Wall, John (Oral history)

British officer served as observer flying in Stirling and Lancaster on two tours with 75 (New Zealand) Sqdn, RAF based in GB and operating over Germany in 1943 and 1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Bermondsey, London and Beckenham, 1921-19: family background and social circumstances; education; work as office boy and unqualified accountant, 1936-1941; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; Anderson air raid shelter; duties as stretcher bearer with ARP; attack of scabies; rationing; German bombing disruption to train journeys; background to volunteering as observer to join RAF, 5/1941. Periods at Air Crew Reception Centre, RAF, St John's Wood, London and 12th Initial Training Wing, St Andrews, RAF, 7/1941. Period at 47 Air School, Queenstown and 41 AS, Port Alfred, South Africa, 1941-1942: voyage out; flights in Anson and Oxford; bomb sight; gunnery training; promotion to sergeant; return to GB. REEL 2 Recollections of period as bomb aimer flying in Stirling with 75 <New Zealand> Sqdn, RAF at Newmarket, 11/1942-5/1943: assignment to crew of Flight Sergeant Jack Bailey; opinion of Stirling; raids on Turin, Italy, 11/1942; nature of night raid on Mannheim, Germany, 6/12/1942, including briefing, air tests, crew meal, flying and escape kit, question of superstitions, checking engine, take off, taking up position on forward gun, testing guns, looking out for German night fighters, German anti-aircraft fire, taking up bomb aimer's position on approach to target, use of gun sight Mark IX, guiding pilot, dropping bombs and photograph of results, effects of AA damage to wing, flight home, landing, rum ration and debriefing; low level minelaying missions; story of turning back due to bad weather during raid on Hamburg; losses on minelaying mission. REEL 3 Continues: aspects of various raids; relationship with crew; drinking habits and visits to pub; promotion to pilot officer; visits to Jockey Club; end of tour and personal morale. Period as bombing instructor at 26 Operational Training Unit, Wing, 6/1943-10/1944. Recollections of period as observer flying in Lancaster with 75 <New Zealand> Sqdn, RAF at Mepal, 10/1944-4/1945: formation of crew with Flight Commander Jack Bailey; nature of Lancaster; daylight raids; case of aircraft hit from bombs from above; ignorance of casualty rate; question of bombing civilians and value of bombing offensive; story of AA damage during raid on Osterfeild, 22/2/1945; award of DFC and lack of ceremony during post-war presentation; end of second tour and last raid, 4/1945; VE Day, 8/5/1945; training as flying control officer. REEL 4 Period as flying control officer at Upward and Oakington, 12/1945-6/1946. Demobilisation, 6/1946. Post-war career: work as cost clerk; reactions to war service; attending reunions of 75 (New Zealand) Sqdn, RAF; membership of Air Crew Assoc; story of meeting former member of crew.