Description
Object description
British armourer served with RAF in GB, 1939-1941; trained as pilot with RAF in GB and Southern Rhodesia, 1942-1944; NCO served as pilot with 38 Sqdn, No 334 Wing, Balkan Air Force, RAF in Greece and Italy, 12/1944-5/1945; served as instructor on Link Trainer with RAF in GB, 1946-1947; served as pilot with 297 Sqdn, RAF during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949; various postings as officer with RAF in GB, Kenya, Germany and Nigeria, 1949-1968
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1923-1939: family life on farms; early interest in aviation. Aspects of period as armourer with RAF in GB, 1939-1941: joining RAF, 2/1939; training as and role of armourer; move to RAF Hucknall; first flight in Fairey Battle with 98 Sqdn, RAF; reasons for not going to France with 98 Sqdn, early 1940; involvement with bomb disposal unit; dealing with unexploded bomb at RAF Newton; impressions of Fairey Battle; move to RAF Bramcote; working with Polish personnel at No 18 (P) Operational Training, RAF at RAF Bramcote; volunteering for pilot training. Recollections of training as pilot with RAF in GB and Southern Rhodesia, 1942-1944: selection process; induction at No 1 Aircrew Reception Centre at Lord's Cricket Ground, St Johns Wood, London; accommodation; voyage aboard HMT Arundel Castle from GB to South Africa.
REEL 2 Continues: accommodation in huts; training with Yugoslavian pilots; volunteering for bombers; relations with flying instructor; bottleneck in training programme; flying De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth in Southern Rhodesia; soloing; qualifying as pilot and attending general reconnaissance course; flying Airspeed Oxford; character of advance flying course; voyage aboard SS Highland Chieftain from South Africa to GB via Uruguay; six month delay in being sent back to GB.
REEL 3 Continues: refresher flying course. Recollections of operations as pilot with 38 Sqdn, No 334 Wing, Balkan Air Force, RAF in Greece and Italy, 12/1944-5/1945: journey to Palestine, late 1944; conversion to Vickers Wellington; situation in and transport flights to Greece; picking up agents; flying night-time armed reconnaissance flights in Italy; bombing Italian ports; crew; use of Leigh Light and radar; attacks on Axis coastal shipping; incident when aircraft's bombs were accidentally jettisoned; question of bombing beach rather than target, 4/1945; dangers of landing with bombs on board; degree of threat from German night fighters.
REEL 4 Continues: threat of anti-aircraft fire; weather conditions experienced; accommodation in Italy; second hand story of friend's aircraft taking a hit from anti-aircraft fire over Germany; nature of Vickers Wellington construction; reliability of Vickers Wellington; story of contracting cholera in Palestine; degree of contact with civilians; lack of alcohol available; celebrations at end of Second World War, 8/5/1945; character of squadron personnel; hospitalisation for jaundice and return to GB, 10/1945. Aspects of period as instructor on Link Trainer with RAF in GB, 1946-1947: instructional work on Link Trainer; description of Link Trainer.
REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of period as pilot with 297 Sqdn, Transport Command, RAF during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949: background to converting to Handley Page Hastings; organisation of airlift; use of air corridors; accident at RAF Schleswig; lessons learnt from operating in airlift; duration of flights; loads carried; loading of aircraft and rapid turnover; character of Tegel Airfield; degree of threat from Soviets in air corridor; value of flying in airlift; reliability of Handley Page Hp.67 Hastings C1; effects of coal on electrics; dealing with cold. Recollections of period as pilot with RAF in GB, Kenya, Germany and Nigeria, 1949-1968: conversion onto Douglas Dakota; commissioning, 1950; role as glider instructor.
REEL 6 Continues: gliding experience in RAF; method of marking glider competitions; posting as instructor to RAF Detling; communications pilot work in Kenya, 1956-1959; flying conditions in Kenya; living conditions in Kenya; lack of threat from Mau Mau; posting to Germany; nature of service in Nigeria; flights into Congo.
REEL 7 Continues: period with RAF Transport Command including long haul flights; navigation error in East Africa; second navigation error over Pacific; work as flight planning officer including dealing with royal flights; posting to Singapore, Malaya; opinion of Hawker Siddeley Andover; attitude towards service with RAF.