Drake, Billy (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 1 Sqdn, RAF in GB and France, 1937-1940; served as instructor at 6 Operational Training Unit, RAF Sutton Bridge, GB, 1940; served with 421 Flight, RAF in GB, 1940-1941 including Battle of Britain; served as instructor with 53 Operational Training Unit at RAF Heston, GB, 1941; served with 128 Sqdn, RAF in Sierra Leone and 260 Sqdn, RAF in North Africa, 1941-1942; commanded 112 Sqdn, RAF in North Africa, 1942-1943; served with Headquarters, Middle East and 203 Group in Middle East, 1943; commanded Krendi Wing in Malta, 1943; commanded 136 Wing, RAF in GB, 1943-1944; served as instructor at Fighter Leaders' School at RAF Milfield, GB, 1944; student at US Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, US, 1944-1945; served as staff officer with SHAEF Headquarters, North West Europe, 1945. Various postings as officer with RAF, 1945-1962

REEL 1 Background in GB and Switzerland, 1917-1936: family; early education and interest in aviation; character of education at schools in Switzerland; hobbies; flight with Alan Cobham's Flying Circus. Recollections of enlistment and pilot training with RAF in GB, 1936-1937: parent's attitude to his joining RAF; selection interview; training with Avro Cadet with Air Service Training at Hamble including spinning, elementary aerobatics and navigation; instructors; kitting out; move to 6 Flying Training School; ground instruction, flying tests and blind flying; near failure of Chief Instructor's Flying Test, 1/1/1937. REEL 2 Continues: sight of world altitude record holder Sqdn Leader Swain at RAF Netheravon; opinion of Hawker Fury; accident on returning from training camp; opinion of pilot skills; gunnery training. Recollections of period as pilot with 1 Sqdn, RAF in GB and France, 1937-1940: wish to fly fighter aircraft; posting to unit at RAF Tangmere; emphasis on formation flying and lack of tactics; briefing from British Air Attache in Berlin on German Air Force tactics, 1938; emphasis on aerobatics; relations with fellow officers; mess life and sport; operating two season flying routine; encouragement to visit other RAF airfields; story of experiencing contrails; on stand by during Munich Crisis, 11/1938. REEL 3 Continues: converting onto Hawker Hurricane at Brooklands; opinion of Hawker Hurricane; impressions of Squadron Leader Patrick 'Bull' Halahan; role of squadron leaders and flight commanders; relations with Flight Lieutenant 'Johnnie' Walker and Flying Officer Prosser Hanks; memories of Flying Officer Leslie Clisby, Flying Officer Paul Richey, Flying Officer 'Killy' Kilmartin, Flying Officer 'Pussy' Palmer and Pilot Officer 'Boy' Mould; relations with NCO pilots; move to Le Harve area, 9/1939; memories of French liaison officer Jean 'Moses' Demozay; accommodation during winter, 1939-1940; lack of ground control; move to Vassincourt; shooting down of Messerschmitt Me 109, 19/4/1940 Recollections of operations as pilot with 1Sqdn, RAF during Battle of France, 5/1940: start of German attacks, 10/5/1940; reaction to first day in action; move to Berry-au- Bac. REEL 4 Continues: Prosser Hanks' leadership during first patrol, 12/5/1940; bailing out of aircraft during attack on Dornier, 13/5/1940; medical treatment received from French; evacuation to chateau; aid from girlfriend in Paris; evacuation to GB; adaptation of armoured seat to Hawker Hurricane; discovery of his Hawker Hurricane, 2003; wounds and clothing worn. Period as flying instructor with 6 Operational Training Unit, RAF Sutton Bridge, 6/1940-10/1940: posting to unit; degree to which combat experience; amusing story of dogfighting with Polish pilot. Aspects of operations as pilot with 421 Flight, RAF, 10/1940-2/1941: role of flight to shadow German formations; reasons for being summoned to see Air Vice Marshal Keith Park; requesting Supermarine Spitfires; estimating numbers of German formations; opinion of Keith Park and his tactics; introduction of new tactics. REEL 5 Continues: tactics employed by flight; relations with Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh Mallory. Period as instructor at 53 Operational Training Unit at RAF Heston, 2/1941-9/1941: introduction of new fighter tactics; correct distance to open fire at; memories of Group Captain Ira 'Taffy' Jones; problems of training instructors; characteristics of fighter pilots; memories of Johnnie Kent. Aspects of operations as pilot with 128 Sqdn, RAF in Sierra Leone, 10/1941-3/1942: posting to unit; operating from West Africa; influence of Air Vice Marshal Keith Park on his leaving unit; shooting down of Vichy French aircraft, 12/1941. Period as pilot with 260 Sqdn in Middle East, 4/1942-5/1942: flight to join unit; contracting malaria; opinion of Curtiss P40 Kittyhawk. Recollections of operations as commanding officer of 112 Sqdn, RAF in North Africa, 6/1942-1/1943: taking command of squadron; changes in desert air war; origins of unit insignia; role as squadron commander. REEL 6 Continues: use of pilot messes; accommodation; water rationing and insistence on pilot's shaving; flying kit worn including scarf; imposing leadership on squadron; character of airstrips; airfield defence; problems with sand; reasons for taking off line abreast; further details of Curtiss P40 Kittyhawk and its role as ground attack aircraft; reaction to squadron taking over ground attack role; evolving ground attack techniques; targets and heights operated at; numbers of aircraft operated. REEL 7 Continues: method of controlling operations; navigating over desert; briefing of pilots; technique for attacking German airfields; attack of German airfield and destruction of large number of Messerschmitts Me 109s, 6/1942; method of escorting light/medium bombers; method of moving squadron between airstrips; attacking soft targets and armoured vehicles; close support for Free French at Bir Hakheim; leading squadron in the air; question of casualties; importance of leader experience; discussion of tactics; dealing with pilot stress and effects of fatigue. REEL 8 Continues: opportunies to attack Axis aircraft; personal claims; attacking Junkers Ju 87 Stukas; impressions of aerial combat; role of wing man; opinion of Italian pilots; importance of radio transmission discipline; method of turning squadron to face attack; role of squadron leader in combat; claims by Joachim Marseilles to have shot him down; attitude towards German pilots; last combat with squadron and forced landing; use of personal markings and aircraft; importance of good eyesight. Period with Headquarters, Middle East and 203 Group in Middle East, 1/1943-4/1943: posting, 1/1943; leading group of Bristol Blenheims from Kenya to Cairo. Aspects of operations commanding Krendi Wing in Malta, 6/1943-10/1943: background to taking command; role as wing leader. REEL 9 Continues: reactions to effect of supercharger kicking in on Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX; incident of having problem judging height; gunnery practice during voyage from Malta to GB aboard HMS Rodney. Aspects of operations as commanding officer of 136 Wing, RAF in GB, 12/1943- 4/1944: taking command of unit, 12/1943; impressions of Hawker Typhoon and use of bombs and rockets; problems with Hawker Typhoon engines including forced landing at RAF Biggin Hill; attacking V1 targets; attack on Cherbourg and subsequent recriminations; posting to Fighter Leaders' School at RAF Milfield, 4/1944-9/1944. Period at US Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, 10/1944-1/1945: posting to staff school; opinion of American pilots; brotherhood of RAF pilots. REEL 10 Continues: Aspects of period as staff officer with SHAEF Headquarters at Rheims, 3/1945-6/1945: duties; borrowing Sir James Robb's personal Supermarine Spitfire; opinion of Eisenhower; sight of German officers arriving to surrender; dealing with returning RAF POWs; organising fly past for Marshal Zhukov's visit; taking part in victory flypast. Various postings with RAF, 1945-1963: visit to Hiroshima; posting to Malaya; posting to Day Fighter Leaders School at RAF West Raynham; flying Gloster Meteors; mass take offs as wing leader at RAF Linton-on-Ouse; question of reason for Gloster Meteor accidents; loss of wing leaders during Korean War; appointment as deputy chief of intelligence, 2nd Tactical Air Force; taking former German pilot in jet aircraft; intelligence duties; duties at Air Attaché in Switzerland. REEL 11 Continues: amusing story of attempting covert spying mission; flying English Electric Lightening; role of station commander at RAF Chivenor, 1962; attitude to serving with RAF. Story of encounter with officer in mess at RAF Tangmere, 1937.