Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 51 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1941-1942; served as pilot and instructor with RAF in GB, Canada and Bermuda, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Bermuda, 1929-1939: family; education; activities with Bermuda Cadet Corps and Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps; mobilised, 9/1939; nature of duties; flying training and awarded pilot's license; story of journey to GB via Canada, 11/1940. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 1940-1941: posted to RAF Receiving Wing, Torquay; officer training at Cambridge University; problem of cold; posted to Initial Training Wing, Torquay; accommodation; description of basic training; initial flying training on Miles Magister; posted to RAF Cranfield for advanced flying training on Oxford; posted to RAF Lineham; story of night flying exercise; commissioned; posted to RAF Kinloss, Scotland; cross country exercises and gunnery training on Whitley bomber; high number of fatal accidents. Recollections of operations with 51 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1941-1942: description of raids on Brest, Cologne and Emden, problem of anti-aircraft fire; training dropping parachutists from Whitley bomber; story of mass parachute drop.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of CO Pickard; role in dropping parachutists for Bruneval Raid, Feb/1942; description of flying approach training; story of raid on Turin, 4/1942; question of survival of bomber crew; description of raid on Rostock, Germany; photographing target area; story of near miss with Whitley; damage to aircraft; story of preparations for Dieppe raid; posted to 10 Operational Training Unit, Cornwall; role in sweeps over Bay of Biscay looking for U-boats and locating air crews in water; story of crashing in field and injuries; problem of jaundice.
REEL 3 Continues: conversion to Halifax 111; description of role dropping agents and supplies in France and Czechoslovakia; story of crash landing and rescuing crew from burning aircraft, 14/Mar/1943; damage to aircraft; nature of injuries and treatment for burns; problem using hands and use of steel attachments to fingers; convalescence and clerical post in Accident Investigation Branch of Air Ministry in London; question of pay; posted to 1508 Blind Approach Training Unit and role as instructor for navigators with 2nd Tactical Air Force on use of Gee,1943-1944; classified as unfit for operational flying and posted to 45 Group RAF Transport Command, Canada; description of voyage aboard Mauretania; posted to Bermuda and role in charge of flying boat base at Darrell's Island, 1944-1945; description of duties and aircraft flown.
REEL 4 Continues: further comments on duties at flying boat base; story of marriage. Reflections on period of service with RAF. Story of recommendation for George Cross for saving crew from burning aircraft, 14/Mar/1943; daily life in Bermuda and effects of war on civilian population; awarded disability pension for back injury.