Iveson, Thomas Clifford (Oral history)

British NCO served with 616 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940 including Battle of Britain, 1940; served as flying instructor with Empire Training Scheme in Southern Rhodesia, 1941-1943; officer served with 617 Sqdn, RAF during attacks on Tirpitz, Norway, 1944

REEL 1 Background in York, GB, 1919-1938: family and education. Joining Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve, 1938. Flying Blackburn B2's from Brough, 1938- 1939. Reaction to listening to decalaration of Second World War in Royal Station Hotel, Hull, 3/9/1939. Period of training with RAF in GB, 1939-1940: move to Initial Training Wing, Bexhill, autumn 1939; flying Miles masters from RAF Sealand, early 1940. Period as flying instructor with Empire Training Scheme in Southern Rhodesia, 1941-1943: nature of flying conditions; question of support for Britain's war effort; nature of accidents. Recollections of operations with 616 Sqdn during Battle of Britain, 1940: joining unit in RAF Coltishall, summer 1940; move to RAF Kirton Lindsay; contact with German bomber which ended in Iveson ditching in North Sea, 16/9/1940; method of ditching Spitfire in sea; morale of unit; question of qualties needed by fighter pilots; waiting for call to scramble; belief that Britain would win Second World War; attitude towards German Air Force pilots. Story of how taxi-ing accident led to Iveson being sent back to GB, 1943. Journey from Southern Rhodesia to GB, 1943. REEL 2 Continues: Recruitment to Bomber Command, RAF Banff, 8/1943. Recollections of operations with 617 Sqdn, 1944: invitation to join unit; memories of Leonard Cheshire, RAF Woodhall Spa, 6/1944; composition of crew; method of crewing up; contrast in flying Spitfire and Lancaster; reception in received in squadron; daylight attack on U-boat pens in Brest, 6/1944; use of Stabilising Automatic Bomb Sight; attack on Tirpitz launched from Yagodnik Airfield in Russia, 9/1944; second and third attacks on Tirpitz launched from RAF Lossiemouth, 11/1944; problems of getting shot up aircraft back from raid on U-boat pens, Bergen, 1945. REEL 3 Continues: question of superstition among aircrew; opinion of Mustang; nature of squadron operations; morale of unit; competence of squadron aircrews. Period with BOAC in GB, 1945: flying Avro Lancastria from GB to Australia; passengers he piloted.