Interview with Eric Harrison

British NCO served as navigator with 612 Sqdn, Nos 18 and 19 Groups, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 11/1942-5/1943 served with 228 Sqdn, No 19 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 6/1943-5/1944; served with 355 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF in India, 8/1945-3/1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in West Hartlepool and Sunderland, 1920-1941: family; social circumstances; education; sporting activities; early interest in flying and flight with Alan Cobham, 1935; employment as chemist in paper mill, 1937-1941; failing medical during abortive attempts to enlist in Royal Air Force, 1937 and 1939; awareness of approach to war; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; registration for conscription, reasons for choice of Royal Air Force and passing medical; blackout and manufacture of black paper; fire-watching duties at paper mill; move to Sunderland; alternative sources of paper; work in paper mill office; German Air Force raids on Sunderland; use of Anderson Shelter. REEL 2 Continues: Sunderland Local Defence Volunteers and 9th (Sunderland) Bn County Durham Home Guard activities on vehicle checkpoints. Aspects of enlistment with Royal Air Force in GB, 1/1941-6/1941: initial deferment of call-up to Royal Air Force, 1/1941; call-up, 6/1941. Aspects of training with No 1 Receiving Wing, RAF at Babbacombe, GB, 6/1941-7/1941: basic training; status as leading aircraftman; kitting out; drill; state of morale; first aid; relations with fellow recruits and instructors; physical training. Aspects of training with No 4 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Paignton, GB, 7/1941-8/1941: lectures in theory of flight; aircraft recognition; training in basic navigation; background to Arnold Scheme to train Royal Air Force aircrew in United States of America. Aspects of voyage from GB to Halifax, Canada, 8/1941: conditions on board and censored letters to wife; sea sickness; question of escorts. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as leading aircraftman with Royal Air Force at RCAF Moncton, Canada, 8/1941-9/1941: construction of camp; recreational activities and relations with Canadian civilians. Aspects of flying training with Arnold Scheme at Southern Aviation School, Camden, United States of America, 8/1941-9/1941: train journey to United States of America from Canada; organisation of flying courses; relations with civilian flying instructor; waiting for lessons; nature of Stearman; dual instruction including flying controls and instruments; first solo, 17/9/1941; take off; practising forced landings; method of landing; aerobatics, including looping, spinning and rolls; relations with instructor; background to failing course due to lack of co-ordination as pilot, 25/10/1941; accommodation; kit inspections and punishments; rations. REEL 4 Continues: relations with and hospitality of American civilians; flying conditions; success of Arnold Scheme. Aspects of period with Royal Air Force at RCAF Moncton Canada, 10/1941-11/1941: background to choice to remuster as observer; appearance in front of tribunal. Aspects of training with No 32 Air Navigation School, RCAF at RCAF Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, 11/1941-4/1942: question of commission; astro and wireless navigation training; Gee navigational system; map reading exercise and cross-country flights in Avro Anson; ice skating; relations with and hospitality of Canadian civilians; experience of anti-British sentiments in United States of America and effects of Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7/12/1941. REEL 5 Aspects of training with No 31 Bombing and Gunnery School, RCAF at RCAF Picton, Canada, 4/1942-5/1942: use of bomb sight in bombing practice; firing Browning Machine Gun at air drogue targets; deflection shooting; hospitality of Canadian civilians; voyage from Canada to GB, 6/1942; period at No 3 Personnel Reception Centre, RAF at Bournemouth, 7/1942. Aspects of training with No 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Cranwell, 9/1942-11/1942: nature of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and crew roles; crewing up with pilot Flight Sergeant Tom Perry, second pilot Sergeant Robert 'Bob' Ordish, flight engineer Sergeant Ted Holden and wireless operator/air gunners Sergeants Bill Fletcher and Geoff Cooper; assessment. Recollections of opeations as navigator with 612 Sqdn, Nos 18 and 19 Groups, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 11/1942-5/1943: question of reception at RAF Wick; hutted accommodation at RAF Wick; physical training; question of adequacy of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley for Coastal Command role; nature of typical anti-submarine patrol, including prior notification, prior air test and briefing. REEL 6 Continues: nature of typical anti-submarine patrol, including flying kit, checking navigation equipment, relations with ground crews, superstitions, pre-flight checks, gun tests on take off, role calculating course and checking wind speed and direction, question of sleeping, air sickness problem, maintaining lookout for German Navy submarines, purpose of patrols to force German Navy submarines to dive, diversions to locate ditched aircrews, length of patrol, landing, air crew meal, debriefing and question of engine reliability; nature of convoy escort patrols, including risk of being shot down by Royal Navy escorts, recognition signals and value of air cover. REEL 7 Continues: account of rudder failure during patrol and crash landing on Foula Island, Shetland Islands, 2/4/1943, including apparent necessity of ditching in sea, problems in releasing depth charges, making remaining depth charges safe, hitting peat bank on crash landing, arrival of local civilians, prior SOS signal, contacts with search aircraft and unit, rescue by lifeboat and personal morale; question of leave and rapid resumption of flying duties; personal morale and status as volunteer; story of arrest of Flight Sergeant Tom Perry for security breech on move to RAF Davidstow Moor, 4/1943; conditions of service; move of anti-submarine operations to Bay of Biscay, North Atlantic; incident of sighting during convoy escort patrol, 19/4/1943, including scattering of convoy, shortage of fuel and question of ditching; reaction to end of tour and disbandment of squadron, 5/1943. Recollections of operations with 228 Sqdn, No 19 Group, Coastal Command, RAF at RAF, Pembroke Dock, GB, 6/1943-5/1944: initial confusion over posting; flying with various different crews; joining crew with pilot Flight Sergeant George Parkinson and second pilot Flying Officer George Bunting, Sergeant Alfred Davidson and Flight Sergeants Norman Wilson, Harold Filmer and James Gilray. REEL 8 Continues: characteristics of Short Sunderland Flying Boat, including crew facilities, crew roles, armament and radar set; anti-submarine patrols starting at Fastnet Lighthouse; story of close contact without combat with German Air Force Focke-Wulf Fw 120 Condor; question of landing to rescue survivors in sea; question of training to fly Short Sunderland Flying Boat due to prior flying training; background to introduction of long-range German Consul navigation system and role on initial trials; use of Gee navigational system on approaching base; commissioning, 10/1943; relations with NCO crew; nature of officers' mess; story of hospitalisation with knee injury landing from pinnace, 10/1943; question of unit casualties. REEL 9 Continues: question of contacts with German Navy submarines; effects of bad weather; opinion of pilot Flight Lieutenant Dudley Hewitt; rejection of extension of tour to cover Operation Overlord, 6/1944; news of death of Flight Lieutenant Dudley Hewitt and crew, 11/6/1944. Aspects of period as navigation instructor at No 4 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Stranraer, 8/1944-10/1944: flying with former pilot Flying Officer George Parkinson; training flights to Rockall in North Atlantic; training in anti-submarine patrols over North Sea; story of getting drunk. Aspects of period as navigation instructor with Royal Air Force at RAF Mullaghmore, Northern Ireland, 10/1944-11/1944: nature of Lorenz navigation system; opinion of Vickers Wellington. Aspects of period in New York and Miami, United States of America, 1/1944-3/1945: voyage aboard HMT Mauretania from GB to New York, United States of America, 12/1944-1/1945; staying with relatives; American hospitality and recreational activities. Aspects of training with No 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, RAF at Nassau, Bahamas, 3/1945: transfer to Bomber Command; crewing up with Pilot Officer Don Tanton; characteristics of Consolidated Liberator and absence of air sickness. Aspects or return to GB from Nassau, Bahamas via United States of America, 4/1945-5/1945: VE Day celebrations in Times Square, New York, 8/5/1945; voyage aboard HMT Ile de France. Aspects of journey from GB to India, 8/1945: flight in Consolidated Liberator from GB to Karachi, India, 8/1945; hospitalisation en route with sandfly fever. REEL 10 Continues: VJ Day, 15/8/1945. Aspects of period as navigator with 355 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF at RAF Salbani, India, 10/1945-4/1946: role transporting former prisoners of war and supplies on flights to Pegu, Burma; question of demobilisation; background to acting as assistant adjutant and adjutant; cricketing activities; temporary move to satellite airfield; recreation of squadron active service daily record for 1945; lack of contact with Indian civilians and internal security situation; lifestyle and sporting activities; voyage from India to GB, 4/1946; demobilisation, 4/1946. Post-war lfie and employment: demobilsation, 4/1946; question of failed application for permanent commission in Royal Air Force; return to work at paper mill; difficulty in changing career; successful management career; question of loss of vote and unofficial proxy vote during General Election, 7/1945; background to securing disability pension due to knee disability; role as secretary and president of 228 Squadron Association.