Description
Object description
Australian officer served with Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force in Australia, 1942-1943; served with 455 (RAAF) Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Sydney, Australia, 1920-1939: education; sporting activities. Aspects of enlistment and training with Australian Army and Royal Australia Air Force in Australia, 1942-1943: training; application to join Royal Australian Air Force; induction and selection for pilot training with Royal Australian Air Force in Australia. Recollections of operations as pilot with 455 (RAAF) Sqdn, No 18 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1944-1945: arrival in GB, 1/1/1944; division of aircrew; joining squadron in Scotland; composition and role of squadron attacking targets in Norway; voyage to GB and role of looking after Australian war brides travelling to United States of America, 1943; reasons for choosing to operate Bristol Beaufighter; attending general reconnaissance course; sight of friend's aircraft crashing into sea; post-war trip to Norway; targets in Norway; presence of German Air Force fighters; question of keeping of score of targets; effect of firing hard nosed rockets on Bristol Beaufighter; question of Allied losses and German defences; story of post-war visit to dead friend's parents in Australia; effects of prior hospitalisation in Australia; sight of shipwrecks after leaving Sydney, Australia to GB, 1943; arrival in GB, 1/1/1944, including leave in London, posting to and reception in Brighton, selection for Royal Australian Air Force Cricket Team and experiencing of German V1 Flying Bomb attacks whilst playing at Lords Cricket Ground, London, summer 1944; characteristics of Bristol Beaufighter; question of number of operations flown against targets; German anti-aircraft defences; description of daylight operations; area of squadron operations; story of low-level flying; question of personal morale; qualities of Bristol Beaufighter; reliance on instruments; squadron casualties; story of consequences of flying over Newmarket Racecourse on last day of war, 7/5/1945.
REEL 2 Continues: VE day celebrations, 8/5/1945; relations with locals; question of Australian aircrew relations with Polish aircrew. Recollection of participation in service Victory Cricket Test matches in GB and India, 1945: story of Indian demonstrators disrupting match whilst bowling against English cricketer Denis Compton, India, 1945; question of Australian service cricket teams becoming targets to protesters; return to Australia; question of fitness problems; reunion with parents; return to law course in Australia. Aspects of operations as pilot with 455 (RAAF) Sqdn, No 18 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1944-1945: runway clearance duties in Scotland; relations with members of Bomber Command; story of award of George Medal to Group Captain Jack Davenport. Aspects of post-war employment in Australian Trade Commission Service; story of meeting German consul general in South Africa; postings; story of trip to Norway.