Interview with Herbert Alec Shaw

British NCO served as pilot with 99 Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 4/1941-7/1941; served as instructor with No 21 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Moreton-in-Marsh, GB, 8/1941-1/1944; officer served as pilot with 215 Sqdn, No 175 Wing, No 221 Group, RAF in India, 4/1944-5/1944; served with 194 Sqdn, No 177 Wing, Transport Command, RAF in India, 5/1944-6/1944; served with 215 Sqdn, No 175 Wing, No 221 Group, RAF in India, 6/1944-9/1944; served with 232 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF in India and Ceylon, 5/1945-1/1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Cross Gates, Leeds, GB, 1916-1940: social circumstances; education; work as proof reader with Yorkshire Post newspaper, 1932-1939; learning to fly De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth aircraft with Civil Air Guard at Yeadon Airfield, 1938-1939; approach to and declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; volunteering to join Royal Air Force, 9/1939; dismissal as proof reader and work as motorcycle despatch rider; question of effects of war. Aspects of training as aircraftman with Royal Air Force at No 2 Recruit Receiving Wing, Cardington, No 5 Initial Training Wing, Hastings and No 3 Initial Training Wing, Torquay in GB, 3/1940-6/1940: physical training; drill; lectures. Aspects of flying training as aircraftman at No 5 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Meir, GB, 7/1940-8/1940: learning to fly Miles Magister aircraft; aerobatics; opinion of instructors; relations with fellow trainees. Aspects of flying training as aircraftman at No 15 Service Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Kidlington, GB, 9/1940-12/1940: prior interview; characteristics of North American Harvard; story of getting lost in poor visibility and emergency landing; chimney landmark; failure rates; lectures. Aspects of flying training as NCO with No 55 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Aston Down, 12/1940-1/1941: desire to train as fighter pilot; promotion to sergeant; posting in error. REEL 2 Continues: story of cross-country flight in De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth. Aspects of period as pilot with No 11 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Bassingbourn, GB, 1/1941-4/1941: formation of crew; characteristics of Vickers Wellington aircraft; cross-country flights and bombing training assisted by officers from 99 Sdn, RAF; reasons for disliking service with Bomber Command. Recollections of period as pilot with 99 Sqdn, No 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF at RAF Waterbeach, GB, 4/1941-7/1941; initial role as co-pilot; crew roles; nature of bombing raids over Germany, including briefing, personal morale, pre-flight meal, flying uniform and kit, drive to aircraft, take off, absence of formation, question of role as co-pilot, dropping bombs, German anti-aircraft fire, attack by German Air Force night fighter aircraft, question of evasive manoeuvres and risk of collision, flight home, latrine arrangements, debriefing and post-flight meal; personal morale and attack of impetigo; assignment to own crew as pilot; bombing targets. REEL 3 Continues: irregular pattern of operations; length of tour; practice flights; attending Entertainment National Service Association (ENSA) shows; relations with NCOs and officers; leave; early end of tour due to impetigo attack. Aspects of period as instructor with No 21 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Moreton-in-Marsh, GB, 8/1941-1/1944: success at instructor; reaction to assessment on course at No 13 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Bicester; formation of all-instructor crew to fly Vickers Wellington during 1000 bomber raids on Cologne, Germany, 30/5/1942 and Essen, Germany, 1/6/1942; air-sea rescue search; loss of aircraft in training. Aspects of period as pilot with Royal Air Force in India, 2/1944-4/1944: flight from GB to Karachi, India, via Cairo, Egypt, 2/1944-3/1944: reaction to cancellation of posting to Middle East posting; period in transit camp; initial impressions of India; brief period instructing on Avro Anson aircraft at Poona. Aspects of period as pilot with 215 Sqdn, No 175 Wing, No 221 Group, RAF in India, 4/1944-5/1944: hutted accommodation at RAF Jessore; promotion to pilot officer and superior conditions of service; withdrawal of Vickers Wellington. Recollections of operations as pilot with 194 Sqdn, No 177 Wing, Transport Command, RAF in India, 5/1944-6/1944: basing at RAF Agartala; air-supply drop role; story of problem during drop on Imphal; location of jungle drop zones for Chindit forces in Burma; squadron leader's pet bear; incident of accidentally overloading Douglas Dakota; story of near accident with ground crew accidentally locking rudder. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 215 Sqdn, No 175 Wing, No 221 Group, RAF in India, 6/1944-9/1944: characteristics of Consolidated Liberator aircraft and use of auto-pilot; crew roles; nature of operations; question of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service night fighter aircraft and absence of anti-aircraft fire; story of problems with hydraulics and in dropping bomb load after engine damaged by incendiary bomb and subsequent award of Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Aspects of period as pilot with 232 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF in India and Ceylon, 5/1945-1/1946: role carrying passengers; memories of VJ Day, 15/8/1945; lifestyle and routine flights; flying Douglas Skymaster aircraft carrying troops back to GB; demobilisation, 1/1946. Post-war life and employment: work as airline pilot; types of passenger aircraft flown.