Interview with Arthur Edwin James

British aircraftman trained as air gunner with No 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, RCAF at RCAF Paulson, No 3 Air Observer School, RCAF at RCAF Portage la Prairie and No 5 Operational Training Unit, RCAF at RCAF Boundary Bay, 5/1944-5/1945; NCO served as air gunner with 159 Sqdn, No 185 Wing, No 321 Group, Strategic Air Force, Eastern Air Command, RAF in India, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Birmingham, GB, 1924-1943: family; education; membership of Air Training Corps; attitude to outbreak of war; blackout; firewatching duties; employment building aircraft and gliders. Aspects of training as aircraftman with Royal Air Force in GB, 1943-1944: attending air crew selection board, 9/1943; induction at No 1 Aircrew Reception Centre, RAF at St John's Wood, London, 9/1943; issue of uniform and kit; posting to No 5 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Torquay, 9/1943-12/1943; accommodation; description of training; drill; route marches; field exercises. REEL 2 Continues: flying training at No 14 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Elmdon, 1/1944; pilot aptitude training on De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; question of solo flying; move to Aircrew Dispersal Centre, RAF at RAF Heaton Park, near Manchester, 4/1944. Recollections of training with Royal Air Force in Canada, 1944: description of journey to Canada via United States of America; posting to No 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, RCAF at RCAF Paulson; accommodation; description of navigation and bombing training on Avro Anson and Bristol Beaufighter; organisation of school; social life and recreational activities; posting to No 3 Air Observer School, RCAF at RCAF Portage la Prairie, 9/1944-12/1944; gunnery training in Boulton Paul Defiant. REEL 3 Continues: use of drogues for target practice; graduation; story of leave in United States of America; opinion of food; move to No 5 Operational Training Unit, RCAF at RCAF Boundary Bay, near Vancouver, 2/1945-5/1945; crewing up; description of Consolidated Liberator and armaments; role as mid-upper gunner on Consolidated Liberator; crew members; operational exercises; memories of D-Day, 6/6/1944; return to GB; leave. REEL 4 Continues: description of journey by flying boat from GB to India. Recollections of operations as air gunner with 159 Sqdn, No 185 Wing, No 321 Group, Strategic Air Force, Eastern Air Command, RAF in India, 1945-1946: arrival in Poona; rations; accommodation; memories of VJ Day, 15/8/1945; attending aircrew refresher course at Kolar Gold Fields; joining squadron at RAF Digri; description of camp and living conditions; washing and sanitary facilities; duties flying supplies into Burma and former Japanese prisoners of war camps in French Indochina; memory of dropping agents into Saigon, French Indochina; attitude to Japanese treatment of Allied prisoners of war; story of flying petrol supplies into China; attachment to Royal Air Force Police at Salbani; posting to Calcutta and role as fire tender driver; return to GB, 1/1947; demobilisation at RAF Padgate, GB, 4/1947; post-war life and employment.