Perry, Alan
Title
Perry, Alan
Description
Ten items. The collection consists of oral history interviews with: a) Allied aircrew who took part in intruder missions over occupied Italy, and: b) civilians recollecting ‘Pippo’, a fabled aircraft what flew at night and bombed with uncanny accuracy wherever it saw lights on.
All interviews were originally recorded by Alan Perry and kindly licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive. This collection has been catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
All interviews were originally recorded by Alan Perry and kindly licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive. This collection has been catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Collection Items
Interview with multiple Pippo eyewitnesses. Two
Multiple testimonies with Pippo eyewitnesses in Northern Italy.
- 02:21 Dorothy Francesca, born 1940, recalls night flights by an American aircraft called Pippo and retell a children’s nursery rhyme about it.
02:26 - 08:35 Maria Onzata, born…
- 02:21 Dorothy Francesca, born 1940, recalls night flights by an American aircraft called Pippo and retell a children’s nursery rhyme about it.
02:26 - 08:35 Maria Onzata, born…
Interview with multiple Pippo eyewitnesses. One
- 4:31 Francesco Fabiasco recalls an aircraft, Pippo, dropping bombs, ‘explosive pens’, supplies and weapons on night flights, but did not witness it personally.
4:31 to 6:32 Giovanna Dalla Pietra remembers aircraft, Pippo, flying during daylight…
4:31 to 6:32 Giovanna Dalla Pietra remembers aircraft, Pippo, flying during daylight…
Interview with Red Simpson
Talnudge 'Red' Simpson, a corporal serving 416th Fighter Squadron, trained in Madison, Wisconsin as a radio operator. After attending radar school, he trained on the Anson in Algeria and later performed patrol operations in Grottaglie, Italy. He…
Interview with Richard Dick Hoover
Richard Dick Hoover was a second lieutenant pilot in 416th Fighter Squadron night fighter unit. He performed one patrol and one intruding operation from Pontedera, Pisa, over the Po river valley. Richard remembers his ability to distinguish the sound…
Interview with Pete Hartman
Pete Hartman carried out Royal Air Force pathfinder operations over Germany from 1942 to 1943. He remembers a female agent, fluent in German and French, who perished after being captured. In August 1943, Pete returned to 335th Fighter Squadron US…
Interview with Mr Morrison
Mr Morrison served in 416th Fighter Squadron. After joining in 1941, he completed officer basic training in Montgomery, Alabama; Avon Park, Florida; and Greenwood, Mississippi. Night fighter training ensued from September 1942 to March 1943. As…
Interview with Mr Hartman
Mr Hartman was a fighter pilot in 416th Fighter Squadron who performed escort and strafing operations. He made 11 attacks during D-Day, including a distraction operation and two escort C-47 transport plane operations, over Omaha and Utah beaches. Mr…
Interview with Karl Leeb
Karl Leeb was a German pilot from Kempten, Bavaria. He completed basic and applicant training at Marienbad and Danzig in 1943. After continuing as an instructor, Karl trained at instrument school near Breslau. He later became a night fighter pilot,…
Interview with Giovanni Poletto and Fortunata Ferrara
Giovanni Poletto and Fortunata Ferrara lived in Sesto San Giovanni, Milan but hailed from Veneto. Giovanni, a motorist from Padua with aviation knowledge, remembers seeing low flying Pippo with distinctive engine sounds, at night after the armistice.…
Interview with Dale Lander
Dale Lander was Mosquito radio navigator. Joining 416th Fighter Squadron, Naples in November 1944, he carried out patrol operations in Pisa and Pontedera; and daylight operations across the Po valley. As second lieutenant, Dale also trained on the…
Collection Tree
- Perry, Alan