Description
Object description
German Jewish NCO served with 24th Field Unit, Y Service, 329 Wing, RAF in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1943; served with 24 Field Unit attached to 276 Wing, Desert Air Force in Italy, 1943-1945; served as interpreter with POW Holding Unit in GB, 1946.
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Berlin, Germany 1921-1936: family background and British father's work as journalist; social circumstances; education; effects of Nazi regime as Jewish family; fights with Hitler Youth; sporting activities; ban on Jewish reporters and father's consequent return to GB, 1936. Recollections of period in West Hampstead, London, 1936-1942: father's work with theatrical agency; apprenticeship and work with photographic agency; clashes with supporters of British Union of Fascists; question of international situation and reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; rejection on initial attempt to join RAF, 1939; air raid shelter; blackout; moving house; father's serious accident and success in establishing guest house for Jewish refugees.
REEL 2 Continues: arrangements for emigration of German mother's family to GB; story of close escape from bomb after exchanging fire-watching shift in Hammersmith; bomb damage to house and post-war compensation; bomb damage in Oxford Street area; shortage of photographic materials; lifestyle; reactions to evacuation of Dunkirk, 6/1940; rationing; call up to RAF, 4/1942. Period of basic training at RAF Weston-Super-Mare, 4/1942-5/1942: prior kitting out; reception; drill; unarmed combat and weapons training; PT; lectures; relationship with recruits and instructors; passing out parade. Period at No 1 School of Photography, RAF Farnborough, 5/1942-8/1942: organisation of course; use of F24 aerial camera.
REEL 3 Continues: fighter cine films; mobile dark room; photographic interpretation; film processing; selection as German speaker for signals intelligence duties. Period of introductory training at RAF Stretton on the Fosse, 9/1942-10/1942: VHF wireless receivers; method of logging messages; origins of trainees; promotion to sergeant and reception in sergeants' mess. Period of embarkation leave and in transit camp, 10/1942-11/1942. Voyage to Bone, Tunisia, 11/1942. Recollections of operations with 24th Field Unit, Y Service, 329 Wing, RAF in North Africa, 11/1942-9/1943: organisation of unit; period in Bone area; case of theft and subsequent unjust disciplinary charge; move to Casserine Pass sector, Atlas Mountains; situation; role obtaining and passing on intelligence to US airfield.
REEL 4 Continues: isolation on American evacuation of airfield; mobile wireless trucks; journey to regain Allied lines; story of encounter with Free French patrol; view of drowned tank crew; move to Tunis; base in villa at La Marsa; story of scrambling fighters to intercept aircraft evacuating Africa Corps; relationship with officer; relationship with French Jewish family in Tunis; shift system on listening duty tracking German wireless traffic; selection of listening station positions; role picking up German wireless traffic during attacks on convoys and detached duties along Algerian coast; learning to drive; move into Algiers chateau; food rations; bartering whisky ration; cigarettes; relationship with US personnel; problem with stealing of Arab civilians.
REEL 5 Recollections of attachment to US headquarters ship USS Ancon during operations off Salerno, Italy, 9/1943: nature of ship; location of wireless in crow's nest; reception from US personnel; shift system; situation; German air attacks and effect on morale of US personnel; US food rations; German wireless traffic and lack of RAF cover; success in jamming German wireless controlled bomb attacks; situation; opinion of General Mark Clark; move to Palermo, Sicily and effects of underwater earthquake; return to Salerno; improvement to RAF cover; refitting. Period attached to US Air Force in Naples area, 10/1943-11/1943: training US personnel in wireless interception & interpretation; acting as translator during interrogation of German prisoners. Period with 24 Field Unit attached to 276 Wing, Desert Air Force in Italy, 1943-1945: joining unit at Bari; refitting during rest period; football match; move to Rome; reduction in German wireless traffic.
REEL 6 Continues: detachment during invasion of Southern France, 6/1944; return to Italy; detachment to Corsica; reduced German wireless traffic; role assisting army by intercepting German Army radio telephony signals; German tanks abandoned through lack of fuel; liaising with army to rescue crashed airmen; winter weather conditions; story of near accident to Bailey bridge; signs of imminent German surrender; relationship with Italian civilians; VE Day celebrations, 10/5/1945; question of demobilisation. Recollections of period in Austria, 1945-1946: attachment as senior interpreter to Headquarters, RAF; role arranging billets; relationship with Austrian civilians; assisting in search for former Nazis; assisting with displace persons; attachment to RAF Regt; course in skiing and mountaineering; liaison and interpreting role; journey back and GB leave, 12/1945; story of temporary loss of driving licence; return to GB, 5/1946. Period as interpreter at POW Holding Unit in GB, 5/1946.
REEL 7 Continues: screening of German POWs for use as volunteer labour on RAF stations; discovery of group of Nazi sympathisers; role approving German camp newsletter; case of anti-Semitism during demobilisation, 9/1946. Post-war career: return to work with photographic studios; question of visits to Germany and reconciliation theme of lectures given in Germany by wife.