Keeping, Leroy Oliver (Oral history)

American NCO served with 570th Bomb Sqdn, 390th Bomb Group, US Army Air Force in GB, 1942-1945

REEL 1: Background in Hawley, Minnesota, USA, 1920-1942: family; education; reaction to outbreak of war in Europe, 9/1939; reaction to Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, 7/Dec/1941; story of call up and enlistment with US Army Air Force, 1942. Aspects of training with US Army Air Force in US, 1942: description of training with power turret; story of joining 390th Bomb Group; description of journey to GB and arrival in Liverpool, 1942; posted to Parham airfield, Suffolk. Recollections of operations with 390th Bomb Group US Army Air Force in GB, 1942-1945: description of Parham airfield and bomber squadrons based there; description of Military Police and Chemical and Biological Warfare squadrons; role of fighter escort station at Leiston; initial impression of GB and comparison of British and American farms; advice given to Americans on active service in GB; bombing missions carried out from Parham airfield; description of work with power turret; description of bombers taking off before dawn; problem of loss of air crews in accidents; question of adequate fighter escorts. REEL 2 Continues: social life; description of PX stores; story of meeting future wife and wedding; story of going Absent Without Leave; daily routine and activities at Parham; relations with RAF personnel; importance of pubs for airmen; comparison of British and American rates of pay; story of children asking for chewing gum; parties for local children at base; attitude to US policy of racial segregation and question of prejudice against Black airmen; problem of violence due to racial conflict; story of shuttle missions to Soviet Union and Italy; composition of ground and air crews; description of damaged aircraft returning to base; relations between ground and air crews. REEL 3 Continues: story of return to US, 11/1945; decommissioning of Parham base and taking of items by local civilians; demobilisation and return to civilian employment as farmer. Post-war life and employment in GB: reason for returning to GB with family, 1954; employment; relations with local people in Suffolk; reunions and activities with museum at Parham airfield; reason for retaining US citizenship; question of other American service personnel choosing to live in GB after the war.