Interview with Jack Alfred Robinson

British aircraftman and NCO trained as wireless operator with No 2 Radio School, RAF in RAF Yatesbury, GB, 1943-1944; attended No 31 Course, Aircrew Officers Training School, RAF at RAF Hereford, GB, 1/1945-2/1945; served with No 7 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF at RAF Bishopscourt, Northern Ireland, 2/1945-4/1945; served with No 26 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Cranfield, GB, 4/1945-11/1945; served with Bomber Command Instructors School, RAF at RAF Finningley, GB, 3/1946-7/1946; served with Royal Air Force Recruiting Office in Liverpool, GB, 8/1946-9/1947

REEL 1 Background in Fulham, London and Heston, GB, 1925-1939: family; education; sports; recreational activities, including membership of Boy Scouts; knowledge of events in Europe and memories of Munich Agreement, 9/1938; father's military service in First World War and affect on outlook upon war service. Recollections of period as schoolchild and factory worker in Heston, GB, 9/1939-10/1943: reaction to declaration of Second World War and immediate aftermath, 3/9/1939; description of air raid shelter built at home; watching German Air Force raids and anti-aircraft guns in Heston; large German Air Force on Heston; dangers from falling shrapnel from anti-aircraft guns; reaction to German Air Force raids; opinion of public shelter at school; presence of Royal Artillery personnel in Heston; air raid precautions taken at home; Morrison Shelter later used by parents; memories of grandmother; reaction to German Air Force raids; rationing; ration vouchers later issued during service with Royal Air Force; clothing ration; reaction to issue of gas mask; wartime education; description of civilian life during war; story of German Air Force bomb in London Underground; method of obtaining war news; importance of radio; Ministry of Information notice board erected outside home; radio programmes enjoyed; visits to cinema. REEL 2 Continues: newsreels; plans on leaving school; search for work; nature of factory work and pay; opinion of firm; reasons for and process of joining Air Training Corps, 7/1941; nature of service with Air Training Corps, 7/1941-10/1943, including uniform issued, regularity of meetings, learning of drill, pattern of training, Morse Code training and proficiency, reason for not receiving further signalling training, activities during meetings; weekends away at RAF Halton and reaction to experiences at RAF Halton; story of flight at Heston Airport; interest in radios; reason for volunteering for Royal Air Force and reaction to possibility of service with British Army or Royal Navy; problems with height and weight. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of enlistment in Royal Air Force in GB, 1942-1943: enlistment at North Acton; medical and psychological tests; aircraft recognition; reason given for being told he was unsuitable for aircrew; weight gained in first year; awaiting call-up for service with Royal Air Force, including flash worn to denote acceptance; aircraft recognition tests; reaction of parents to his joining Royal Air Force; awareness of bomber command casualties; call-up and items taken into Royal Air Force service. Recollections of training as aircraftman at No 1 Aircrew Reception Centre, RAF at St John's Wood, London, GB, 11/1943: reception on arrival at Lord's Cricket Ground; scenes inside Lord's Cricket Ground; processing of intake, including reaction to meeting a scotsman for the first time; journey to and description of accommodation; sleeping arrangements; washing facilities; opinion of rations and tea; first night in Royal Air Force service, including further details of sleeping arrangements; making of identity discs; background of fellow recruits; issue of uniform and kit, including Canadian manufactured greatcoat worn; problems with kit bag. REEL 4 Continues: civilian attitude to drill; physical training and fitness; lectures, including venereal disease warnings; night vision test; problems with hearing; dental work; fellow recruits; nature of fatigues; first journey home on leave; morning procedures; reactional activities and attitude to drinking alcohol; departure for initial training wing and discovery of destination. Aspects of training as aircraftman at No 18 Initial Training Wing, RAF at RAF Bridgnorth, GB, 11/1943-1/1944: arrival at Bridgnorth and first meal; summary of training; population of initial training wing; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; heating; cleaning of hut; music played in camp; morning procedures and opinion of RAF Bridgnorth; organisation of working day; problems with rifle drill; opinion of drill; rifle training; cleaning of rifle; bayonet training; opinion of weapon training. REEL 5 Continues: prior recollection of inoculations at Lord's Cricket Ground; work following inoculation programme; training with Morse Code; lectures; method of teaching Morse Code; church parades; address from instructors; evening activities and pay; Christmas, 25/12/1943; assessments. Recollections of training as aircraftman and NCO at No 2 Radio School, RAF at RAF Yatesbury in GB, 1/1944-1/1945: posting to No 2 Radio School; description of RAF Yatesbury; home leave; arrival at Yatesbury; accommodation; area and scenes around camp; welcome talks; course programme; background of aircraftmen; signals and communication training; proficiency with Morse Code; memories of instructor John Hoskins; description of device used for sending Morse code; sending Morse Code in air and communications from aircraft. REEL 6 Continues: aircraft used during training; exercises in air; description of wireless sets used at No 2 Radio School, RAF; learning of radio theory; valves and maintenance of wireless sets; knowledge of electrical equipment in aircraft; story of accident at RAF Yatesbury; leave and examinations; organisation of camp; further details of aircraft used for air exercises at RAF Yatesbury; navigation methods; difference between true course and magnetic course; opinions on radio course; training for and firing of gun turret; grenade training; firing of revolver; training with sten gun. REEL 7 Continues: training in Harwell boxes; problems with aircraft used for training; building up of flying hours; story of flight to London; armed guard on locker after being reported missing; policy of not allowing training in bad weather; details of an examination taken; revision for examinations; story of receiving examination results; final exam; electrics and intercom in aircraft; details of flying kit; passing out parade; leave; return to and reason for wait at RAF Yatesbury; activities during wait; medical examination and interviews. REEL 8 Continues: news of receiving commission; leave and buying of officer's uniform. Aspects of training as officer with No 31 Course at Aircrew Officers Training School, RAF at RAF Hereford, GB, 1/1945-2/1945: arrival in Hereford; changes to life on becoming officer; increase in pay; mess fees; batting allowance; drill and relationship with NCO instructors; learning about officer responsibilities including rank following course; leadership training including stories from an exercise and an assault course; relationship with fellow officers; discipline; drinking and leisure activities; discussion on possibility of active service including nerves when flying; officers with medical problems; exams; posting to RAF Bishopscourt, Northern Ireland; journey to Ardglass, Northern Ireland. REEL 9 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with No 7 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF at RAF Bishopscourt in Northern Ireland, 2/1945-4/1945: arrival and scenes at RAF Bishopscourt; changes to training; accommodation; aircraft familiarisation; composition of crew; role of posting at RAF Bishopscourt; involvement of staff; new aspects of flights; practice for dinghy drill; rotation of crew; four week exercise; reason for not completing flying quota; details of identification friend or foe instrument; problems with weather; story of near collision over Blackpool; involvement with air-sea rescue operations; censorship of mail sent home; reason for Ireland being out of bounds; officers Ireland; visits to Downpatrick and Belfast; relations with civilians; signs of problems and poverty in Northern Ireland; navigation during exercises; leave and posting to No 26 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Cranfield. Recollections of period as officer with No 26 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Cranfield, GB, 4/1945-11/1945: war situation on arrival; details of RAF Cranfield and aircraft there; organisation and standard of turnout; learning of escape procedures; background of airmen; arrival at unit; types of aircraft at station; settling into posting. REEL 10 Continues: selection of Vickers Wellington aircraft crews; composition of crew; cross- country training flights; briefings; practice bomb drops; navigational aid; learning of other people's jobs; simulator; story of wireless setting on fire; role of course and practice raid on Sylt Island, Germany; only occasion when his aircraft was shot at; debriefings; debriefing after missing a target; flying kit; maximum height of aircraft; story of taking cadets on an exercise; presence of beds in aircraft and First Aid training received; story of a weather briefing; flight with a meteorological officer; end of Second World War in Europe and cutbacks at No 26 Operational Training Unit, RAF, 8/5/1945; reaction to missing final air operation to Germany; opinion of night flights. REEL 11 Continues: reaction at end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945; selection of crews for Far East; uncertainty over future; activities and cutbacks; discussion groups; possibility of role running a village in Germany; redundancy and leave; demobilisation group number; employment possibilities for remainder of service; details of interviews in GB and Northern Ireland to determine future. Aspects of period as officer with Bomber Command Instructors School, RAF at RAF Finningley, GB, 3/1946-7/1946: posting to RAF Finningley; officers' mess and batman; memories of commanding officer; duties; course attended at RAF Hereford; interview at Air Ministry and posting in Liverpool. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Air Force Recruiting Office in Liverpool, GB, 8/1946-9/1947: location and details of recruiting office; staff of office; duties including details of interviews; details of applicants; reasons for turning people down; accommodation and stories of applicants; sending recruits off to RAF Padgate; attendance at military parades including story of stand theft; story of collecting radar equipment from a demonstration; end of recruitment advertisements at Aintree Racecourse; other ways of publicising Royal Air Force; process of demobilisation; civilian work; regret at not becoming regular.