Description
Object description
British NCO served as air gunner with 500 (County of Kent) Sqdn, Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1938-1939; served as pilot with 500 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 9/1939-9/1940; served with 221 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 11/1940-5/1941; officer served as instructor with No 3 (Coastal) Opeational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Catfoss, GB, 6/1941-12/1941; officer served as pilot with 221 Sqdn, RAF in North Africa, 12/1941-11/1941; commanded 221 Sqdn, No 248 Wing, RAF on Malta and Italy, 3/1943-6/1944; served as liaison officer with RAF to US Sixth Army Group in South of France, 8/1944-9/1944; various postings with RAF in Italy, GB, Singapore, Hong Kong and France, 1945-1960
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Tenderden, GB, 1916-1938: family; education; recreational and sporting activities; early interest in aviation. Aspects of period as NCO with 500 (County of Kent) Sqdn, Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1938-1939: enlistment, 1938; firing machine gun from scarf mounting on Hawker Hind; awareness of political situation in Europe; flying training, summer 1939. Recollections of operations as pilot with 500 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 9/1939-9/1940: converting to Avro Anson Mk I; organisation of squadron; reconnaissance operations from 3/9/1939; lack of effectiveness of bombs; ditching in sea after being shot down during patrol over Dunkirk, France, 5/1940; convoy escort duties; German Air Force bombing of RAF Detling, 8/1940; status as NCO within squadron; details of routine flight. Recollections of operations as pilot with 221 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF in GB, 11/1940-5/1941: posting to squadron; opinion of Vickers Wellington Mk Ic; patrolling over North Atlantic; flying clothing worn; later fatigue experienced in North Africa.
REEL 2 Continues: duration of tour and area patrolled in North Atlantic; camouflage used on Vickers Wellingtons; period as instructor with at end of first squadron tour with No 3 (Coastal) Opeational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Catfoss, GB, 6/1941-12/1941. Aspects of operations as pilot with 221 Sqdn, RAF in North Africa, 1/1942-10/1942: end of second tour in North Africa, 10/1942; flight from GB to Middle East via Gibraltar and Malta, 1/1942; arrival at LG 89 in Western Desert, 3/1942; conditions in Western Desert; area patrolled; role dropping flares to illuminate targets; duties in operations room at Benghazi, Libya after end of tour. Recollections of operations commanding 221 Sqdn, No 248 Wing, RAF on Malta and Italy, 3/1943-6/1944: return to squadron on Malta, 3/1943; rapid promotion in Mediterranean; method of dropping torpedo at night; incident of being attacked by a RAF night fighter during reconnaissance over Adriatic Sea; area of operations; reasons for flying on operations as squadron commander.
REEL 3 Continues: move to Italy, 3/1944; in transit camp. Aspects of period as liaison officer with RAF to US Sixth Army Group in South of France, 8/1944-9/1944: lack of activity on landing; his proposed operational role; duties in South of France and meeting future wife. Aspects of period as officer with RAF in GB, Singapore, Hong Kong and France, 1945-1960: return to GB, 1945; posting as Chief Ground Instructor (CGI) to RAF North Luffenham, GB, 1945; decision to stay in RAF, 1/1946; duties as ground instructor; taking staff college course and appointment to Air Ministry; attending conference in US and return flight with Air Marshal Sir John Slessor; continuing conference in Paris, France; postings to Singapore and Hong Kong; visit to French Indochina; return voyage to GB.
REEL 4 Continues: duties as Wing Commander (Admin) with Bomber Command; problems with NAAFI; opinion of Vickers Valiant at RAF Honington, GB; objection to not having flying post; American facilities for personnel at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in France; retirement from RAF, 1960. Attitude to serving with RAF during Second World War.
