Tolley, Frank (Oral history)

British NCO served as bomb aimer on Lancaster with 625 Sqdn, RAF based in GB and Operating over Germany, 1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Tipton and Oldbury, 1921-1940: family background and social circumstances; education; work as grocer's errand boy, 1935-1939; work as accounts clerk, 1939-1940; work as part-time cinema projectionist, 1939-1940; activities with St Johns Ambulance Brigade, 1937-1940; first aid role with ARP, 1939-1940; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; Anderson air raid shelter; black out and smoke projector kerosene lamps in streets. REEL 2 Continues; background to volunteering for RAF, 5/1940; call up, 8/1940. Kitting out at Recruit Reception Centre, RAF, Cardington, 8/1940. Period at Initial Training Wing, Morecambe Bay, 8/1940-9/1940: billets; drill; relationship with recruits and instructors; PT. Period as aircraftsman 2nd Class at School of Apprentices, Halton, ca 9/1940-12/1940: orderly room duties; attending drill instructors course. Recollections of period on ground defence duties at airfields at Bramcote, Bitteswell and Martlesham Heath, 1940-1942: preparing for kit inspections; issue with khaki uniform; role manning anti-aircraft gun posts; case of accidental shooting down of Spitfire; aircraft crashes; home leave and story of motorcycle crash; reactions to German air raids and decision to volunteer as air gunner; acceptance for air crew training; conversion of unit into 735 Sqdn, RAF Regt. Period at, 1942-1943: assault course. REEL 3 Continues: attending drill course at Caterham Barracks; tactical training exercises; story of dispute with US aircrew officer; discovery of German skeleton. Period remustering at Air Crew Reception Centre, St Johns Wood, London, ca 8/1943: problems in passing night vision test; arrest of murderer serving in RAF; effects of vaccinations. Recollections of period with No 17 Initial Training Wing, Scarborough, 8/1943-9/1943: theoretical training; prior Morse code and navigational training; billets; cross country runs; aircraft recognition training; status as cadet NCO. Recollections of period at flying grading school, Longtown, 9/1943-10/1943: dual flying training on Tiger Moth; problems with flying. Period at Heaton Park Holding Camp, Manchester, 10/1942-11/1942: billets with Jewish family; news of rejection as pilot and acceptance for training as bomb aimer. Voyage aboard Mauretania to Canada, 11/1943: hammocks; conditions. REEL 4 Recollections of period at No 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, 11/1943-2/1943: train journey; training on Browning gun; lectures in bomb fuses; method of using Course Setting Bomb Sight (CSBS); opinion of Anson; dropping practice bombs from Anson; firing at air drogues from Blenheim; opinion of Blenheim; photographic reconnaissance exercise; passing out. Recollections of period at No 1 Air Observers School, Malton, Ontario, 2/1944-4/1944: background to changing postings with Canadian observer; ship recognition training; map reading and navigation training flights; passing out as sergeant bomb aimer and question of not being commissioned; story of meeting school friend. Voyage aboard Isle de France to GB, ca 5/1944. Period in Holding Unit at Harrogate, 5/1944-6/1944: story of getting drunk; home leave. Attending refresher course at 3 Observer Advanced Flying Unit in GB, 6/1944-7/1944. REEL 5 Attending refresher course at 3 Observer Advanced Flying Unit in GB, 6/1944-7/1944. Recollections of period at 21 Operational Training Unit, Moreton in Marsh, 8/1944-10/1944: formation of crew with pilot Flight Sergeant Bruce Windrum, navigator Sergeant Bill Porter, wireless operator Sergeant Ted Steen, rear gunner Sergeant Jim Slater and mid-upper gunner Sergeant 'Lucky' Simmonds; nature of Wellington and role as second pilot in emergency; training flights; mock fighter attacks and 'corkscrew' evasive manoeuvre; parachute and dinghy drills; bomb fuses. Period at 1667 Heavy Bomber Conversion Unit, Sandtoft, 11/1944-1/1945: initial flights in Halifax; nature of Lancaster including front gun turret and bomb aimer's nose compartment; use of Mark 16 gyroscopic bomb sight. REEL 6 Continues: addition to crew of Flight Sergeant Joe Platt and role as second pilot. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and operations on Lancaster with 625 Sqdn, RAF based at Kelstern and Scampton, 1/1945-9/1945: reception; hut accommodation; cancelled operations due to snow; nature of night bombing raid on Mannheim docks, Germany, 1/2/1945, including notification, briefing, flying with experienced crew on first raid, bomb load, crew meal, personal morale, flying gear, question of superstitions, move out to dispersed aircraft, handover from ground crew, final checks, take off procedure, flying independently within bomber stream, position in bomb aimer's nose compartment, question of using amphetamine tablets, setting gyroscopic bomb sight, opening bomb doors, German anti-aircraft fire and personal morale. REEL 7 Continues: nature of night bombing raid on Mannheim docks, Germany, 1/2/1945, including reaction to dropping bombs, return flight, necessity for continued vigilance and aircraft shot down not using identification friend or foe system (IFF)n, sweets, latrine arrangements, question of use of intercom, landing, handover to ground crew, rum ration and debriefing; sleeping arrangements; nature of sergeants' mess including questions of drinking habits and gambling; recreational visits to Grimsby; raid on Dresden, 13/2/1945, including seeing film of raid and reactions to firestorm; fatigue; story of getting to target to early during raid on Dessau, 7/3/1945; abortive raid in cloud over Hamburg, 31/3/1945; raid on Nuremberg, 16/3/1945, including German night fighters and getting lost over Switzerland on return flight; raid on Cleve in support of army, 7/2/1945; raid on Heligoland submarine pens, 18/4/1945. REEL 8 Continues: story of reluctance to drop bombs in cloudy conditions during daylight raid on Padderbornn 27/3/1945; US bombing tactics; low level supply drops under Operation Manna over Le Hague and Rotterdam, Netherlands, 4/1945; use of window dropped from bomb aimer's chute; reactions to VE Day during leave, 8/5/1945; flights to show effects of bombing and story of successful bombing during daylight raid on Cologne, 2/3/1945; reactions to casualties; post-war mock raids under Exercise Post Mortum on Flensburg; disbandment of squadron, 9/1945; background to interview and rejection for commission as unwilling to stay in RAF; question of return with commission to serve in RAF Regt. Administrative posting prior to demobilisation, 6/1946. Post-war career: return to career in accountancy; effects of war service; opinions of bombing campaign and story of accidentally bombing Dortmund suburb, 12/3/1945; pride in Operation Manna and reaction of Dutch civilians.