Description
Object description
British NCO trained as pilot with RAF in GB and Canada, 1941-1942; served with 19 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1942-1944
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1923-1940: family background in Chesterfield; education; employment at iron works; reaction to outbreak of war, 3/Sep/1939; interest in aircraft; description of troops returning to Chesterfield from Dunkirk, 6/1940; story of volunteering for RAF in Sheffield, 9/1940; problem of age; reason for wanting to join RAF; induction and medical examination at RAF Padgate. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 1-12/1941: posted to RAF Cardington; description of basic training on RAF stations at Bridgnorth, Acklington and Torquay; opinion of Polish and Czech pilots; posted to Initial Training Wing at RAF Newquay, 6/1941; accommodation in hotel near beach; description of pilot training including aircraft recognition; posted to Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Sywell, 8-10/1941; opinion of instructors; description of first solo flight in Tiger Moth; attitude to fear; opinion of own flying ability; posted to Heaton Park, Manchester, 11/1941; posted to Canada on Empire Air Training Scheme, 12/1941.
REEL 2 Continues: description of voyage aboard SS Louis Pasteur from Gourock, Scotland, to Halifax, Canada, 12/1941. Aspects of training with RAF in Canada, 12/1941-3/1942: description of train journey to Flying Training School at Swift Current, Saskatchewan; reception from Canadian civilians; description of Swift Current and location; terrain; reaction to news of attack on Pearl Harbour, 7/Dec/1941; Christmas and New Year celebrations; description of flying training on Harvard including aerobatics and combat formation flying; comparison of Harvard with Tiger Moth; opinion of RAF instructors; low flying exercises; awarded wings, 3/1942; story of visiting uncle in US; returned in convoy to Liverpool, GB. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 4-10/1942: posted to Advanced Flying Unit at Peterborough flying Miles Masters; posted to Operational Training Unit at RAF Hawarden; first impressions of Spitfire and comparison with Harvard. Aspects of operations as pilot with 19 Sqdn RAF in GB, 10/1942-2/1944: joined Sqdn at RAF Perranporth, Cornwall: varied nationalities of pilots; additional rations for air crew; morale; opinion of ground crew; number of aircraft in flight.
REEL 3 Continues: daily routine and duties including observation patrols and convoy escort; reason for wearing polo neck sweater while flying; story of being attacked by Focke-Wulf 190s over Brest, France, 3/1943; damage to aircraft; casualties in Sqdn; comparison of Spitfire and Focke-Wulf 190; description of leg wounds and medical treatment; re-joined Sqdn at RAF Fairlop, 4/1943; description of movements along coast and preparations for D-Day landings; advantage of being able to fly until 10.30pm during double summer time; story of CO providing hot chocolate for fighter pilots returning from missions; duties escorting bombers on raids over Germany; use of drop tanks to increase range of Spitfire ; problem of flak and enemy aircraft on return flight; left 19 Sqdn, 2/1944. Aspect of period as pilot with RAF in GB, 2/1944-6/1946: duties ferrying aircraft; marks of Spitfires flown; problem of cold at high altitude; opinion of flying Hawker Typhoon and comparison with Spitfire.
REEL 4: demobilisation process, 6/1946; reflections on flying Spitfire.