Cecil, Ben (Oral history)

British NCO wireless operator served flying Stirling and Lancaster with 15 Sqdn, 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF, GB, 1943-1944; served with Bombing Development Unit, RAF, GB and Italy, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Tredegar, 1922-1941: education and sporting activities; work as clerk at collier, 1938-1940; background to volunteering to join RAF as air crew, 12/1940; assessment at Oxford and acceptance for training as pilot, ca 2/1941; call up, 6/1941. Period at Air Crew Reception Centre, Lords Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, London, ca 7/1941: flat accommodation; writing to parents; kitting out. Period at Initial Training Wings, RAF at Thorney Island and Brighton, ca 7/1941-8/1941. Period awaiting posting at Heaton Park, Manchester, ca 11/1941-12/1941. Period awaiting posting at Heaton Park, Manchester, ca 11/1941-12/1941. Voyage to Canada, 12/1941-1/1942: Period flying Tiger Moth at Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, 1/1942-3/1942: story of sending telegram to family; dual control flights; hospitalisation with tonsillitis; problems landing and failing course; selection for training as wireless operator/air gunner. Attending wireless operator course at Jacksonville, Florida, US, 1942: Morse code training; US uniform issued; wireless training; relationship with and hospitality of US civilians; training flights in Catalina; leave in New York. REEL 2 Attending gunnery course at Pensacola, Florida, 1942-1943: training on Browning machine gun; firing at drogue targets; passing out as wireless operator/air gunner sergeant. Voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth to GB, 1943. Period at Operational Training Unit, RAF, Chipping Warden and Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF at Waterbeach, 1943: formation of crew with Pilot Flight Lieutenant Douglas Boards, Navigator Pilot Officer Phil Cope, Bomb Aimer Flying Officer Clive Dodson, Engineer Flight Sergeant Dennis Anstey, Mid-Upper Gunner Sergeant Bill Cotterill and Rear Gunner Flight Sergeant John Angus; training flight on Wellington; death of friend during mine-laying operation; conversion to Stirling and problems with landing. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during operations flying Stirling and Lancaster with 15 Sqdn, 3 Group, Bomber Command, RAF at Mildenhall, 8/1943-1/1944: story of first operational flight by Flight Lieutenant Douglas Boards as second pilot during raid on Hamburg, Germany, 8/1943; nature of typical raid over Germany including briefing, personal morale, cipher codes, prior flight test, flying kit, Benzedrine tablets, escape kit, move out to aircraft, Aldis light signals, superstitions, take off procedure, nature of Stirling, role as wireless operator, intercom silence and monitoring wireless silence. REEL 3 Continues: nature of typical raid over Germany including approach to target, dropping bombs, German anti-aircraft fire and nightfighters, high casualty rate of Stirlings, story of success of rear-gunner in shooting down German nightfighter, 14/1/1944, corkscrew evasive manoeuvre, photographs taken, question of Elsan latrine, flight back, landing, debriefing and crew meal; visits to pub; raid on Turin, Italy, 16/8/1943, including decision to carry on despite wireless failure, arriving early over target, missing fog diversion message on return and landing at Waterbeach; use of GEE system; raid on Hanover, 22/9/1943, including use of Window, fuel tank problems, wireless precaution in case of ditching in sea, dinghy carried, reaching airfield and discovery wing had been hit by bomb; case of Stirling ditching; story of engine catching fire during take off for raid on Frankfurt, jettisoning bombs and emergency landing, 4/10/1943; comradeship amongst crew. REEL 4 Continues: background to conversion to Lancaster, 12/1943; nature of Lancaster and comparison with Stirling; raid on Brunswick, 14/1/1944, including success of rear-gunner in shooting down German nightfighter, and fire in rear turret; reactions to finishing tour, 20/1/1944; break up of crew and subsequent death of Sergeant Bill Cotterill. Period at Bombing Development Unit, RAF, Newmarket Heath and Naples area, Italy, 1945-1946: flights testing new equipment; detachment to participate in air refuelling tests with Alan Cobham at Staverton airfield; methods of air refuelling; background to volunteering for second tour to secure choice of pilot and rejection; opinion of Halifax; move to airfield near Naples; experiments in radar direction signals; flights over Italy and Greece; story of flight in bad weather; VE Day celebrations in sergeants' mess at Newmarket, 8/5/1945. Demobilisation, 6/1946. Post-war career: question of remaining in RAF as regular; clerical work for steelworks; question of effects of war experiences; contacts with former crew; membership of 15th Sqdn Assoc.