Hyde, Maurice (Oral history)

British aircraftsman served as fitter with 105 Sqdn, RAF in GB and France, 1938-1940; NCO served as driver with RAF in GB, Egypt and Palestine, 1940-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Reading and Goring on Thames, 1917-1938: family background and social circumstances; education; football activities; work as painter and decorator, 1931-1938; background to joining RAF, 5/1938; medical. Medical and kitting out at West Drayton, 5/1938. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at Recruit Training Centre, RAF, Uxbridge, 5/1938-9/1938: barrack accommodation; drill; PT; food rations an canteen; rifle and bayonet training; lectures on aircraft; guard duty; preparing for kit inspections; relationship with recruits; instructors and officers; recreational visits to Uxbridge; passing out parade; assignment for training as fitter's mate. Recollections of period as fitter's mate with 105 Sqdn, Harwell, 1938-1939: training as fitter's mate; units on station; role as fitter's mate; opinion of Fairey Battle. REEL 2 Continues: nature of camp; football activities; officers' gliding activities; first flights in Fairey Battle; recall from weekend leave prior to outbreak of war, 2/9/1939; move to Liverpool, 3/9/1939. Voyage on troopship to Calais, France, 3/9/1939. Recollections of operations in France, 9/1939-6/1940: train journey to Rheims; eating horse meat; train journey to Villeneuve; establishing unit base at Villeneuve airfield; billets; arrival of Fairey Battles; training flights; routine maintenance; operational bombing missions and morale of air crew; relationship with French civilians and visits to estaminets; question of German fifth columnists; packing up and evacuation from Villeneuve by lorry, 5/1940. REEL 3 Continues: overnight stop and dental treatment from medical officer; journey by lorry and on foot to St Nazaire; question of German air attacks; absence of officers; leaving behind workshop equipment; evacuation aboard troopship; sinking of Lancastria; voyage back to GB, 6/1940. Periods at Weston Super Mare, Honiton, and Watton, 1940: re-equipment; state of unit; background to leaving unit. Training as lorry driver at Hednesford, 1940. Period as driver at Watton, Bodney, East Wretham, Stradishall and Chedburgh, 1940-1943: driving crash tender; routine driving duties; arrival of USAF to take over Bodney; US supply situation; relationship with US personnel; move to East Wretham, 1942; duties with care and maintenance party; handing over to US personnel; story of fatal Sten gun accident; role on promotion to corporal. REEL 4 Aspects of family background. Voyage aboard Sobieski to Egypt, 12/1943: seasickness; hammocks. Period at Shallufah Transit Camp, Egypt, 12/1943-1/1944: shooting of Arab thief during train journey; fly and kitehawk problems; train journey to Palestine. Recollections of period as ambulance driver at Ramat David, Palestine, 1944-1945: role based at station sickbay; conditions of service; story of ambulance breaking down while taking burns case to hospital; story of mental case patient; relationship with Jewish and Arab civilians; attacks on oil pipeline; local kibbutz; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; return to GB, 12/1945; taking ambulance and crash tender to meet aircraft at isolated airstrip; question of crash landings. Demobilisation, 12/1945. Post-war career: question of remaining as regular in RAF; story of reception from French civilians during return to GB, 12/1945; work as lorry driver; work as painter and decorator.