Leakey, John (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

British NCO wireless operator/air gunner served flying Hampden with 83 Sqdn based in GB and operating over Germany, 1940. Shot down, 9/8/1940. POW in Germany, Poland and Lithuania, 1940-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Kennington, London, 1921-1938: family background and social circumstances; education; Boy Scouts and Boys Brigade activities; various officer jobs, 1937-1938; background to enlisting as wireless operator in RAF, 9/1938. REEL 2 Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at Reception Centre, Cardington, 9/1938-10/1938: kitting out; hut accommodation; preparing for kit and room inspections; relationship with instructor; food rations; drill; PT; rifle training; discipline and relationship with instructors; boxing activities; relationship with recruits; passing out parade. Recollections of training at School for Wireless Operators, Cranwell and Yatesbury. 10/1938-7/1939: civilians instructors; training in accumulators and batteries. REEL 3 Continues: lectures in wireless receivers and transmitters; Mores code training; typing and teleprinter training; move to Yatesbury, 2/1939; drill; assessment. Recollections of periods as aircraftman 2nd Class wireless operator on Fairey Battle with 63 Sqdn, RAF at Upwood, Blackpool, Abingdon, Benson, 7/1939-10/1939: reception; nature of Fairey Battle including crew roles, observer's machine gun and reputation; prior flight in Valencia; training flights as W/OP; use of wireless direction finding signals in navigation; training on Lewis gun; briefing on news of outbreak of war, 3/9/1939. REEL 4 Continues: briefing on news of outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; guard duty on bomb store; teleprinter duties; move for gunnery practice against drogues at Squires Gate, Blackpool; moves to Abingdon and Benson. Period with 98 Sqdn, RAF at Hucknall, 10/1939-12/1939: preparations for overseas service; embarkation leave. Period flying Hampden with 106 Sqdn, RAF based at Finningley, 11/1939-12/1939: nature of Hampden including crew roles and Browning machine guns; drills for ditching in sea and bailing out; cross country flights and use of emergency wireless direction bearings; checking wireless frequency with various airfields wireless stations; story of breaking arm in fairground, 12/1939. REEL 5 Recollections of period as Wireless Operator/Gunner flying Hampden with 83 Sqdn, RAF based at Scampton, 2/1940-8/1940: formation of crew with Pilot Officer Neil Svenson and Navigator Sergeant Walter Barber; barrack accommodation and hangar workshop for W/OP/Gunners; first operational mission flying with wing commander; personal morale; nature of typical night bombing raid on Ruhr, Germany including briefing, flying kit, drive out to dispersed aircraft, wireless note book, prior flight test and checks, relationship with ground crew, question of superstitions, personal morale and final checks before take off. REEL 6 Continues: nature of typical night bombing raid on Ruhr, Germany including take off, personal morale, flying independently, navigation, height flown, question of wireless silence and story of sending report of German convoy, 6/1940, question of use of intercoms, lookout, German anti-aircraft fire, approach to target, dropping bombs, story of low level dive bombing of Nantes, France, flight back, latrine arrangements, risk over German night fighters over airfield, landing, debriefing and air crew meal; role accompanying mobile beacons on lorry; recreational visits to Lincoln and drinking habits; low level minelaying missions off Baltic coast. REEL 7 Recollections of being forced down in Hampden during raid on Mannheim, Germany, 9/8/190: changes to regular crew and flying with Rear Gunner Aircraftman Frank Stone; engine failure and jettisoning bombs; question of bailing out and lack of instructions from new pilot; pancake crash landing near forest; concussion and question of role in rescue of AC Frank Stone; state of burning aircraft and question of survival of Sergeant Walter Barber; injuries to arm and shoulder; initial move away from aircraft and arrest by German civilians in village; question of escape; collection by Luftwaffe officials and journey to Frankfurt. Period at Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, 8/1940: separation form crew; nature of interrogation. Period in nunnery hospital, Frankfurt, 8/1940-9/1940: medical treatment; relationship with German nuns; volunteering for cleaning duties to improve arm; presence of Wing Commander Harry Day. REEL 8 Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany, 10/1940-6/1942: train journey; camp layout an hut accommodation; reception; ersatz coffee and tea; food; lamps; roll call and ruses to conceal escapees; latrines; question of initial lack of Red Cross parcels; Red Cross parcels; question of recreations; wire fence defences; relationship with prisoners; issue of Red Cross parcels; relationship with German guards. REEL 9 Continues: role of senior NCO and election of Sergeant 'Dixie' Deans; book supply and educational courses; chapel; music and concert party activities; disorganised nature of tunnelling escape attempts and abandonment of tunnel; formation and role of escape committee; use of bunks to provide tunnel props; stealing potatoes; review of various escape attempts; treatment of Soviet POWs. REEL 10 Continues: camp wireless and dissemination of news; winter conditions, 12/1940-1/1941; reading books; question of medical arrangements; pleurisy case; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1941; story of escape and shooting of Sergeant Johnny Shaw; skating. Journey to Sagan, Poland, 6/1942: concealing wireless; train conditions. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Poland, 1942-1943: role of camp holding RAF personnel; preparing sports pitch; theatre activities; officer and US compounds; Red Cross parcels; use of klim tin for heating 'blowers' and for tunnel air supply pipe. REEL 11 Continues: ignorance of 'Great Escape' preparations; activities of German 'ferrets'; letter and parcel contact with GB including question of censorship; story of volunteer work party and theft of map; sporting activities and swimming pool; theft of electrical equipment from theatre during fire. Period at Stalag Luft VI, Heydekrug, Lithuania, 1943: removing bricks to connect hut accommodation to disrupt roll calls; question of escape; crowded conditions; German dog patrols; roll call and search carried out by Gestapo. REEL 12 Continues: theatre activities. Period at 357 POW Camp, Fellingbostel, Lithuania, 1944-1945: increasing concentration of POWs and consequent overcrowding; attitude of German guards during Soviet advance; evacuation of camp, 3/1945. Recollections of march into Germany, 3/1945: uniforms and possessions carried; overnight stops; scavenging for food; mild weather; escape with Jack Hamilton and Vic Gammon during confusion caused by low flying Typhoons. Recollections of period as escaped prisoners in Germany, ca 3/1945-4/1945: memories of Jack Hamilton and Vic Gammon; decision to travel mainly at night; food carried; close escape from courting couple; navigation; close escape from vehicles; cooking potatoes; contact with Soviet escaped POWs. REEL 13 Continues; water supply; story of nerves crossing clearing in woods; close escape passing through village; passing close to German depot; close escape from military convoy; story of successful bluff of being French workers when stopped by German soldier; escort to village; attachment to working party of French POWs on farm; reception from French; German guard originating in US; work planting seed potatoes; food; minor sabotage of potato planting; stomach problems caused by change in diet; conditions; news of approach of Allied troops; liberations by British troops and arrest of German guards. REEL 14 Continues: arrest of German guards; separation from French prisoners. Initial periods in Germany and GB, ca 4/1945-5/1945: accompanying advance of British unit and absence of German resistance; continuation of stomach problems; intervening to stop Dutch soldier assaulting German POW; minor looting; flight back to GB; reception including delousing and debriefing at Leighton Buzzard; hospitalisation and medical rehabilitation; VE Day, 78/5/1945; reception on return home; demolition fo house in Blitz and consequent move. Aspects of various postings in GB, 5/1945-9/1946: rehabilitation period at Scarborough; advice from career officer; eyesight problem debarring further flying duties; confusion over invitation to officers' mess party; question of remaining in RAF. REEL 15 Demobilisation procedure, 9/1946: reactions; demob suit. Post-war career: fear of unemployment; work as electrician on railways; reasons for not rejoining RAF; work for knitwear firm; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; effects of POW experience; attitude to Germans; membership of RAF Ex POW Assoc and prominent role of Vic Gammon.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Hart, Peter M (recorder)
Leakey, John (interviewee/speaker)
Production date: 2006-12
Dimensions: whole: Duration 450, Number Of Items 15
Catalogue number: 29522

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Leakey, John (Oral history)

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