Description
Object description
British aircraftman served as flight mechanic with 455 Sqdn in GB, 1942; trained as flight engineer at RAF St Athan, GB, 1942-1943; NCO and officer served as flight engineer with 405 Sqdn, Pathfinders Force, RAF in GB, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Wooton under Edge, GB, 1923-1939: family; education; joining Air Training Corps; membership of Home Guard; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF, 1941-1942: enlistment, 10/1941; pattern of basic training; origins of trainees; attitude to training; billeting in Weston super Mare; trade training as mechanic at RAF Locking. Aspects of period as flight mechanic with 455 Sqdn, RAF, 1942: posting to RAF Leuchars; character of Handley Page Hampden; squadron operations; relations with Australian aircrew; social activities in Dundee; detachments to RAF Wick; problems with spark plugs and refuelling Handley Page Hampden; forced landing of damaged aircraft; targets attacked by squadron.
REEL 2 Continues: applying for aircrew duties. Aspects of training as flight engineer at RAF St Athan, GB, 1942-1943: reasons for becoming flight engineer; facilities on station; quality of rations; learning fuel management; need to train different types of engines; types of recruits on course; method of instruction on course; degree of flying on course; move to Heavy Conversion Unit. Recollections of operations as flight engineer with 405 Sqdn, Pathfinders Force, RAF in GB, 1944: joining crew for first night flight in Avro Lancaster; relations with his Canadian crew; pattern of early flights with crew.
REEL 3 Continues: bombing practice; role as blind marker crew; backing up of marking; use of H2S as navigational tool; insignia worn by Pathfinder crews; briefing prior to operation; preparations for operations; pre-flight meals; clothing worn; assembling of force and reaction to first sight of main force in daylight; height levels flown at; attempts to confuse German defences; role monitoring fuel; positions of crew in front of Avro Lancaster; draining fuel tanks; role switching on manual bomb sight; throwing out Window; use of Mark XIV bomb sight.
REEL 4 Continues: question of locating target; reasons for flying at 18,000 feet; nature of bomb run; dealing with bomb hang up; use of Fishpond; damage to aircraft after night fighter attack during raid on Mannheim, 7/1944; reaction to night fighter attack; incident of being in crew that panicted; precautions for crash landings; operations to France; carrying of good luck charms; method of crew exiting Avro Lancaster; escape hatch.
REEL 5 Continues: lack of knowledge of date of coming D- Day landings; character of GEE navigational device; bombing of German coastal battery, 5/6/1944; sight of D-Day armada; practice cross country flights; memories of Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett; Donald Bennett's attitude to Pathfinders who only completed one tour; pattern of operations; fighter escort on daylight raids; lack of threat from German fighters; pattern of operations, 3/1944-7/1944; flying with other crews from RAF Warboys after his own crew ended there tour; method of crewing up; operations flown in second tour; large numbers of aircraft available to Bomber Command, 1945; celebrating end of second tour.
REEL 6 Continues: re-assessment for other duties after end of tour; recreational activities during tour; degree to which alcohol was consumed; pilot's arrangements for urinating; attitude to extended period of leave at end of tour. Aspects of period on ground duties with RAF in India, 1945-1946: posting to India, 9/1945; duties on docks at Cochin; attitude to service in India; question of staying on in RAF; demobilisation. Question of contrast in atmosphere on ground and in the air during operational tours.
