Interview with Antony Robert Fletcher Thompson

British officer served as pilot with No 85 Sqdn, No 12 Group and 249 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF during Battle of Britain, 9/1940-10/1940; served with 249 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command RAF in GB, 11/1940-5/1941; served with 249 Sqdn, Malta Night Fighter Unit and 1435 (Night Fighter) Flight, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 5/1941-3/1942; served with 73 Sqdn, Western Desert Air Force, RAF in North Africa, 9/1942-12/1942; served as test pilot with No 206 Group, RAF in Egypt, 2/1943-3/1944

REEL 1 Background in Gorleston-on-Sea, GB 1920-1939: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of flying training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1939-1940: pattern of training; ambition to become a fighter pilot. Aspects of operations as pilot with 85 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB during Battle of Britain, 29/9/1940-17/10/1940: joining squadron at RAF Church Fenton, 29/9/1940; memories of Squadron Leader Peter Townsend. Recollections of operations as pilot with 249 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command during Battle of Britain, 17/10/1940-31/10/1940: initial experiences of the battle operating from RAF North Weald, 10/1940; formation operated; attitude towards German Air Force pilots; opinions of Hawker Hurricane; occasion when his aircraft was badly damaged by German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft, 30/10/1940; story of imaginary dog 'Bismarck'; girl friend he had during battle; German Air Force raid on RAF North Weald, 29/10/1940. Recollections of operations with 249 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command in GB, 11/1940-5/1941: shooting down German Air Force Dornier Do 17, 12/11/1940; memories of Air Marshal William Sholto Douglas. REEL 2 Continues: first offensive sweep over France, 10/1/1941; attitude towards fighter sweeps across France; contrast between British and Canadian styles of leadership; attitude to serving at RAF North Weald. Recollections of operations as pilot with 249 Sqdn, Malta Night Fighter Unit and 1435 (Night Fighter) Flight, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 5/1941-3/1942: voyage aboard HMS Furious from GB to Gibraltar; transfer to HMS Ark Royal and flight onto Malta, 21/5/1941; night fighting role in Malta, 8/1941-3/1942; shooting down Italian float plane, 3/2/1942; conditions on Malta; visiting Axis prisoners of war in hospital in Malta; character of Grand Harbour anti-aircraft barrage; attack on Italian military vehicles on Sicily, Italy, 29/1/1942. Aspects of operations with 73 Sqdn, Western Desert Air Force, RAF in North Africa, 9/1942-12/1942: joining squadron after period of instructing in Egypt; night ground strafing role. REEL 3 Continues: reasons for his posting out of squadron, 29/12/1942. Aspects of period as test pilot with No 206 Group, Royal Air Force in Egypt, 2/1943-3/1944: attitude to being a test fighter; degree of danger involved in job; types of aircraft flown; role retrieving Supermarine Spitfires from desert; attitude to having served with 249 Sqdn, RAF during the Second World War.