Cresswell, John (Oral history)

1396566387
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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British police cadet and officer served with Metropolitan Police in London, GB, 1939-1941; officer trained as pilot with RAF in GB and Canada, 1942-1944; served as pilot with 163 Sqdn, Light Night Striking Force, Pathfinder Force, RAF in GB, 1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Paddington and Fulham, London, GB, 1919-1939: family; education; employment; joining of police force. Aspects of period as police cadet and officer with Metropolitan Police in London, GB, 1939-1941: reason for posting to Paddington; haircut prior to training at Peel House; clothing worn during training; discipline; accommodation in Paddington; patrols; activities and kit issued following outbreak of war, 9/1939; police assembly points; police officer killed during an air raid; near miss during an air raid; German incendiary bomb raids; further details of German Air Force raids including scenes in bombed underground tunnel; reasons for joining Royal Air Force. Aspects of flying training with RAF in GB and Canada, 1942-1944: pattern of training; choice of role; pilot assessment and opinion of De Havilland Tiger Moth; voyage to Canada; train journey to Calgary; posting to 31 Elementary Flying Training School, RCAF De Winton; training on De Havilland Tiger Moth and Airspeed Oxford; visits to Calgary; return to GB. REEL 2 Continues: training given to pilots; meeting of wife; knowledge of war; details of navigational beam course attended; reactions to operational posting. Aspects of operations as pilot with 163 Sqdn, Light Night Striking Force, Pathfinder Force, RAF in GB, 1945: details of unit; memories of navigator, Frank Robinson; opinion of De Haviland Mosquito; character of De Havilland Mosquito's fuel supply; bombs carried; details of flights to Berlin; composition and morale of squadron; details of RAF Wyton including accommodation; VE Day celebrations, 5/1945; opinion of non-aircrew staff. Aspects of period as police officer with Metropolitan Police in London, GB, 1945-1969: accommodation; changes in police; details of post-war service; civilian work after retirement.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Butler, Steve (Recorder)
Cresswell, John (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2005
Dimensions: whole: Duration 60, Number Of Items 2
Catalogue number: 28932

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Cresswell, John
Robinson, Frank
Royal Air Force, Sqdn, 163
Associated events

31/5(41)
Associated places

GB, England
Paddington, London, England, United Kingdom
Fulham, London, England, United Kingdom
RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
Calonne-sur-la-Lys, Pas-de-Calais, France
CA & Calgary, Alberta
De Winton, Alberta, Canada

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Cresswell, John (Oral history)

Description

Object description

Content description

Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Associated events

Associated places

Our collections information

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