Description
Object description
Australian NCO served as pilot with 15 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Fremantle and Perth, Australia, 1919-1939: family; family's wartime service in during First and Second World Wars; period with 13 Field Coy, Royal Austalian Engineers, 1935-1939; education; employment; effects of Depression on family; awareness of political situation in Europe; activities with 13 Field Coy, Royal Australian Engineers; anticipation of coming war; exercises with 13 Field Coy, Royal Australian Engineers; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/1939.
REEL 2 Continues: early interest in aviation. Recollections of enlistment and training with Royal Australian Air Force, 1939-1943: volunteering for service, 5/9/1939; call up to 1 Engineering School, Ascot Vale, 5/1940; family engineering background; pattern of training; posting to RAAF Geraldton; first attempt to apply for aircrew; re-mustering as aircrew, 10/1942; impressions of progress of war.
REEL 3 Continues: selection for flying training at 1 Initial Training School, Somers; pattern of flying training; flying characteristics of De Havilland Tiger Moth; slow rolling aircraft; advice from instructor not to go to GB; flying training at 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala; reaction to gaining wings; leave in Perth; attitude to dangers of flying. Aspects of voyage from Australia to US aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, 1943: attitude to overseas posting guarding Africa Korps POWs onboard
REEL 4 Continues: duties as librarian on board Nieuw Amsterdam; opinion of Africa Korps POWs; story of reaction to encountering heavy anti-aircraft fire during daylight operation and returning with bomb load; flying Avro Lancaster; meeting girl ashore in Auckland; reaction to leaving Australia.
REEL 5 Continues: voyage to San Francisco, US. Aspects of period in US, 1943: reception in San Francisco; ashore in San Francisco; train journey across US; accommodation on east coast of US; relations with American civilians; social activities in New York. Aspects of voyage from US to GB aboard Queen Elizabeth, 1943: embarakation on board ship; conditions on board; service postings.
REEL 6 Continues: duties on board. Aspects of training with Royal Australian Air Force in GB, 1943-1944: arrival in GB; move to reception centre in Brighton; leave in Budleigh Salterton; opinion of beer; story of meeting girl at dance; visits to London; first experience of German Air Force raids; casualty rates in Bomber Command; nature of flying training in GB; opinion of Vickers Wellington.
REEL 7 Continues: method of landing Vickers Wellington; flying Avro Lancaster. Recollections of operations as pilot with 15 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1944-1945: attitude to participating in operations; arrival at RAF Mildenhall, 12/1944; loss of other Australian pilot on squadron; placing on battle orders; operational meals; briefing; problems of sleeping prior to operations; nature of operations flown; lack of controversy about Dresden raid; raid on Wanne-Eikel; reception on arrival with squadron; relations with crew; growing confidence as pilot; occasion when his aircraft had problems with GEE.
REEL 8 Continues: treatment of Lack of Moral Fibre cases; aircrew superstitions; religious belief; relations with female; story of post war service as commander of bomb dump in Australia; VE Day celebrations, 5/1945; return to civilian life amd employment, 1946. Attitude to service with Royal Australian Air Force during Second World War.