Description
Object description
British officer trained as pilot with RAF in GB and South Africa, 1941-1942; served as pilot with 159 and 160 Sqdns RAF flying operations over Burma, Malaya and Thailand, 1943-1945.
Content description
REEL 1: Background in London, GB, 1924-1941: family and education; evacuated to Northampton, 9/1939; reaction to outbreak of war; sporting and recreational activities including music; reasons for joining RAF and preference for Bomber Command, 1/1941. Recollections of period of training as pilot with RAF in GB and South Africa, 1941-1943: flying training on Tiger Moth with University Air Squadron, Glasgow and grading school in Chobham; problem of air sickness; posted to South Africa, 1942; description of journey and arrival in Johannesburg; stationed in Transvaal region; further description of flying training on Tiger Moth including problem of altitude; description of formation flying.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude to aerobatics training and opinion of instructor; description of advanced flying training on Airspeed Oxford; passing out parade; memories of fellow crew members; opinion of food and accommodation; recreational and sporting activities; attitude to flying training; return to GB and commissioned, 1942; opinion of uniform; posted to Perth, Scotland, for further flying training on Tiger Moth. Recollections of operations with 159 and 160 Sqdns RAF in India, 1943-1945: arrival in Bombay, 9/1943, and train journey to Calcutta; description of mission to find anti-aircraft guns; opinion of flying Liberator; opinion of Sqdn CO Wing Commander Blackburn; morale of 159 Sqdn; removal of turrets to decrease weight; sings 159 Sqdn song; memory of meeting Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, 1945.
REEL 3 Continues: story of bombing Bangkok station and listening to Tokyo Rose; posted to Communications Flight and attitude to flying Hurricane on photo reconnaissance mission; assigned to special duties dropping supplies and agents to Force 136 in Burma; description of Consolidated Liberator crew and ground crew; further description of night flying and mining operations; attitude to low level flying; memory of VJ Day in Calcutta hospital with pneumonia; flying operation spraying DDT to combat malaria; posted to 160 Sqdn, Ceylon; memory of flying POWs back from Changi Prison; attitude to Japanese; recreational activities; opinion of Consolidated Liberator.
REEL 4 Continues: description of weather conditions during flying operations; effects of humidity on aircraft and crews; opinion of rations; further description of flying training; description of attacking Japanese trains; attitude to leadership qualities. Aspects of post-war life and employment: civilian flying experiences; memory of fortune-teller on troop ship to India; reflections on period of service.
REEL 5 Continues: problems of adjusting to civilian life.