Neilson, Ian Godfrey (Oral history)

British officer served with 127th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1939-1940; served as pilot with 651 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1942; served with 652 Sqdn, RAF in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1944; served with Air Despatch at Bad Oeynhausen in Germany, 1945; commanded No 3 War Crime Investigation Unit in Germany, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Glasgow, GB, 1918-1939: family; education; membership of Territorial Army. Aspects of officer with 127th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1939-1940: background to joining regiment, 12/1939; composition of regiment; attending air co-operation course at Larkhill Camp. Aspects of training as pilot with Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: training as pilot at No 8 Elementary Flying School, RAF at RAF Woodley; difference between field and medium artillery; opinion of Miles Magister; reasons for return to unit; air co-operation training at RAF Knighton Down. Aspects of period as pilot with 651 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 8/1941-5/1942: formation of Air Observation Post sqaudron at RAF Old Sarum, 1/8/1941; accommodation at Sherbourne; role of squadron in highlighting role of Air Observation Post squadrons; move to Wimborne Minster. Aspects of period as pilot with 652 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 5/1942-6/1944: communication and photographic work; contrast in spotting techniques between British Army and Royal Navy; spotting techniques; accuracy of naval gunnery; spotting duties with Royal Navy. REEL 2 Continues: training with Combined Operations at Dalcross; characteristics of Taylorcraft Auster Mk III; flying training from aircraft carriers HMS Argus and HMS Ravager. Recollections of operations as pilot with 652 Sqdn, RAF in North West Europe, 6/1944-5/1945: landing on Gold Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944; search for suitable landing field; organisation of landing field near Plumetot, Normandy, France; burial of officers by artillery fire; arrival of aircraft; spotting operations in support of 3rd Infantry Div; interference from German Air Force fighters and anti-aircraft fire; protection of aircraft from German artillery shelling; reasons for not wearing parachutes; problems of night flying; impact of HMS Rodney's shells; move out of Normandy Bridgehead; posting to staff job at Brussels, Belgium; sight from air of crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period with Air Despatch, Royal Air Force at Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, 1945: ensuring delivery of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's newspapers; involvement in early helicopter training. Aspects of period commanding No 3 War Crime Investigation Unit in Germany, 1945-1946: background to taking command of unit; role of unit in hunting war criminals; origins of ex-Intelligence Corps personnel; attempt to follow up reports on Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp; provision of information for legal process; use of American index at Versailles, France; question of late formation of war crime investigation units; demobilisation and return civilian life, 1946. Reflections on military service: attitude to flying with Air Observation Post squadrons during Second World War; story of flying through balloon barrage after fatal crash of colleague; question of suitability of Westland Lysander for army co-operation work.