Interview with Leslie Frederick French

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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Description

Object description

British aircraftman trained with No 11 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Scarborough and No 24 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Kirkpatrick, GB, 1942; trained with No 6 Air School, South African Air Force at Potchefstroom and No 22 Air School, South African Air Force at Vereeniging in South Africa, 1942-1943; NCO trained as pilot with No 71 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Ismailia, Egypt, 1944; NCO served as pilot with 30 Sqdn, No 905 Wing, No 224 Group, RAF in Burma, 1944-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Colchester, GB, 1923-1939: family; education; employment as apprentice in printing trade; social activities; interest in aviation. Aspects of period as civilian in Colchester, GB, 1939-1941: hearing declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; first air raid alert in Colchester, 3/9/1939; joining 308 (Colchester) Sqdn, Air Training Corps; uniform worn; visit to airfield near Colchester and flight in Bristol Blenheim; sight of German Air Force bomber aircraft over Colchester; family air raid shelter in garden; lack of German attacks on Colchester. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of enlistment and initial training with No 1 Air Crew Reception Centre, RAF, St Johns Wood, London, GB, 1941-1942: background to volunteering for aircrew; instruction to go to dentist; call-up to Lords Cricket Ground; induction process; accommodation; medical processing; eye sight test; separation of those who failed medical; issue of uniforms; method of being given injections; medical inspection of genitalia; train journey to Ludlow. REEL 3 Continues: in tented accommodation at Ludlow. Aspects of training with No 11 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Scarborough in GB, 1942: move to Scarborough; pattern of training; examinations at end of period; train journey to Carlisle. Aspects of flying training with No 24 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Kirkpatrick in GB, 1942: move over Scottish border to satellite field at RAF Kirkpatrick; issue of flying kit; introduction to De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; role of instructor; familiarisation flight; method of acquiring straight and level flight; turning aircraft; taking off; taxiing aircraft; landing; attitude towards flying. REEL 4 Continues: soloing; opinion of De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; move to Aircrew Dispersal Centre, RAF at RAF Heaton Park; embarkation breakfast. Aspects of voyage from SS Argentina from GB to South Africa, 1942: conditions on board ship; passing time; sight of huge convoy and how ships dispersed; route taken by smaller convoy; nature of voyage in South Atlantic; sight of Perla Siedle Gibson, the 'Lady in White' on arrival in Durban; starting smoking. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of flying training with No 6 Air School, Potchefstroom, South Africa, 1942-1943: journey from Durban to Potchefstroom; emphasis on precautionary flying; cross-country navigation; upsetting instructor during loop; spinning De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; final test flight with instructor; formation flying; navigation in De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; looping aircraft. Aspects of flying training at No 22 Air School, Vereeniging, South Africa, 1943: move to school; contrast between De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth and North American Harvard. REEL 6 Continues: familiarisation flight; pattern of training; final test and presentation of wings; instrument training on Link Trainer; attitude towards night flying; aircraft checks; pupils who failed course; attitude towards formation flying and aerobatics; flight in Sunderland Flying Boat to Egypt via Lake Victoria. REEL 7 Continues: arrival in Cairo, Egypt. Aspects of period as NCO with No 71 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Ismailia in Egypt, 1944: introduction to Hawker Hurricane; air-to-air gunnery; flying on oxygen; aerial combat training; assessment of pilots; use of gunsight; opinion of Hawker Hurricane; landing at American airfield during sandstorm. REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of period as pilot with Royal Air Force in India, 1944: move to join pool of Hawker Hurricane pilots at RAF Bhopal; move to RAF Bangalore; initial impressions of Republic Thunderbolt Mk II; method of taking off in Republic Thunderbolt Mk II; pattern of conversion to Republic Thunderbolt Mk II. Recollections of operations as pilot with 30 Sqdn, No 905 Wing, No 224 Group, RAF in Burma, 1944-1945: barge journey to Chittagong; arrival at RAF Chittagong, Arakan; organisation of squadron and allocation to flight. REEL 9 Continues: issue of flying and survival kits; armament on Republic Thunderbolt, Mk II; use of drop tanks; bombs carried; first operation to attack Rangoon Harbour, 11/1944; reaction to getting back on ground after first operation; reasons why squadron was not needed for fighter protection; use of metalled runway; method of dive-bombing; description of 'cab rank' patrols. REEL 10 Continues: attacks using napalm against Japanese forces; move to Akyab Island, Arakan; nature of 'Rhubarb' attacks; attacking Japanese operated train in tunnel; attacks on Japanese river barges; problems of operating Republic Thunderbolt Mk II in monsoon conditions; story of air supply drop operation to advanced troops in narrow valley. REEL 11 Continues: escorting Very Important Person (VIP) flights; opinion of flying conditions in Burma. Aspects of period as NCO with 30 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1945-1946: leave on hill station in India; preparations for Operation Zipper in India and end of war; move to RAF Dum Dum, India; transfer to RAF Bhopal; conversion to Hawker Tempest; reasons for not taking short term commission with Royal Air Force; demobilisation and return to family home, 6/1946.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
McDonough, Richard (Recorder)
French, Leslie Frederick (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2013-01-25
Dimensions: whole: Duration 330, Number Of Items 11
Catalogue number: 33798

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Interview with Leslie Frederick French

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