Description
Object description
British aircraftman served with No 1 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Cambridge, GB, 12/1939-5/1940; served as ground gunner at RAF Upwood in GB, 5/1940; trained as pilot and air observer at No 12 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF and No 1 Air Observer and Navigation School, RAF at RAF Prestwick, GB, 6/1940-9/1940; trained as air observer with No 7 Observers School, RAF at RAF Stormy Down, GB, 9/1940-1/1941; served as air observer with 217 Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1/1941-11/1941; served as instructor with No 20 Service Flying Training School, Cranborne, Southern Rhodesia, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in South Woodford and Woodford Green, GB, 1921-1939: family; education; early interest in aviation; further details of education; sporting and recreational activities; awareness of events in Europe and anticipation of coming war; attitude to employment in banking; attitude to prospect of involvement in coming war. Aspects of enlistment in Royal Air Force in GB, 9/1939-12/1939: signing on as 'pilot in training' at Dagenham, 3/9/1939; selection process for aircrew at RAF Uxbridge; issue of uniform and mother's reaction to his arrival home in it; period of deferment, 9/1939-12/1939; father's attitude to his enlistment; gleaning information from Royal Air Force manuals. Aspects of training as aircraftman with No 1 Initial Training Wing, RAF, Cambridge, GB, 12/1939-5/1940: reporting to No 1 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Cambridge, 12/1939.
REEL 2 Continues: conditions in Cambridge; pattern of basic training; ground instruction including navigation, weapons training and airmanship; daily routine; opinion of rations. Aspects of period as ground gunner at RAF Upwood in GB, 1940: reasons for posting to station, 5/1940; description of gun pit; theory of deflection shooting; reasons for delay in starting flying training. Aspects of training as pilot and air observer at No 12 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF and No 1 Air Observer and Navigation School, RAF at RAF Prestwick, GB, 6/1940-9/1940: description of RAF Prestwick; request for him to start training as air observer at RAF Prestwick; character of De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; taking off and spinning aircraft; attitude and background to transferring to role as air observer; degree of knowledge of meteorology.
REEL 3 Continues: training on astro-navigation; dead reckoning navigation; methods of obtaining wind direction over land and sea whilst using dead reckoning navigation; problems with low cloud; map reading and night vision skills; triangle of velocities; air speed of aircraft; need for sustained periods of concentration by navigators; instructional flights; navigational equipment; description of Course Speed Calculator Mk IIA; instructors; degree of knowledge of meteorology needed by air observers; importance of keeping an eye on weather conditions and communicating with other crew members; reasons for not flying training flights in adverse weather conditions.
REEL 4 Continues: flying clothing worn; reasons for not wearing gloves in air; differences between maps and charts; characteristics of Avro Anson aircraft; taking leave in London from RAF Prestwick; attitude towards German Air Force bombing of civilian targets; influence of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's speeches; brother's wartime service with fire service; wartime train journeys. Aspects of training as air observer with No 7 Air Observers School, RAF at RAF Stormy Down, GB, 9/1940-12/1940: issue of travel warrants; pattern of training; character of air gunnery training on ground and in the air; operating turret in Armstrong Whitworth Whitley; ground instruction on use of parachute; nature of bombing training; success on course and commissioning as air observer; reasons for posting proficient air observers to Coastal Command.
REEL 5 Continues: commissioning at end of training. Recollections of operations as air observer with 217 Sqdn, No 16 Group, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 1/1941-11/1941: arrival at RAF St Eval, 1/1941; reporting to dispersal room; problems with air crew who had not previously attended operational training units; reconnaissance role of squadron Bristol Beaufort aircraft; first reconnaissance patrol over English Channel; cross-over patrols; character of Bristol Beaufort; sight of crews writing wills prior to attack on Brest, France; German anti-aircraft defences at Brest, France; German Air Force attacks on RAF St Eval; second hand story of German Air Force Junkers Ju 88 aircraft landing at RAF Chivenor; airfield defences at RAF St Eval; system for reconnaissance patrols over occupied territory; degree of intelligence provided prior to operations; accidental return flight over balloon barrage in Plymouth; methods employed to improve navigational and evasion skills; briefings; method devised to approach targets; operations flown; character of operations room.
REEL 6 Continues: debriefing; role in directing pilot over target; reporting fires on ground; dropping land mine over Brest Docks, France; route of return flights from French coast; story of attack on airfield by German bomber after his crew had returned from operations; flight with commanding officer; appointment to Canadian Flying Officer Jack Percival's crew; pattern of operations to French ports including dropping sea mines; attacking dock areas; French civilians flashing V signs to aircrew; character of German anti-aircraft fire over French ports; squadron losses; pilot's approval of his method of approaching target; time spent over occupied territory; reads extract of typical crew communication during approach to and bombing of Saint-Nazaire, France.
REEL 7 Continues: story of 22 Sqdn, Royal Air Force attack on German battleship Gneisenau in Brest, France in which Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell won Victoria Cross; accommodation in hotel; refusal of merchant ship to pick up German survivors in life raft; attitude towards German Air Force aircrew; use of Aldis Lamp; pattern of squadron service; civilian attitude to aircrew; degree of civilian awareness of role of Coastal Command; post-war dedication of memorial at St Eval Church; reaction to participation in operations and squadron casualties; duration of tour; question of role of Coastal Command during Second World War; need for rest after operational tour; loss of engine during low-level daylight bombing attack on harbour defence vessel in Netherlands, 11/1941; division of squadron into torpedo and dive bombing flights; reaction to tour expired status and taking on administrative role, 11/1941; abortive planned attack on German battleship Tirpitz; method of attacking harbour defence vessel in Netherlands, 11/1941.
REEL 8 Continues: incident of being attacked by Fleet Air Arm Blackburn Skua; story of occasion when his aircraft was shadowed by German Air Force night fighter; attack on oil tanks on north bank of River Loire, France with Flight Sergeant Lloyd Morgan, 9/1941; attack on docks on River Loire at Nantes, France with Flight Sergeant Lloyd Morgan, 9/1941; story of diversion to Boscombe Down in bad weather; atmosphere in squadron; role as squadron and station photographic officer; duties as station navigation officer; advice he gave on evasion to aircrews; administration work with squadron at end of tour. Aspects of period on No 2 Instructor Course, RAF at RAF Cranage in GB, 1942: attending instructors course; opinion of techniques taught on instructors course.
REEL 9 Continues: nature of course; background to becoming instructor; benefits of attending course. Recollections of period as instructor with No 20 Service Flying Training School at Cranborne, Southern Rhodesia, 1942-1945: reaction to posting; administrative duties aboard troopship HMT Rangitiki; reception from Perla Siedle Gibson, the 'Lady in White' at Durban, South Africa; character of Cranborne; initial duties; duties as parachute officer and station photographic officer; role as station education officer; taking on role as entertainments officer; renovation of his car by Italian prisoners of war; memories of Noel Coward visiting station; attitude to service in Southern Rhodesia; sense of frustration about posting to Southern Rhodesia.
REEL 10 Continues: leave in Southern Rhodesia and South Africa; participation in good will tour of Northern Rhodesia; incident of pilots being murdered by bushmen after getting loss; receiving inventors award for adapting P4 Compass; posting to Cape Town, South Africa; return voyage from South Africa to GB aboard HMT Andes; arrival home. Aspects of period as navigator with Royal Air Force in Far East, 1945-1946: attending long-range navigators course at RAF Crosby-on-Eden prior to posting to squadron; opinion of Douglas Dakota; flight from GB to India aboard Short Stirling; amusing second hand story of squadron colleague's escape in Sweden; routes flown in Far East; incident of having to use astro-navigation in poor weather; story of acquiring and selling pistol; reasons for staying on in service for extra six months; story of flying Burmese princess from Burma to India and subsequent climbing expedition; question of continuing service with Royal Air Force; return to civilian life; attitude to having served with Royal Air Force during Second World War.
