Description
Object description
New Zealand pilot served flying Spitfires with 485 Sqdn, RAF, in GB, 1941-1942 served with 249 Sqdn, RAF, Malta, 1942; served with 485 Squadron, RAF in GB, 1943. POW in Germany and Poland, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Review of service with RAF, 1940-1942: reasons for enlistment in New Zealand; flying training; voyage to GB; training as fighter pilot on Spitfire at Heston. Recollections of period as sergeant pilot flying Spitfires with 485 Sqdn, RAF, 1941-1942: pilot killed by failure of oxygen equipment; opinion of imposed line astern formation; danger of being isolated during return flight; story of accidentally landing on dummy airfield. Recollections of flying Spitfire VB with 249 Sqdn, RAF based at Tikali airfield, Malta, 4/1942-8/1942: background to posting; voyage out with 603 Sqdn, RAF aboard USS Wasp; story of breaking weight restrictions in flying off carrier to Malta; question of destruction of newly arrived aircraft; Spitfire sandbag pens; billets in Endine; effects of diarrhoea; food rations and question of black market; adopting line abreast formation in practice flight, being shot down, difficulty in bailing out and threat from Maltese farmer.
REEL 2 Continues: hospitalisation with slow healing leg wound; dispute over hospital regulations; commission and transfer to officers' hospital; story of meeting German POW who had shot him down; circumstances of transfer to unit; opinion of various officers including Squadron Leader 'Laddie' Lucas, role of unit preventing German bombing raids on Malta; problems caused by shortage of fuel; nature of typical fighter mission including scramble warning, flying gear, take off, flying characteristics of Spitfire Mark V C, qualities required of pilots, line abreast formation, importance of constant lookout, role of Controller Group Captain Woodhall, tactics employed, impact of fuel shortages, importance of altitude, question of use of wireless, maintaining formation, tactics in attack on German formations, subsequent dogfighting and question of victory claims.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of typical fighter mission including question of victory claims, attitude to German pilots shot down, personal morale, regaining height, use of low level evasion tactics, story of contact with superior Italian pilot, story of attacking formation o Italian bombers with Squadron leader 'Laddie' Lucas, deflection shooting, harmonised guns, and length of firing bursts, angle of approach to German fighters, attempted rendezvous after action, vulnerability when isolated, risk of attack by German fighters on return to airfield, role of anti-aircraft defences, landing and taxiing to pens; role of ground crews; shortage of aircraft and consequent wireless deceptions; frequency and length of fighter missions; story of pilot's little escape on landing when badly damaged; recreations; question of claimed victories; continued problems with leg; flight in Hudson back to Gibraltar.
REEL 4 Period as instructor in GB, 1942-1943: effect of flying instructors' course on flying skills; question of use of aerobatics in combat; quality o pupils; pilot killed flying under bridge; question of flying in bad weather. Recollections of period flying Spitfire IX B with 485 Squadron, RAF in GB, 1943: opinion of Spitfire IX B; opinion of Wing Commander Alan Deere, Group Captain Sailor Mahan and Johnny Checkits; situation in air war; story of success in attacking German training formation whilst escorting bomber raid. Story of being shot down over France, 22/8/1943: role as diversion to bombing raid; dogfight with ME109 formations; damage to engine incurred whilst shooting down ME109; forced landing under attack from ME109s; failed attempt to contact French civilians; capture. Recollections of initial period as POW in France and Germany, 8/1943-9/1943: initial treatment by Luftwaffe personnel; handover to German Army personnel; confinement in cell; question of escape during escorted rail journey to Germany story of talking to German soldier. Period in Dulag Luft Camp, Frankfurt, ca 9/1943-11/1943: solitary confinement and interrogation; story of opening window; reaction to solitary confinement; question of interrogation.
REEL 5 Continues: joining main camp; journey to Poland. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine in North Compound, Stalag Luft III POW Camp, Sagan, 11/1943-1/1945: reception; story illustrating changed priorities of prisoners; amusing story of embarrassment during security checks as bona fida prisoner; nature o hut accommodation; relationship with prisoners and division of routine domestic tasks; food and Red Cross parcels; food exchange system; cigarettes; latrines; securing extra supply of fuel from shower block; news bulletins form concealed wirelesses; learning saxophone; studying tanning; recreations and sports; 'klim' tin bashing; prisoners' notebooks.
REEL 6 Continues: relationship with German 'ferrets' and guards; attempt to learn German; attitude to escape; role of 'X' organisation and Squadron leader Roger Bushell; awareness of Tom, Dick and Harry tunnels; acting as lookout; disposal of tunnel soil by 'penguins'; prior successful escape of party masquerading as German delousing party and failure of second attempt; account of escape attempt to cut through wire including use of concealment provided by dip in ground level, plan, 'X' organisation insistence on trial run, use of camouflage sheets, successful test under searchlights, role of attempt as diversion for Great Escape, supply of plans and briefings for airfields and aircraft, use of cover of bad weather, escape equipment supplied, decision to continue despite improvement in weather, problem in suppressing noise while cutting wire and arrest by German guards; period in solitary confinement including conditions, argument with Nazi guard, contacts with other prisoners, failed diversion for escape attempt, length of sentence, and early release due to Great Escape, 3/1944.
REEL 7 Continues: reactions to Great Escape and news of executions; changes in German attitude due to Allied air offensive; preparation of George tunnel from theatre to German weapon store in case of attack; recall to complete solitary confinement sentence; approach of Soviet troops; preparations for evacuation of camp. Recollections of journey to Tarmsted, 1/1945: sledge and stores carried; cold weather; state of German guards; question of use as hostages; nature of march; overnight billets; food; dysentery problems; glass factory billets; thaw and abandoning sledge; train journey. Period at Tarmstad POW Camp, 2/1944-4/1944: conditions and gradual improvements; approach of British troops; question of renewed march; background to successful escape and period evading recapture; decision to surrender. Period at Marlag und Nord Camp, ca 4/1944: reception; digging trenches for defence; liberation by British tanks; effects of POW experiences.