Nawarski, Robert (Oral history)

Polish reservist served with reserve Polish infantry unit, 1939; served as NCO with Free Polish Air Force in France and Morocco, 1940; served with 303 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940; served with 302 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1942; served with 316 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1942-1943; served as instructor with 61 Operational Training Unit in GB, 1943-1944; served with 302 Sqdn in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945; served as officer with Central Fighter Establishment, RAF Tangmere, GB, 1944; served with 302 Sqdn, RAF in Belgium and Germany, 1944-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Katowice and Kraków, Poland, 1921-1939: social circumstances; education; desire to qualify as doctor; question of international situation and threat from Germany; acceptance to read medicine at Krakow University, 8/1939; holidays learning to fly gliders in preparation for national service with Polish Air Force; international situation, 8/1939; father's call up as reservist, 8/1939; news of German invasion, September 1939. Recollections of service with reserve Polish infantry unit, 9/1939: recruitment; kitting out; Polish wireless reports; retreat to Lwów; German air attacks. REEL 2 Continues: situation in Lwów on approach of the Soviet forces; surrender of Lwów to the Red Army, 9/1939; disguise as officer to remain with father; conditions on train journey and escape with father during halt. Recollections of journey back to Lvov, 9/1939-11/1939: removal of rank insignia; food; route; travelling at night; arrival at Kotyry; contact with father's friend; train journey to Lvov; chaotic situation under Soviet authorities; background to decision to join Free Polish Army in France; securing Romanian visa; story of encounter with Soviet soldier in crossing Polish-Romanian border, 11/1939. Period in Rumania, 11/1939: encounter with Rumania border guard; journey to Cernauti (Chernivtsi; internment in police cell; escape; reception at Polish consulate in Cernauti. REEL 3 Continues: reception at Polish consulate in Cernauti; train journey to Bucharest; reception at Polish embassy; train journey to France. Recollections of joining Free Polish Air Force at Lyon-Bron airfield, 11/1939-1/1940: reception; conditions of service; drill and guard duties; lectures; learning French; homesickness at Christmas, 25/12/1939. Period at flying training schools at Fez and Marrakesh, Morocco, 1/1940-4/1940: flying Potez training aircraft; first solo flight and comparison with glider flights; flying Devoitine aircraft; qualification as pilot. Period with Free Polish Fighter Sqdn at Lyon-Bron airfield, 4/1940-6/1940: lack of modern aircraft; story of premonitional dream predicting subsequent German air raid destroying airfield latrines, 7/5/1940. REEL 4 Continues: lack of unit active service role; background to flight to Marseilles and French refusal of refuelling; boat trip to Oran. Journey to GB, 6/1940. Initial period in GB, 6/1940-8/1940: first impressions; interrogation at reception base and acceptance as aircraftsman 2nd class into RAF; learning English; billets; medical. Recollections of flying conversion course at RAF Hucknall, Nottingham, 8/1940-9/1940: flying Tiger Moth and Fairey Battle; instruments and controls of Hurricane; lack of air gunnery course. Period with No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Northolt, 9/1940: status as auxiliary pilot. REEL 5 Continues: status as auxiliary pilot; story of being shot down whilst delivering Hurricane. Periods in hospital and subsequent convalescence at Blackpool, 1940-1941: injuries; learning English; back pay and purchase of car. Period flying Spitfires at No 58 Operational Training Unit, Grangemouth, 1941: opinion of Spitfire; formation flying; aerial gunnery including deflection shooting and practice drogues; aerial tactics. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Northolt, ca 11/1941-4/1942: organisation and Polish composition of unit; squadron practice flights on formation flying and low and high altitude flying; necessity of using oxygen and demonstration of effects of oxygen deprivation. REEL 6 Continues: nature of typical operational mission escorting bombers over France including briefing, preparation of Spitfire by ground crew, flying kit, question of superstition, pre-flight checks, take-off routine, escort speed and position, method of watching for approach of German fighters, question of wireless silence and reports, interception of German fighters and nature of dogfights, personal morale, question of success in damaging German fighters and subsequently watching camera gun film record, story illustrating inexperienced pilots' lack of air vision, success in protecting bombers and debriefing. REEL 7 Continues: patrols protecting shipping; nature of sweeps over North West Europe including airfield and rail targets, difficulty in navigating at low altitude, threat of German anti-aircraft fire, casualties; effect of fire and success in hitting trains, damage to aircraft and armour plating protection; nature of missions designed to provoke German fighter response; question of defensive duties including 'scramble' state of readiness and failure to intercept German aircraft; training flights for new pilots; hut accommodation; food rations; relationship with NCOs and officers; nature of sergeants' mess and drinking habits; visits to pub in Ruislip; relationship with civilians. REEL 8 Continues: personal morale and reactions to casualties. Recollections of period as instructor at 58 Operational Training Unit, Grangemouth, ca 4/1942: flying in two-seater Muster and Spitfire; practicing formation flying; story of friend bailing out from Muster. Recollections of period flying Spitfire V with No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron at RAF Hutton Cranswick and Northolt, 9/1942-8/1943: routine training flights and patrols; nature of Spitfire VB; move to Northolt and character as station for Polish units; acting as escorts to bombing raids over France and refuelling stops required to reach Brest; increased potency of German anti-aircraft defences; scale of casualties; opinion of Focke Wolfe 190 and comparison with Spitfire V and Spitfire IX; value of experience in combat. REEL 9 Continues: German anti-aircraft fire; ability to see German fighters; personal morale. Period as instructor at 61 Operational Training Unit at Mountford Bridge and Hawarden, 8/1943-2/1944: duties; stories of near collisions with pupils; contacts with WRNS. Recollections of period flying Spitfire IX with 302 Sqdn at Northolt and Chailey, 2/1944-7/1944: opinion of Spitfire IX; role escorting US Air Force daytime bombing raids over France, Belgium and Netherlands; training in dive bombing and bombs carried; dive bomb attacks under German anti-aircraft fire on V1 installations; effect of hits on engine cooling system; reaction to pilot losing his nerve. REEL 10 Escorting bomber missions prior to D Day; move to Chailey, 4/1944; patrols over Neptune Beach during D Day operations, Normandy, France, 6/1944, including briefing, view of invasion fleet, absence of German air opposition and view of naval bombardment. Recollections of operations in France and Belgium, 6/1944-10/1944: landing strip; story of reception from French farmer; low level ground strafing; successful attack on E Boat recorded on film and subsequently used in newsreel; question of success in dive bomb attacks on V1 installations; cannon and machine gun Spitfire armament; escorting bombers; minimal German air opposition; tent accommodation; food rations; ground strafing during Falaise gap operations, 8/1944; subsequent view of effects of ground strafing and comparison with attitude to aerial combat. REEL 11 Continues: German retreat, 8/1944-9/1944; move to Ghent, Belgium; ground strafing role and attacks on trains. Period at Central Fighter Establishment, RAF Tangmere, 10/1944-12/1944: comparative performance evaluation of various Allied fighters; test flights using high octane petrol; testing special flying suits to reduce 'G' forces. Recollections of period with No. 302 Squadron in Belgium and Germany, 1944-1946: rejoining unit at Ghent, 12/1944; ground strafing and escort role; absence of German air opposition; advance into Germany; minimal contact with German civilians; story of friend shot down by anti-aircraft fire, 5/1945; reactions to VE Day. 8/5/1945; reactions to view of bomb damage in Hamburg; training flights; question of posting to Far East; billets; secondment to duties flying JU 52 refurbished as airliners; unit disbandment on return to GB, 1946. Various aspects of postings, 1946-1949: question of buying Spitfire. REEL 12 Continues: promotion to flight lieutenant, ca 1944; question of taking regular commission; failed applications to get university place; flying control training; studying dentistry at university and demobilisation, 1949. Post-war career: dentistry career; visit to family in Poland, 1959; question of Soviet execution of Polish officers at Katyn, 5/1940; Soviet treatment of family and Polish RAF officers; question of return to Poland; question of contacts with Polish RAF officers; question of Polish contribution to RAF.