Smith, Ferguson (Oral history)

British civilian served with Metropolitan Police in London, 1934-1935; served with Special Branch in GB, 1935-1941; served as officer operating ABC airborne jamming device and as signal leader with 101 Sqdn, RAF based at Ludford Magma, GB and operating over Germany, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Aberdeen, 1918-1934: social circumstances; education including sporting and Boy Scouts activities; background to decision to join Metropolitan Police. Period in Police Training School, Peel House, Regency Street, Vauxhall Bridge area, London, 3/1934-5/1934: dress code; training syllabus based on instruction book; practical training exercises; visits to courts; introduction to law; discipline and status as 'candidate'; cubicle accommodation; passing out parade. Recollections of period as constable at Great Marlborough Street Police Station, London, 5/1934-12/1935: shift system and duty parade; daily beats including problems with prostitutes, barrow boys, pickpockets, shoplifters and drunks. REEL 2 Continues: story of arresting drunken driver; uniforms; use of truncheon, whistle and notebooks; toilet and refreshment breaks; use of torch; organisation of shifts; charge room procedure; de-briefing; restrictions on marriage; conditions at section house accommodation an Beck Street; pay and savings; traffic point duty at Oxford Circus; effects of introduction of Belisha crossings; background to application for Special Branch service, 12/1935. Recollections of service as detective constable with Special Branch based at Scotland House, Old Scotland Yard, Whitehall, 12/1935-3/1940: historical role of SB in countering Irish terrorism and revolutionary groups; entrance interview and examinations; squad organisation and opinion of Chief Constable Albert Kenning. REEL 3 Continues: squad organisation; initial attachment to squad monitoring Communist Party activities; attending CP meetings in civilian clothes and question of being discovered; role monitoring activities of Italian fascist group through use of Italian informants and subsequent internment of suspects, 2/9/1939; work vetting naturalisation applications; nature of routine duties; relationship between ranks; role of SB officers stationed at ports and period on duty at Dover, 1938; SB officers stationed at airports; arrest of suspects during Irish republican mainland bombing campaign, 1939; question of secrecy. REEL 4 increased influx of Jewish refugees, ca 1938-1939; question of position of CP on outbreak of war; internment programme based on lists of suspects supplied by MI6; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; reserved occupation status; investigation of people suspected of being pro-German. Period attached to Passport Control at Heysham, 3/1940-9/1941: role countering possible IRA infiltration; background to decision to join RAF; working conditions. Reception at Air Crew Receiving Centre, Lords Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, London, 9/1941. Period at Initial Training Wing at Newquay, ca 9/1941-11/1941: billets; drill; PT; lectures. Period in various reception centres in GB and Canada, ca 11/1941-2/1942. Period flying training at Turners Field, Georgia, US, 3/1942-4/1942: flights in Steerman; rejection due to problems in landing technique. REEL 5 Continues: reactions to failing course; unofficial leave in New York during return to Canada. Period at Navigation School, London, Ontario, 7/1942-11/1942: prior re-mustering; syllabus; opinion of Anson; navigation training; meteorology; use of star shots, dead reckoning and wireless fixes to determine aircraft position; aerial photography; commission as pilot officer, 11/1942. Return aboard Queen Elizabeth to GB, 12/1942. Period at crew reception centre at Harrogate, 12/1942-4/1943: map reading course; 'commando' course. Period at 26th Operational Training Unit, RAF at Wing Buck, 4/1943-7/1943: formation of crew; cross country training flights; opinion of Wellington; background to volunteering as German speaker for specialist duties. REEL 6 Recollections of period with 101 Sqdn, RAF at Ludford Magma, 8/1943-1/1944: role in jamming radio signals from controllers of German night fighters; introduction to operation of ABC airborne 'cigar' jamming device; visit to listening post for familiarisation in jargon of German controllers; casualties suffered to aircraft carrying ABC equipment on trial runs over Germany; fitting of ABC into Lancaster; dispersal of aircraft of 101 Sqdn amongst bombing stream of aircraft during raid; opinion of Lancaster and question of inadequate defensive guns; crew members; flying kit; question of use of benzedrine; torch; Elson latrine; joining crew of Pilot Officer Kelly, 10/1943; personal morale and question of Bomber Command casualties inflicted by German night fighters; nature of bombing raids over Germany including prior briefing on target, importance of meteorology reports, question of use of H2S equipment to bomb through clouds, question of loss of navigator in action, plotting course, meal, kitting out, boarding and checking aircraft. REEL 7 Continues: nature of bombing missions over Germany including checking specialist equipment, take off, mustering, flight out, German anti-aircraft fire, German night fighter system, operating ABC to jam German signals, alternative jamming activities of 100 Group, approaching and bombing target guided by bomb aimer and Pathfinders, relief on dropping bombs, question of civilians in target areas, return flight, continual danger of German night fighters, debriefing interview with intelligence officer, drinking brandy supplied by padre, and personal morale; frequency of raids; crew morale; routine duties and training; officers' mess and drinking habits; visits to Market Rasen; dances; awareness of casualties; joining crew of Flying Officer Robin Knights, 1/1944. Account of being wounded during bombing raid on Berlin, 20/1/1944: wounds and effects of surprise burst of German night fighter cannonfire; aircraft dive; reporting to pilot; checking on air gunners. REEL 8 Continues: unhooking fatally wounded mid air gunner; failure to free dead rear gunner trapped in turret; defenceless state of aircraft and period occupying mid air gunners position; cold and effects of wounds; lying in bed; question of origin of raking cannonfire attack; personal morale; reception on landing; medical treatment at Louth General Hospital, Lincs. Period in RAF Hospital, Rossby, 2/1944-3/1944. Period of sick leave, 3/1944-5/1944. Period with 101 Sqdn at Ludford Magma, 5/1944-1/1945: flights with various crews prior to forming crew with Flying Officer Gene Attio. 7/1944; diversionary mission using ABC equipment over Calais, France, 5/6/1944; mass daylight raid over Caen, 12/7/1944; interdiction attacks to aid invasion; reaction to award of DFC, 1/1944; role on posting as Signal Leader including reduced operational flights and question of morale of ABC operators; subsequent shooting down of Attio's aircraft; occasional missions with various crews; continued effectiveness of German night fighters; reactions to completing tour with raid on Hamburg, 1/1945; awareness of casualties. REEL 9 Continues: question of effects of marriage, 11/1944; effects of nerves and story of talking into sleep; award of Bar to DFC. Rest period, 1/1945-5./1945. Re-mustering at Catterick, 5/1945: failed attempt to join RAF Intelligence; reactions to VE Day, 8/5/1945. Attending navigation course on posting to Transport Command at Wymeswold, 6/1945-8/1945: enjoyment of course; question of posting to Far East. Various posting prior to early demobilisation, 1/1946. Promotion to sergeant on return to Special Branch.