Interview with John Connell Freeborn

Sound: © IWM (29423)

2113286124
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:

Sound: © IWM (29423)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80027312&media_id=125467" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
376744226
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:

Sound: © IWM (29423)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80027312&media_id=125468" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
1681712730
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:

Sound: © IWM (29423)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80027312&media_id=125469" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
379532146
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:

Sound: © IWM (29423)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80027312&media_id=125470" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
1141812337
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:

Sound: © IWM (29423)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80027312&media_id=125471" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
326945525
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:

Sound: © IWM (29423)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80027312&media_id=125472" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Description

Object description

British officer served with 74 Sqdn, No 12 Group, RAF in GB, 8/1939-6/1941, including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; served as Royal Air Force liaison officer and test pilot in United States of America, 1/1942-12/1942; served with 602 Sqdn, No 10 and 11 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 2/1943-6/1943; commanded 118 Sqdn, No 13 Fighter Group, Air Defence of Great Britain, RAF in GB, 6/1943-1/1944; commanded No 286 Wing, RAF in Italy, 1/1944-5/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Leeds, 1919-1937: family; education; interest in steam locomotives. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1938-1939: selection procedure and medical, 9/1938; pattern of flying training; familiarisation flight with instructor; soloing; sitting examination; physical training; adjusting to service life. Recollections of period as pilot with 74 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 8/1939-6/1941, including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-6/1941: reception on arrival at RAF Hornchurch; officer who committed suicide after contracting venereal disease; appointment as squadron adjutant. REEL 2 Continues: degree of authority of squadron adjutant; problems of keeping Supermarine Spitfire in formation; flight to Paris, France for Bastille Day, 8/1939; visit to British Embassy party in Paris, France; role of orderly officer; batman; personality clash between Irish officers in squadron; arrest for accidental attack on Hawker Hurricane aircraft during Battle of Barking Creek, GB, 6/9/1939; outcome of his court martial and Squadron Leader Adolph 'Sailor' Malan's reaction to incident, 7/10/1939; incident of giving advice to Squadron Leader Adolph 'Sailor' Malan about malfunctioning undercarriage; loss of inexperienced pilots; operating over Dunkirk, France, 5/1940; second hand story of pilot escaping from France; reaction to squadron losses. REEL 3 Continues: presence of clocks in Supermarine Spitfire; question of inaccuracy of publications especially with the spelling of his name; character of Supermarine Spitfire Mk II; opinion of Supermarine Spitfire Mk V; attitude to his squadron being given Supermarine Spitfire Mk V and Mk VIs; incident of German agent being captured; operating from RAF Castletown. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as Royal Air Force liaison officer and test pilot in United States of America, 1/1942-12/1942: voyage from GB to United States of America, 1/1942; duties in United States of America; nature of return voyage to GB. Aspects of operations as pilot with 602 Sqdn, No 10 and 11 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 2/1943-6/1943: appointment to squadron at RAF Perranporth, 2/1943; amusing story of encounter with Wing Commander Adolph 'Sailor' Malan. Aspects of period commanding 118 Sqdn, No 13 Fighter Group, Air Defence of Great Britain, RAF in GB, 6/1943-1/1944: posting to RAF Coltishall; attitude of station commander to presence of squadron on airfield; visit by King George VI; role escorting United States Army Air Force bomber aircraft. REEL 5 Continues: move to RAF Tangmere; refusal to fly with Supermarine Spitfire Mk V when Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX issued to Polish squadron; use of pressurised cabined Supermarine Spitfire; period in Ireland. Aspects of operations as commanding No 286 Wing, RAF in Italy, 1/1944-5/1945: posting to No 286 Wing, RAF, 1/1944; relations with station commander; composition of wing; refuelling aircraft; return to GB; story of flying fighter aircraft at United States Army Air Force airfield. REEL 6 Continues: story of attending party at United States Army Air Force. Aspects of period as officer with RAF in GB, 1945: character of RAF Castletown on return to GB; pay; discipline of pilots; relations with Wing Commander Adolph 'Sailor' Malan.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Miller, Fiona (Recorder)
Freeborn, John Connell (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2006-09-07
Dimensions: whole: Duration 180, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 29423

Object associations

Our collections information

We have over 1.7 million object records online, and we are adding to this all the time. Our records are never finished. Sometimes we discover new information that changes what we know about an object, such as who made it or used it. Sometimes we change how an object is interpreted. We sometimes make mistakes in our spelling, transcription or categorisation, or miss information out of our records.

Read more about our collections and the information we hold. Developing our collections information

If you have concerns about the language in this record, or you have information to improve it, please share your feedback.

We receive a lot of comments and can't respond to each one, but we do read them all and will respond where we can.

Interview with John Connell Freeborn

Description

Object description

Content description

Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Associated places

Associated subjects

Our collections information

Related content

The Medics Who kept Duxford's Pilots in the Air During the Second World War