Description
Object description
Canadian NCO served as air mechanic and flight engineer with 409 and 427 Sqdns RAF in GB, 1942-1944
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Canada, 1920-1939: family; daily life on farm; social life and recreational activities; memory of outbreak of war, 9/1939; question of farmers being called up; training course on aero engines; story of enlistment with army and transfer to Royal Canadian Air Force, 1939. Aspects of training with Royal Canadian Air Force in Canada: role as instructor; description of basic flying training; grading; posted overseas, 1942; description of voyage to GB in convoy
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of operations with 409 and 427 Squadrons RAF in GB, 1942-1944: accommodation in Hastings; memory of visit to London; posted to 409 Squadron RAF; duties as air mechanic on Beaufighters; maintenance of engines; opinion of Beaufighter and Bristol Hercules engine; story of propeller change; description of day and night routines; casualties; comparison of Rolls Royce and Bristol Hercules engines; problem of ignition wires overheating
REEL 3 Continues: memory of partner Al Sherwood; story of being remustered as air crew; posted to RAF Technical School, St Athens for training as flight engineer; posted to No 6 Group 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit; memory of CO Turnbull; story of joining air crew as flight engineer; posted to 427 Squadron; question of promotion; story of Beaufighter crash landing.
REEL 4 Continues: story of injured navigator; description of first operation over Nuremberg and attack by German fighters; damage to aircraft; extinguishing fire and flying on three engines; question of training ground crew to take over in emergency; description of role of flight engineer; assisted pilot on take-off; technical duties; changing tanks; maintenance of engines; fuel capacity; story of problem with oxygen supply; position of flight engineer on aircraft; number of missions; story of collision with Halifax bomber; damage to aircraft; use of window; story of engine hit by shrapnel.
REEL 5 Continues: description of emergency landing in GB; problem with undercarriage; question of flying height; description of Halifax crew baling out; reaction to death of friends; attitude to Lack of Moral Fibre cases; engineering course on Mk VII Halifax; description of role as instructor at Heavy Conversion Unit; opinion of trainees; medical problems; description of journey aboard Queen Elizabeth via US, 12/1944.
REEL 6 Continues: memory of American casualties aboard ship; opinion of food; arrived St Hubert; social life; leave; posted to No 2 Air Command, Winnipeg; discharged; pay; memory of VE Day; post-war life and employment as farmer; reflections on period of service with RAF: question of Canadian attitude to Second World War; reunions; comradeship; attitude to bombing of civilians; question of media coverage of war; opinion of Hitler and strategy.