Description
Object description
British NCO served as wireless operator/air gunner with 9 and 214 Sqdns RAF in GB, 1939-1942; POW in Stalag Luft VIII B, Lamsdorf, Germany, 1942-1944
Content description
REEL 1: Story of enlistment with RAF Volunteer Reserve, 1938. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 1939; wireless course; posted to RAF Cranfield ; description of pre-war training with RAF Volunteer Reserve; posted as wireless operator/air gunner to 9 Squadron RAF, 1940. memory of airfield being bombed; basic training; posted to 214 Sqdn RAF. Recoll ections of operations with 214 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1940-1942: crewed up; description of first mission over Berlin as front gunner; question of fear; description of flak and searchlights; opinion of Wellington bomber; role as gunner; problem of cold; armaments; question of judging distance; training to fly aircraft; reason for nickname 'Tubby'; role of gunner in observation; opinion of crew; morale; attitude to drinking alcohol; story of being shot down and landing in sea, 2/1942; injuries and death of crew members in dinghy; description of floating in dinghy and capture at Flushing; memory of English speaking German officer; attitude to survival; problem of cold in water. Aspectsf of period as POW in Stalag Luft VIII B, Lamsdorf, Germany, 1942-1944: medical treatment in Dulag Luft POW camp; transferred to Stalag Luft VIII B POW camp; attitude to Germans; story of German corporal; question of being chained up accommodation and food; daily routine; amusing story of guard 'Ukrainian Joe'; memory of march from camp, 1944.
REEL 2 Continues: further description of time in dinghy and nature of injuries; problem of frostbite and loss of mobility; story of head count in camp, 1944; working parties; attitude to escape; story of Australian NCO escaping from camp; awareness of war situation; story of march to camp at Gerlitz, 1944; memory of Polish POW; story of liberation by Americans and return to GB via transit camp at Le Havre; attitude to life in POW camp; memory of fellow prisoners and skills; story of Bank of England clerk and forging; reflections of period of service with RAF; memory of amputees; attitude to war; memory Italian POWs. Further recollections of operations with 214 Sqdn RAF, 1940-1942: question of firing guns; problem of searchlights and flak; attitude to raids over Berlin; memory of friend Teddy Wainwright; age of crew; opinion of navigational aids and training; description of bombing on Estimated Time of Arrival;
REEL 3 Continues: question of effectiveness of bombing; attitude to bombing of civilians; opinion of Trenchard and Harris; question of pos-war reputation of Bomber Command; further description of time in dinghy and frostbite; question of escape and survival drills; memory of POW escapes; physical effects of period as POW; Red Cross parcels; problem of weight loss; effects of period of service; description of feelings before and after missions; story of death of father in First World War; further memories of crew members; reflections on role with Bomber Command during war.