Interview with Denis John Vellacott

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Description

Object description

British NCO served as wireless operator/air gunner with 30 Sqdn, RAF in Middle East, Greece and Crete, 1940-1941; served with 55 Sqdn, No 204 Group, RAF in Egypt, 1941

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Winchester, GB, 1918-1935: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1935: enlistment in Royal Air Force at No 1 Depot, RAF at RAF Uxbridge, 8/1935; selection process; attitude to serving with Royal Air Force. Aspects of period as wireless operator/air gunner with 30 Sqdn, RAF in GB and Middle East, 1936-1940: joining squadron; dislike of Boulton Paul Defiant cockpit and gun turret; duties; move to RAF Ismailia, Egypt, 8/1939; coping with limited water in desert; reasons for move to Haifa, Palestine; contact with French Air Force at Haifa, Palestine; move to Nicosia, Cyprus to thwart Axis reconnaissance flights. Recollections of operations as NCO wireless operator/air gunner with A Flight, 30 Sqdn, RAF in Greece, 11/1940-4/1941: move to Eleusis Airfield; bombing attack on Italian Navy destroyer at Sarande, Albania; quality of intelligence; sings song about attacks on Valona, Albania; attack on Argyrokastro and Tepelena, Albania REEL 2 Continues: anti-aircraft fire damage to aircraft during attack on Valona, Albania; conditions as Eleusis Airfield; discovery of spy watching operations; story of how Royal Air Force aircrew prank caused diplomatic incident; method of dealing with eavesdroppers; visits to Kit Kat Club, Athens; how Greek civilians drove Italian forces from Paramythia; attacks on Italian forces in wood; destruction of Italian Army gun emplacement; effect of arrival of Germans in Greece, 4/1941; performance of Royal Hellanic Air Force PZL P.24 fighter aircraft; degree to which he had to fire his gun; death of Sergeant John Merifield, 6/11/1940; reasons why Royal Navy would open fire on aircraft; story of problems escaping from cloud in Corinth area and loss of squadron aircraft; use of Lewis and Vickers K Machine Guns; living conditions under canvas at Paramythia. REEL 3 Continues: acquiring alcohol at police station; rations and attitude towards Maconochie tinned food. Recollections of operations as NCO wireless operator/air gunner with A Flight, 30 Sqdn, RAF on Crete, 4/1941-5/1941: move to Maleme Airfield; loss of pistol ammunition; state of squadron's remaining four aircraft; repair to his aircraft whilst under fire; boxes loaded onto his aircraft; reception on arrival in mess at RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt, debriefing and social contacts in Cairo, Egypt, 5/1941; arrival in Crete; use of captured German weapons; hostility of Cretan civilians towards Germans; operations in support of Royal Navy; prior recollection of narrow escape from arming bombs at Paramythia on mainland Greece. REEL 4 Continues: lack of German Air Force opposition; story of comrade who died in fighting at Maleme; second hand story of Gemran General Kurt Student's visit to Maleme; destruction of Hawker Hurricane by friendly fire at Maleme Airfield; story of captured writing case returned to owner by German paratrooper after Second World War; story of Maori haka which scared off German forces at Maleme; German losses on Crete. Aspects of period as NCO wireless operator/air gunner with 55 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt, 1941: joining squadron at Wadi Natrun; insight of club girl at Roxy Nightclub in Alexandria; meeting with Johnnie London; equipping with Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV; plans for anti-shipping strikes. Recollections of return to GB from Middle East, 1941: method of obtaining return passage to GB. REEL 5 Continues: privileges he received on troopship; ashore in South Africa including shark fishing in Cape Town; visiting Green Parrot Café in Halifax, Canada; crossing North Atlantic; arrival in Greenock, GB; reception on arrival in GB; downgrading from a A1 to a C3 medical grade on return to GB. Reflections on service with Royal Air Force: dangers of being a rear gunner in a Bristol Blenheim. REEL 6 Continues: story illustrating cold inside Bristol Blenheim Mk.IF aircraft over mountains in Greece.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Vellacott, Denis John (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2002-08-02
Dimensions: whole: Duration 155, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 23440

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Interview with Denis John Vellacott

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