Blyth, Jack (Oral history)

British NCO served as observer with 37 Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command RAF in GB and Air Headquarters Egypt, RAF in North Africa, 1940-1941; NCO and officer served as instructor with Training Command, RAF in GB, 1941-1943; officer served as navigator with 21 Sqdn, No 140 Wing, No 2 Bomber Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB, 1944

REEL 1 Background in Goole, GB, 1917-1939: family; employment. Aspects of period with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in GB, 1939: enlistment, 29/4/1939; training as observer; call-up to Royal Air Force, 1/9/1939. Aspects of training as NCO observer with Royal Air Force in GB, 1939-1940: problems learning to navigate in Fokker civil airliners at RAF Prestwick; training in bombing and air gunnery at RAF Evanton, early 1940; operational training at RAF Harwell. Recollections of operations as observer with 37 Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB and Air Headquarters Egypt, RAF in North Africa, 1940-1941: posting to squadron at RAF Feltwell after brief period with 38 Sqdn, RAF; operations over North West Europe; intense cold in Vickers Wellington during operations; arrangements for transfer to Middle East via Malta, 19/11/1940- 20/11/1940; airfields and landing grounds used in Egypt; method of refuelling Vickers Wellington on landing grounds. REEL 2 Continues: method of carrying out attacks in Western Desert, Egypt; targets attacked; lack of Italian Air Force opposition; story of crash landing near Sidi Barrani, Egypt, 12/1940; importance of social activities; Lack of Moral Fibre (LMF) cases; crash landing in Egypt after abortive attack on Rhodes Island, Greece, 2/1941; end of tour at RAF Shallufa, Egypt; voyage from Egypt to GB via South Africa. Aspects of period as instructor with Training Command, RAF in GB, 1941-1943: interview on arrival in GB. REEL 3 Continues: navigational instructional duties; commissioning, 1942. Recollections of operations as navigator with 21 Sqdn, No 140 Wing, No 2 Bomber Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB, 1944: background to posting to squadron at RAF Hunsdon, 1/1944; character of operations; incident when his De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito hit flock of seagulls; switch to night intruder work prior to D-Day; sight of German V1 Flying Bomb attacks at RAF Gravesend, 6/1944; role seeking targets of opportunity in Normandy, France, 6/1944; damage to his aircraft from German anti-aircraft fire over Nantes, France; opinion of Gee navigational aid; low-level attack on German barracks near Poitiers, France to aid French Resistance, summer 1944; later air movements work with Headquarters, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in North West Europe, 1944-1945