Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 249 Sqdn RAF in GB including Battle of Britain, 1940
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of training with RAF Volunteer Reserve in GB, 1938-1939: basic training on Tiger Moth and Hawker Hart; posted to 249 Sqdr RAF, 5/1940; question of training on Hurricane and Spitfire; description of first experience of combat, 7/1940; amusing story of Ju 88 and farmer's wife; gun sights; description of Hurricanes attacking bombers in formation; question of ammunition supply; number of missions during Battle of Britain; question of night flying; sleeping and messing arrangements; description of daily routine; aircraft engines warmed up by ground crew at 3.00am ('dawn chorus'); engine and oil checks; scrambled from dispersal huts to aircraft; question of aircraft being spaced apart; flight path and question of visibility; attitude to anti-aircraft fire; duration of mission; interception of German bombers over Maidstone area; casualties in 249 Sqdr; story of collision with station commander Victor Beemish and forced landing; problem of damage to coolant system on Spitfire and Hurricane; question of making forced landings with undercarriage retracted; danger of fire in cockpit and nature of injuries; story of Flt Lt Nicolson VC being shot down; story of Home Guard killing British pilot; question of flying in formation and cloud cover; position on right of Squadron Commander; role as section leader and squadron leader; squadron number and markings; casualties; nature of operations on 15/Sep/1940; number of missions; description of shooting down Dornier and crew bailing out; story of shooting down second Dornier over Channel and reaction of British convoy; amusing story of Pilot Officer Lock and radio broadcast.
REEL 2 Continues: question of number of German aircraft shot down; question of press coverage and censorship during Battle of Britain; attitude to public perception of fighter pilots as 'Brylcreem Boys'; problem of interference on HF radio and later use of higher frequency bands; morale; memory of sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse; attitude to outcome of Battle of Britain; attitude to role of WAAFs; description of bombing of North Weald airfield, 3/Sep/1940 and 29/Oct 1940; damage and casualties; story of crashed Me 109 and crew; attitude to Germans; reflections on importance of Battle of Britain and historical comparisons; opinion of Leigh Mallory, Park, Bader and Dowding; amusing story of Dowding and post-war speech. Aspects of post-war life.