Description
Object description
British aircraftman served as engine fitter and flight engineer with RAF in GB, Belgium and Germany, 1941-1946
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1921-1940: family background and childhood in Ashover and Clay Cross, Derbyshire; education; problem of finding work in 1930s; assisted uncle repairing motor cycles and cars; employment as fitter and turner with Chesterfield Tool Coy; wages; attended night school and technical college in Chesterfield; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939; question of being in reserved occupation; reasons for wanting to join RAF; various memories of air displays including Alan Cobham's Air Circus; called up and posted to RAF Padgate, 1940. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 1940-1941: posted to RAF Cardington for tests and medical examinations; initial training at Boscombe and Skegness; attitude to military life and discipline; further training as mechanic and fitter at RAF Cosford; passed out as Group 1 Tradesman; reason for refusing commission. Aspects of period with RAF in GB, 1941-1944: duties testing aircraft engines at RAF Cosford; opinion of Merlin engine; description of duties working on Blenheims at Advanced Gunnery and Observer Unit, RAF Penrohs, South Wales; opinion of Blenheim; story about female Air Transport Auxiliary pilot flying Blenheim; duties as flight engineer; story about nearly crashing on take-off.
REEL 2 Continues: social life; relations with naval personnel; opinion of French and Belgian servicemen in Pwllheli; rank; duties servicing US bombers on Isle of Anglesey; story about Wellington crashing on airfield; reaction to death of friends in accident; story of flying in Avro Anson over North Sea; description of airfield at RAF Penrohs being bombed; posted to School of Army Co-operation, RAF Old Sarum, 1944; story of chance meeting with Alanbrooke and King George V1; assigned to 3rd Div on special duties during preparations for Normandy landings; problem of mail not reaching family; description of commando training course in Welsh mountains; security duties prior to D-Day; story of being stopped by Military Police; accompanied 11th Armoured Div to Southampton and sailed to Ostend, Belgium. Aspects of operations with RAF in Belgium and Germany, 6/1944-10/1945: story of taking over abandoned German airfield in Ghent as base for Spitfires; problem of German saboteurs; story of attack on airfield by German fighters, 1/Jan/1945; description of shooting down Focke-Wulf 190 with Bren gun and seeing pilot decapitated; damage to Spitfires and casualties following attack.
REEL 3 Continues: moved into old flax factory in Ghent. Aspects of period with RAF in GB and Germany, 1945-1946: posted to RAF Lasham, GB; duties ground testing Spitfire engines; opinion of Packard-Merlin and Gryphon engines; duties at satellite stations with 2nd Tactical Air Force; posted to RAF Buckeburg, Germany, following end of war; role in charge of transport for Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas; opinion of Jan Smuts; relations with members of Belgian underground; story of travelling on sabotaged train; returned to GB, 10/1946; demobilized, 1/1947. Post-war life and employment in GB.