Weldon, Hugh 'Enoch' (Oral history)

British aircraftman served with RAF Regt in GB, India, Burma and French Indo-China, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in Beverley, GB, 1923-1941: family; education; anticipation of coming war; use of air raid; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB, 1941-1942: registering for Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, spring 1941; issue of uniform at RAF Padgate; basic drill at Boston; billet in Boston; physical training; Recollections of period as airman on airfield defence duties with 724 Sqdn Defence Sqdn at RAF Scampton in GB, 7/1941-7/1942: posting to unit at RAF Scampton; incident with Airspeed Oxford; training with Lewis and Vickers machine guns; daily routine; directing Westland Lysander lost on airfield in fog; listening post on water tower; identifying German aircraft noise. REEL 2 Continues: system for delivery of orders to open fire; parachute and cable system of airfield defence; first sight of De Havilland Mosquito; use of cine-camera for aircraft identification; conditions at Dunholme Lodge satellite station; rations; off duty relaxation; physical effect of all night stand by; character of gun positions; reaction to selection for overseas service; issue of tropical equipment. Aspects of voyage from GB to India, 1942: embarkation at Liverpool; reasons for volunteering to man Oerlikon gun; accommodation; depth charge attack on suspected U-boat in Irish Sea; duties on board troopship; near mutiny on board; ashore at Cape Town. Period in transit in India, 1942: attitude of civilians in Bombay; character of rations; social activities in Bombay; employment of camp servants. REEL 3 Continues: effects of cyclone on train journey; delay at Carrickpore; arrangements for making tea on train. Recollections of period as airman with RAF Regt attached to 353 Sqdn, RAF at Cuttack, Dubalia and Vallam, India, 1942-1943: security situation; role of squadron leader commanding squadron; setting up camp at Cuttack; target practice on wild dogs; gun pits at Cuttack; hospitalisation for malaria; threat of scorpions; effects of heat; daily routine; story of attending guard duties at crash site; assistance from village constable in establishing perimeter around crashed aircraft. REEL 4 Continues: recovery time and treatment for jungle sore; convalescence in Himalayan hill station; reasons for delay in return to duty; discovery that squadron had moved location; return to unit at Vallam, 5/1943; driving duties; story of encounter with bullock carts. Aspects of period as airman with RAF Regt at RAF Regt Depot, Secunderbad, India, 1943: character of regime; issue of new headwear; story of long road journey, 1944; convoy driving; route marches; opinion of Thompson Machine Gun; organisation of flights; live firing exercises. Recollections of period as airman with RAF Regt at Air Ministry Experimental Sites at Khulwar and Charchapli Island, India, 10/1943-3/1944: character of radar station; siting of gun position on termite hill. REEL 5 Continues: work of termites; strength of flight; resupply by De Havilland Tiger Moth; story of helping pilot start De Havilland Tiger Moth; checks on tidal levels; effect of presence of ground defence on technicians; relations with civilian populations on Charchapli Island; night patrols accompanied by sons of village headman; wildlife on island including snakes and tigers; sight of Japanese bombers; character of radar station; camouflage of vehicles and security measures; difficult voyage in canoe to get cigarettes; lack of news about Burma campaign. REEL 6 Continues: local economy on Charchapli Island; threat from malaria; ration supplements; dealing with tigers and monkeys for local civilians; acquisition of parrot; recall to Calcutta by accident and assisting in Group Motor Transport; return to Charchapli Island; system of navigation on paddle steamers; fire in radar vehicle and new vehicle brought by barge; building of jetty from railway sleepers; precautions against snakes. Aspects of period as airman with RAF Regt at RAF Baighachi in India, 3/1944-7/1944: character of forward airstrip; duties; ammunition exploding by heat; working routine; period of duties in gunpits; daytime heat. Recollections of operations as airman with RAF Regt at RAF Palel in India, 7/1944-10/1944: arrival at forward airstrip; story of Japanese bombardment of airstrip prior to his arrival; lack of attacks from Japanese aircraft. REEL 7 Continues: origins of his nickname 'Enoch'; posting to RAF Palel; motion sickness on mountain roads; Salvation Army stalls at halts; nature of road from Dimapur to RAF Palel via Kohima; character of journey from Dimapur to RAF Palel; aircraft at RAF Palel; role of Hawker Hurricane 'Hurribombers'; threat from Japanese snipers; strength of RAF Regt on airstrip; reasons for orders to shoot on sight; dyeing khaki drill uniforms; problems with swampy ground; extent of vision at night; helping RAF ground crews arming aircraft; lack of incidents; accommodation and feeding arrangements; dehydrated mutton and its uses; rations available; effects of lack of sleep; character of commanding officer; guard duties at aircrew headquarters. Aspects of period of training on battle course at Secunderabad, 10/1944-11/1944: pattern of training. REEL 8 Continues: training in debussing on move; field exercises against demonstration squad; operational problems with twin Hispano cannons. Recollections of operations as airman with RAF Regt in India and Burma, 1944-1945: move to Chittagong; character of road journey to Ramu in Arakan; orders to move to Tamu; damage to vehicle on roads; relations with RAF officers; daily rates of movement on route to Tamu via Dimapur-Imphal road; stops during day; incident of rescue of Indian troops from crashed Douglas Dakota after they had been deserted by American aircrew; delivering aircraft parts forward from Imphal area; character of Japanese built airstrip; Supermarine Spitfire landing accidents; proximity of forward airstrips to front-line; containment of Japanese air activity; skills of Supermarine Spitfire pilots. REEL 9 Continues: low level single bomber Japanese Air Force night time raid on forward airstrip; reasons for missing siege of Meiktila; prevention and treatment for malaria; progression of malaria symptoms; hospitalisation in field hospital for malaria; arrival as first vehicle into Meiktila after siege; taking cover during Japanese Air Force raid; situation in Meiktila; move to Toungoo; dealing with Indian sepoys on sanitary work; transporting female civilian labourers; sight of dead Japanese gunners hanging from barrels of guns; opinion of his Dodge truck; servicing of vehicle; effects of punctured radiator; method of travelling through mud; use of white star recognition markings; incident of changing burst tyre. REEL 10 Continues: need to carry adequate fuel; problems of starting Dodge trucks engine; use of gears and brakes to descend hills; effect of wet weather on engine; contact with Burmese irregulars; need to spend night in defensive box. REEL 11 Continues: use of defensive box at nights; conditions in Toungoo; perimeter of Toungoo airstrip guarded by Gurkhas; character of leave in Calcutta including visits to cinema, drinking rum and rickshaw races; return from Calcutta to Toungoo; liberty runs into Rangoon; exchanges of rations with US personnel; living day to day; visit from padre and church services; memories of end of war at Toungoo; handing in rifle bolts and vehicle distributors. REEL 12 Continues: relations with officers; comrade's pet dog. Aspects of period as airman with RAF Regt in French Indo-China, 1945: flight to Saigon; reasons for move to Indo China; re- arming of Japanese; behaviour of Japanese; relations with French civilians; armistice parade in Saigon, 11/11/1945; ambush of commanding officer and his driver by Annamites; relations with Annamites; shooting at vehicles crossing bridge in evenings. Recollections of repatriation, demobilisation and return to civilian from 1946: flight to Meiktila; Christmas celebrations at Meiktila; flight to Calcutta; recovering deposited kit at Secunderabad; in transit camp at Bombay; voyage from India to GB aboard Reina Del Pacifico; arrival in Liverpool, 2/1946; problems of drinking pints of beer; dietary problems; reasons for leaving RAF. REEL 13 Continues: first job as garage mechanic; reaction to being directed to work in coalmines; obtaining work with engineering firm; adjustment to civilian life; advice to National Servicemen; obtaining work as fitter at Watton Aerodrome.