Description
Object description
British aircraftman served with 724 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Regiment at RAF Scampton in GB, 7/1941-7/1942; served with Royal Air Force Regiment attached to 353 Sqdn, RAF in India, 6/1942-8/1943; served with Royal Air Force Regiment, No 225 Group in India, 10/1943-7/1944; served with No 1323 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment at RAF Palel in Burma, 7/1944-10/1944; served with No 1307 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment in Burma and French Indochina, 11/1944-12/1945
Content description
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 Royal Air Force Regiment in GB, 1941-1942: registering for Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 4/1941; issue of uniform at RAF Padgate; basic drill at Boston; accommodation in Boston; physical training; Recollections of period as airman on airfield defence duties with 724 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Regiment 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 Air Force 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 DH.98 Mosquito; use of cine-camera for aircraft identification; conditions at RAF 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 20mm Cannon; accommodation; depth charge attack on suspected German submarine in Irish Sea; duties on board troopship; near mutiny on board; ashore at Cape Town, South Africa. Aspects of 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 and delay; arrangements for making tea on train. Recollections of period as aircraftman with Royal Air Force Regiment attached to 353 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Cuttack, RAF Dhubalia and RAF Tanjore, India, 6/1942-8/1943: security situation; role of squadron leader commanding squadron; setting up camp at RAF Cuttack; target practice on wild dogs; gun pits at RAF 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 hill station in Himalayas; reasons for delay in return to duty; discovery that squadron had moved location; return to squadron at RAF Tanjore, 5/1943; driving duties; story of encounter with bullock carts. Aspects of period as aircraftman with Royal Air Force Regiment at Royal Air Force Regiment Depot, Secunderbad, India, 9/1943: nature of depot regime; issue of new headwear; story of long road journey in 1944; convoy driving; route marches; opinion of Thompson Machine Gun; organisation of flights; live firing exercises. Recollections of period as aircraftman with Royal Air Force Regiment, No 225 Group at Air Ministry Experimental Stations at Khulwar and on Char Chapli Island, India, 10/1943-3/1944: nature of radar site; siting of gun position on termite hill.
REEL 5 Continues: work of termites; strength of flight; resupply by De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; story of helping pilot start De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; checks on tidal levels; effect of presence of ground defence on technicians; relations with civilian populations on Char Chapli Island; night patrols accompanied by sons of village headman; wildlife on island including snakes and tigers; sight of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service bomber aircraft; 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 Char Chapli 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 Char Chapli 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 aircraftman with Royal Air Force Regiment, No 225 Group 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 aircraftman with No 1323 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment at RAF Palel in Burma, 7/1944-10/1944: arrival at forward airstrip; story of Imperial Japanese Army artillery bombardment of airstrip prior to his arrival; lack of attacks from Imperial Japanese Army Air Service 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 via Kohima, India to RAF Palel; nature of journey from Dimapur, India to RAF Palel; aircraft at RAF Palel; role of Hawker Hurricane MkIIB 'Hurribombers'; threat from Imperial Japanese Army snipers; strength of Royal Air Force Regiment at RAF Palel; reasons for orders to shoot on sight; dyeing khaki drill uniforms; problems with swampy ground; extent of vision at night; helping Royal Air Force ground crews arming aircraft; lack of incidents; accommodation and feeding arrangements; dehydrated mutton and it's 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 Royal Air Force Regiment Depot 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 Cannon. Recollections of operations as aircraftman with No 1307 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment in Burma, 11/1944-8/1945: move to Chittagong, India; character of road journey to Ramu, India; orders to move to Tamu; damage to vehicle on roads; relations with Royal Air Force officers; daily rates of movement on route to Tamu via Dimapur-Imphal road; stops during day; incident of rescue of British Indian Army troops from crashed Douglas Dakota after they had been deserted by United States Army Air Force aircrew; delivering aircraft parts forward from Imphal; nature of Japanese constructed airstrip; Supermarine Spitfire landing accidents; proximity of forward airstrips to front line; containment of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service activity; skills of Supermarine Spitfire pilots.
REEL 9 Continues: night-time low-level raid by lone Imperial Japanese Army Air Service bomber aircraft 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 Imperial Japanese Army Air Service air attack; situation in Meiktila; move to Toungoo; dealing with British Indian Army troops employed on sanitary work; transporting female civilian labourers; sight of dead Imperial Japanese Army gunners hanging from barrels of guns; opinion of his American manufactured 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 Truck's 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; guarding of perimeter of Toungoo airstrip by Gurkhas; leave in Calcutta, India including visits to cinema, drinking rum and rickshaw races; return from Calcutta, India to Toungoo; liberty runs into Rangoon; exchanges of rations with American service personnel; living day to day; visit from chaplain and church services; memories of end of Second World War at Toungoo, 15/8/1945; handing in rifle bolts and vehicle distributors.
REEL 12 Continues: relations with officers; comrade's pet dog. Aspects of period as airman with No 1307 Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment in French Indochina, 9/1945-12/1945: flight to Saigon; reasons for move to French Indochina; reasons for re-arming of Japanese military personnel; behaviour of Japanese military personnel; 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 life in GB, 1945-1946: flight to Meiktila, Burma; Christmas celebrations at Meiktila, Burma, 25/12/1945; flight to Calcutta, India; recovering deposited kit at Royal Air Force Regiment Depot at Secunderabad, India; in transit camp at Bombay, India; voyage from aboard HMT Reina del Pacifico from India to GB; arrival in Liverpool, GB, 2/1946; problems of drinking pints of beer; dietary problems; reasons for leaving Royal Air Force.
REEL 13 Continues: initial employment as garage mechanic; reaction to being directed to work in coalmines; obtaining work with engineering firm; adjustment to civilian life; advice to National Service conscripts; obtaining work as fitter at Watton Airfield.
