Description
Object description
British NCO served as navigator with 70 Sqdn No 231 Wing, RAF, Mediterranean Alled Strategic Air Force in Italy, 8/1944-11/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in East Ham, London, GB, 1922-1942: family; education and sporting activities; employment on docks with Port of London Authority. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB and South Africa, 4/1942-1/1944: reasons for volunteering as aircrew; enlistment and deferral of call-up, 4/1942; training at No 7 Initial Training Wing, RAF, Newquay, 1942; flying training at No 7 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Desford, 1942-1943; move to South Africa; training as navigator at No 48 Air Navigation School, East London, South Africa and problem of different hemisphere; qualifying as navigator, 1/1944; volunteering for service in Italy. Aspects of period as civilian in London, GB, 1940-1941: employment by Port of London Authority; interest in cycling; German air raids on East End, 9/1940; sight of docks on fire and bomb damage, 9/1940; father's illness and death.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period of training as navigator with RAF in South Africa, Egypt and Palestine, 1943-1944: voyage to South Africa, 1943; in transit camp in Durban, South Africa; story of diving accident; training at No 48 Air Navigation School, East London, South Africa; attitude to period of training; opinion of South Africa and question of apartheid system; move to Egypt; training on Vickers Wellington 1c in Palestine including mechanical problems and frequency of accidents; reaction to death of friends; crewing up and question of multi-tasking. Recollections of operations as navigator with 70 Sdqn, No 231 Wing, RAF, Mediterranean Alled Strategic Air Force in Italy, 8/1944-11/1944: posting to Foggia, Italy, 8/1944; opinion of Foggia Airfield; accommodation; recreational activities; opinion of rations.
REEL 3 Continues: messing arrangements; accommodation in tents; conversion of Vickers Wellington to Mk X; fellow crew members; reason for having two wireless operators; description of 'circuits and bumps' practise for pilots; using Gee navigational aid; memory of Commanding Officer; opinion of accommodation; preparations for first operation; attitude to role as navigator; navigators' briefing session; selection of targets and preparing flight plan; final aircraft checks; definition of term 'mag drop'; take off procedure and dropping bombs; question of speed and height over target; problem of oxygen; reason for low-flying; typical routine for night operation.
REEL 4 Continues: attitude to losses and number of operations; leave in Sorrento; description of being shot down over Yugoslavia, 19/11/1944; port wing hit by shell and problem of fire; problem of getting out of aircraft and landing on mountainside; nature of crew's injuries; aid recieved from Yugoslavian Partisans in village of Kolasin and journey across mountains to Niksic; flight back to Bari, Italy; return to GB, 1/1945; secret work using electrical calculating machine, 3/1945-3/1946; attitude towards service with RAF and problem of adjusting to civilian life