Large, Ronald Geoffrey (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 161 (Special Duties) Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as pilot with 161 (Special Duties) Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1944-1945: background to posting to squadron; reasons for wanting to join squadron; secrecy surrounding operations at RAF Tempsford; training of Special Operations Executive agents by pilots at STS 61 Gaynes' Hall, St Neots; details of how agents trained; question of efficiency; impressions of agents; amusing encounter with female agent; memories of agent codenamed 'Berger'; importance of moon for operations; description of how to use moon; operational procedure; degree of contact with agents during flight. REEL 2 Continues: reaction of Violette Szabo during turbulent abortive flight to France; degree of knowledge about agents; opinion of agent's courage; degree of concern about fate of agents; age range of RAF pilots; atmosphere in squadron; opinion that most agents took job seriously; attraction to the romance and adventure of secret operations; flying in fog; reaction to reaching target and seeing light signals. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of agent's courage and modesty; opinion of Violette Szabo; piloting aircraft during Special Operations Executive film 'Now It Can Be Told' (1944); radio transmission on approaching GB; reaction of agents on reaching GB; socialising with agents during training at STS 61 Gaynes' Hall, St Neots.