Gregg-Rowbury, Eric (Oral history)

British NCO served as wireless operator flying Lancaster with 460 Sqdn, RAF based in GB and operating over Netherlands, 1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Wavertree and Allerton, Liverpool, 1925-1943: effects of military service on father and uncle, 1914-1918: social circumstances; move to Allerton; education; disruption to education caused by unofficial evacuation to live with uncle in Wrexham, 8/1939-4/1940; return to Liverpool, 4/1940; work as customs clerk for Dutch steamship company, 1940-1943; Anderson shelter; story of effect of first German air raid, 5/1940; blackout; effects of German air raids, 1941, including disruption to transport, destruction of offices on Castle Street and personal morale. REEL 2 Cotninues: Boy Scouts activities, 1935-1939; training with Air Training Corps, 1942-1943, including prior interest in aviation, uniform, Morse code, engines, theory of flight, bombs, wireless, aircraft recognition, first flights in Dragon Rapide and Oxford during annual camps; service with Civil Defence, 1941-1943, including uniform, fire watching duties and first aid training; background to volunteering and securing father's consent to join RAF, 1943;. Period of aptitude tests at RAF Reception Centre, Padgate, 3/1943: reception; interviews and tests; medical; acceptance for air crew training as wireless operator/air gunner and issue of badge. REEL 3 Continues: call up, 7/1943. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle with Air Crew Reception Centre, Lords Cricket Ground, St Johns Wood, London, 7/1943-8/1943: reception; flat accommodation; kitting out in Long Room, Lords; route marches; effects of vaccinations; administration including pay parade and problem with double-barrelled surname; swimming training; prior dental treatment and subsequent abscess; recreations including visits to relatives in London and attending cricket match at Lords. Recollections of period at No 1 Initial Training Wing, Bridgenorth, 8/1943-9/1943: machine gun and rifle training; changes in status of wireless operator/air gunner; memories of PT instructor Flight Sergeant Cyril Washbrook. REEL 4 Recollections of training as signaller with A Sqdn, No 1 Air Crew Wing, No 2 Radio School, Yatesbury, 9/1943-8/1944: Morse aptitude tests and speeds required; Morse training; use of bomber cipher code; use of wireless transmitter-receiver and method of changing frequency; use of Bendix-Westinghouse wireless including pre-set frequencies, training, fault finding and repairs; method of tuning wireless; wireless valve and fuse replacement; training flights in Piper Monoplane based at Compton Basset including use of trailing aerial and story of landing without retracting aerial; opinion of instructors and recruits; final exams; passing out as sergeant signaller and interviews prior to rejection for commission; system of promotion after passing trade test boards. REEL 5 Period at No 6 Advanced Flying Unit, Staverton and Moreton Vallance, 9/1944-10/1944: training flights in Oxford; working as team with navigator during cross-country night flights in Anson; nature of Anson. Recollections of period flying Wellington with 84 Operational Training Unit, RAF, Desborough, 11/1944-2/1945: background to joining crew as wireless operator with Pilot Flight Sergeant Reg Hayman, Navigator Sergeant Robert McCaig, Bomb Aimer Sergeant Vernon Rees, Mid Upper Gunner Sergeant Howard John and Rear Gunner Sergeant Maximilian Lebozec; nature of Wellington; nature of training flights to practise crew functions; use of Fishponds radar system. Period flying Lancaster III with No 1656 Heavy Bomber Conversion Unit, Lindholme, 2/1945-4/1945: addition to crew of Flight Engineer/ 2nd Pilot Flight Sergeant William Turnbull; relationship with crew. REEL 6 Continues: nature of Lancaster III; familiarisation and training flights; war situation and desire for operational experience. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with 460 Sqdn, RAF, Binbrook, 4/1945-7/1945: reception; barrack accommodation; effects of commission of Pilot Officer Reg Hayman on crew morale; training flights; nature of Operation Manna dropping supplies over Le Hague, Netherlands, 30/4/1 and Rotterdam, 1/5/1944, 2/5/1944 and 8/5/1944, including briefing, low level flight out, coming under fire from German coasta anti-aircraft guns, reception from Dutch civilians, story of dropping supply bag outside dropping zone, debriefing and story of mission on VE Day; reactions to VE Day, 8/5/1945; story of leave shared with Flight Sergeant Reg Hayman visiting family in Liverpool; recall for deployment to Far East. REEL 7 final flights; story of meeting future wife, 6/1945; question of modification to Lancaster for Far East service; leaving unit on formation of all-Australian crews for Far East service. Period with Holding Unit at Burn, 1945: reactions to leaving unit; options for ground crew retraining; extended leave. Period at Cmpton Bassett, 1945-1946: question of being AWOL during extended leave; waiting for motor mechanics course; promotion to warrant officer; role in charge of Jamaican recruits; duties. Period at Kinloss, 1946-1947: minimal duties in MT section; reaction to loss of warrant officer rank as grounded airman; interest in teaching career and taking educational vocational courses. REEL 8 Continues: taking educational vocational training courses. Period at Weeton prior to demobilisation, 3/1947. Post-war career: temporary work in labour exchange, 194; work as civil servant with Prisoner of War and Displaced Persons Dept, Control Commission, Military Government, Selle, Germany, 1947-1949, including role interviewing and resettling displaced persons, visiting Displace Persons Camps, story illustrating problems between Yugoslavian factions and story of murder of Yugoslavian woman; teacher training and teaching career; effects of war service and value of experience during teaching career.