Rose, Nigel (Oral history)

British NCO trained as pilot with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at 3 Elementary Reserve Flying Training School, Hamble, 1939; trained with 1 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Cambridge and with 14 Flying Training School, RAF in GB, 1939-1940; officer served with 602 and 54 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1940-1941 including Battle of Britain, 1940; served as instructor with Training Command, RAF in GB and Egypt, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1918-1938: family; education; employment in engineering firm; university. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and RAF in GB, 1938-1939; enlistment in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 12/1938; flying training at 3 Elementary Reserve Flying Training School; degree of anticipation of Second World War; prior recollections of visits to Germany, 1936-1937; opinion of Avro Cadet; instructors; pattern of training; posting to 1 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Cambridge, 22/11/1939- 2/2/1940; cockpit layout of Avro Cadet; instruction on instrument flying; use of Link Trainer; forced landing training; flying clothing worn. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as officer cadet at 1 Initial Training Wing, RAF in Cambridge, 22/11/1939-2/2/1940: carrying on after illness; winter conditions; posting to Kinloss. Aspects of period of flying training at 14 Flying Training School at Kinloss and Cranfield in GB, 2/1940-4/1940: characteristics of North American Harvard; cross country flights; degree of navigational training; move of school to Cranfield, 4/1940. Recollections of operations as pilot with 602 Sqdn, RAF during Battle of Britain, 1940: reaction to posting to operational squadron; reception on arrival with squadron at RAF Drem; raising undercarriage on Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1; familiarisation flights in Miles Magistar; first flight in Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1; story of discovery of sticks of dynamite in exhausts of Supermarine Spitfire; night operations; amusing story of first German aircraft shot down by squadron ands mistaken identity of shot down squadron pilot in 1939. REEL 3 Continues: lack of operational experience at RAF Drem; description of RAF Drem; use of satellite field; reaction of commanding officer Sandy Johnston to his damaging of aircraft; provision of parachute flair; posting to RAF Westhampnett, 13/8/1940; number of daily operational sorties flown; German use of large formations of aircraft; damaging Messerschmitt Me 110 during first aerial combat, 17/8/1940; nature of aerial combat; question of success during first combat; German Messerschmitt Me 110 use of defensive circle; damage to his aircraft during engagement near Bristol, 15/9/1940; question of making claims; failure of camera guns; formations flown. REEL 4 Continues: tactics employed against bomber formations; radio communications; armour plating in Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1; decreasing engagements as battle progressed; character of RAF Westhampnett; night operations; recreational activities; courtship and marriage; relations with civilians; request for him to return to squadron at cinema. Recollections of operations as pilot with 602 and 54 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1940-1941: posting to RAF Prestwick, 16/12/1940; accommodation at RAF Prestwick; filming of 'A Yank in the RAF'; fatal crash of pilot; lack of contact with German aircraft at night; character of night time operations; on stand by during Rudolph Hess' flight to Scotland; calibration of radio beams; mistaken near landing at RAF Biggin Hill during move to RAF Kenley, 7/1941; role of ground controllers. REEL 5 Continues: objective of fighter sweeps over France; character of fighter sweeps he participated in; escorting bombers; problems of accidentally shooting at RAF aircraft; sweep down Normandy coast led by Douglas Bader; shooting down of Douglas Bader and escorting bombers during dropping of artificial leg. Aspects of period as instructor with Training Command in GB and Egypt, 1941-1945: role as instructor with 57 Operational Training Unit, Hawarden ; promotion to squadron leader in charge of gunnery; presence of foreign pilots on training courses; posting to Egypt, 1944; character of voyage to Egypt; character of airfield at Abgs Ballah, 1944-1945; attending gunnery course at RAF Catfoss, 5/1945- 7/1945; attitude to end of Second World War; conditions at Abgs Ballah; relations with Italian POWs; reasons for destruction of American facilities on their withdrawal. REEL 6 Continues: rocket firing range; Arab collection of cordite from ranges; weather conditions; contact with home; return to GB; flights over North African battlefields. Reflections of period as pilot with RAF during Second World War: conversation efforts to save of Bentley Priory; question of making a career in RAF after end of war; attitude to serving with RAF; rank and responsibilities; attending court martials; officer and NCO relations; commanding squadron in air; atmosphere in squadron during Battle of Britain; squadron casualties; attitude towards Germans; presence of Poles and Czechs in squadron; question of threat of invasion in 1940; effect of sinking of Prince of Wales and fall of Singapore; effect of weather on flying; effects of wind on flight. REEL 7 Continues: performance of Supermarine Spitfire at higher altitudes; sensation of flight; problems of getting Republic P47 Thunderbolt in steep dives.