Crisford, Ray (Oral history)

British pilot flew Hurricane and Typhoon with 3 Sqdn, RAF based in GB and operating over France and Belgium, 1942-1943; shot down off Belgian coast, 13/9/1943; POW in Belgium, Lithuania, Poland and Germany, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Eastbourne, 1922-1941: family background and social circumstances; education at Roborough School,1930-1939; work as bank clerk, 1939-1941; air raid alarm and filling sandbags on beach on outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; cellar air raid shelter; German air raids; service with Home Guard, 1940-1941, including kitting out, training, standing patrols on nearby hills and composition of unit; view of air fighting during Battle of Britain, 1940; background to volunteering to join RAF, 1941; medicals and interviews at Uxbridge. Period at Air Crew Reception Centre, St Johns Wood, London, 7/1941: conditions of service; kitting out. REEL 2 Period at Initial Training Wing, Paignton, 7/1941-9/1941: hotel billets; drill; lectures; PT; relationship with recruits and instructors; recreations. Period at Holding Camp at Wilmslow, 9/1941-10/1941. Voyage aboard Highland Princess to St Johns, Canada, 10/1942: overcrowded conditions; boat stations during U Boat attack on convoy; rough weather. Recollections of initial period in Canada and US, 9/1941-10/1941: train journey; billets at Empire Exhibition Centre, Toronto; hospitality of Canadian civilians; concealment of uniform on entering neutral US; train journey to Albany. Recollections of initial flying training on Steerman at Darr Aero Tech Flying Training School, Albany, 10/1941-12/1941: civilian nature of flying school; lectures and examinations; nature of Steerman and air familiarisation flight; air controls and instruments; briefing from instructor; methods of flying straight and level, turns and figures of eight. REEL 3 Continues: length of dual instruction allowed before removal from course; method of take off and landing; 'ground loop; on landing; aerobatics including stall turn, loop and slow roll; first solo; conditions of service; recreations and hospitality of US civilians; rugby demonstration; reactions to Pearl Harbour and US entry into war, 12/1941. Period of intermediate flying training on BT13 monoplane at Craigfield, Selma, 12/1941-3/1942: nature of BT13; conditions of service and increased discipline; instrument and night flying; cross-country flights; continued tests and removal of inadequate pilots. REEL 4 Recollections of advanced flying training on Harvard at Maxwell Field, Montgomery, 3/1942-5/1942: nature of Harvard; formation and night flying; failure rate for pilots; cross country flights; reactions to racial segregation; presentation with US wings and question of qualification as sergeant pilot. Voyage back to GB. 6/1942. Recollections of period at Conversion Unit RAF, Turnhill, 6/1942: flying in dual machines with experienced pilots; background to selection as fighter pilot; first flight in Hurricane. Recollections of period at Operational Training Unit, Millfield, 5/1942-11/1942: opinion of Chief Flying Instructor Squadron Leader Vale; importance of scanning sky when flying operationally; air to sea firing exercises; question of deflection shooting and air firing exercises at towed drogues. REEL 5 Continues: mock dogfights; cross-country flights; move to satellite base at Brunton for air to sea firing; formation flying; question of posting to India. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle during operations flying Hurricane and Typhoon with 3 Sqdn, RAF at Hunsdon, West Malling and Manton, 11/1942-9/1943: initial night fighting role attacking German night fighters taking off in France; early leave; hut accommodation and role of hut orderly; non-operational flying in Hurricane; initial problems on re-equipment with Typhoon, 2/1943, including use of cartridge to start engine and low clearance of propeller on landing; nature of Typhoon; case of fatal accident on landing; move to West Malling; question of choice of base; dive bombing raid on German airfields; low level strafing raids beneath cloud level. REEL 6 Continues: low-level strafing raids on trains and lock gates; low-level raid on German shipping including anti-aircraft tracer fire and attacks by German fighters; briefing and debriefing; personal morale; logg book; casualties; cockpit standby duty; readiness for action; nature of sergeants' mess and drinking habits; story of being arrested as drunk and disorderly; visits to Hertford pubs; opinion of various officer and NCOs; question of cases of 'lack of moral fibre'. REEL 7 story of pilot hitting barrage balloon; move to Manston, ca 5/1943; café; dispersal zones for aircraft; relationship with ground crew; flights in Tiger Moth; question of superstitions; cigarette smoking; flying kit; landing of damaged Allied bombers returning from raids; leave; relaxed state of discipline; promotion to flight sergeant; question of recommendation for commission. Recollections of being shot down off Belgian, 13/9/1943: reporting to aircraft DZ; low-level attack on convoy; effect of AA hit on Typhoon; bailing out and landing in sea; period in dinghy; prior 'Mayday' call and unit response; rescue by Belgian fishing boat and subsequent notification of family; presence of German sailor on board fishing boat; handover to German authorities at Zeebrugge; conditions in Brussels Jail; move by train to Frankfurt, Germany. REEL 8 Continues: story of meeting British officer collaborating with Germans; move into main camp; cattle truck train journey via Berlin to Lithuania. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during period at Stalag Luft VI, Heiderkruge, Lithuania, 10/1943-7/1944: nature of camp; hut accommodation; reception; roll call; food; Red Cross parcels; walking perimeter; relationship with prisoners; activities of theatre group and band; opinion of British Senior NCO Flight Sergeant Vic Clarke; role of escape organisation; question of feasibility of escape; shooting of prisoner trying to escape; disposal of soil from tunnel as 'penguin'; relationship with German guards; gramophone recitals; sporting activities; news of D Day, 6/6/1944; awareness of approach of Soviet Army; move to Poland. Period in Stalag XXX, Thorn, Poland, ca 7/1944-9/1944: conditions. REEL 9 Continues: nature of camp; advance of Soviet Army. Period at POW Camp 357, Fellingbostel, 9/1944-3/1945: prior cattle truck journey; conditions; state of health; attitude of German guards; effects of salt poisoning on prisoner; latrines; letter and parcel contacts with family; Allied air raids. Recollections of march from Fellingbostel, 3/1945-4/1945: question of preparations; German guards accompanying parties of POWs; overnight stops; foraging for food; Klim tin cookers; food; question of escape and dropping out of march; attitude of German guards; reversal of march direction to avoid advancing Soviet Army; liberations by British troops, ca 2/4/1945; driving German lorry to Luneberg Heath; crossing River Elbe; shaving; prior air attack on POW column by Allied aircraft. REEL 10 Continues: eating horse meat. Flight in Lancaster back to GB, 5/1945. Period prior to demobilisation, 5/1945-1/1946: reception; kitting out; leave; state of health. Post-war career: return to work in bank; problems in acclimatising to civilian lifestyle; career in wholesale chemists; membership of Air Crew Assoc and 3 Sqdn, RAF Assoc; question of effects of war service.