Shufflebottom, Alan (Oral history)

British NCO trained with Initial Training Wing, RAF Stratford upon Avon, GB, 1942-1943; served flying Tiger Moth at Elementary Flying Training School, RAF Wolverhampton, GB, 1943-1944

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Blakely and Timperely, Manchester, 1924-1942: family background; review of stories of father's service with 42 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps/RAF on Western Front and Italy, 1915-1918, including problem with RAF engines of RE8s,introduction of conscription, attack by Manfred von Richthofen on airfield and arrest while driving officers in Vienna; family glass and china business; move to Timperley, 1929; education at Manchester Grammar School; rugby activities; interest in aviation and joining RAF; part-time work for family business; attitude to Spanish Civil War, 1936; fight between supporters of Communist Party and British Union of Fascists in Sale, ca 1938; attitude to Germany; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; remaining in Manchester despite evacuation of MGS to Blackpool, 1939-1940; brick air raid shelter; activities with 318 Sqdn, Air Training Corps, Sale, 1941-1942, including recruitment on formation. REEL 2 Continues: activities with 318 Sqdn, Air Training Corps, Sale, 1941-1942, including uniform, drill, training in navigation, Morse code and theory of flight, nature of annual camps in Stanley Park, Blackpool, prior flight with Sir Alan Cobham's Flying Circus, flight in Blackburn Botha at Blackpool airfield, visits to barrage balloons and aircraft factory; effects of German air raids and damage to family warehouse during Manchester Blitz, 12/1940; effects of German air raids on Altringham and Timperley areas; personal morale; fire watching at family warehouse; dance halls; question of teetotalism; story of dispute with father over his refusal to sing release forms after passing RAF entrance exams at Cranwell, 1941; work for family firm, 1941-1942; background to volunteering to join RAF as air crew, 5/1942; tests on attending medical at Blackpool, 8/1942. REEL 3 Continues: continuation of ATC training; father's reactions to call up, 9/1942. Recollections of period at Air Crew Reception Centre, Lords Cricket Ground, St Johns Wood, London, 9/1942: prior boarding house accommodation in Blackpool; reception; flat accommodation; kitting out; hair cut; dental treatment; vaccinations; selection for training as navigator; drill; PT; relationship with recruits; pay parade; nature of forces clubs; recreations. Period at Ludlow, 9/1942-10/1942: reception; tent accommodation; building pigsties; cold conditions; fatigues; relationship with civilians. Recollections of period at Initial Training Wing, Stratford upon Avon, 10/1942-4/1943: aircraft recognition training; gunnery training on machine gun, rife and shotgun; navigation training; Morse code training; opinion of instructors; continuity drill exercise. REEL 4 Continues: relationship with recruits and story of 'duel'; question of pilot training. Recollections of flying Tiger Moth at Elementary Flying Training School, Wolverhampton, 4/1943-5/1943: learning aircraft controls on ground; familiarisation flight; taxiing; spinning and method of recovery; aircraft instruments and controls; cross country flight; method of take off; problem with eyesight during landings and failing course; story of attack of pneumonia and treatment whilst on leave. Period in RAF Hospital, Wilmslow, 6/1943: mentally confused state and attempt to 'escape'; state of mental patients; recovery. Voyage aboard Orduna to South Africa, 8/1943-9/1943: mess deck conditions; question of seasickness; lectures; route.