Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 627 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1922-1939: family; education; evacuation to Buckton, 1939-1940. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB and US, 1941-1944: call up to Air Crew Receiving Centre, St Johns Wood; background to posting to US; adjusting to service life; voyage from GB to Canada, 11/1941; move to Maxwell Field in Alabama, US; announcement by American commander of base of US entry into war, 12/1941; instructors; US discipline; incident of British recruits showing disrespect for US flag; relations with US civilians; incident recruit had with instructor; pattern of flying training.
REEL 2 Continues: emphasis on formation flying during training; formation flying; passing out as pilot; return to GB; move to 15 Advanced Flying Unit, Kirmington; reaction to posting to Staff Pilot Training Unit, Cark; posting to 28 Operational Training Unit, 4/1944; crewing up; posting to 1655 Mosquito Training Unit. Recollections of operations as pilot with 627 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1944-1945: origins of squadron as Pathfinder unit.
REEL 3 Continues: posting to squadron at RAF Woodham Spa, 7/1944; composition of squadron; daily operational routine; briefings; jamming of GEE by Germans and skill of navigators; dropping of flares over target; method used by squadron to mark target; debriefing; character of De Havilland Mosquito; occasion when his aircraft was hit by anti- aircraft fire; preparations for daylight raid on Gestapo headquarters in Oslo, Norway, 31/12/1944.
REEL 4 Continues: execution of daylight raid on Gestapo headquarters in Oslo, Norway, 31/12/1944; degree of success of Oslo raid, 31/12/1944; post war meeting with family of head of Norwegian Resistance leader; concentration needed during raids; squadron morale and losses; suffering perforated eardrum and treatment.
REEL 5 Continues: leave and contact with family; prior recollections of domestic life in US during training; wartime relations with Commonwealth; aircrew rations; characteristics of De Havilland Mosquito; handling De Havilland Mosquito; occasion when he took off in poor weather; performance of De Havilland Mosquito; method of exiting De Havilland Mosquito; role of navigator; number of operations flown and duration of squadron; reaction of squadron to end of war, 5/1945; changes in squadron after end of Second World War.
REEL 6 Continues: loss of commanding officer, 9/1945. Demobilisation and adjusting to civilian life, 11/1946. Reflections on civilian and service life during Second World War, 1939-1945: opinion of Bomber Command strategy during Second World War; attitude towards Germans during Second World War; attitude of British civilians during German Air Force bombing and prospect of invasion; story of narrow escape during bombing of London; racial situation in southern US, 1941-1942.