Blanchard, Eric (Oral history)

British officer served as flight engineer with 57 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in London And Sidmouth, 1922-1939: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB, 1940-1941: volunteering for RAF, 1940; training and recreation in Blackpool; posting to RAF Warmwell; period in hospital in Winchester, 1941; posting to Bideford area; volunteering to become flight engineer, 1942; his selection for aircrew; posting to RAF Henlow; posting to 4 School of Technical Training at RAF St Athan and promotion to flight sergeant. Recollections of operations as flight engineer with 57 Sqdn, RAF, 1943: crewing up; memories of part-Chilean RAF volunteer. REEL 2 Continues: working up on Avro Lancaster; posting to unit at RAF Scampton and sight of 617 Sqdn, RAF practising, 4/1943; character initial operation to Duisburg, 12/5/1943; method of recording his operations; corkscrewing after interception by night fighter; use of German colours of the day; dropping of empty beer bottles by rear gunners; use of Window during raid on Hamburg, 24/7/1943; character of daisy flak; use of Taylor suit; rear gunner who was classed as having lack of moral fibre; attacks by Focke Wulf 190s; flak hit on aircraft of Nüremberg and landing at Aldermaston, 10/8/1943. REEL 3 Continues: German use of flares during raid on Berlin; reasons for abortive operations; landing at RAF Davidstone Moor with no fuel left after operation to Turin, 12/7/1943; bad weather experienced on raid on Leipzig, 20/10/1943; work of flight engineer; personal morale during operations; his flight engineers course and promotion to Flight Lieutenant. Recollections of operations as flight engineer with 57 Sqdn, RAF, 1944-1945: start of second tour with squadron; daylight raids on France, 8/1944; sight of Avro Lancaster disintegrating during raid on Deelen, 15/8/1944; mine-laying on Stettin Canal, 16/8/1944. REEL 4 Continues: raid on Bordeaux, 10/8/1944; raid on Bergen, 28/10/1944; raid on Veere dyke wall near Walcheren, 11/10/1944; raid on Munich, 26/11/1944; raid on Dortmund-Ems Canal, 24/4/1945; raid on Berchtesgaden, 25/4/1945; his attitude to doing a second tour of operations; opinion of Avro Lancaster. Description of propaganda leaflet dropped on Hanover, 29/9/1943. Attitude to having served in Bomber Command in Second World War. Effects of having served as aircrew. Story of lack of moral fibre case, 1944. Leader system in 57 Sqdn, RAF.