Interview with Terence Malcolm Bulloch

British officer served as pilot with 220 Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 5/1937-1/1940; served with 206 Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1/1940-11/1940; served with Ferry Command in GB, 12/1940-7/1941; served with 120 Sqdn, No 15 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB and Iceland, 8/1941-12/1942; served with 224 Sqdn, No 19 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 7/1943-7/1944; served with 231 Sqdn, RAF in Canada, United States of America and Pacific, 9/1944-8/1945

REEL 1 Background in Lisburn and Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1916-1936: family; education; sporting activities; role as Pipe Major in Offcier Training Corps; early interest in aviation; flight in Vickers Virginia. Aspects of enlistment and flying training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1936-1937: medical problem on initial selection; obtaining short service commission; employment prior to enlistment at Newtownards Airfield; selection process; initial flying training at No 12 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Prestwick; flying De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; pattern of instruction at RAF Prestwick; commissioning 1/1937; training on Hawker Hart and Hawker Audax at No 6 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Netheravon; method of getting out of spin; air gunnery training; adjusting to service in Royal Air Force; accidents at No 6 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Netheravon and attitude to flying; reasons for choice of Coastal Command. Recollections of period as pilot with 220 Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 5/1937-1/1940: posting to squadron at RAF Bircham Newton; characteristics of Avro Anson Mk I; attending navigational course at No 1 School of General Reconnaissance, RAF at RAF Hooton Park; lack of anti-submarine training; story of bombing of HMS Nelson during exercise. REEL 2 Continues: use of cameras; duration of flights. Recollections of operations as pilot with 206 Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1/1940-11/1940: attacks on invasion barges in Channel Ports, 9/1940; character of Lockheed Hudson Mk I; method of night-time bombing; composition of crew of Lockheed Hudson Mk I; shooting down of German Air Force Heinkel He 115 Floatplanes off coast of Netherlands; squadron losses; duration of bombing operations; anti-shipping operations; problems with ASV (Air-to-Surface) Mk I Radar. Aspects of period as pilot with Ferry Command, RAF in GB, 12/1940-7/1941: flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress across North Atlantic, 13/4/1941-14/4/1941; rations carried on flight; weather; navigating Lockheed Hudson across North Atlantic; initial impressions of Consolidated B-24 Liberator; status in United States of America. Recollections of operations as pilot with 120 Sqdn, No 15 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB and Iceland, 8/1941-12/1942: working up of squadron; character of Consolidated Liberator Mk GR.I; improvement in radar; technique for scanning water for submarines; question of fatigue. REEL 3 Continues: demanding crew members kept watch; role of his flight engineer; devising method of attacking submarines; depth charges carried; checking results of attacks; actions after attack; dropping sticks of six depth charges; convoy escort patrols; clothing worn; rations during long-distance flights; use of auto-pilot; toilet facilities on board; use of radar to pick up convoys; engagement with German Air Force Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft over Convoy SC 89, 22/10/1941; wounding of rear air gunner during attack on German vessel near Biarritz, France in Bay of Biscay, 13/12/1941; discovery of dinghy in North Atlantic, 2/1/1942; reasons for sending squadron detachment to Iceland, 9/1942; sinking of German submarine U-597 in mid-North Atlantic, 12/10/1942; devising method of attacking German Navy submarines; message sent out on attacking submarine and crew actions; later incident of damage to aircraft from German submarine U-636 in North Sea, 7/1944; feedback from rear gunner after attack; instructions to crew and fatigue; recreational activities in Iceland. REEL 4 Continues: escorting Convoy HX 217 in North Atlantic, 8/12/1942; sinking of German submarine U-254 shadowing Convoy HX 217, 8/12/1942; spotting of seven further German Navy submarines, 8/12/1942; use of cannon on German Navy submarines, 8/12/1942; record sighting of submarines, 8/12/1942; congratulations received for operations; reasons for turning down command of squadron. Recollections of operations as pilot with 224 Sqdn, 19 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 7/1943-8/1944: story of sinking German submarine U-514 with rocket projectiles off Cape Finisterre, 8/7/1943; story of damage to aircraft by submarine U-636 in North Sea, 7/1944. Aspects of period with 231 Sqdn, RAF in Canada, United States of America and Pacific, 9/1944-8/1945: long range route flown in Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express across Pacific; basing of squadron in United States of America and Canada; demobilisation from Royal Air Force and joining British Overseas Aircraft Corporation (BOAC), 1945; types of aircraft flown with British Overseas Aircraft Corporation (BOAC) from 1945. Reflections on service with Coastal Command, RAF during Second World War: personal marking carried on Consolidated Liberator whist operating with 224 Sqdn, RAF; attitude to having served with Coastal Command during Second World War.