Warmington, Edwin John (Oral history)

British NCO served as observer with 107 Sqdn, RAF, No 2 Group, Bomber Command in GB, 7/1941-8/1941; served with 107 Sqdn, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 8/1941-12/1941; served as instructor with No 17 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Upwood in GB, 1942-1944; officer served as navigator with 635 Sqdn, No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 4/1944-6/1944; evaded capture in France, 6/1944; prisoner of war in France, 6/1944-7/1944 and in Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel and Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany, 7/1944-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Indian Queens, GB and United States, 1920-1939: family; education; listening to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB and Canada, 5/1940-7/1941: volunteering for Royal Air Force, 5/1940; selection for aircrew; training as air observer in GB, 1940; voyage aboard HMT Duchess of Richmond from GB to Canada; reception from Canadian civilians; training under the Empire Air Training Scheme; keenness to get onto operations; voyage aboard aboard HMT Georgic from Canada to GB, 4/1941; crewing up at No 13 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Bicester; flying in Bristol Blenheim, 6/1941. Aspects of operations as navigator with 107 Sqdn, No 2 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 7/1941-8/1941: joining squadron at RAF Great Massingham, 1/7/1941; first anti-shipping operation; conduct of anti-shipping sweeps; character of 'Blenheim Spectacular' attack on power stations in Cologne area, Germany, 8/1941. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of operations as navigator with No 107 Sqdn, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 8/1941-12/1941: in transit from GB to Malta, 8/1941; basing of squadron at RAF Luqa, Malta; dangers of anti-shipping strikes at low-level; damage to aircraft from premature detonation of bomb during raid on sulphur works at Licata, Sicily, Italy, 30/8/1941; crash landing on return from raid and his subsequent hospitalisation; memories of Squadron Leader Ivor Broom; leaving Malta and return to GB, 12/1941. Recollections of period as instructor with No 17 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Upwood in GB, 1942-1943: posting as screened instructor; communicating bombing techniques to pupils; German Air Force attacks RAF Upwood, 1942; prior recollection of German Air Force attack on RAF West Raynham, 6/1940. REEL 3 Continues: prior recollections of German Air Force raid on RAF St Mawgan and subsequent bombing of Foxholes, 4/1941; move from RAF Upwood to RAF Silverstone; work training crews for heavy night bombing; wearing of observer's brevet; narrow escape from Vickers Wellington crash. Recollections of operations as navigator with 635 Sqdn, No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 4/1944-6/1944: use of H2S and H2X radar; conversion courses at RAF Stradishall and RAF Warboys, 2/1944-3/1944; joining squadron at RAF Downham Market, 11/4/1944; work as navigator; briefing for D-Day, 5/6/1944; bombing of coastal batteries in Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944. REEL 4 Continues: anti-aircraft hit on his aircraft during raid on railway yards at Nantes, France, 12/6/1944; calm in aircraft after hit by anti-aircraft fire, 12/6/1944; problems crew had bailing out of aircraft; how stricken aircraft was flown back to GB, 12/6/1944; parachute descent, 12/6/1944. Aspects of period evading capture in France, 12/6/1944-28/6/1944: landing at Brains, France, 12/6/1944; aid received from Thomas family; risks taken by Thomas family; making contact with French Resistance, 23/6/1944. REEL 5 Continues: crossing river to meet with resistance contact; joining French Resistance group in forest at Saffre, 24/6/1944; aiding resistance group; how resistance had received a secret message ' The Suez Canal is on Fire' on the eve of D-Day, 5/6/1944; how Jedburgh Team of Special Operations Executive ordered the resistance group to disperse, 27/6/1944; capture by Germans, 28/6/1944. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in France, 6/1944-7/1944: initial treatment by German captors; German transporting prisoners of war and French Resistance workers to Gestapo headquarters; return to forest; destruction of resistance group, 28/6/1944; German shooting of wounded resistance members; transfer to Nantes Prison; German executions of French Resistance members in Nantes Prison, 29/6/1944. REEL 6 Continues: numbers of resistance members killed by the Germans; transfer to Angers, 30/6/1944; his sentencing to death at Gestapo Headquarters in Angers; Gestapo disbelief in his claim to have been shot down; transfer to German Air Force custody, 6/7/1944; German treatment of American pilot who he was captured with him. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel and Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany, 7/1944-5/1945: train journey across France to Germany; interrogation at Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, 17/7/1944; move to Stalag Luft I, Barth, 24/7/1944; shortage of rations; treatment for appendicitis, 8/1944-9/1944; American prisoner of war's night-time call; how prisoners of war were held by Soviets until Russians who had fought for Germans were handed back to them, 5/1945.