug and Stalag 357, Fallingbostel, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in Blackpool, London and Hull, 1920- 1940: family; education; early interest in flying from 1929 including flights; spectacle flying in Alan Cobham's Flying Circus; apprenticeship at Blackburn Aircraft Company Factory at Brough, late 1930s; character of Blackburn B2; joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 8/1939. Aspects of pilot training with RAF in GB, 1939-1940: initial training at St Leonards, 9/1939; flying training at Brough, 4/1940-5/1940; prevalence of cribbing at Cranwell, summer 1940; night flying at Cranwell on Hawker Harts and Hawker Hinds at Cranwell, 7/1940; conversion to Supermarine Spitfires at RAF Hawarden; opinion of Supermarine Spitfire. Aspects of operations as pilot with 74 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 10/1940-11/1940: reaction to posting to RAF Biggin Hill; frustration at not becoming an operational pilot. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 616 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940-1941: posting to RAF Kirton in Lindsay; development of formation flying skills; transfer to RAF Tangmere; opinion of Douglas Bader; orders to test first Supermarine Spitfire VB; shooting up of his aircraft during sweeps over France; how German fighter pilot refrained from shooting him down; first dog fight with Messerschmitt Bf109s; shooting down of his aircraft over France, 9/7/1941; Douglas Bader's leadership qualities; objectives of sweeps over France, 1940-1941. Recollections of period as POW in France and Germany, 1941-1945: capture by German troops, 9/7/1941; interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel; transfer to Stalag IX C, Bad Sulza; entertainment in camp; transfer to Stalag Luft III, Sagan; skill of lumberjack POW in splitting tree stump. REEL 3 Continues: fragility of three tier bunks at Stalag IX C; organisation of POW 'combines'; Department of Written Music to supply musicians with their scores; transfer to Stalag Luft VI, Heydekrug; use of star-trap when performing as genie in pantomime; German closing down of theatre during rehearsals for Mikado; reasons for burning down of camp theatre; opinion of camp leader James 'Dixie' Deans; transfer to Stalag 357, Fallingbostel; punishment for stealing wood at Stalag 357; escape attempt from Stalag Luft III, Sagan, 1943; attitude to solitary confinement; escape tunnel at Stalag IX C; etiquette in latrines; treatment of homosexuals; march out of Stalag 357, Fallingbostel, 1945; RAF Hawker Typhoon attack on POW column and 'Dixie' Deans' reaction. REEL 4 Continues: liberation of POWs by US troops; arrangements for return of POWs to GB via Brussels. Question of attitude towards Germans.