McElhaw, Tim (Oral history)

Sound: © IWM (33837)

368150797
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1980640714
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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.
422978260
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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.
1352051530
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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.
1646157875
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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.
844858899
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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 officer served as pilot with 208 Sqdn, RAF in Palestine and Egypt, 1947-1949; POW in Israeli, 1949; served with Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1949-1953; served on attachment to US Air Force in Korea, 1953; various postings with RAF in GB and Germany, 1953-1970

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Swindon, GB, 1926-1944: family; education; reasons for volunteering for RAF; membership of Cambridge University Air Sqdn. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB, 1944-1946: initial flying training at No 11 Elementary Flying Training School, Perth; spinning De Havilland DH.82Tiger Moth; types of aircraft flown at No 61 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Keeval, 1945-1946; journey from GB to Palestine. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 208 Sqdn, RAF in Palestine, 1947-1948: arrival at RAF Ein Shemer; character of squadron; anti-immigration patrols; degree of threat in Palestine; spotting of immigrant ship 'Exodus', 7/1947; army support operations; Israeli raid on armoury; changing situation in Palestine; photo-reconnaissance work in Iran and Cyprus; participation in air show in Kenya; offers from Israelis to buy squadron aircraft. REEL 3 Continues: sight of Jordanian forces advancing on settlement near RAF Ramat David; attack on brewery; Israeli acquisition of aircraft; preparations for leaving RAF Ramat David, 21/5/1948; Royal Egyptian Air Force attack on airfield, 22/5/1948; getting airborne and shooting down of Royal Egyptian Air Force Supermarine Spitfires, 22/5/1948; fate of Royal Egyptian Air Force aircraft; leaving RAF Ramat David; acquiring squadron trophy from Egyptian Supermarine Spitfire. Recollections of operations as pilot with 208 Squadron, RAF in Canal Zone of Egypt, 1948-1949: move to RAF Fayid in the Canal Zone. REEL 4 Continues: flying operations during 1948; assessment of Israeli forces; advance of Israeli forces into Sinai and decision to take reconnaissance photographs; initial flights early January; flight over Israeli column, 7/1/1949; shooting down of Frank Close by ground fire; attack on flight by Israeli Air Force; his shooting down by mercenary Canadian pilot John McElroy and parachuting from aircraft; capture by Israeli forces. REEL 5 Continues: period in Israeli captivity; question of escaping from captivity; removal to Cyprus and back to Canal Zone; story of Flying Officer Geoff Cooper being picked up by Bedouin Arabs in desert; debate in Parliament about incident. Aspects of period as officer with Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1949-1953: converting to Gloster Meteor, 1949; posting to 63 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Waterbeach; contrast between flying Gloster Meteor and Supermarine Spitfire; duties with RAF Auxiliary Squadron, 1950. Aspects of operations with US Air Force in Korea, 1953: posting to Korea; character of North American F-86 Sabre; nature of operations with US Air Force in Korea, 1953; duties as operations officer; duration of operations. REEL 6 Continues: Various aspects of service with RAF, 1953-1970: aircraft flown at Central Flying Establishment including opinion of Hawker Hunter; reaction to having someone in aircraft on taking command of 14 Sqdn, RAF flying English Electric Canberras; method of operating English Electric Canberra; last flying role with RAF; attitude towards flying.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production)
Creator: IWM (Production Company)
McDonough, Richard (Recorder)
McElhaw, Tim (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2013-03-18
Dimensions: whole: Duration 180, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 33837

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