Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian in Berlin, Germany, 1921-1934; emigrated to GB, 1934; NCO served with Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps in GB, 1940-1941; trained as pilot with RAF in GB and US, 1941-1943; NCO and officer served as pilot with 609 Sqdn, RAF in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945; post-war career as film and theatre set designer.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspect of period in Berlin, Germany, 1921-1934: family background; father's employment as sports shop owner and financing expeditions and sporting activities; mother's family background; reason for leaving Germany, 1934; problem of anti-Semitism and closure of father's business due to boycott of Jewish firms; story of father being arrested and released; reason for choosing to emigrated to GB. Aspects of period in GB, 1934-1941: attended public school in Edinburgh; joined parents in London; problem of not being able to speak English; opinion of British lifestyle; learned English at preparatory school; early interest in art, theatre and cinema while living in Berlin; attended St Pauls School; articled to architect's firm age seventeen; story of mother opening boarding house in Hampstead for German and Austrian refugees; in reserved occupation doing architectural drawings for War Office; story of being arrested and interned as alien, 1940; volunteered for Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps while in internment camp; promoted corporal; opinion of officers; various changes of name. Aspects of operations with RAF in GB, Canada, US and North West Europe, 1941-1945 trained as pilot in GB and on Arnold Scheme in Canada and US, 1941-1943.
REEL 2 Continues: story of being reduced from pilot officer to sergeant pilot; re-commissioned, 11/1944; description of operations as Typhoon pilot with 609 Sdn RAF in North West Europe during Normandy campaign, France, 1944; drew Christmas cards for Sqdn; demobilized, 1947; attitude to fighting against Germans in war. Aspects of post-war career as film and theatre set designer: artistic influences; description of work as set designer including James Bond films; further role contributing to screenplays for films; attitude to influence of work on others.
REEL 3 Continues: further comments on work as set designer.