Gabbutt, Jack (Oral history)

British NCO photographer served with 681 and 81 Sqdns, RAF in India, Burma, Malaya and Java, 1944-1947

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Canada, Bournemouth, Beckonsfield and Ealing, London, 1924-1943: social circumstances; education; evacuation to Aylesbury, 1939-1940; return to Ealing, 9/1940; question of air raid shelter; blackout; duties as messenger with Air Raid Precaution Unit; effects of war; studying as quantity surveyor; training with 1413 Sqdn, Air Training Corps, 1940-1941; background to enlistment as photographer into RAF. Kitting out and vaccinations at RAF Cardington, 4/1943. Period at Recruit Training Centre, RAF Skegness, 4/1943-5/1943: billets; drill; weapons training; route marches; fatigues; preparing for kit inspections; relationship with recruits and instructor. Period as untrained photographer at RAF Benion, 6/1943-7/1943. Recollections of course at No 1 School of Photography at RAF Farnborough, 7/1943-11/1943: barrack accommodation; shortened nature of course; familiarization with F24 camera and G8 cine-gun camera; film developing process. REEL 2 Continues: film developing process; mobile darkroom; nature of focal plane shutter camera; processing cine-film; photography trade test; colour specialist still graded as 2nd class warrant officer; passing out as aircraftsman 1st class. Period at 24 Operational Training Unit, RAF Honeyborne, 11/1943-7/1944: role of unit; dispersed layout of station; role taking photographs for use in flying crew evasion documents; role servicing F24 camera used with infra-red film during navigational flying tests; role developing cine-gun film recording practice attacks on bombers; visits home; night shifts; reaction to posting overseas. Kitting out at Personnel Despatch Centre, Blackpool, 7/1944. Voyage aboard Strathaird to Bombay, India, 7/1944-8/1944. Recollections of period as photographer with 681 (Photographic Reconnaissance) Sqdn, RAF at RAF Alipore, Calcutta, India and Rangoon, Burma, 8/1944-9/1945: train journey from Bombay; palace accommodation; food rations; kitehawks; role of unit operating from advanced jungle airstrips at Imphal, Monywa, Meiktila and Mingaladon; nature of airfield. REEL 3 Continues: use of F8, F52 and F24 cameras in Spitfires and Mitchells; flights to operate cameras in Mitchell; nature of jungle airstrips used by Spitfires; unit strategic reconnaissance role; periods with advanced force at jungle airstrips including conditions of service and personnel; role loading camera film magazines, setting up camera controls, removing film magazines and transfer to tins; use of Harvard to carry film tins back to Alipore; role of mobile processing unit; conditions of service at jungle airstrips including latrines, tents, scorpion and leech problems and climate; story of Mitchell taking aerial photographs flying under Japanese held bridge; use of Harvard to carry drink to jungle air strips; attachment to US photographic unit experimenting with British cameras and story of visit to communal latrine; opinion of Captain Johnny Rees; promotion to acting sergeant and circumstances of reversion to corporal; view of Spitfire crash on take off from Alipore, 24/12/1944. REEL 4 Continues: circumstances of two Spitfire crashes; routine duties; personal health; situation on move to Rangoon, 1945. Recollections of Operation Zipper invasion of Malaya, 8/1945: role driving vehicles off landing craft; driving course at Bombay; story of birthday celebrations; voyage aboard Liberty ship; question of Japanese surrender; problems on landing on beach. Period at Luala Lumpar airfield, Malaya, 8/1945: redirection of aircraft to Seletar; acting as untrained air traffic controllers; opinion of Japanese POWs on airfield. Recollections of period at RAF Seletar, Singapore, 10/1945-3/1946: nature of stations; makeshift yachts constructed from Japanese seaplane floats and sailing activities; visits to Singapore; reactions to peacetime discipline. Recollections of period at Kemarjordan, Batavia, Java, 4/1946-12/1946: volunteering for detachment duty; political situation; RAF units present; photographic activities; bungalow billet; attacks by Indonesian insurgents and their ambush of RAF leave truck; climate. REEL 5 Continues: photographic duties; recreations; necessity of internal security precautions; story of evading wire across road when driving; visits to Bali; opinion of Dutch colonial rule; relationship with Indonesian civilians; hospitalisation with ear infection; return to Singapore, 12/1946. Recollections of period with 81 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Seletar, Singapore, 12/1946-1/1947: nature of prior strike, 3/1945, including preliminary meeting, refusal to work, attitude of commanding officer, return to work, question of organisers and sympathy for strike; local leave in Penang and story of flight back to Seletar. Voyage aboard Queen of Bermuda to GB, 1/1947-2/1947. Period at RAF Scampton, 3/1947-4/1947: disembarkation leave; photographic duties; demobilisation, 4/1947. REEL 6 Post-war career: qualification and career as quantity surveyor; effects of war service; voluntary work at RAF Museum, Hendon; membership of RAF Association, Photographic Reconnaissance Contact Assoc and Burma Star Assoc; question of official acceptance of squadron crest and badge.