Description
Object description
British NCO served as air gunner flying Lancasters with 115 Sqdn, RAF based in GB and operating over Germany, 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in London and Essex, 1925-1944: family background and social circumstances; education; move to Hornchurch, 1939; digging Anderson air raid shelter and air raid alarm on outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; issue of gas masks; blackout; works as grocer's errand boy; food rationing; German air raids and move to Romford; Anderson air raid shelter; anti-aircraft batteries; effects of German land mine; acting as ARP messenger; work as baker's errand boy and driving laundry van; fire watching duty. Recollections of period with Air Defence Cadet Corps, Romford, 1942-1943: interest in joining RAF; uniform; aircraft recognition; drill; attending annual camp at RAF Waterbeach, crashed Stirlings; problems with Morse code; interest in training as air gunner; lectures.
REEL 2 Continues; studying mathematics; aircraft recognition; recruitment as air gunner into RAF, 1/1943; medicals and colour blindness tests on attending Recruit Receiving Centre, RAF Cardington, 2/1943; call up, 10/1943. Period at Air Crew Reception Centre, St Johns Wood, 10/1943-11/1943: billets; kitting out; vaccinations; swimming lessons; lectures and advantage of prior ADTC service; gas mask test at Lords Cricket Ground; fie watching. Recollections of period at Elementary Air Gunnery School, Bridgenorth, relationship wit instructors; drill; lectures in Browning machine gun and deflection shooting; Aldis lamps; clay pigeon shooting; practice in operation of Fraser-Nash turret; weapons training; cross country runs and fitness tests; relationship with recruits; assessment tests. Recollections of period with No 11 Air Gunnery School, Andreas, Isle of Man, 2/1944-9/1944: question of kit inspections; reception; swimming lessons.
REEL 3 Continues: first flight and question of air sickness in Anson; firing practice at drogue targets and use of camera guns; Browning stoppages; opinion of Bristol turret; aircraft recognition; assessment tests; promotion to sergeant and pass out parade. Attending survival and military skills course at Whitley Bay, 10/1944-11/1944. Period with 26th Operational Training Unit, RAF at Wing and Little Harwood, 1/1945-2/1945: reception; formation of crew with pilot Flying Officer Geoff Larder, wireless operator Warrant Officer Jack Britt, navigator Flight Sergeant Ken Foster, Bomb Aimer Sergeant Eric Dixon, Gunner Sergeant Jimmy Kyle; ground instruction and simulators; background to choice of rear gunner turret; move to Little Harwood; first impressions of Wellington; training with camera gun under mock fighter attacks; bombing range; absence of air sickness; cross country flights and GEE navigational system.
REEL 4 Continues: prior Hurricane accident on Isle of Man; training night flights including checks to tyres and eyesight, visit to steelworks and question of accidents; return to Wing; night cross-country flights and question of navigation; recreational visits to Leighton Buzzard. Period at 1668 Heavy Conversion Unit at Bottisford, 2/1945-3/1945: nature of Lancaster and ammunition system for Fraser-Nash turret; addition of Flight Engineer Sergeant Tony Marsh to crew; crew morale; diversionary raid dropping 'window'; blacked out room used for air gunners; dance halls. Recollections of period as air gunner flying Lancaster with 115 Sqdn, RAF, 3 Group, Bomber Command at Witchford, 3/1945-8/1945: reception; hut accommodation; question of casualties in BC and personal morale; nature of sergeants' mess; familiarisation flights; role of gunnery leader; use of GEE H navigational equipment to bomb blind; nature of Fraser-Nash 82 turret with Browning .5 gun including operation of gyroscopic sight, radar operated automatic gun laying turret and bomber identification system.
REEL 5 Continues: diversionary raids using 'window' to confuse German AA defences; story of being shot down by German night fighter over Buckinghamshire, 23/3/1945, including bailing out, prior practice at bailing out, parachuting down, reception from farmer, view of aircraft crashing and use of whistle to attract help by injured crew member; nature of typical daytime and night raids over Germany including prior notification, question of air tests, briefing, crew meals, flying gear, drive out to aircraft, relationship with ground crew, question of superstition, boarding aircraft, final checks, use of intercom, take off, flying independently within bomber stream, timetable, maintaining lookout, intercom discipline, question of food and drink, ELSAN latrine, question of amphetamines, escape kit, use of GEE H for blind bombing, question of German AA fire, approach to target, dropping bombs and photograph, return flight, continued risk from German night fighters, landing and debriefing.
REEL 6 Continues: bombing on Pathfinder markers during night raids and question of 'creep back'; story of cross country flight illustrating strictness of pilot; German AA defences at night; personal morale; story of tyre bursting on landing; replacement of pilot die to sinus problems and opinion of Flight Lieutenant Alan Lummis; missions dropping food for Dutch civilians during Operation Manna, 5/1945; flights to pick up former POWs; VE Day, 8/5/1945; visits to pubs in Ely; flights to transport soldiers from Bari, Italy; mock attacks during investigative Operation Post Mortum over Germany; question of attempt to be posted on Tiger Force for Far East service; VJ Day, 8/1945. Period at Graveley, 8/1945-10/1945. Period a Dunkeswell, 10/1945-12/1945: preparations for flight to Middle East; problems with wings icing up during test flight; problems due to inexperienced ground crew; scrapping of new Lancaster; unofficial leave. Various posting in GB, 1946-1947: question of demotion from flight sergeant to sergeant; driving course and duties as driver; question of remaining as regular in RAF and lack of requirement for air gunners; demobilisation, ca 2/1947. Post-war career: work in bakery.
REEL 7 Continues: career as motorcycle speedway driver; failed attempts to join US Air Force and RAF, 1950; review of various jobs; membership of Air Gunners Assoc, Air Crew Assoc and Bomber Command Assoc