Sound Recording, West Yorkshire

Description

[Collector announcement]; Ben Pearce, recorded in Leeds on the 16 February 1981 [conclusion of interview which starts on tape LAVC/SRE/A601]; talks about bombers flying in formation, attacking Sumatran oil fields; describes flying to the target area, the landscape, other planes involved, reassembling after attack, personal experience/observations of such attacks; joining the Pacific Fleet for attack on Okinawa; aerodrome bombings; kamikaze attack; anecdotes re. rockets, planes; raid on Ishigaki airfield; plane hit and Observer injured; administering first aid; hospitalisation; psychological evaluation; return home; job with the Demobilisation Centre; Air Gunners' Association - aims and achievements, links with related Associations and the Territorial Army in Leeds; comradeship. [Tr. 1] [Collector announcement]; Jim Courtis, recorded at home in Leeds on the 16 February 1981; gives biographical details; working in the leather trade during the Depression; joining the Royal Air Force in 1940, based in Blackpool, training in Wiltshire; becoming a qualified Wireless Operator; Observer course in Prestwick; Air Gunners' course, Evanton; rank of sergeant; training at Cranwell; with the 612 squadron in Reykjavik; anti-British feelings in Iceland; operational flights; describes the Whitley plane; crew; bombing operations over France; posted to Wick - anecdotes re. operations; life in Wick; squadron from New Zealand; posted to ?; operations in the Bay of Biscay; posted to ?; flying in Wellington; transfer to Bomber Command, Bournemouth; leave; exercises; crash; operations over France; posted to Harwell; Operation Tonga - Dwight Eisenhower's briefing; D-Day operations; towing gliders; posted to Shropshire, flying Stirling aeroplanes; training new pilots in Derby; photographing Yorkshire airfields; demobilisation, February 1946; the Air Gunners' Association; post-war work; events and aims of the Air Gunners' Association; comradeship; keeping in contact; wartime friendships. [Tr. 2] 4 of 6. Preliminary Interview. Further sound recordings on tapes LAVC/SRE/A600 -A603.

Metadata

Identifier tn6z8ctp
IRN 414653
Class Mark LAVC/SRE/A602
Level Item
Type of Record Archives - ISAD(G)
Peristent Link http://prototype1.library.leeds.ac.uk/tn6z8ctp
Collection(s) Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Category Archive
Parent Record Audiotape Sound Recordings
Date 16 February 1981
Size and Medium 1 audiocassette., Duration: 78' 24".

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