Description
Object description
British officer and NCO served as pilots with 40 and 206 Sqdns, Transport Command, RAF during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of training and service as pilots with Royal Air Force in GB and Canada, 1941-1948: [Bain] pattern of Royal Air Force training and service in GB and Canada from 1941; story of ditching in Lockheed Hudson in Canada. [Smith] background and pattern of deferred service in GB, 1944-1945; flying training with Royal Air Force, 1947-1948 [Bain] posting to Coastal Command, RAF and Malta, 1943; demobilisation and re-enlistment in Royal Air Force; pattern of service as instructor; story of bailing out of Percival Prentice after mid-air collision at RAF Fairford.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as pilots with 40 and 206 Sqdns, Transport Command, RAF during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949: [Smith] joining 206 Sqdn at RAF Lyneham, 12/1948; Royal Air Force flying grades; first flight in Avro York, 1/1949; organisation of flights; flying in air corridor from RAF Wunstorf; problems faced by American aircraft in air corridor [Bain] posting to 40 Sqdn at RAF Wunstorf; eating arrangements for aircrews; nature of flights; amusing stories of visits by senior officers; lack of problems experienced during Berlin Airlift; sight of poor landing at RAF Wunstorf [Smith] cargoes carried; passengers carried; state of Berlin; pilfering of goods at RAF Gatow; Soviet focusing of searchlight on aircraft landing at RAF Gatow; flying over Soviet Army barracks in Avro York at night.
REEL 3 Continues: [Bain] flying with pilot who was short-sighted; opinion of Avro York [Smith] experiences of flying during Berlin Airlift; attending course for flight engineers; use of radar beacons; reasons why Polish aircrew were restricted from flying on airlift; end of airlift; attitude to serving in airlift; story of attempt to get railway engine to move in Hanover, Germany [Bain] end of Berlin Airlift and posting to RAF Finningley [Smith] lessons learnt from participating in Berlin Airlift; character of air corridor. Aspects of various postings with Royal Air Force in GB and Far East, from 1949: [Smith] flying Bristol Brigand; character of Blackburn Beverley; opinion of Armstrong Whitworth Argosy; reasons for frequent engine changes in Blackburn Beverley in Middle East.
REEL 4 Continues: [Bain] role training Malayasian Air Force; prior recollections of escorting Prime Minister Winston Churchill to Yalta Conference, 1945; opinion of Lockheed C-160 Hercules [Smith] comparison between Lockheed C-160 Hercules and Bristol Beverley [Bain] initial reaction to first sight of McDonnell Douglas Galaxy [Smith] amusing story of troops transported filling containers with alcohol; son's interest in flying; question of remembering experiences of flying in Berlin Airlift.