Interview with Richard Leoline Jones

British officer served as pilot with 64 and 19 Sqdns, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; served with 64 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 11/1940-4/1941; test pilot with De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd in GB, 4/1941-1/1946

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1918-1938: family; education; employment. Aspects of period with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in GB, 1938-1940: enlistment in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1938; flying training on Miles Magister and Hawker Hart; training on North American Harvard at No 10 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Tern Hill, 2/1940-7/1940; initial experience flying Supermarine Spitfire at No 5 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Aston Down, 6/7/1940-26/7/1940; anticipations of war, 1938- 1939; question of pilots' social origins, 1938-1940. Recollections of operations as officer with 64 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-9/1940: posting to RAF Kenley, 27/7/1940; memories of commanding officer Squadron Leader Aenas MacDonell; states of readiness; reaction to telephone call; question of apprehension awaiting air combat; guidance received from experienced pilots; use of Vic Three formations; tactics employed and how they disappeared during aerial combat; technique of shooting during aerial combat; disruption of German Air Force bomber streams; attitude of German Air Force pilots towards Royal Air Force fighter aircraft. REEL 2 Continues: role of 'Arse-end Charlie'; incident over Tenterden when he was shot down and forced landed on a flock of sheep, 28/9/1940; hostility of farm labourers; German Air Force attack on RAF Kenley; question of why farm labourers showed hostility towards him; motivation during Battle of Britain; method of force landing; sight of German Air Force air armadas; reforming of squadron at RAF Leconfield. Recollections of operations with 19 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command during Battle of Britain, 9/1940-11/1940: posting to squadron at RAF Duxford, 12/9/1940; effect on morale of Big Wing tactics; memories of Squadron Leader Douglas Bader; attitude towards German Air Force pilots; contrast between Fighter Command and Bomber Command; question of historical importance of Battle of Britain; problems of defending convoys and balloon defences over London; his preference for service with 64 Sqdn, RAF. REEL 3 Continues: importance of working as a team; relations between officers and NCOs; issue of double rations; occasion when he was bombed on the ground at RAF Hawkinge, 12/8/1940; return to 64 Sqdn, 11/1940. Aspects of period as test pilot with De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd in GB, 4/1941-1/1946: condition he was in after ten months action; test pilot work he did with De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd; incident when he confronted civilians about aircraft losses; memories of visit by Sir Archibald Sinclair; question of care of Rolls-Royce Merlin Engines and preserving pilot's life. Reflections on service as pilot with 64 and 19 Sqdns, No 12 Group, Fighter Command during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940: serving at different airfields; attitude to having wives near airfields; question of relaxing at night; problems of judging morale; memories of Pilot Officer Art Donahue; propaganda flight over York to assist Spitfire Fund, 31/8/1940; pursuit of German Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, 23/9/1940; question of lack of records of his being shot down, 28/9/1940. REEL 4 Continues: question of lack of ceremonial duties during Second World War. Recollections of operations as pilot with 64 Sqdn, 11/1940-4/1941: intercepting German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers in North Sea, 11/11/1940; dangers of pursuing German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stuka when dive-bombing; loss of tail wheel, 2/1/1941; hospitality from civilian in Maida Vale, London; sweeps over Pas-de-Calais, France, 25/2/1941 and 4/3/1941; scramble to intercept German Air Force bombers over Rochford, 10/3/1941; attitude to last days in unit, 3/1941. Reflections on service with Fighter Command in Second World War: attitude to having served with Fighter Command during Second World War; ammunition used during aerial combat during Battle of Britain; consideration of escaping from stricken aircraft; amusing story about dances at RAF Tern Hill.