Tudor, Frank Joseph (Oral history)

British NCO served as wireless operator with 10 Operational Training Unit attached to Coastal Command in GB, 1942-1943; served with 158 and 35 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1943- 1944; POW in Dulag Luft, Oberursel, Stalag Luft VII, Bankau and Stalag III A, Luckenwalde, Germany, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Birkenhead, GB, 1940-1942: family; education; German Air Force bombing of Birkenhead, 1940. Aspects of enlistment and training as wireless operator/air gunner with RAF in GB, 1940-1942: enlistment, 10/1940; pattern of training, 1940-1941; accidental posting to RAF Crosby on Eden, 4/1942; air gunnery training at RAF Pembrey; first crewing up at RAF Bicester, 7/1942 including details of pilot Daniel Everett; crewing up for flying Armstrong Whitworth Whitley at RAF Honeybourne, autumn, 1942; flying in Bristol Blenheim and Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. Aspects of operations as wireless operator with 10 Operational Training Unit attached to Coastal Command in GB, 11/1942- 1/1943: posting to unit at RAF St Eval; pigeons carried aboard aircraft; attack on German U-boat in Bay of Biscay, 21/12/1942. Aspects of period with Heavy Conversion Unit with 4 Group, RAF in GB, 1943: transfer to heavy conversion unit at RAF Marston Moor; opinion of Handley Page Halifax; attitude to going onto bomber operations. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as wireless operator with 158 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943: posting to squadron at RAF Lissett, 4/1943; explanation of chandelier target indicator; briefings; wireless operators role in aircraft; preparations for take off; security danger of testing wirelesses prior to raids; maintaining radio silence during raid; intercom talk in aircraft; dropping Window; dropping bombs on target; attitude of crew on flight back; de- briefing on return; attempt to sleep after raid; origin of Pathfinder Force; his transmitting work with Pathfinder Force; abortive operation to Duisburg, 12/5/1943. REEL 3 Continues: attitude to participating in operations to the Ruhr; selection for Pathfinders Force. Aspects of operations as wireless operator with 35 Sqdn, Pathfinders Force, 8 Group, RAF in GB, 1944: posting to squadron at RAF Graveley, 6/1943; night fighter attack on his aircraft over Berlin, Germany, 23/8/1943; attitude to being in Pathfinders Force; opinion of Avro Lancaster; shooting down of his aircraft after raid on Dortmund, Germany, 22/5/1944; bailing out over Tilburg, Netherlands, 22/5/1944. Aspects of period as POW in Netherlands and Germany, 1944: capture by Germans after attempt to take refuge with Dutch farmers, 22/5/1944; medical treatment in convent; treatment in German Air Force hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands; interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel; suspicions of him because there was an extra man in his aircraft on 22/5/1944. REEL 4 Continues: reasons why Germans knew so much personal information. Aspects of period as POW in Stalag Luft VII, Bankau and Stalag III A, Luckenwalde, 1944-1945: move to Stalag Luft VII, Bankau; transfer to Stalag III A, Luckenwalde; liberation by Russians; impressions of Russians; escape to Allied lines, 5/1945; return to GB via Brussels, Belgium. Attitude to having served with RAF in Second World War. Reasons for re-joining RAF in 1947. Psychological effects of being shot down. Opinion of Donald Bennett, head of Pathfinders Force.