Hunt, Reginald Charles (Oral history)

British child in Gloucester, GB, 1939-1945; trained as Chinese radio voice interceptor at Joint Services School for Linguists, RAF Wythall, GB, 1955-1956; served as junior technician with 367 Signals Unit, RAF in Hong Kong, 1956-1957

REEL 1: Aspects of period in Gloucester, GB, 1933-1950: family; education; father's military service during Second World War; various memories of wartime life including: air raids and shelters, ARP wardens, blackout, collecting shrapnel, childhood games, comics, rationing; military presence in Gloucester; story of Churchill tanks being built in local factory; air raid shelters in school; awareness of progress of war; description of VE day celebrations at Scout camp, 5/1945; recreational and sporting activities; story about fire-watching with grandfather. Aspects of period in GB, 1945-1955: left school age 17; employment as articled clerk for accountant; deferred from National Service until 22; reason for choosing to join RAF; called up at RAF Cardington, 1955; medical examination; issued with uniform and kit; method of cleaning boots; posted to RAF Hednesford, 6/1955. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of training at RAF Hednesford and RAF Locking GB, 6-10/1955: accommodation in Nissen hut; drill; physical training; inspections; cleaning hut; attitude to discipline; amusing story of drill exercise; punishments; problem of some recruits being unable to march; opinion of NAAFI and food; sleeping arrangements; bed inspection; off-duty activities; daily routine and duties; lectures; night exercises; sports; arms drill and weapons training; gas training; background of other recruits; selection of senior recruit in hut; attitude to NCOs; opted for radar fitter as trade; story of volunteering for Chinese course; passing out parade; leave on Jersey; posted to RAF Locking, 8/1955. REEL 3 Continues: description of training as radar fitter; posted to RAF Wythall, 10/1955. Aspects of training at Joint Services School for Linguists, RAF Wythall, GB, 10/1955-9/1956: accommodation in Nissen hut; description of three week intensive Chinese language training course; exams; tutors; text books; recreational and sporting activities; attitude to being Returned to Unit; reason for signing Official Secrets Act; description of monitoring Chinese radio broadcasts; method of transcribing information using Chinese numbers in four figure blocks; opinion of Chinese instructors; attitude to Chinese; rank and pay; dropout rate on course; discipline; passing out parade; posted to RAF Innsworth and issued with tropical uniform and kit; medical examination and innoculations; description of flight from RAF Lyneham to Hong Kong, 10/1955. REEL 4 Continues: further comments on flight to Hong Kong and landing at Kai Tak airport. Aspects of operations as junior technician with 367 Signals Unit, RAF in Hong Kong, 10/1956-6/1957: description of accommodation and facilities at RAF Little Sai Wan; opinion of food; off-duty activities in Hong Kong; description of listening room and equipment at RAF Battys Belverdere; daily routine and duties monitoring Chinese radio traffic; problem of boredom; opinion of food; attitude to Chinese nationals working on staff; shift system; description of lorry journey to The Peak; opinion of Chinese drivers; location of monitoring station; further description of equipment and monitoring Chinese radio traffic; use of pads to write down numbers; story of hearing mayday call; story about Taiwanese plane. REEL 5 Continues: memories of visit to Macau; social life in Hong Kong; ruses to avoid RAF duties; left Hong Kong, 5/1957; various memories of Singapore; flew back to RAF Stanstead; posted to RAF Innsworth and demobilised, 6/1957. Reflections on period of National Service in Hong Kong: further Chinese study; reunions; story of writing book about experiences.