Interview with Leslie Gordon Batt

British NCO served as pilot with 238 Sqdn, No 10 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; served with 238 Sqdn, No 204 Group and Air Headquarters Western Desert, RAF in North Africa, 6/1941-12/1941

REEL 1 Background in Wolverhampton and Coventry, GB, 1916-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of period as aircraftman and NCO with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in GB, 1937-1939: enlistment with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at RAF Ansty, 1937; medical examination; pattern of flying training. Recollections of operations as pilot with 238 Sqdn, No 10 Group, Fighter Command RAF in GB during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940: background to posting to squadron at RAF Tangmere, 6/1940; move to RAF Middle Wallop; encounter with German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighter aircraft over Weymouth; question of tactics adopted by Royal Air Force; sight of German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft wings coming off over English Channel; attitude to not being able to engage German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers; tendency of Royal Navy to open fire on Royal Air Force aircraft; method of countering German Air Force tactics; reasons why he did not keep a tally of his kills; plethora of targets available; shooting down of German Air Force bomber which had raided Bristol; attacking German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109 chasing a Hawker Hurricane; occasion when his aircraft was shot up. REEL 2 Continues: story of crash landing in Selsey area after aircraft was damage; demand of station warrant officer at RAF Tangmere that he wear hat after crash landing; cockpit drill to for bailing out of aircraft if on fire; attitude towards German Air Force pilots including that of Czech and Polish pilots; question of fatigue and personal morale; degree of alcohol consumed; four day flying rota; problem caused by excess alcohol; reasons why he trimmed his aircraft nose heavy; use of weaving section; airfields used by squadron during battle; waiting for action in crew-room. REEL 3 Continues: organisation of patrols; occasion when he was attacked by German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft from great height; order to scramble; state of readiness; relations with ground crews. Aspects of operations as NCO with 238 Sqdn, No 204 Group and Air Headquarters Western Desert, RAF in North Africa, 6/1941-12/1941: posting of squadron to Middle East, 5/1941; conditions on board HMS Victorious in North Atlantic during pursuit of German battleship Bismarck, 5/1941; flying off HMS Victorious in Mediterranean to Malta; problems of getting from Malta to Egypt, 5/1941. REEL 4 Continues: reception at Australian Army base in Western Desert, Egypt, 6/1941; ferrying aircraft from West Africa to Egypt; unwillingness of German Air Force to engage squadron in Western Desert, Egypt, 1941. Reflections of service with Royal Air Force during Second World War: story of receiving commission in GB, 3/1943; flying Hawker Typhoon with 198 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Manston, 8/1943-11/1943 and move to Training Command; attitude to having flown in Battle of Britain; story of case of Lack of Moral Fibre during Battle of Britain.