Interview with Hubert Alan Hufford

British NCO served as navigator with 455 (RAAF) Sqdn, Anzac Strike Wing, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1/1944-7/1944; served with 415 (RCAF) Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 7/1944; officer served with 119 Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in Belgium, 1/1945-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Peterborough and Huntingdon, GB, 1921-1940: family; early interest in aviation; employment; memories of declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; membership of Air Defence Cadet Corps, 1938-1940. Aspects of period as private with Huntingdonshire Home Guard in Huntingdon, GB, 1940-1942: joining Huntingdon Local Defence Volunteers, 6/1940; prior service with Air Defence Cadet Corps; organisation of his section; incident of accidental discharge of rifle; duties and arrival of equipment. Aspects of enlistment and training as navigator with Royal Air Force in GB, 1942: being placed on deferred service after volunteering in 1940; pattern of early training; call-up to Royal Air Force, 2/1942; reaction to allocation as navigator; marching in snow at No 1 Aircrew Reception Centre, RAF at St John's Wood, London; attending lectures at St John's Wood and at No 5 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Torquay; signals training at No 1 Radio School, RAF at RAF Cranwell; in transit at Aircrew Dispersal Centre, RAF at RAF Heaton Park. Aspects of training as navigator with Royal Air Force in Canada, 1942-1943: conditions on board HMT Queen Mary during voyage from GB to Canada; posting to No 33 Air Navigation School, RCAF at RCAF Hamilton; principles of aircraft navigation; navigation exercise over sea. REEL 2 Continues: training as navigator and wireless operator; clothing worn during winter; incident of aircraft's windscreen perpex cracking during freezing weather; night exercises; problems for pilot retracting undercarriage in Avro Anson Mk I; positions of crew in Avro Anson Mk I; meteorological training; wireless procedure; need to adjust gyrocompasses; failure rate on course; examinations; passing out as sergeant; move to No 31 General Reconnaissance School, RCAF at RCAF Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; behaviour of commanding officer at RCAF Charlottetown; navigational training; keeping plot; navigational equipment carried; problems using gauntlets; selection to train with No 32 Operational Training Unit, RCAF at RCAF Comex, 4/1943; crewing up with Australian crew; torpedo training; ship recognition; night exercise over Pacific. REEL 3 Continues: characteristics of Handley Page Hampden; problems with worn out Handley Page Hampden; opinion of Handley Page Hampden; in transit in Canada; embarkation aboard HMT Louis Pasteur; problems of sunburn on board ship. Aspects of navigational training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1943-1944: posting to No 3 Personnel Reception Centre, RAF at Bournemouth; ship recognition training; training on Link Trainer; method of instruction on ship recognition; posting to No 1 Torpedo Training Unit, RAF at RAF Turnberry; leave and marriage, 10/1943; torpedo training in estuary of River Clyde; reaction to posting to Short Sunderland Flying Boat squadron; posting to RAF Squires Gate; servicing of Avro Ansons; principles of astro-navigation; confidence in navigational skills; contrast in navigation in Canada and GB; story of flying in storm in North Atlantic. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of operations as navigator with 455 (RAAF) Sqdn, Anzac Strike Wing, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1/1944-7/1944: posting to squadron at RAF Leuchars; working up exercises; hospitalisation for jaundice; composition of wing; characteristics of Bristol Beaufighter; fitting of Gee navigational device to aircraft; effect on compass of firing Bristol Beaufighter's cannon; method of swinging compass in Bristol Beaufighter; type of wrist watch used; handling characteristics of Bristol Beaufighter; lone reconnaissance to spot German cruisers; accidental squadron attack on Royal Navy patrol vessels; method of attacking coastal shipping; areas on ship fired at; division of work in Anzac Strike Wing; cruise speed on Bristol Beaufighter; first reconnaissance patrol off Norwegian coast; move to RAF Langham, 4/1944; need to sweep runway at RAF Langham; painting of invasion stripes on aircraft; standing by during night of D-Day, 6/6/1944; story of fellow navigator bailing out over Great Yarmouth after case of aircraft fatigue; number of operations flown; reasons for leaving squadron; hearing of loss of pilot after posting away from squadron, 7/1944. REEL 5 Continues: relations with Australian and New Zealand aircrew. Aspects of operation as navigator with 415 (RCAF) Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 7/1944: posting to squadron at RAF Manston, 7/1944; convoy escort work in English Channel; patrolling in English Channel; character of RAF Manston; character of Fairey Albacore; problem of hitting tailplane with aircraft's machine gun; use of Vickers .303 Machine Gun; use of radar for navigation in Fairey Albacore. Aspects of operations as navigator with 119 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF in Belgium, 1/1945-5/1945: conversion to Fairey Swordfish Mk III, 1/1945; character of Fairey Swordfish Mk III; story of pilot urinating in Fairey Swordfish Mk III; operating from Advanced Landing Ground, B-83, Knokke; avoiding German anti-aircraft barges; attack on German explosive motorboats; suitability of Fairey Swordfish Mk III for operations against small craft; sight of German Air Force night fighter protecting German E-boats; return to GB, 22/5/1945; various postings on leaving squadron. REEL 6 Continues: character of Fairey Swordfish Mk III operated by Royal Air Force; problems with loose radio in Fairey Albacore.