Collection: Oral history

British officer served as pilot with 102, 35 and 617 Sqdns RAF in GB, 1940-1944; awarded Victoria Cross, 1944.

REEL 1: Aspects of period with RAF in GB, 1945-1946: reaction to end of war and planned invasion of Japan, 1945; effect of war and loss of friends; story of deciding to campaign against another world war; reasons for leaving RAF, 1/1946; story of buying Mosquito from RAF; attitude to continuing to fly; reaction to dropping of atomic bomb on Nagasaki, 8/1945; story of taking old man dying of cancer into own house; reason for campaigning for peace; problem of finding purpose in life and start of work with disabled; religious beliefs and philosophy; story of visiting Cheshire Homes in Africa; importance of friendship with Sue Ryder; comparison of own character during and after war; attitude to use of violence and pacifism. Aspects of period in GB, 1917-1939: early interest in aircraft; story of joining Oxford University Air Corps; reaction to Munich Crisis, 1938; applied for permanent commission with RAF while at Oxford. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of operations as pilot with 102, 35 and 617 Sqdns RAF in GB, 1940-1944: completed elementary flying training; reason for not being selected as fighter pilot; practised low flying; reaction to being posted to Bomber Command; attitude to fear; posted to 102 Sqdn at RAF Driffield, 6/1940; first impressions and attitude to sense of tradition in RAF; opinion of first pilot 'Lofty' Long and being allowed to fly over enemy territory during mission; description of first mission attacking bridge at Amiens and role as second pilot; briefing; attitude to overcoming fear; story of being more frightened during air raid in London than in combat; importance of team work and professional attitude; religious beliefs during the war; description of low level practise with 617 Sdqn between missions; question of 617 Sqdn being an elite unit; attitude to civilian casualties caused by bombing; attitude to disarmament and nuclear weapons; description of final mission attacking V3 sites with 'Tall Boy' bombs; story of requesting Mosquitoes from C-in-C Bomber Command for low level marking; method of low level marking of targets; description of V3 weapon and sites; success of mission to destroy all V3 sites; description of role supporting Normandy landings, 6/1944; reaction to being taken off operations and effects of battle fatigue; opinion of essential leadership qualities.