Interview with Eric Gordon Barwell

1304701891
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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© 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.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
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.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British officer served as pilot with 264 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command RAF in GB, 2/1940-6/1941 including during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; served with and commanded 125 Sqdn, No 10 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1941-9/1942; commanded 125 Sqdn, No 11 Fighter Group, Air Defence of Great Britain, RAF in GB, 3/1944-8/1944; served with Fighter Interception Unit, RAF in GB, 8/1944-9/1944; served as staff officer with Headquarters, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF and in North West Europe, 9/1944-4/1945; commanded No 145 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in Germany, 4/1945-5/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Clare, GB, 1913-1938: family; education; joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1938. Recollections of operations as pilot with 264 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command in GB, 2/1940-6/1941 including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940: posting to squadron at RAF Martlesham Heath, 2/1940; opinion of Boulton Paul Defiant; operation to Netherlands, 12/5/1940; squadron casualties over Netherlands, 13/5/1940; operations over Dunkirk, France in which he shot down three German aircraft, 29/5/1940; nature of operation over Dunkirk, France, 31/5/1940; ditching in sea after operation and rescue by Royal Navy destroyer HMS Malcolm in English Channel, 31/5/1940; physical condition on his return to RAF Duxford; basing of squadron at RAF Manston; defending aircraft against German Air Force attack; reaction to withdrawal from day fighting to concentrate on night operations; attempts to locate German Air force aircraft at night German Air Force bombing campaign; night attacks on German Air Force aircraft. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot and commanding with 125 Sqdn, 10 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1941-9/1942: posting to RAF Colerne, 7/1941; taking command of squadron, 12/1941; opinion of Bristol Beaufighter Mk II; arrival of Bristol Beaufighter Mk IV; air combat with German Air Force Dornier Do 217 bomber over South Wales, 1/7/1942-2/7/1942. Aspects of operations commanding 125 Sqdn, No 11 Fighter Group, Air Defence of Great Britain, RAF in GB, 3/1944-8/1944: conversion onto De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito; shooting down of two German Air Force Junkers Ju 88 aircraft over Seine Estuary, France, 23/6/1944-25/6/1944; operating against German V1 Flying Bomb; posting to Fighter Interception Unit, RAF to develop tactics against German V1 Flying Bombs, 18/8/1944. Aspects of period as staff officer with Headquarters, 2nd Tactical Air Force in North West Europe, 9/1944-4/1945: posting to headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 9/1944; effect of German Air Force attacks, 1/1/1945; posting to command No 148 Wing, RAF, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in Germany, 4/4//1945. Reflections on service with Royal Air Force, 1938-1945: attitude to having served in Royal Air Force in Second World War; sources of frustration during German Air Force bombing campaign; sense of success during operations over Dunkirk, France, 5/1940; near refusal for entry into Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1938.

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)
Barwell, Eric Gordon (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2001-01-20
Dimensions: whole: Duration 60, Number Of Items 2
Catalogue number: 20981

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Interview with Eric Gordon Barwell

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