Description
Object description
Australian officer served as pilot with 460 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in South Australia, 1922-19: family; education; employment; move to Perth, Western Australia, 1939; father's military service during First World War; attitude towards GB; degree of anticipation of coming war and events in Europe; wish to participate in Second World War; call up for national service; early interest in aviation. Recollections of enlistment and training with Royal Australian Air Force in Australia and GB, 1942-1943: applying to join airforce and enlistment; attitude to participation in war; pattern of basic training; ambition to become pilot; reaction to first flight in aircraft; pattern of flying training; character of Avro Anson; reaction to Japanese bombing of Darwin.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude towards Japanese; belief that he would be fighting Germans; fear of failing course; reaction to recieving wings; transfer to Melborne for embarkation; attending Beam course at RAAF Point Cook; voyage from Australia to US aboard West Point; leave in US including visit to New York.
REEL 3 Continues: attitude to going to GB; voyage from US to GB; arrival in Brighton; reaction to Avro Lancaster in distress; recreational activities in Brighton; familiarisation flights in De Havilland Tiger Moths; joining funeral party on arrival at RAF Fraserburgh; flying training in Scotland; conversion to Vickers Wellington and its flying characteristics; conversion to Avro Lancaster; crewing up; composition of crew; crew relations; promotion to pilot officer; first visit to London.
REEL 4 Continues: degree of contact with civilians in London; visits to London. Recollections of operations as pilot with 460 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1944-1945: arrival at RAF Binbrook; first flight as second pilot to Stuggart, 19/10/1944; nature of pre-operational briefings; question of how crews with good skills increased their chances of survival; reaction to first operation; effect of exploding aircraft at night; description of bomber stream; flying zig zag courses to target; crew superstitions.
REEL 5 Continues: pre-flight preparations; approach to target; encounter with predicted anti-aircraft fire during daylight raid on Hannover; German searchlights; duties as pilot; use of Window; navigator's initial reaction to sight of bombing; personal morale; question of going round for second time on target; corkscrew procedure; unexplained night fighter incident; opinion of Avro Lancaster S for Sugar; cancellation of operations, 1/1945; loss of his aircraft and crew.
REEL 6 Continues: insignia painted on aircraft; relations with ground crew; dinghy training; degree of escape and evasion training; attitude of his crew; raid on Cologne; dropping mines off Norway; squadron losses during mine dropping operations; reasons for not using automatic pilot; under observation by medical staff; conditions over Cologne; flights over Germany cities after end of Second World War; post war visit to Cologne; incident of ground crew being smuggled aboard aircraft for bombing mission.
REEL 7 Continues: transporting returning British troops from Italy at end of Second World War; attending British/Australian cricket match in Manchester; raid on Dresden, 13/2/1945; attitude to participating in raid on Dresden; post-war; instuctional duties after tour of duty; return to squadron; story of flight testing with non-aircrew officer; VE Day celebrations; award of Distinguished Flying Cross at Buckingham Palace; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs. Aspects of return to civilian life in Australia, from 1945: psychological effects of wartime service. REEL 8 Continues: question of talking about experiences; benefits of service; contact with former crew members; attitude to service with Royal Australian Air Force during Second World War.