Bernard, Dave (Oral history)

British NCO served with 419 Flight, RAF based in GB and operating over North West Europe, 1940-1941; shot down over Namur, Belgium, 17/2/1941; POW in Germany and Poland, 1941-1945; escape and service with Soviet unit, 1945; training and commission, 1945-1948; 6-1947service as cryptology officer at RAF Headquarters, Gibraltar, 1947; service as signal officer with Headquarters, Coastal Command, RAF Northwood, GB, 1948: service as as signal officer at RAF Kinloss, 1948-1950, RAF College, Cranwell, GB, 1950-1952, Signals Command, RAF in GB, 1954-1955, Air Ministry, London, GB, 1954-1955; service commanding RAF Commcenter, Ayios Nikolias Camp, Famagusta, Cyprus, 1956-1959; service as inspector of radio services, RAF, 1959-1963; service as commanding officer of Tactical Communications Wing, RAF, 1963-1966; various postings with Air Ministry, NATO, Ministry of Defence and RAF, 1966-1975; Vice-Chairman of RAF Ex-POW Association, 1982-2004

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Liverpool, London and Wirral, 1920-1939: social circumstances; education; interests in science and making wireless sets; sporting activities; unofficial OTC activities organised by school; musical and Boy Scouts activities; student apprenticeship with Automatic Telephone Company, 1937-1939, including work on bomb fuses, aircraft microphone testing, securing technical qualifications, work on wireless controlled 'Queen Bee' Tiger Moth aircraft; story of flight with Alan Cobham, 1935. REEL 2 Continues: awareness of approach of war; prior brief period as cadet aboard HMS Worcester in River Medway, 1929; unofficial recruitment into 611 Auxiliary Sqdn, RAF at Speke Airfield, 1939; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; recruitment as aircraftman 2nd class into RAF, 4/9/1939; question of reserved occupation status. Period at Reception Centre, RAF Padgate, 9/1939-10/1939: kitting out; barrack accommodation; drill; preparations for kit inspections. Recollections of period at Wireless School, RAF, Yatesbury, 10/1939-12/1939: Morse code and signals training; cold weather; relationship with recruits and instructors. Period at Gunnery School, RAF, Stormy Down, Wales, 12/1939-2/1940. REEL 3 Continues: Lewis gun training; theory of aerial shooting; flights in Westland Wapati including use of camera gun and beach targets; introduction to parachutes. Period as training as wireless operator/air gunner at No 10 Operational Training Unit at RAF Abingdon, 3/1940-5/1940: ground training in turrets; system of requesting wireless direction finding; cross country flights in Anson and Whitley; bombing exercises; Browning guns in rear turret; use of 1082 receiver and 1083 transmitter wireless sets; aircraft intercom system; harmonisation of Brownings in turret; Identification Friend or Foe system (IFF); ditching and dinghy drill in swimming pool; identification as potential wireless instructor. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of period as flight sergeant wireless instructor at No 10 Operational Training Unit at RAF Abingdon, 5/1940-7/1940: role training wireless operators; ground training aircraft wireless simulation; anti-invasion patrols with Flight Sergeant Freddie Steel in Anson along East coast, 6/1940-7/1940; emergency landing training; nature of Anson; raids in Whitley on German invasion barges on Dutch coast; question of wartime Bomber Command casualties; nature of Whitley; story of crash landing in Whitley including use of Grosvenor switch to trigger gas fire extinguisher and self sealing fuel tanks; wing de-icer; question of adequacy of wireless operators and pilots; excessive number of flying hours. Recollections of period with 419 Flight, RAF based at RAF North Weald, Stapleford Abbots and Stradishall, 7/1940-2/1941: journey from Abingdon; story of sleeping in hut containing unexploded bomb; secrecy; fitting wireless receiver and guns to new Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. REEL 5 Continues: fitting wireless receiver and guns to new Whitley; story of dropping agent Philip Sneidow at Fontainbleu, France, 8/1940, including prior briefing at RAF Tangmere, secrecy, composition of crew including wireless operator gunner Dai Davies, parachute specialist Corporal Campbell, pilot Flight Lieutenant Jackie Ottel and 2nd pilot/navigator, opinion of Sneidow, suitcase wireless set, advantage of moonlit conditions for navigation to dropping zone at race course, successful jump by Sneidow and return to GB; German bombing raid which put RAF North Weald out of action; move to RAF Stapleford Abbots; tent accommodation; missions dropping agents in France; mission landing to pick up Sneidow in Lysander including use of new walkie-talkie; German bombing raids including problems with shrapnel from anti-aircraft fire and effects of parachute mine; relationship with fighter pilots; move into farm billets; story of crash landing Whitley during flight to RAF Stradishall, 10/1942. REEL 6 Continues: aftermath of crash and inexperience of pilot; policy of starting and finishing missions from different airfields; German air raid on Stradishall; missions dropping agents in France and Belgium; reason for not dropping agents into Netherlands; story of German straffing raid on RAF Tangmere; superstition over 13th mission on13/9/1940; over-comming problems of non-recognition of secret call sign; flight to drop agents into Poland, 2/1941, including aircraft modifications, route, problems with head wind, cod conditions in rear turret, Browning armament, parachute dropping arrangements, prior practise parachute over sea, prior meal, problems with head wind, moonlit conditions, German anti-aircraft fire and nightfighters, attitude to Polish agents, successful drop of agents and return to GB; flight to drop agents over Namur, France, 17/2/1941, including dropping agents, dropping cover 'propaganda leaflets, effect of hits on engine by German anti-aircraft fire, engine failure, throwing out excess weight, opinion of pilot Flight Lieutenant Frank Keaste and impossibility of parachuting at low altitude. REEL 7 Continues: flight to drop agents over Namur, Belgium, 17/2/1941, including impossibility of parachuting at low altitude, special personal parachute, assuming crash position, effects of crash landing in wood, success in destroying IFF device and puncturing tanks to set fire to Whitley; washing kit and compass carried; capture by German soldiers; escort into Namur. Recollections of interrogation at Gestapo headquarters, Namur, 2/1941: German discovery of special personal parachute; forcible removal of front tooth; reception from Belgian civilians. Train journey via Luxembourg to Frankfurt on Oder, Germany, 2/1941: German guards; confiscation of possessions; attempt to escape; reunification with air crew. Recollections of period at Dulag Luft, Oberussal, 2/1941-3/1941: nature of camp; interrogation methods; opinion of Zondefuhrer Eberhardt; German suspicions as to Bernard's involvement in espionage activities; solitary confinement and sleep deprivation; fatigue. REEL 8 Continues: suspension of interrogation and release into main compound; camp layout; food; hut accommodation; meeting rest of air crew; question of hidden German microphones; train journey to Barth. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at Stalag Luft I, Barth, 3.1941-: initial solitary confinement for interrogation; mice pets; view of compound; release into NCOs' compound and story of mistaking them for French POWs due to uniforms; assignment to Hut 3; bed and bedding; opinion of Senior British NCO 'Dixie' Davies and story of his successful protest against German punishment method of issuing Red Cross parcel food; food rations and cookhouse delays in issue of Red Cross parcels caused by bible deliveries; Red Cross parcels; informal 'combines' to share food and carry out routine tasks; theatrical and musical activities; opinion of Flight Sergeants Alfred Fripp, Ronnie Mogg and Peter Thomas. REEL 9 Continues: educational activities and taking City and Guilds finals in wireless engineering and communications; walking perimeter circuit and opinion of Flight Sergeant 'Tiny' Bushell; sporting activities including football, making ice skates for ice hockey and rugby; question of organisation of NCO Compound; laundry; gardening activities; uses of KLIM tins and metalwork activities including method of soldering; method of making turbine forge to produce case hardened steel; method of making clock; method of producing wine from blackcurrant puree and subsequent distillation to produce spirit; use of various forms of dried fruit to produce alcohol with still; drinking habits; method of brewing making beer. REEL 10 Continues: improvements to brewing; making biscuit grinder to produce flour; making Christmas cakes and pies; method of producing skeleton key; activities of German 'ferrets' and role of duty pilot to monitor their movements; story of raid with 'Tiny' Bushell to steel beer from German canteen, 12/1941; method of manufacturing wireless including bribery to subvert guards to secure parts, concealment in chimney, tuning into BBC, dissemination of news reports and electricity supply and morale value; coded letters system; account of tunnelling activities from latrine hut including volunteering, plans for three tunnels to confuse German microphones planted in ground, role of Escape Committee, entrance from toilet cess pit and consequent nickname 'Stinker'. REEL 11 Continues: account of tunnelling activities from latrine hut including makeshift digging tools, tunnel dimensions, use of bed board props, claustrophobic atmosphere, method of removing earth, nature of air pump and ventilation system, subsequent value of tunnelling experience, method of making clinometer with compass, spirit level and sighting device, numbers of prisoners involved, duty pilot system to monitor movements of German 'ferrets', method of disposing earth by 'penguins', misuse of clinometer and consequent accidental breaking through into anti-tunnelling ditch, German use of Russian prisoner to follow tunnel back to shaft in latrines, question of silence when tunnelling and reactions to German discovery of tunnel; move to Sagan, 6/1942; story of failed escape attempt by prisoners disguised as German guards with Russian POW workers during laying of drainage pipes; opinion of Warrant Officer Glenmitz; story of seeing failed attempt by Lieutenant Commander Peter Butterworth to escape disguised as German guard. REEL 12 Continues: story of seeing failed attempt by Lieutenant Commander Peter Butterworth to escape disguised as German guard; cold conditions; story of attempt with Flight Sergeant 'Paddy' Flynn to steal coal from German cookhouse; reactions to news of Dieppe raid, 1942; relationship with German guards; 'Dear John' letters received by prisoners; question of location of camp near German Anti-aircraft batteries; story of disrupting German marching song; story of failed attempt to prevent transfer of two prisoners; escape attempt by prisoners while leaving camp; conditions during train journey to Sagan. Recollections of conditions, lifestyle and daily routine at NCO Compound, Stalag Luft III, Sagan, 6/1942-6/1943: German device to remove tree stumps; nature of Hut 52; development of philosophy of POW life and relationships between prisoners; stories illustrating cooking arrangements. REEL 13 Continues: creating reserve of Red Cross parcels for 'combine'; food bartering system; question of voluntary levy of camp money from crew officers for NCOs; parcels from GB; sporting activities; theatrical activities including building theatre, making dimmer switches, nature of productions, acting in play, repairing piano, orchestra and female impersonators; absence of homosexuality; question of absence of women; gramophones; importance of notice board; attempt to learn German; painting Christmas cards; model yacht sailed on fire pond; steam-powered motorboat made by Flight Sergeant Johnny Bristow; wood carving of Polish POWs. REEL 14 Continues: casting and making cap badges, rank insignia on promotion to warrant officer, German belt buckle and gold braid; method of making and soling shoes; question of escape organisation; role of Warrant Officer Johnny Bristow in making wireless sets concealed in gramophone and billy can; building wireless set concealed in hut wall and methods used in of making resisters, tuning condensers, voltmeter, power transformer, coils and capacitors; abandonment of involvement in tunnelling; attempts by Warrant Officers Alan Morris and George Grimson to escape disguised as German officer and NCO during diversion created by theatrical performance. REEL 15 Continues: story of successful attempt by Warrant Officer George Grimson to cross wire disguised as German electrician and his subsequent recapture after establishing chain of supportive civilians willing to help escape POWs; suicides; clothing provision role of Flight Sergeant Dai Davies and his subsequent mental problems; personal morale; state of health; medical treatment available from French surgeon; lice and bed bug problems; searches by German guards; use of nicknames; story of prisoners subversion of German guard dog and attempt to escape as German dog handler; purpose of escape attempts; method of making electric kettle, wire cutters and blow lamp; prisoners success in grinding lens and constructing camera. REEL 16 Continues: background to remaining behind to assist new influx of US officer prisoners on departure of main body of British NCO prisoners; question of selection for move to Stalag Luft IV, Balaria; negotiating with German guards on behalf of US officers; relationship with Colonel Spring; subsequent ignorance of Great Escape; train journey to Balaria. Recollections of peridon at Stalag Luft IV, Balaria, 6/1943-1/1945: situation; opinion of Warrant Officer Alan Morris; building wireless concealed in wall and its discovery through incompetence of signal officer; wireless made by Post Office sent out concealed in chocolate bar and it subsequent discovery by Germans; method of making wireless including earphone, use of valves secured from German guard and concealment in books; impossibility of building wireless transmitter; operating wireless with Warrant Officer Alan Morris; question of escape; following progress of war through wireless and German propaganda broadcasts. REEL 17 Continues: question of efficiency of security systems to protect escape activities; searches by Gestapo; concealed rucksack in mattress; BBC warning to stay in camp, ca 12/1944; orders to move out of camp, 1/1945; stealing carpentry tools to make sledge; German relaxation on guard on inner wire divisions in camp; role of Warrant Officer Alan Morris in organising evacuation of camp. Recollections of march to west, 1/1945: clothes and boots; route; cold conditions and problems with frozen boots; operating wireless at factory overnight stop; bartering cigarettes for food; contact with German tank unit and negotiations to secure lorry to carry prisoners unable to walk; story of foraging for food and assistance from Polish women working on farm; rejoining column. Train journey to Buchenwald Concentration Camp, 1/1945: disposing of wireless and concealing key parts in loaf. REEL 18 Continues: disposing of wireless and concealing key parts in loaf. Period at Buchenwald Concentration Camp, c1/1945-4/1945: prior affliction with chronic earache; reception; medical treatment from Yugoslavian ear specialist prisoner in sickbay; severe deafness and inability to hear nearby Allied bombing raid; over-crowded hut accommodation; plans to escape with Corporal 'Dinger' Bell. Recollections of escape from Buchenwald Concentration Camp, 4/1945-5/1945: escaping under wire; journey to east; assistance from Polish civilians; meeting Soviet tank; horse transport; issue with pistol and accompanying Soviet patrols; news of end of war, 5/1945; question of crossing River Elbe to join US troops. Period in former German POW Camp, ca 5/1945-7/1945: being duped into entering camp; treatment form Soviet guards; horse meat; question of status as hostages for return of Soviet defectors; food; relationship with Soviet guards; case of Soviet guard stealing from British prisoner. REEL 19 Continues: execution of Soviet guard stealing from British prisoner; question of escape; lack of communication with GB; release and hand over to US troops, ca 7/1945. Recollections of journey back to GB, 7/1945-8/1945: state of countryside; flights via Brussels. Period at RAF Prisoners Reception Centre at Cosford and Maidstone, 8/1945: role of Wing Commander G C Massey; reception process including kitting out, debriefing and medical; leave and acclimatising to civilian lifestyle; decision to take short service commission. Attending various signal officers' course and commission, 1946-1947. Period as cryptology officer at RAF Headquarters, Gibraltar, 1947: varied duties; checking secret documents; cipher work; question of extension to commission. REEL 20 Continues: extension to commission. Period at Headquarters, Coastal Command, RAF Northwood, 1948: award of permanent commission; role as signal officer. Period as signal officer at RAF Kinloss, 1948-1950. Period as signal officer at RAF College, Cranwell, 1950-1952: prior course; story of move from Kinloss; role as sailing master in yachts and story of being caught in storm, 1952. Attending radar and signals course at RAF Debden, c1953. Period at Signals Command, RAF in GB, 1954-1955. Period as signals officer at Air Ministry, London, 1954-1955. Period as commanding RAF Commcenter, Ayios Nikolias Camp, Famagusta, Cyprus, 1956-1959: precautions against EOKA attacks; centres role as worldwide communications centre; improving procedures; providing communications for army; question of EOKA attacks; assault course. Period as inspector of radio services, RAF, 1959-1963. REEL 21 Continues: Period as commanding officer of Tactical Communications Wing, RAF, 1963-1966: role setting up forward radio stations and tactical headquarters in event of emergencies; demonstrations; story of deployment to Zambia, 25/12/1966-26/12/1966; negotiating to establish radio station in Zaire and various other African countries. Recollections of various postings with Air Ministry, NATO, Ministry of Defence and RAF, 1966-1975: period as controller of staff and personnel at NATo; relationship with German NATO officers; abandoning installations on move of NATO headquarters to Netherlands and question of compensation to French farmers; question of introduction of computerises message system; question of introduction of fax system. REEL 22 Continues: question of introduction of fax system and encryption device; responsibility for all radio communications for Strike Command, RAF; retirement as Wing Commander, 1975. Post-service career: period as consultant in computer message switching for shipping firm, 1975-1976; period with flight simulation firm, 1976-1985; role as vice-chairman of RAF Ex-POW Assoc, 1982-2004; lectures to commemorate sacrifice of Bomber Command.