Interview with Leonard Vincent Knowles

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Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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Sound: © IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British aircraftman served as wireless fitter with Royal Air Force in GB, Aden, Aden Protectorate and Somalia, 1947-1949; civilian employed by Flight Refuelling Ltd in Germany during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 2/1949-8/1949

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Southampton and New Forest, GB, 1928-1946: family; German Air Force bombing of family home; use of air raid shelter; education; employment; brothers' military service during Second World War; membership of 9th (Forest) Bn Hampshire Home Guard in New Forest, 1941-1944; employment in saw mill; German Air Force raid on Southampton, 9/1940; victory celebrations, 1945. Recollections of period as wireless fitter with Royal Air Force in GB, Aden, Aden Protectorate and Somalia, 1946-1949: reaction to call-up for National Service; pattern of training as wireless fitter; living conditions at No 2 Radio School, RAF at RAF Yatesbury during winter 1946-1947; clearing snow drifts at No 1 Radio School, RAF at RAF Cranwell; overseas posting to Aden. REEL 2 Continues: servicing aircraft; organisation of fitters on airfield; daily routine in Aden; accommodation; Arab demonstrations at time of partition of Palestine; detachment to Somalia; emergency landing of civilian aircraft; composition of detachment in Somalia; acquiring of cheetah as mascot; return to GB; attitude towards National Service; extension of his National Service at RAF Upper Heyford; duties at RAF Upper Heyford; demobilisation and problems obtaining employment. Recollections of period as civilian wireless fitter with Flight Refuelling Ltd in Germany during Berlin Airlift, 2/1949-8/1949: obtaining employment with company; flight to Germany, 2/1949; role of company's aircraft; status; shifts worked; losses of company Avro Lancasters during Berlin Airlift. REEL 3 Continues: types of aircraft operated by company carrying fuel; German civilian de-icing crew at RAF Wunstorf; move to Hamburg; servicing schedule; indiscipline amongst aircrew; role of civilian contractors during airlift; relations with Germans; leave periods; scaling down of operations after lifting of blockade; his paying off, 8/1949; pattern of employment on return to GB; degree of awareness of importance of Berlin Airlift.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content), 1945-1989 (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
White, Jo (Recorder)
Knowles, Leonard Vincent (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2004-02-09
Dimensions: whole: Duration 90, Number Of Items 3
Catalogue number: 26731

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Interview with Leonard Vincent Knowles

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