Description
Object description
British NCO served as navigator with 101 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940; POW in Vichy French Tunisia, 1940-1942; officer served with 100 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943-1944
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training as NCO with RAF in GB, 1939-1940: background to enlistment in RAF, 6/1940; start of training as observer/navigator at Prestwick, 11/1939; opinion of Fairey Battle; method of navigating aircraft; duration of navigational training, 11/1939-7/1940; examination position. Aspects of operations as NCO navigator with 101 Sqdn in GB, 7/1940- 8/1940: memories of crew; story of evasion of fighters on flight to Middle East; targets attacked, 7/1940-8/1940; character of ferry flight from GB to North Africa. Recollections of period as POW in Tunisia, 81940- 11/1942: forced landing in Tunisia, 27/8/1940; treatment by Vichy French in Tunis; nature of prison accommodation.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of French captors; number of Allied POWs; consequences of escape attempt; move to camp on edge of Sahara, 4/1942; digging tunnel; effects of increase in number of POWs; work on camp newspaper; release from captivity and return to GB, 11/1942; effects of captivity; fate of crew. Recollections of operations as navigator with 100 Sqdn, RAF, 1943-1944: fate of aircraft; problems of acquiring air gunners; prior recollections of social life with 101 Sqdn, 1940; navigational training prior to joining unit from 5/1943; story of crash landing during training, 8/1943.
REEL 3 Continues: problems with officious railway conductor whilst attempting to get seats on train; training on H2S and Gee; effect on personal morale of being constantly occupied during operations; wind factors effecting time/routes of operational flights; effects of jet stream on bomber stream; dealing with German fighters; reaction to being caught in searchlight beam; air gunners dealing with searchlights; threat of anti-aircraft fire; German use of scarecrows; attitude towards strategic bombing; bombing of Duisberg; question of counselling; importance of H2S on operational tour.
REEL 4 Continues: question of avoiding collisions; reasons for aircraft not appearing over target at same time; reaction to attacks by German night fighters; question of coning and effects of predicted anti-aircraft fire; detailing of crew to fly with other crews during 1/1944; case of Lack of Moral Fibre; problems of landing with large bomb on board aircraft; fate of air gunners who had LMF; effects of loss of H2S; responsibilities of navigator and bomb aimers in Avro Lancaster; point at which bombs are released; navigational techniques; question of award of decorations at end of tour; story of The Times review of his book and publishing of book.
REEL 5 Continues: comments on sharing corned beef amongst POWs in Vichy French prison camp in North Africa; end of tour and loss of former aircraft, 7/1944; background to publishing book; demobilisation, 1945.