Charrot, John Douglas (Oral history)

British NCO served as navigator with 138 (Special Duties) Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1943

REEL 1 Background in Palmers Green, London, GB, 1921-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB, 1940-1941: background to enlistment; pattern of training; posting to RAF Lossiemouth; officer training at Initial Training Wing, Torquay; bombing of London; move to Hatfield for flying training; sight of De Havilland Mosquito at Hatfield; reasons for re-mustering as observer; navigational training; gunnery and bombing course; crewing up; posting to 102 Sqdn, RAF; crash landing in aircraft after single raid. Recollections of operations with, 138 (Special Duties) Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1943: posting to 1419 Flight at Newmarket; crew of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley; modifications of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley for supply drops; dropping of agents from aircraft. REEL 2 Continues: problems during early operations with pilot Sergeant Wild; number of missions flown with new pilot; problems with weather; preparations for operations; blind drops; degree of contact with agents; handling of agents on airfield; importance of moon for navigation; aid given by air gunners; dropping of containers onto drop zone; problems resistance had in organising drop zone; technique for dropping leaflets; dropping pigeons; use of Rebecca navigational aid; character of RAF Tempsford; security surrounding operations; squadron casualty rates; refusal of commanding officer of Special Duty squadrons to allow his crews to fly on 1000 bomber raids; expansion of Special Duties operations from 1943. REEL 3 Continues: relations with ground crew; use of personal aircraft; role of flight engineer on board Handley Page Halifax; loss of crew whilst attending court martial at RAF Kinloss, 9/1942; duties as second navigator; participation in agent drops during Operation Gunnerside in Norway, 16/2/1943; post-war meeting with Operation Gunnerside member; his position in Handley Page Halifax; situation in Netherlands; incident on opening fire with guns during drop over Netherlands, 10/6/1943; post-war meeting with Dutch officer dropped; incident of aircraft being damage by anti- aircraft fire over France, 5/1943. REEL 4 Continues: memories of Squadron Leader Frank Griffiths; story of Squadron Leader Frank Griffiths dropping package to his aunt; last trip, 24/6/1943; story of Squadron Leader Frank Griffiths being shot down and evading capture in France; post-war meeting with former French Resistance member; character of Polish crews; association reunions at Tempsford; engagement with German E-boat off coast of Brittany, France; fate of his air gunner and rest of crew; story of meeting future wife at RAF Lossiemouth.