Interview with John Pemberton

Czechoslovakian NCO and officer served as radar operator with 68 Sqdn, No 10 Group, Fighter Command and Air Defence of Great Britain, RAF in GB, 1941-1945; various postings with Royal Air Force in GB, 1950-1961

REEL 1 Background in Czechoslovakia, 1921-1939: family; mixed religious origins; early interest in aviation; learning to glide; awareness of political situation in Europe; story of obtaining exit visa to leave occupied Czechoslovakia; nature of German occupation, 1939; journey from Prague to GB, 8/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1939-1941: enlistment at RAF Uxbridge; posting as interpreter to Czech Depot; interrogation of German Air Force aircrew; training as wireless operator at No 2 Radio School, RAF at RAF Yatesbury; move to No 1 Radio School, RAF at RAF Cranwell. Recollections of operations as radar operator with 68 Sqdn, No 10 Group, Fighter Command and Air Defence of Great Britain, RAF in GB, 1941-1945: background to posting to squadron; start of training on squadron. REEL 2 Continues: navigational beam and night interception training; description of AI (Airborne Interception) Radar equipment and it's operation; training on Bristol Blenheim Mk IV; organisation of squadron and operations; directing of night fighters into bomber stream; problems of maintaining contact with target; use of cockerel device; contrast between British and German radar; duration of patrols; change in interception tactics; reaction to first operation; threat of balloons and leading friendly aircraft to airfields; German Air Force bombing of RAF Coltishall in poor weather; shooting down of German Air Force Heinkel He 177 Grief over North Sea; explosion of German Air Force Dornier Do 217; dangers of flying into anti-aircraft zone; types of German Air Force aircraft operated against; improvements in night fighting equipment; opinion of Bristol Beaufighter; impressions of De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito. REEL 3 Continues: changes in pattern of Allied and German night fighter operations; lessening of numbering of German Air Force aircraft operating over GB, 1941-1944; night-time intruder operations over Europe; intercepting German Air Force aircraft, 1/1945; lack of measures taken by night fighter crews to improve night visions; loss of presentation aircraft and how Squadron Leader Max Aitken responded; origins of squadron members; time spent with squadron and it's success; disbandment of squadron. Aspects of period in Czechoslovakia and return to GB, 1945-1946: delays in flight to Czechoslovakia; return to GB for demobilisation; opinion that Communist take-over was inevitable; treatment of aircrew who had flown with Royal Air Force; return to civilian life. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Air Force in GB, 1950-1961: invitation to rejoin Royal Air Force, 1950; monitoring by Czechoslovakian intelligence service; short duration of jet flights with 29 Sqdn, RAF; changes in interception tactics; period as instructor at RAF Colerne; opinion of De Havilland DH.112 Venom. REEL 4 Continues: all weather capacity of 125 Sqdn, RAF; operating in Europe and North Sea including intercepting long range Soviet aircraft; work as Air Traffic Controller at RAF Stradishall, 1957-1961 including method of talking aircraft down; taking early retirement from Royal Air Force and return to civilian life, 1961. Reflections on service with Royal Air Force: story of return to Czechoslovakia, 1990 and treatment of former Royal Air Force aircrew; continuing interest in aviation; attitude to service with 68 Sqdn, RAF during Second World War.