Description
Object description
British air gunner flew Blenheim IV with X Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943; served as leading aircraftsman radar operator at Sango radar station, Durness, GB, 1943-1944; served with mobile radar unit, RAF in North West Europe, 1944; served with Wireless Operating Unit, Special Air Service on Borneo Islands, 1945; served with AMS 6367 Radar Unit in Burma and Malaya, 1945-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Milnethorpe, 1924-1942: family background and father's work for gas works; interest in natural history; close escapes from lightening and floods at gas works; education; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; troops billeted in village; interest in aircraft identification; role as volunteer and member of Observer Corps manning post on Haverbrake Hill, 1940-1942, including nature of post, question of pay, night shifts, German bombers passing above, German bombing raid, telephone reporting system, story of Halifax forced landing, 6/6/1942, ineffectiveness of decoy fires to divert attention from Barrow in Furness, escaped barrage balloons and crashed aircraft.
REEL 2 Continues: view of move by training aircraft to Scotland, 1940; German daytime raids; office work in gas works, 1938-1942; German bombing and question of farmers breaking blackout; shifts with OC; background to volunteering to join RAF, 8/1942. Attestation at RAF Reception centre, Padgate, 8/1942. Period at RAF Reception Centre, St Johns Wood, London, 8/1942-9/1942: origins of recruits; kitting out; vaccinations; assessment and assignment for training as wireless operator/air gunner; German air raids; personal morale. Recollections of period at No 14 Initial Training Wing, Bridlington, 9/1942-11/1942: effects of German air raid during train journey; billets; relationship with recruits; drill; weapons training including rifle, bayonet, Bren gun, use of tracer bullets and Sten gun; PT including sea swimming and assault courses.
REEL 3 Continues: food rations; navigation, Mores code and bomb aiming training; clay pigeon shooting; firing from mock up turrets using Browning machine gun; importance of clearing gun stoppages; aircraft identification; swimming tests; relationship with instructors; pay; relationship with civilians; question of suitability as NCO; assessment and examinations; reactions to death of father. Recollections of period at No 1 Air Gunners School, Pembrey, South Wales, 11/1942-2/1943: reactions to air experience flight in Blenheim; hut accommodation; status as air crew; difficulty in air firing test against towed drogues and hit rate required to pass course.
REEL 4 Continues: question of improving gunnery accuracy; firing from air at sea and ground targets; night flying; training on Browning stoppages; opinion of Blenheim and frequency of accidents; personal morale; passing out as sergeant air gunner. Period as air gunner flying in Blenheim IV with X Sqdn, RAF based at Filton, Chivenor and St Ivels, 2/1943-5/1943: firing from experimental turret fitted in belly of Blenheim; moves; qualification as wireless operator/air gunner after wireless course; injury in forced crash landing at Filton, hospitalisation, question of loss of nerve and removal from air crew duties. Period at Isle of Sheppey, 6/1943-7/1943: reduction in rank to leading aircraftman; failing air crew tests. Period at Blackpool, 7/1943-8/1943. Period at 216 Maintenance Unit, Sutton Coldfield, 8/1943-9/1943: reception; paint supply role of unit; absence of duties. Background to selection for radar training during period at Dudley, 9/1943. Recollections to period at No 1 Radio School, Yatesbury, 9/1943-11/1943: shift work; types of radar; nature of training.
REEL 5 Continues: importance of secrecy; nature of CHL radar set; distribution of radar stations in GB; nature of CH radar set and superiority of female operators; food rations; pass rate. Recollections of period as leading aircraftsman radar operator at Sango radar station, Durness, 11/1943-5/1944: role of secret 7K radar sets in sending beams used by Gee bombing system; role of CHL radar set; aircraft traffic in Cape Wrath area; effects of storms on radar aerials; manning searchlights during storms to monitor approach of US aircraft; shifts tracking aircraft on CHL radar set; spurious radar echoes; RAF practice bombing on mock up of Tirpitz; recreational visits by Churchill to Cape Wrath hotel; shooting deer; hut accommodation; New Year's Eve celebrations, 31/12/1943; detachment to male/female personnel staff at Betty Hill radar station; detachment to Aberdeen radar station. Period at Worth Maltravers, 5/1945: joining specialist mobile radar unit; military training.
REEL 6 Continues: equipment with mobile CHL radar set mounted on lorry; preparations for D Day. Period with mobile radar unit, RAF in US sector, Normandy, France, 6/1944: nature of Channel crossing, 8/6/1944; personal morale; situation on landing at Omaha Beach; ineffectiveness of radar at low level amongst sand dunes; move inland and commencement of radar sweeps; personal morale; recall to GB due to serious illness of mother. Periods at radar stations at Hawcoate, Barrow in Furness, Hartland Point, Bideford and Ashburton, 6/1944-1/1945: mother's recovery; prevalence and superiority of female personnel. Attending Commando training course at Staines, 1/1945. Periods at Morecambe and Blackpool, 1/1945-2/1945. Voyage aboard Ranchi to Bombay, India, 2/1945-3/1945: conditions; seasickness; route. Aspects of period in India, 2/1945-5/1945: first impressions of Bombay; period in Worli transit Camp, Bombay, 3/1945; cockroach problem during train journey to Belgaum; period at Belgaum, 3/1945-5/1945, including hut accommodation and beds; food rations and mobile training on Type 64 Radar Set.
REEL 7 Continues: period at Belgaum, 3/1945-5/1945, including mobile training on Type 64 Radar Set and setting up aerials; training course in driving DUKW at HMS Briganza II Shore Station at Bombay, 5/1945, including comparison of RAF and RN conditions of service and DUKW practice in surf wave conditions; reactions to news of VE Day, 8/5/1945; attachment to Special Air Service based at Kalyan. Recollections of mission with Wireless Operating Unit, Special Air Service on Borneo Islands, ca 5/1945-6/1945: prior briefing in Ceylon; night landing in dinghy from Catalina; nature of mangrove swamps; portable wireless equipment; setting up base in dinghy 50 yards into mangrove swamp; sleeping arrangements; question of qualities required for mission; role on wireless reporting Japanese air and shipping movements; detailed log; food and water rations; latrine arrangements; question of washing; faunae including snakes, insects and birds; identification and reports of Japanese aircraft; detailed arrangements for rendezvous and collection by Catalina off coast; physical state; separate debriefings at Ceylon; return to Kalyan.
REEL 8 Continues: leave in Bombay. Recollections of mission with AMS 6367 Radar Unit, under Operation Amber on islands off Burma, 7/1945: stetting up Type 64 radar set; Japanese shell fire; destruction of equipment and evacuation of island; return to Kalyan. Recollections of Exercise Zipper, and landing at Port Swettenham, Malaya, 8/1945-9/1945: gathering of invasion fleet; halt in operation and reactions to news of atomic bomb and Japanese surrender, 8/1945; landing at Morib Beach; move to Kallang airfield. Japanese POWs. Periods at Kuala Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, 9/1945-5/1946: establishing radar station on coast; reception from Malayan civilians; conditions of service; duties monitoring and reporting aircraft movements; relationship with rubber planters; exploring locality; assisting with British Military Administration in distribution of food to isolated villages; story of delivering food to leper colony; move to Kuala Lumpur, 1/1946; minimal duties; volunteering for anti-smuggler boat patrols stopping and searching Chinese junks; extra pay and rations; giving radar lectures. Period at Changi airfield, Singapore, 5/1946-12/1946: situation; recreations; view of scuttling of Japanese battleships.
REEL 9 Continues: trips exploring Malaya; story illustrating Japanese treatment of Malayan civilians; Japanese POWs PT sessions on beach; promotion to corporal; pay; use of cigarette ration on black market; reactions to leaving Malaya. Voyage aboard Georgic to GB, 12/1946: conditions; sea burial; reactions of Chinese wives on arrival at Liverpool. Recollections of service as sergeant radar supervisor in GB, 19461974: demobilisation and issue of demob suit prior to immediate recall; changes in radar equipment; reductions in numbers of radar stations; role monitoring incursions by Soviet aircraft; incident of near collision between US and Soviet aircraft. Post-service career: work in local government; membership of Radar Association and Air Crew Association.