Stocker, Edward Ernest (Oral history)

Sound: © IWM (34599)

1348248298
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411147287
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

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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.
1339497139
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.
1695697878
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 apprentice fitter served with No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF at RAF Halton and No 2 School of Technical Training, RAF at RAF Cosford in GB, 1938-1940; NCO served with Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down, GB, 1940; NCO served as flight engineer with 35 and 102 Sqdns, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 9/1941-3/1942; officer served as flight engineer with 35 Sqdn (Pathfinder Force), Bomber Command in GB, 9/1942-8/1943; served with 7 and 582 Sqdns, No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1/1944-5/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background on Isle of Sheppey, GB, 1922-1938: family; early interest in aviation. Aspects of period as apprentice fitter at No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF at RAF Halton and No 2 School of Technical Training, RAF at RAF Cosford in GB, 1938-1940: pattern of training as fitter; issue of gas masks, 9/1938; duration of training; story of being placed on charge on outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of period as fitter with Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down, GB, 1940: promotion to corporal; abortive attempt to obtain flying training; nature of establishment; volunteering to become flight engineer; attending air armament course. Aspects of operations as flight engineer with 35 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 9/1941-12/1941: background to joining squadron; role as flight engineer; problem with engines on early marks of Handley Page Halifax; question on fuel consumption during operation to Nuremberg, Germany. REEL 2 Continues: story of nursing aircraft back from Nuremberg, Germany and surviving crash landing, 10/1941. Aspects of operations as flight engineer with 102 Sqdn, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1/1942-3/1942: posting to squadron at RAF Dalton, 1/1942; background to volunteering for Pathfinders. Aspects of operations as flight engineer with 35 Sqdn,(Pathfinder Force), Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 9/1942-8/1943: joining squadron, 9/1942; description of Pathfinder Force work; night fighter attack on aircraft; duration of tours and training duties after tour. Aspects of operations as flight engineer with 7 Sqdn, No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group, RAF in GB, 1/1944-4/1944: background to posting to squadron, 1/1944; opinion of Avro Lancaster in comparison with Handley Page Halifax; work as bomb aimer; degree of danger in training squadrons. REEL 3 Continues: briefing and preparations for flight; question of aircrew urinating on aircraft wheels; amusing story of driving lorry for first time; incident of female driver placing crew bus too close to aircraft; flight engineers preparations in aircraft and role during aircraft's take off; how Handley Page Halifax was prone to glycol leaks; threat from German night fighters. Aspects of operations as flight engineer with 582 Sqdn, No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 4/1944-5/1945: daylight operations over France, 7/1944; joining squadron, 4/1944; opeating with master bomber during raid on French airfield, 6/1944; role of master bomber; squadron's use of Oboe Navigation aid. REEL 4 Continues: character of bomb run; story of post-war tour of Brazil, 6/1945; attitude towards bombing of Berlin, Germany; question of creep back during raids; coning of aircraft by searchlights; threat of night fighters; relations with ground crew; Americans serving with RAF; attitude towards serving with Bomber Command during Second World War.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Creator: IWM (Production Company)
McDonough, Richard (Recorder)
Stocker, Edward Ernest (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2016-04-22
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 34599

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Stocker, Edward Ernest
Royal Air Force, Sqdn, 35
Royal Air Force, Sqdn, 102
Royal Air Force, Sqdn, 7
Royal Air Force, Sqdn, 582
Royal Air Force, Group, 8 (Pathfinder Force)
Royal Air Force, Group, 4
Royal Air Force, Command, Bomber
Associated subjects

Aircraft: Handley Page Halifax

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