Interview with John Tilston

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Sound: © IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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Description

Object description

British NCO served as pilot with 118 and 66 Sqdns, No 10 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 5/1942-10/1942; served with 601 Sqdn, No 244 Wing, Desert Air Force, RAF in North Africa and Italy, 2/1943-3/1944

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Hoylake, GB, 1921-1939: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and service with Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: enlistment in Royal Air Force, 9/1940; role as instructor in GB, 1941. Recollections of operations as pilot with 118 and 66 Sqdns No 10 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 5/1942-10/1942: joining 118 Sqdn, RAF, 12/5/1942; initial night operation; joining 66 Sqdn, RAF, 13/6/1942; role during Operation Jubilee, the raid on Dieppe, France, 8/1942; flying Supermarine Spitfire Mk V; character of operations over Northern France; attitude to German Air Force fighter opposition. Recollections of journey from GB to Egypt, 1942: voyage from GB to Takoradi, Gold Coast; flight from Takoradi, Gold Coast to Egypt, 11/1942; testing aircraft at RAF El Ballah, 12/1942-1/1943. Recollections of operations as pilot with 601 Sqdn, No 244 Wing, Desert Air Force, Northwest African Tactical Air Force in North Africa, 2/1943-4/1943: joining squadron at Castel Benito Airfield, Libya, 11/2/1943; living conditions at Castel Benito, Libya; contrast between Supermarine Spitfire Mk V and Mk VIII; air defence work; incident of being shot down on first operation by German Air Force pilot Heinrich Bar, 5/3/1943. REEL 2 Continues: explanation of terms used by Royal Air Force aircrew; operating over Gabès, Tunisia, 3/1943; German anti-aircraft fire at Gabès, Tunisia, 28/3/1943; encounter with Italian Air Force; contracting malaria, 5/1943. Recollections of operations as pilot with 601 Sqdn, No 244 Wing, Desert Air Force in Italy, 7/1943-3/1944: role of squadron during Sicilian Campaign, 7/1943-8/1943; start of operations over Italy, 9/1943; problems of operating from Termoli Airfield; character of operations over Anzio, 1/1944-2/1944; reaction to end of tour of duty, 3/1944. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as instructor at RAF Ismailia, Egypt, 1944-1945: duties; wish to return to a front line squadron; use of clubs in Ismailia. Aspects of period testing aircraft in India, 1945-1946: arrival in India, 4/3/1945; period at RAF Drigh Road, Karachi, 3/1945-2/1946; opinion of flying North American Mustang and Republic Thunderbolt; period with 610 Sqdn, Royal Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Hooton Park, GB, 6/1947-3/1957

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Tilston, John (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1999-06-09
Dimensions: whole: Duration 75, Number Of Items 3
Catalogue number: 19054

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Interview with John Tilston

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