Interview with Douglas James Edwards

British NCO served as bomb aimer with 103 and 166 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1942-1943; prisoner of war in Stalag IV B, Germany, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Brynmar, GB, 1922-1939: family; education; employment as farmer; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 9/1941-7/1943: volunteering for aircrew with Royal Air Force, 9/1941; remustering from flying training to bomb aimer; German Air Force fighter bomber attack on No 3 Initial Training Wing St Leonards-on-Sea, 9/1942; reaction to volunteers to delay in training; bomb aimer training at No 1 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF at RAF Wigtown; proneness of Blackburn Botha to accidents; bomb aimer training; discipline in Royal Air Force, 1942-1943; crewing up in RAF Lindholme, 1943; preference for Avro Lancaster over Handley Page Halifax; attitude to prospect of active service, 7/1943. Recollections of operations as bomb aimer with 103 Sqdn, No 1 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 8/1943-9/1943: star of operations from RAF Elsham Wolds, 9/8/1943; dressing and preparation for operations; pills taken on longer operations; temptation to sleep on long operations; realisation of odds against survival and crew morale; attitude of local civilians to Royal Air Force aircrews; security over raids. REEL 2 Continues: operation to Milan, Italy, 12/8/1943; raid on Peenemünde, Germany, 17/8/1943-18/8/1943; operation to Leverkusen, Germany, 22/8/1943; three raids on Berlin, Germany, 8/1943-9/1943; address to air crews by Air Marshall Sir Arthur Harris, 8/1943. Recollections of operations as bomb aimer with 166 Sqdn, No 1 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 9/1943- 11/1943: move to RAF Kirmington, 22/9/1943; problem with peto-head heater during operation to Hanover, Germany, 27/9/1943; resulting ear problems he received from faulty peto-head heater, 10/1943; shooting down of his Avro Lancaster B Mk.III (DV247) AF-F by German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 110 night fighter during raid on Berlin at Emlichheim, Germany, 26/11/1943; wounding in hand and thigh; plight of crew in stricken aircraft, 26/11/1943; bailing out; attempt to evade capture; nature of wounds; capture and treatment by German civilians. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Lazarett VI-C, Lingen, Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel and Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg in Germany, 11/1943-5/1945: move to Lazarett VI-C, Lingen; treatment by French surgeons; journey to Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel, 1/1944; interrogation methods used in Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel; arrival at Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg; treatment in camp hospital for leg wound, 1/1944-7/1944; plans to escape from work party in Leipzig; story of prisoners of war derailing train and being threatened with execution; foraging for food; effect of Allied air raids; foraging for food after arrival of Soviet Army troops; fraternisation with Soviet Army troops. Aspects of journey from Germany to GB via France, 5/1945: insisting to Soviets that he should be allowed to cross to American lines; journey from central Germany to France. REEL 4 Continues: journey to Oxfordshire, GB via Versailles and Le Havre, France on VE Day, 8/5/1945; reception at RAF Cosford. Reflections on period as prisoner of war in Germany, 11/1943-5/1945: poor rations; conditions of Soviet prisoners of war without access to Red Cross parcels; cubes of cow udder soup; treatment of prisoners of war by Germans; camp ablution facilities; suffering from cold; baiting German guard; searches for illicit prisoners of war radios; sabotaging rollcalls; opinion of Soviet Army troops in Germany, 4/1945-5/1945; long-term effects of wounds; attitude to having served in Second World War; reasons for choosing career as teacher; reaction to criticism of Bomber Command.