Description
Object description
British apprentice clerk with RAF Record Office at RAF West Ruislip, GB, 1939-1940; aircraftman and NCO served as clerk with 613 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940-1942; NCO cadet trained as navigator with No 3 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Torquay, No 1 Elementary Air Navigation School, RAF at Eastbourne and Bridgnorth and No 9 Advanced (Observers) Flying School, RAF at RAF Llandwrog in GB, 1942-1943; officer served as navigator with No 2 Advanced Navigation School, RAF at RAF Cranage, GB, 1943; served with No 10 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Abingdon, GB, 1943; served with No 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF at RAF Riccall, GB, 1/1944-3/1944; served with 10 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF at RAF Melbourne in GB, 3/1944-6/1944; shot down during raid on Trappes, France, 2/6/1944; evaded capture in France, 6/1944-7/1944; inmate in Fresnes Prison, Paris, France, 7/1944-8/1944; inmate in Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany, 8/1944-10/1944; POW in Stalag Luft III, Sagan and Oflag III-A, Luckenwalde in Germany, 10/1944-5/1945; served with Headquarters, No 41 Group, Maintenance Command, RAF at RAF Andover, GB, 1945-1947; served as navigator with 77 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF at RAF Manston in GB, 1947-1948; served with 206 and 99 Sqdns, Transport Command, RAF during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949; served as Wing Navigational Officer with Transport Command, RAF at RAF Lyneham, GB, 1949-1951; served as intelligence officer with 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF attached to MI6 in Hamburg, Germany, 1951-1953; served as intelligence officer with RAF attached to MI6 in Berlin, Germany, 1953-1957; served as navigator with 206 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF at RAF St Mawgan, GB, 1958-1961; served as intelligence officer with RAF attached to MI6 in West Berlin, 1961-1962; served as intelligence officer with 224 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF in Gibraltar, 1962-1964; served with RAF in GB, 1964-1965; served with at No 1 Aeronautical Information Document Unit at RAF Northolt, GB, 1966-1973
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Chatham, GB, 1922-1939: father's military service; military and naval presence in Chatham area; early interest in aviation; appearance of anti-aircraft batteries in Chatham after Munich Crisis, 9/1938; education; reasons for being turned down as apprentice artificer with Royal Navy; awareness of political situation in Europe; encounter with German teacher on return from captivity in Germany, 1945; degree of awareness of concentration camps prior to captivity; listening to relatives discussing service in armed forces; reasons for volunteering as apprentice clerk with RAF, 1939; degree of ambition to fly; background to joining services.
REEL 2 Continues: father's Sunday activities with Royal Engineer band; Navy Days in Chatham; RAF open days at RAF Eastchurch; awareness of RAF; salvaging items from Royal Engineer range; further details of education; story of service in Berlin in 1950s; awareness of empire and military matters. Recollections of period as apprentice clerk with RAF Record Office at RAF West Ruislip, GB, 1939-1940: medical on volunteering; journey to railway station; arrival at RAF West Ruislip, 4/1939.
REEL 3 Continues: description of offices; interview on arrival; attestment as apprentice clerk; issue of uniform and equipment; layout of locker; breakfast in canteen; breaking of mugs; instruction by senior entry; importance of polishing boots and floor around bed space; method of polishing boots; importance of paying attention to detail; method of keeping crease in seams of trousers; inspections; treatment received from instructors; church parade; haircuts; discipline; items purchased from pay.
REEL 4 Continues: encouragement of sport; morning ablutions; breakfast; activities on Sunday mornings; inspections; travelling on trains; marching drill; typing instruction; effects of arrival of Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel prior to outbreak of war; taking over shops in Ickenham during expansion on outbreak of Second World War; clerical work; touch typing training; arrival of personnel files; wartime routine; sick parades; limited free time and organised letter writing.
REEL 5 Continues: shortened leave, 8/1939; mentoring and nature of training; correcting typing mistakes; reasons for missing rifle drill; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; role as stretcher bearer, 3/9/1939; wartime regulations; issue of identity discs; story of being photographed on joining wartime squadron; carrying identity card; nature of gas mask training; pay as apprentice; leave in London on passing out, 1940; method of spotting naval family homes in Chatham.
REEL 6 Continues: visit to Sheffield during leave, 6/1940. Recollections of period as clerk with 613 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940-1942: reporting for posting; preference for posting; items taken on journey; reaction to initial posting to RAF Worksop, 6/1940; suspicion of local policeman on his arrival at railway station; journey to station at former Sheffield Flying Club; provision of meal on arrival; history of squadron since outbreak of Second World War; reporting to commanding officer and kitting out with field uniform; allocation of tent and rations; how commanding officer got him seconded to squadron; arrival of motor transport; use of pit head baths; formation of unit; hospitalisation in civilian Worksop Cottage Hospital in Worksop; funeral parade.
REEL 7 Continues: squadron move to Maltby area; hospitalisation for skin problem near Rotherham; story of meeting future wife, 10/1940; coastal defence role of squadron; flying in commanding officer's Westland Lysander; practise firing of machine guns; conditions in backseat of Westland Lysander; volunteering for aircrew, 10/1941; reaction of parents to posting to Worksop; squadron move to airfield at Doncaster Racecourse; miscellaneous aircraft on airfield; accommodation; control tower; reasons for change of atmosphere in squadron; mobile exercises on Salisbury Plain; effect of arrival of squadron at RAF Andover.
REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of training as NCO with No 1 Aircrew Reception Centre at St Johns Wood, London, GB, 1942: leaving squadron; nature of reception centre; meals in Regent's Park Zoo; reasons for missing drill; eye problem and selection for observer training; Morse Code training; lectures; direct entry recruits from Metropolitan Police. Aspects of period as NCO with RAF at Brighton in GB, 1942: move to Brighton; German Air Force attacks on Brighton; regrading. Recollections of period as NCO cadet at No 3 Initial Training Wing, RAF at Torquay, GB, 1942: move to wing; nature of meteorological training; method of bombing targets in Germany.
REEL 9 Continues: later story of return to GB after damage to aircraft during raid on Duisberg, Germany, 1944; use of navigational charts and beacons during service; taking astro-navigation readings in service; principles of navigation during raids on Germany and during Berlin Airlift; paper exercises at Initial Training Wing; navigation equipment carried; importance of watch.
REEL 10 Continues: degree of knowledge of navigation on leaving Torquay; marriage during leave. Aspects of period of training as navigator at No 1 Elementary Air Navigation School, RAF at Eastbourne and Bridgnorth in GB, 1942-1943: pattern of training including shooting; removal of school to Bridgnorth after German Air Force attacks on accommodation, 10/1942; first encounter with Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel on arrival. Recollections of period training as navigator with No 9 Advanced (Observers) Flying Unit, RAF in RAF Llandwrog, GB, 2/1943-5/1943: posting to school; problems with weather in North Wales; weather conditions on arrival 2/1943; ground training; accommodation; increase in pilots crews; use of Avro Anson as training aircraft; training aircrew; route of training flights; obtaining three course winds; initial familiarisation flight when Avro Anson canvas ripped.
REEL 11 Continues: threat of Royal Navy vessels opening fire on aircraft; route of training flights around Irish Sea; problems with night flights; commissioning at end of course; crash of Vickers Wellington on airfield; leave at end of course, 5/1943. Aspects of period as navigator at No 2 Advanced Navigation School, RAF at RAF Cranage, GB, 5/1943-9/1943: posting to school; role as instructor; training on astro-navigation; introduction to GEE navigational aid and how it worked; description of H2S Radar; loss of GEE set during training exercise.
REEL 12 Continues: difference between observer and navigators' role; different roles performed by bomber crew; reiteration of posting to school. Recollections of period as navigator with No 10 Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Abingdon in GB, 1943: posting to unit, 9/1943; preference for Coastal Command posting; initial poor reputation of Handley Page Halifax; method of escaping from Handley Page Halifax; character of RAF Abingdon; use of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley in No 4 Group.
REEL 13 Continues: importance of bonding as crew; method of crewing up; character of his pilot; his own navigational experience; training exercises; familiarisation with other roles in aircraft; character of wireless operator; obtaining bomb aimer; daily routine; character of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley; dangers of flying over wartime GB; nature of training exercises including corkscrew manoeuvre.
REEL 14 Continues: description of training exercise to drop leaflets over Paris; Christmas leave, 12/1943. Aspects of period with No 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF at RAF Riccall, GB, 1/1944-3/1944: role of flight engineer; prior recollection of attending survival course including escape and evasion exercise from RAF Abingdon; description of how GEE navigational aid worked; how Oboe navigation system worked.
REEL 15 Continues: nature of conversion training; role of flight engineer; attachment of second gunner to crew; information passed onto navigator by tail gunner; location of crew in Handley Page Halifax; use of bomber stream; communication in aircraft. Recollections of operations with 10 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF at RAF Melbourne, GB, 3/1944-6/1944: posting to squadron, 10/3/1944; contrast between Handley Page Halifax Mk II and Mk III aircraft; role of No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in targeting of railways prior to D-Day.
REEL 16 Continues: posting to C Flight and briefing on Handley Page Halifax Mk III; fitting of personal parachute; location of parachutes in aircraft; initial briefing with Intelligence Section; photographs taken; briefing on what to do if shot down; nature of Nissen hutted station; degree of awareness of loss of crews; issue of maps; checking aircraft; time of take offs; briefing prior to sortie; routes taken to target; dangers of mining operations; meteorological briefings.
REEL 17 Continues: role of master bomber on raid; breaking up of crew for individual briefings; navigation briefings; getting ready for operation; move to aircraft and preparations for flight; taking off; turning point at Beachy Head; arrival over French coast; approach to target; threat of collision over target; leaving target; return to base; threat of German infiltrators; effect of loss of engine to bomb from aircraft above during raid on marshalling yard in Belgium; description of IFF (Identification Friend of Foe).
REEL 18 Continues: emergency airfield at RAF Woodbridge; landing at RAF Melbourne; debriefing after raid; activities after raid; viewing photographic prints of bombing; social activities off airfield; story of meeting pilot's girlfriend after returning from captivity; workers' tea bar on airfield; lack of recreational activities; visits to mess bar; question over number of operations flown; how pilot flew as co-pilot on arrival in squadron; first raid on Tournai, Belgium; crew relations; reasons for not speaking of final operation; use of wind for navigation calculations.
REEL 19 Continues: rotation of squadron crews; sight of preparations for D-Day on River Thames during leave, 5/1944; abortive operation, 1/6/1944. Recollections of shooting down of aircraft during raid by 10 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF on Trappes, France, 2/6/1944: briefing stating that Germans had captured latest version of H2S Radar; fear of collisions over target; run up to target; loss of 17 aircraft to night fighters near target; attack on aircraft by German night fighter; wounding of pilot; bailing out of aircraft; opening of parachute; landing on edge of wood; removal of boots and attempts to use escape compass.
REEL 20 Continues: hiding parachute. Recollections of period evading capture in the Dreux area of France, 6/1944: making way through wood in Dreux area; contents of escape kit; opinion of advice given on evading capture; post-war discovery of infiltration of French Resistance group by collaborator; making contact with French civilian; making way to chateau; test to determine identity given by British sisters; arrival of resistance members to determine his identity.
REEL 21 Continues: discovery of fate of crew; receiving new identity; French Resistance's interest in coming invasion; memories of 5/6/1944; hearing news of invasion, 6/6/1944; aerial activity and move to second hiding place, 6/6/1944; reasons for removal to shed in forest; return to second hiding place; problems with issued escape money; washing of clothes; decision of resistance to move evaders inland.
REEL 22 Continues: question of mistakes made by French Resistance; how he was handed package of documents by local resistance; arrangements made by resistance for evaders' removal inland. Aspects of capture by Germans in Paris, France, 7/1944: being picked up by Belgium collaborator in car, 30/6/1944; spending night in barn; journey to Paris; arrival at Hotel Piccadilly, 1/7/1944; atmosphere in Paris; allocation of room in Hotel Piccadilly, 1/7/1944; noisy American airman in adjacent room; ruse used by collaborators to obtain information from evaders; capture by German Feldgendarmerie at roadblock.
REEL 23 Continues: Recollections of imprisonment as POW at Fresnes Prison, Paris, France, 7/1944-8/1944: arrival at prison; treatment by SS captors on arrival; description of cell; question of what identity to maintain; nature of interrogation at Gestapo Headquarters in Avenue Foch; removal back to prison; conditions in cramped cell; communicating with fellow prisoners; method of distributing rations to prisoners; issue of toilet paper; hearing sounds of Allied advance, early 8/1944; assembling of Allied prisoners and meeting up with crew; issue of soup; speech given by SS officer about forthcoming journey; removal by bus from prison, 15/8/1944.
REEL 24 Continues: reiteration of removal from prison, 15/8/1944; arrival at Gare De L'est. Recollections of train journey from Paris, France to Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany, 8/1944: reaction to treatment of French civilian prisoners; conditions in cattle truck standing at Gare De L'est; train leaving station at dusk, 15/8/1944; nature of train journey through France; method of discovering route; escape from train by Allied airmen and Frenchmen; report given to MI9 given by Squadron Leader Stephenson who escaped from train; period of train being held in tunnel; shooting of Frenchman; transfer to train after passage on foot; arrival in Frankfurt area of Germany.
REEL 25 Continues: reaction to not stopping in Frankfurt; stopping at troop facilities on railway; arrival at Weimar. Recollections of period as POW in Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany, 8/1944-10/1944: arrival in camp; description of layout of camp; presence of Very Important Person ((VIP) prisoners in camp; motto used by Germans at entrance of camp; smell from camp chimneys; how camp had expanded after outbreak of war; number of prisoners in camp, 8/1944; identity badges worn by prisoners; separation of Allied POWs from Frenchmen; national composition of Allied POW group; shaving of hair of POWs; showering; registration process in induction block.
REEL 26 Continues: description of Allied POW compound; issue of old clothing; arrival of Wing Commander Forrest Yeo-Thomas in compound; British POWs in camp; arrival of rations; hearing camp band playing inmates to work; description of quarantine; injections in chest, 24/8/1944; description of US Army Air Force bombing of factory and SS quarters adjacent to camp, 24/8/1944; work party to clear bodies after bombing, 24/8/1944.
REEL 27 Continues: problems with water supply after bombing; move into Block 58; importance of having a bowl; latrines; showering and issue of new clothing; second series of injections; roll call; period on punishment fatigue; assembling in cinema to watch German propaganda film; role of Wing Commander Forrest Yeo-Thomas in persuading Communist Resistance in camp to aid POWs; reaction to sight of Jewish inmates departing from camp block; arrival of German Air Force officers to claim POWs, 10/1944; insistence of German Air Force officers that POWs fill out forms; leaving camp.
REEL 28 Continues: reaction to hearing that POWs where leaving camp, 20/10/1944; removal to railway station under German Air Force guards; sight of destroyed SS motor pool and factory; allocation to cattle truck; nature of train journey to Stalag Luft III, Sagan. Recollections of period as POW in Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany, 10/1944-1/1945: arrival at Sagan Station; initial impressions on arrival at camp; description of camp; reception on arrival at camp; induction process; division of officer and NCO POWs; description of accommodation; initial reception from fellow POWs.
REEL 29 Continues: contents of Red Cross parcels; description of POW belongings; facilities available to POWs; rations; POW interest in food; method of distributing news; reaction to being able to send Red Cross letter to family; degree of knowledge his wife had about his whereabouts; lack of letters and personal belongings of former Buckenwald POWs; relations with established POWs in camp.
REEL 30 Continues: Canadian officer's gift of brevet; POW morale at Christmas, 25/12/1944; concert parties; card counts; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1944; attitude towards German guards; preparations for removal from camp, 1/1945. Aspects of POW march away from Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany, 1/1945-2/1945: issue of Red Cross parcels on POWs leaving camp; orders not to escape from column; conditions on march; instance of guards being helped by POWs; bartering with French forced labourers; state of refugees on march.
REEL 31 Continues: stay in glassworks; joining up with columns of RAF NCO POWs; train journey to Oflag III-A, Luckenwalde. Aspects of period as POW in Oflag III-A, Luckenwalde, Germany, 2/1945-5/1945: arrival in crowded camp; number of prisoners in camp; hearing news of advance of Allied forces; brewing up; bartering with German guards; morale amongst American POWs; desertion of camp by guards, 21/4/1945; organisation of POWs on guards' desertion of camp; arrival of SS party afternoon, 21/4/1945; arrival of Soviet Army front line troops; opinion of Soviet Army administrative troops; foraging parties to German farms; Soviet herding female forced labourers into camp; Soviet refusal to allow American to evacuate British and American POWs from camp; removal from camp by Soviet Army to Torgau, 5/1945.
REEL 32 Continues: Recollections of return as former POW to GB, 1945: reception of arrival at RAF Cosford, 27/5/1945; processing of former POWs; rations issued; lack of debriefing; clothing worn; issue of ration coupons and railway warrant; railway journey from Wolverhampton to Sheffield; arrangements for overnight stay in Sheffield; arrival at wife's family home in Yorkshire; reporting to 10 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Melbourne.
REEL 33 Continues: encounter with pilot's girlfriend in mess; how No 4 Group, RAF had been dispersed at end of war; start of eight week leave; attitude to talking about experiences and crowds; nature of dreams about imprisonment; medical examination at RAF Church Fenton; issue of new uniform and equipment, 7/1945. Aspects of period as officer with Headquarters, No 41 Group, Maintenance Command, RAF at RAF Andover, GB, 1945-1947: maintenance role of group; administrative duties; arrival of wife; how he flew with Wing Commander Roger Porteous; attitude towards flying.
REEL 34 Continues: use of aircraft to obtain provisions; flights with Wing Commander Roger Porteous; reasons for his being returned to flying duties; arrangement for birth of first child. Aspects of period as navigator on navigation refresher course at RAF Bircham Newton, GB, 1947: reasons for avoiding parades; changes in navigation; description of Eureka navigation and Beam Approach Beacon systems; relations with station commander. Aspects of period as navigator with Transport Command Operational Training Unit, Transport Command, RAF in GB, 1947: nature of course; opinion of Douglas Dakota; glider and parachute dropping duties.
REEL 35 Continues: layout for crew in Douglas Dakota; beacon facilities available; further details of Douglas Dakota; navigation equipment available including radio compass; fitting out of Douglas Dakota. Aspects of period as navigator with 77 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF at RAF Manston in GB and Germany, 1947-1948: arrival at squadron and cancellation of posting; squadron schedules including flight to Warsaw, Poland; on detachment at RAF Honington; flights from RAF Honington; trial transport flights from RAF Buckeburg to RAF Gatow in Berlin; items purchased in Germany; brief posting to 42 Sqdn, RAF, 7/1948.
REEL 36 Continues: further details of trial transport flights from RAF Buckeburg to RAF Gatow in Berlin. Aspects of period as navigator on Avro York Conversion Course at RAF Dishforth, GB, 1948: Allied routes into Berlin; description of start of Berlin Airlift, 1948; decision to form Avro York squadron at RAF Dishforth and removal of aircraft, summer 1948; sea training from RAF Thorney Island; survival exercises; conversion to Avro York; character of his crew. Recollections of period as navigator with 206 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949: posting to RAF Wunstorf; accommodation in hotel off airfield; start of operational flights in air corridor; navigation in air corridor.
REEL 37 Continues: description of RAF Gatow and its runway; carrying Pierced Steel Planking (PSP) to RAF Gatow; character of operational flights in air corridor from RAF Wunstorf to RAF Gatow; different heights used by different aircraft; Russian use of seducing beacon; approach to and landing at RAF Gatow; unloading of aircraft at RAF Gatow; passenger flights from RAF Gatow; opinion of navigational station in Avro York; holding civilian prams during passenger flights; organisation of operation; carrying NAAFI supplies; taking photographs on Soviet high security prison camp at site of former Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp; discovery of site of Soviet high security prison camp during visit to Buckenwald Concentration Camp, 1984; radio banter during flights.
REEL 38 Continues: rota flown and rations available; presence of Soviet Air Force aircraft in air corridor; lack of collisions; use of Ground Controller; details of working 19 day schedule; further details of his crew; de-icing of aircraft winter 1948-1949; story of how pilot lost his false teeth in mess toilet; flying on Christmas Day, 25/12/1948; incident of aircraft not being refuelled properly; fatigue; visits to Hanover; relations with Germans; cleaning aircraft after flights; continuation training at RAF Lyneham; items brought back from Germany; role as crew contact man; lack of health problems; recreational activities; obtaining married quarter at RAF Lyneham.
REEL 39 Continues: character of married accommodation at RAF Lyneham; attitude to conversion to Boeing B-29 Washington; clash over accommodation with station adjutant at RAF Lyneham; background to obtaining post as Wing Navigation Officer at RAF Lyneham. Aspects of period as navigator with 99 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF in GB and during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1949: posting to squadron on disbandment of 206 Sqdn, RAF; character of Handley Page HP.67 Hastings; problems of maintaining Handley Page HP.67 Hastings on long haul flights; long haul flights to Far East; conversion to Handley Page HP.67 Hastings at RAF Lyneham; navigator's position in Handley Page HP.67 Hastings; opinion of Handley Page HP.67 Hastings; presence of Handley Page HP.67 Hastings memorial aircraft in Berlin.
REEL 40 Continues: reaction to routine to normal routine and posting to Bomber Command to fly Boeing B-29 Washington. Aspects of period as Wing Navigational Officer with RAF Transport Command at RAF Lyneham, GB, 1949-1951: reduction of squadrons after Berlin Airlift; additional duties of Wing Navigational Officer; prior recollection of debriefing after captivity in Germany; long haul flight to Middle East with 99 Sqdn, RAF; navigation instructional duties; trooping role of RAF Transport Command; staging post in Pakistan; route flown from GB to Ceylon.
REEL 41 Continues: landing at Ceylon; flight across Indian Ocean from Ceylon to Singapore, Malaya; activities in Singapore, Malaya; experiences learnt from Berlin Airlift; trooping duties; degree to which he could pick his trips; attending intelligence course, 1951; discovery of papers in bin whilst duty officer on intelligence course; interview with intelligence officer.
REEL 42 Continues: question of not passing information to Americans; orders to report to RAF Uxbridge; attending security course with Control Commission for Germany including tests and lectures. Recollections of period as intelligence officer with 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF attached to MI6 in Hamburg, Germany, 1951-1953: reaction to posting to Germany; ferry journey from Harwich, GB to Hook of Holland, Netherlands; familiarisation course on Soviet Air Force; issue of personal weapon; posting to Hamburg; introduction to personal driver.
REEL 43 Continues: character of German secretaries; attachment to MI6; intelligence situation in Hamburg; obtaining accommodation; arrival of wife and family; low-grade intelligence work of station; his cover work; need for security and civilian cover; adopting contacts; discovery that his German driver was former night fighter; relations with his driver.
REEL 44 Continues: work on Hamburg station; interest in Soviet Air Force grass airfields in East Germany; discovery that colleague Jimmy James had been in Stalag Luft III, Sagan; need to learn to drive. Recollections of period as intelligence officer with RAF on attachment to MI6 in Berlin, Germany, 1953-1957: atmosphere in Berlin; journey to Berlin; character of Berlin Stadium and surrounding terrain; character of MI6 station in Berlin Stadium; character of intelligence world in Berlin; reputation of different Allied intelligence communities; location of accommodation for MI6 personnel; his personal accommodation; staff at Berlin Stadium; start of Soviet construction of airfields in East Germany.
REEL 45 Continues: obtaining aviation intelligence; method of organising airfield construction in East Germany; nature of intelligence gathering on airfield construction; discovery of thickness of airfield runway; emphasis on electrical layout of Soviet airfields; reasons for construction of large hard standings and proposed role of airfields; relations with British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces (BRIXMIS); acquiring samples of aviation fuel; effects of message sent to London.
REEL 46 Continues: return to GB, 1958. Aspects of period as officer on navigation refresher course with Maritime Operational Training Unit, RAF at RAF Kinloss in GB, 1958: problems not taking down observers badge; opinion of Handley Page Marathon; Coastal Command deployments; Maritime Operational Training Unit, Coastal Command, RAF at RAF Kinloss; character of Avro Shackleton. Aspects of period as navigator with 206 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF at RAF St Mawgan, GB, 1958-1961: posting to squadron; growth of Soviet Navy fleet; reaction to operational training flights; navigation over water; role of two navigators; navigators desk in Avro Shackleton; method of detecting diesel fumes from Soviet Navy submarines.
REEL 47 Continues: relaxed atmosphere at station. Aspects of period as intelligence officer, RAF attached to MI6 in West Berlin, 1961-1962: background to call back to Berlin; atmosphere in Berlin; accommodation; effects of construction of Berlin Wall, 8/1961; reaction to posting to Gibraltar. Aspects of period as intelligence officer with 224 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF at Gibraltar, 1962-1964: contrast between Avro 696 Shackleton Mk.2 and Avro 716 Shackleton Mk.3; plotting Soviet merchant ships in Mediterranean; photographing Soviet merchant ships passing through Straits of Gibraltar; photographing Soviet merchant ships in Mediterranean taking missiles to Cuba, 1962.
REEL 48 Continues: Recollections of period as intelligence officer with RAF attached to MI6 in Berlin, 1953-1957 and 1961-1962: situation in Berlin, 1953; character of intelligence world in Berlin during 1950s; British role in construction of tunnel tapping into Soviet communications lines; use of refugees to gather intelligence on Soviet aviation activities; running agents in East Germany; security measures at MI6 in Berlin Stadium; work of night-time duty officers.
REEL 49 Continues: access to building by German cleaners; meeting with George Blake in safe house; return to RAF, 1957; attitude towards call back to Berlin, 1961; return to work in Berlin Stadium; departmental meeting after exposure of George Blake and rapid removal of personnel; setting up of shadow station after Blake Affair; use of talent scouts to spot contacts; status of former Special Operations Executive officers at Berlin Stadium.
REEL 50 Continues: return to flying duties, 1962; attitude to year in Berlin. Aspects of period as intelligence officer with 224 Sqdn, Coastal Command, RAF at Gibraltar, 1962-1964: setting up of operations room in Gibraltar; obtaining accommodation; problems family had getting out to Gibraltar; description of location of accommodation; lack of security measures on RAF station and how he rectified situation; presence of Soviet sailing ships in harbour at Gibraltar; discovery of Soviet merchant vessels masking submarines for passing through Straits of Gibraltar; sloppy security measures.
REEL 51 Continues: amusing story of daughter's discovery of first nuclear submarine's visit to Gibraltar; Soviet attempts to disrupt squadron's photographing of ships; strength of American forces at base in Spain; obtaining first photographs of Soviet merchant vessels in Mediterranean carrying nuclear missiles to Cuba, 1962; providing photographs of rescue operations to press; story of providing press with photographs of fire aboard TSMS Lakonia, 12/1963; fair well party in mess, 1/1964. Recollections of period with RAF in GB, 1964-1965: return to GB; attending investiture at Buckingham Palace.
REEL 52 Continues: reiteration of career prior to 1964; reaction to return to GB; effects on family life of overseas service; further details of attending investiture at Buckingham Palace; reaction to attending navigation course; discovery of reasons for injections in Buckenwald Concentration Camp.
REEL 53 Continues: prior recollection of flight with 99 Sqdn, RAF to Warsaw, Poland, 1947; prior recollections of question of security of RAF crews in out of bounds clubs in Berlin; issue of personal weapon in Berlin; prior recollections of question of British servicemen visiting out of bounds clubs; problems with squadron; story of how he was challenged for having a personal weapon.
REEL 54 Continues: visit to station medical officer; hospitalisation for exhaustion; medical records in file; posting away from station and interview with senior officer. Recollections of period as officer with at No 1 Aeronautical Information Document Unit at RAF Northolt, GB, 1966-1972: accommodation at RAF Northolt; role of unit providing aviation information charts; method of creating information charts.
REEL 55 Continues: presence of Queen's Flight at RAF Northolt; special requirements for flights using Queen's Flight aircraft; threats to Queen's Flight flying cross-country; use of special intelligence library; aiding flights to Christmas Island; aiding round the world female flyer; arranging flight for Duchess of Gloucester's son; obtaining equipment for unit; contact with former commanding officer at Gibraltar; atmosphere in unit; number of royal flights he handled.
REEL 56 Continues: reiteration of career prior to joining unit; further reiteration of working with unit; hearing that George Blake had escaped from Wormwood Scrubs Prison, 10/1966; attitude towards service with unit; background to leaving RAF and return to civilian life, 1973. Reflections on work to obtain war reparations, visits to Buckenwald Concenteration Camp and work on publication 'The RAF in Buckenwald KZ': work obtaining reparations for British inmates of concentration camps.
REEL 57 Continues: Airey Neave's role in aiding reparations case; problems of obtaining war pension; attempts to acquire his wartime records; story of first visit to Buchenwald, 1984.
REEL 58 Continues: tour of Buchenwald Concentration Camp during first visit, 1984; defining location of Little Camp at Buchenwald Concentration Camp; Soviet use of Buchenwald Concentration Camp as detention camp after Second World War; lack of British memorial amongst other national memorials; background to first day cover release relating to Allied POWs in Buchenwald Concentration Camp; his journey with the first day covers tracing route from Fresnes Prison to Buchenwald Concentration Camp, 1995.
REEL 59 Continues: account of attending memorial ceremony for 50th anniversary of liberation of Buchenwald Concentration Camp, 1995; talking to American television crew at ceremony; introduction to Barbara Yeo-Thomas; contact with Canadian veteran association of air force personnel who were imprisoned in Buchenwald Concentration Camp; obtaining report on US Army Air Force bombing of camp.
REEL 60 Continues: question of knowledge of British Government of fate of airmen sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp; background to creation of publication of 'The RAF in Buchenwald KZ'; further research into his capture in France.