Description
Object description
Australian NCO served as pilot with 3 Sqdn, Royal Australian Air Force, No 285 Wing, Western Desert Air Force and Desert Air Force in North Africa, 9/1942-5/1943; officer served with 6 Sqdn, Balkan Air Force, RAF in Italy and Yugoslavia, 1943-1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Fremantle, Australia, 1922-1941: family; early interest in aviation; attitude to education and employment; joining Royal Australian Air Force, 1941; living conditions during Depression; how GB was regarded; reaction to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's speech on return from Munich, Germany, 9/1938; attitude towards Germans and prospect of war; degree of understanding of Nazism; hearing declaration of Second World War, 9/1939; memories of Squadron Leader Neville Duke and Wing Commander Howard 'Billy' Burton. Recollections of enlistment and training as pilot with Royal Australian Air Force in Australia, 1941-1942: determination to join Royal Australian Air Force; amusing story relating to white band worn by recruits; attitude to basic training and status as Hostilities Only personnel; initial difficulties with slow roll; reasons for not using aerobatics during aerial combat; soloing.
REEL 2 Continues: awareness of German Air Force aircraft types; characteristics of Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk.II; attitude to threat of Germans; mother's reaction to his joining Royal Australian Air Force; preponderance of uniforms in Australian society. Aspects of voyage from Australia to Egypt via Ceylon, 1942: reaction to leaving Australia; stay in Ceylon. Recollections of operations as pilot with 3 Sqdn, Royal Australian Air Force, No 285 Wing, Western Desert Air Force and Desert Air Force in North Africa, 9/1942-5/1943: posting to squadron; obtaining lift to squadron and overnight stop; reception at squadron, 13/9/1942; opinion of towns in North Africa; opinion of Italian forces; quality of rations; amusing story of visit to unit medical officer; importance of luck during wartime; method of navigation; impressions of General Bernard Montgomery; visits to Alexandria, Egypt.
REEL 3 Continues: story of interview with parents of Greek girlfriend; reasons for not getting married in wartime; character of wartime marriages; status of new pilots in squadron; flight testing; introduction of pilot's mess; messing facilities; lighting at night; opinion of Deutsches Afrika Korps and their weaponry; orders not to carry German weapon whilst flying; pattern of flying training and it's relevance to aerial combat; story of potential consequences of having a German surname and chance he was given to leave North Africa to fight Japanese; memories of Wing Commander Peter Jeffrey.
REEL 4 Continues: reasons for staying with squadron; character of barrage at Battle of El Alamein, 23/10/1942; duties during battle; speech by General Montgomery; nature of German anti-aircraft fire; opinion of American servicemen in contrast with British; use of 'Gaggle Board' and conditions of readiness; story of escorting Gordon Brown's damaged aircraft back to base; incident of commanding officer Squadron Leader Robert Gibbes reaction to pilot breaking neck in crash; state of alertness during first operation; daily routine during operations; threat of German anti-aircraft fire; question of being taken prisoner by Germans and Italians; behaviour of Italian Air Force bomber crews.
REEL 5 Continues: under German Air Force bombing; character of Italian Air Force Macchi fighter aircraft; characteristics of Hawker Hurricane; sound made by German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber; case of unexploded bomb near tent; appearance of anti-aircraft and incoming fire; explanation of weaving and formation flown; later story of bailing out of Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV (KZ574) JV-F whilst serving with 6 Sqdn, RAF over Kornat Island, Yugoslavia and subsequent rescue and treatment by Yugoslav Partisans, 15/7/1944; pilot who suffered from fatigue; treatment of pilot suffering from fatigue; night flying.
REEL 6 Continues: test flying aircraft with faults; incident when his airspeed indicator mis-functioned; degree to which pilots were superstition; reputation of Australian servicemen in Egypt; story of squadron officer who got into trouble on leave; comparison of Australian and British rates of pay; behaviour of British Army troops on leave; question of impersonating officers; prevalence of venereal disease in Egypt; relations with Greek civilians; Greek attitude to British and Commonwealth forces; squadron spirit; reaction to casualties; method of sorting out kit of casualties.
REEL 7 Continues: effect on squadron morale on losses; attacking German forces attempting to evacuate from Tunisia, 1943; German Deutsches Afrika Korps troops reaction to strafing attacks; flying No 2 to Flying Officer John Hooke when they accidentally attacked hospital ship; duration of patrols; lack of boredom; impressions of General Harold Alexander; opinion of General Thomas Blamey; amusing story of stealing sports car in Tunisia and subsequent events.
REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of period in transit in Italy, 1943: accommodation in transit camp in Naples; visit to Pompeii; treatment for hangovers; application to join squadron. Recollections of operations as pilot with 6 Sqdn, Balkan Air Force, RAF in Italy and Yugoslavia, 1943-1944: reception at squadron in Foggia, Italy; terms on joining squadron; initial duties; presence of Italian Air Force units on airfield; character of Yugoslavia and Yugoslav Partisans; firing rockets.
REEL 9 Continues: move to Termoli, Italy; flight to Yugoslavia to liaise with Yugoslav Partisans; relations with Yugoslav political commissar; account of rocket attack on German Navy ship in Zavranica Bay, Yugoslavia, 19/9/1944; ditching Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV (LD169) JV-S with engine failure after hit by anti-aircraft fire over Zavranica Bay, Yugoslavia, 19/9/1944 ; escape from sinking aircraft, 19/9/1944; getting into dinghy and rescue by Yugoslav civilians; evacuation from Yugoslavia to Italy.
REEL 10 Continues: degree of understanding of political situation in Yugoslavia; termination of tour; attempt to get posting to London; discussion of badges worn; memories of Josip Tito; nature of blood chit carried; situation in Yugoslavia; range of operations undertaken in Yugoslavia; character of rockets; method of attack target with rockets; reaction of Germans to prospect of being attacked by rockets; attitude to duties and role as flight commander; dealing with casualties; briefing for operations.
REEL 11 Continues: Reflections on wartime relationships: question of forming of relations in wartime with reference to personal experiences; diverting to Bari, Italy during flight; meeting second New Zealand girlfriend in Kiwi Club, Bari, Italy; taking on role as liaison officer; other aspects of wartime relations; move to transit camp in Egypt; return to Australia and meeting up with girlfriend.
REEL 12 Continues: inviting girlfriend to tea with parents; post-war visit to former girlfriend in New Zealand; contrast between wartime and post-war relationships; nature of wartime relationships. Reflections on service with Royal Australian Air Force: reaction to end of Second World War; return to home in Australia; question of remaining in Royal Australian Air Force; adjusting to civilian life; amusing story of clash between officer and commanding officer in 3 Sqdn, Royal Australian Air Force.
REEL 13 Continues: opportunities available on return to civilian life; employment; lack of skills necessary to become commercial pilot; award of Distinguished Flying Cross; achievements of 6 Sqdn, Balkan Air Force, RAF in Yugoslavia; question of outcome of Second World War and how many unemployed joined Australian armed forces; lessons learnt for wartime experiences; attitude to having served in Royal Australian Air Force during Second World War.