Interview with Alan "Jock" Richardson. One

Interview with Alan "Jock" Richardson. One

Jock begins the interview with joining up and first flying on 201 Squadron, with flying boats from Sullom Voe. He then, briefly, covers training as wireless operator/air gunner. He was posted to 38 Squadron Wellingtons in July 1940 at RAF Marham and flew 16 operations as nose gunner. Jock mentions some incidents during operations to Hamm, Hamburg and Berlin, including forced landings and bringing bombs back when unable to attack, which sometimes fell off and exploded after landing. He includes an account of flying into a balloon barrage. He talks about the three pilots he flew with. Jock volunteered to go to Malta and flew operations against Italian and North African targets in Wellingtons. He mentions incidents on several operations. He was injured (blinded) in an enemy bombing attack on an RAF airfield and hospitalised in Egypt. Jock was transferred to 70 OTU flying Blenheims in Egypt and the Kenya. He then went to the far east and joined 211 Squadron flying Blenheims from Java, against the Japanese.He was evacuated before the loss of Java and Singapore and, eventually, went back to India where he flew many types on 308 MU. Jock then went to Southern Rhodesia to train as a pilot, graduating in 1945. Due to the lack of opportunity back in England, he volunteers for a flight engineers' course and flies in this role on Lancasters. He eventually refreshes as a pilot and ends up as a Shackleton pilot on 120 Squadron.

2013-07-29

01:09:11 audio recording

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SBondS-RichardsonAv10014

SB: Yeah. So it’s easier for me, John if I can just let the tape recorder run.
AR: Sure. Sure. Sure.
SB: So I’m interested in everything but obviously at the moment the focus is Wellington.
AR: Yeah.
SB: So, can you just talk me through? When did you join up? Let’s start with that.
AR: ’39.
SB: And you were a wireless operator. Correct?
AR: Yes. Yes.
SB: Right.
AR: Wop/a.g.
SB: Yeah. So, where did you train?
AR: Wireless, Yatesbury.
SB: Oh yes.
AR: Gunnery [pause] I can’t remember.
SB: Ok. So, I think it was, was it 9 Squadron you eventually went to? Was that your first squadron?
AR: No. No.
SB: No.
AR: First squadron was 201, Flying Boats.
SB: Ah. What sort of Flying Boat?
AR: Saro Londons.
SB: Oh right.
AR: Very old.
SB: Yes.
AR: Biplanes.
SB: Yes, indeed.
AR: Shetlands.
SB: Right. Was that Sullom Voe?
AR: Sorry?
SB: Sullom Voe?
AR: Yes.
SB: Right. Yeah.
AR: How did you know that?
SB: Well, I just [laughs]
AR: Very good.
SB: It’s in there somewhere.
AR: Yes. Sullom Voe. And from there I was still a w/op a.g then.
SB: Yeah.
AR: From there I went to my pilot’s course.
SB: Right.
AR: To, I have to think. Sorry.
SB: That’s alright. It’ll be in the book won’t it?
AR: It’ll be in the book. Yeah. I don’t know which is which. I think this is it.
Other 1: Right.
AR: Pilot’s course.
SB: Well, we’ve got here after Sullom Voe you’ve got Andover and then Penrhos Bombing and Gunnery School.
AR: Aye. That’s bombing and gunnery. Yes.
SB: Right. Bassingbourn OTU.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Right.
AR: I have to think.
SB: Ok. Sure. Yes.
AR: I’m sorry.
SB: Well, that’s alright. We can come back to it. Can we, can we just stick with 201 for a minute?
AR: Ah.
SB: You’ve got it.
AR: I’ve got it.
SB: Right.
AR: That was my initial pilot. So —
SB: And that was where? Do you remember?
AR: I’m trying to find that out [pause] Gosh. Gosh. I can remember him too.
SB: Well, we’ll come back to that. It’s ok.
AR: It was abroad.
SB: Oh, in Canada was it or —
AR: Rhodesia.
SB: Rhodesia. Ah right.
AR: Yeah. Yes, because I went from India to Rhodesia to do the pilot’s course.
SB: Right. Ok.
AR: I’m sorry.
SB: No. No. That’s fine.
AR: My service life is very mixed up.
SB: Can I, before we move on —
AR: Yes.
SB: To Wimpies, can we just stick with 201 Sullom Voe for a little while.
AR: 201, Flying Boats.
SB: Yes. How long were you on there, on that Squadron and what, what sort of flying were you doing?
AR: Not a lot. I was, I think I was an AC2 or an AC1 or something and I did a lot of what we called sheep pen. You lived in a sheep pen on the shore and we passed the messages by Aldis believe it or not. We didn’t have any telephone.
SB: Right.
AR: And the ship was called the Manela. Her Majesty’s Troop Ship Manela and that was the Headquarters of the Flying Boat Unit 201.
SB: 201.
AR: Yes.
SB: Yeah. Yeah.
AR: Yeah. Go on.
SB: Ok. And what did you think of the flying boats? Was it —
AR: Oh, Flying Boats. I didn’t have an awful lot to do with them. What I remember is mainly being bloody cold and wet. That was the most important thing.
SB: Yes. Right.
AR: The Sunderlands were different. They were big cabins.
SB: Sure.
AR: But the Saro Londons were wet, miserable.
SB: So then you went for pilot training after that. Is that right?
AR: Yes. I went.
SB: To Rhodesia.
AR: Christ. Wait a minute. From the Shetlands. I can’t remember where I went from the Shetlands.
SB: Well, you’ve got here Andover and Penrhos then Bassingbourn OTU. That would have been Wimpies.
AR: I’m lost.
SB: Ok.
AR: Give me that starting point again.
SB: Well, after the Shetlands you’ve got Andover.
AR: Andover.
SB: And then Penrhos Bombing and Gunnery School.
AR: That still has to be w/op a.g.
SB: Ok. The next one is Bassingbourn OTU.
AR: I think that’s still w/op a.g.
SB: Right. And after that we have 38 Squadron, Marham.
AR: I was posted to operations.
SB: Right. Ok. Now, that was [pause] when would that have been? Do you recall?
AR: Just looking to see if I can find something [pause - pages turning]
SB: Ah, now I’ve found where you were on, I’ve got the, just going back I’ve got the Bombing and Gunnery School here.
AR: Yeah.
SB: That was April and May 1940.
AR: Yes.
SB: Right. And then we’ve, ah here we are.
AR: Does it say where that was again?
SB: Penrhos.
AR: Penrhos.
SB: Right.
AR: North Wales.
SB: Yes. And now we’ve got Bassingbourn OTU.
AR: Yes. That’s right.
SB: Wellingtons. Right. April 1940.
AR: Yeah.
SB: And that goes through to —
AR: That’s from there.
SB: June 1940.
AR: Well, that’s ops.
SB: Yes. Right. So, June. April to June 1940 at Bassingbourn.
AR: Yeah.
SB: On 11 OTU [pause] and then July 1940, 38 Squadron.
AR: That’s right.
SB: Right. Ok.
AR: Marham.
SB: Marham.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Just looking at, let’s just see how long you go on that for. Oh, quite a while. Did you, did you do a full tour on 38? Do you recall?
AR: I think so. I can’t remember off hand but I did certainly [pause] oh, I did a lot.
SB: Well, you were there. Ah, ok. Well, you were there from July 1940 until October 1940 and let’s see you did one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. Looks like sixteen. Sixteen ops.
AR: I think something like that.
SB: Right.
AR: Then I did the other half in Malta.
SB: Right. Ok. Now, I see that you did [pause] where was I? I saw it just now. Your first op was Hamm. Then Hamburg. Now, you’ve got one here —
AR: Yeah.
SB: August 1940. Attacked Bernburg. Dive bombed two thousand feet and force landed in Kent. That sounds quite an interesting —
AR: That’s right. What was the, who was the pilot?
SB: Lewin. Sergeant Lewin.
AR: Aye. Yeah. He was a mad bugger.
SB: Was he?
AR: He was a very good pilot but mad. Yeah. We dive bombed that place. I can’t remember if we got hit or not but we force landed. What does it say?
SB: In Kent it says.
AR: Yeah. That’s right. And then I think the next one shows that we flew back —
SB: Ah, ok. From West Malling.
AR: Yeah. That’s right.
SB: Right. What brought about the forced landing?
AR: Sorry. I can’t remember. Something. Something wrong with the aircraft.
SB: Right. Right.
AR: I can’t remember what it was.
SB: I mean, I noticed already that you’ve had two or three ops with engine trouble which was pretty common I think.
AR: Oh, common in those days.
SB: Yeah. Because you were on Mark, Mark 1 Wimpies here, aren’t you?
AR: Sorry.
SB: Mark 1 Wimpies.
AR: I’m not sure. Does it say?
SB: Yeah. Very early Wellingtons.
AR: Yeah. It would be.
SB: Yes.
AR: Mark 1. Yes.
SB: Yeah. Then moving on we’ve got one here where you brought the bombs back. I guess that might have been weather.
AR: That was terrible. We had to do that.
SB: Oh right.
AR: We hated it.
SB: Oh, yeah. I’ll bet. Now —
AR: In the end of course we didn’t bring them back.
SB: No, you jettisoned them.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Yeah. Now, September 1940. 9th of September 1940. Berlin.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Now, that’s —
AR: Does it say I got there.
SB: It says turned back. Attacked Barnesfeldt.
AR: Ah, that’s right. I forget why we turned back. There was a reason and we attacked Barnsfeldt which was a fighter ‘drome.
SB: Right. Ok. And what did you think when you knew the target was intended to be Berlin? Was that a bit of a sharp intake of breath or was it just —
AR: No. Not really.
SB: No.
AR: No. Because at that time Berlin hadn’t been attacked much. So they didn’t know how well it was defended. Nobody knew that.
SB: Ah, right.
AR: In fact, I doubt if many of our bomber aircraft could have got to Berlin.
SB: Right.
AR: Because the legs weren’t going very well in those days. So, I’ve forgotten what you asked me.
SB: Well, just what you thought when you knew the target was Berlin. Was it just [unclear]
AR: Oh, great stuff. Yeah. We all thought it was wonderful. Yes. Yes.
SB: Oh right.
AR: We didn’t get there.
SB: No. Do you, why did you turn back? Do you remember?
AR: I’ve forgotten.
SB: No.
AR: Does it, it doesn’t say.
SB: It just says you turned back and attacked an alternative target. So maybe it was weather related perhaps.
AR: It must have been weather. Yeah. Because if you go for another target —
Other: I always thought you said it was weather, daddy. Sorry to interrupt. I thought you said it was weather.
AR: Sorry?
Other: I thought you said it was weather.
AR: It probably was. Yes.
Other 1: Yeah. I suppose that wouldn’t have necessarily affected everyone.
AR: If you attacked another target it means it was weather in the first place.
Other 1: Yeah. Right.
SB: Just looking at the pilots you flew with.
AR: Yeah.
SB: On your tour you had Sergeant Studd for quite a while early on.
AR: He was a very good pilot.
SB: Yeah. Then you changed to Sergeant Lewin who you thought was a bit mad.
AR: Oh yes, and I met him later and he was a flight lieu or a Squadron leader.
SB: Oh right.
AR: Lewin was a very fine pilot.
SB: And then you changed again to it seems to be a Pilot Officer Robinson.
AR: That was, we called him Schoolboy. He looked like a Schoolboy. He was, what rank was he there?
SB: Pilot officer.
AR: Yeah, and he was he wasn’t very big and he looked like a Schoolboy. They called him Schoolboy but he was a bloody good pilot.
SB: Was he? Yeah.
AR: Oh yeah.
SB: Yeah.
AR: I remember something unusual about him. He used to have a cushion he brought to put at his back. Not to sit on. At his back.
SB: Right.
AR: So that he could reach the pedals.
SB: Oh right.
AR: That’s how bad it was in those days. They didn’t adjust seats for you. Schoolboy.
SB: Schoolboy. Now, this sounds a bit hairy. 24th of September.
AR: Yeah. Who’s that?
SB: With Pilot Officer Robinson flew into balloon barrage.
AR: That was hellish. How long was that flight?
SB: That was [pause] it doesn’t actually say. It’s got the return flight in the morning two hours. Two hours. But it doesn’t actually say how long that —
AR: No. No. That’s, that’s the flight there.
SB: Yeah. Two hours twenty five. Right. So, what happened there?
AR: I don’t know how that happened. That was a balloon barrage I think that wasn’t marked.
SB: Ah.
AR: What does it actually say there?
SB: It says, “Flew into balloon barrage. Landed Andover ok.”
AR: That’s right. We were obviously going on a raid someplace.
SB: Yeah.
AR: And we hit these. The balloons used to drag loose and occasionally you would come across a balloon floating. It was bloody horrible and I think we must have hit one of those. The [Horsas]. I can’t remember much about it.
SB: Right. Ok.
AR: I don’t remember hellish much about any of these.
SB: Then your last two on 38.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Gelsenkirchen.
AR: Oh yes.
SB: “Thick cloud. Returned to Ostend —
AR: That’s right.
SB: And bombed the docks.”
AR: Yeah. Yeah. Gelsenkirchen.
SB: And your last one. Ruhr. Target not located. Ten tenths cloud.
AR: Did we just come back? How long was that one?
SB: Four hours thirty.
AR: We must have just returned. Yes. You see in those days if you couldn’t get your target you brought your bombs back.
SB: Yeah.
AR: And you had to land with the buggers on and sometimes on the short trips we had as many as fourteen two hundred and fifty pounders.
SB: Wow. Yes.
AR: And there’s, there’s some aircraft came back, landed and blew up.
SB: Yes.
AR: Unfortunately.
SB: Yes, in fact as you mention that a friend of mine.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Was on 99 Squadron.
AR: Yeah.
SB: At Mildenhall. Newmarket.
AR: Yes.
SB: Ground crew. Still around. And he was telling me exactly that but they had an aircraft that brought its bombs back and when they opened the bomb doors to take the bombs out —
AR: Yeah.
SB: One fell out and blew up and that was killed —
AR: It happened quite a bit actually.
SB: What did you think of the Wellington?
AR: Oh, a good aircraft. You could shoot it to pieces and it still flew. It was fabric.
SB: Yeah. Yeah.
AR: Just a geodetic, you know.
SB: Yes. Yeah.
AR: Fabric, and it, a normal aircraft hit with a good shot would probably twist the mainframe and everything. Probably knock it down. But not the Wellington.
SB: Right.
AR: The shot just went through and the geodetics just held.
SB: Yes.
AR: A wonderful aircraft.
SB: Yeah. Yeah.
AR: It was slow though.
SB: Well, yes. Yes. Right. About halfway through your tour then you get sent off to 148 Squadron.
AR: Yes. I have to say that was —
SB: October 1940.
AR: Yeah.
SB: You flew out from Marham to Malta.
AR: Oh yes. Yes. When was that, sorry?
SB: That was the 29th of October 1940.
AR: Yeah.
SB: And then the 1st of November you were on ops to Naples.
AR: Ah, that’s right. This was a special thing.
SB: Right.
AR: I think they asked for volunteers. I think they asked for volunteers to go out for a month to Malta.
SB: Right.
AR: Because they wanted to kid the Germans and the Italians that we could bomb them from England.
SB: Right.
AR: It was all very hush hush. And unfortunately, when we got there we eventually found that we were stuck there.
SB: Wow. Ok.
AR: And we joined, which Squadron does that say?
SB: 148.
AR: Yeah. 148 Squadron.
SB: Right. Ok.
AR: Trusty.
SB: Now, you’ve got an op here December, 14th of December 1940 with Pilot Officer Day and Sergeant Dalton as second dickie.
AR: That’s Schoolboy Day, yeah.
SB: Right. Ops against enemy fleet at Naples. Direct hit on jetty and battleship.
AR: Yes. I remember that.
SB: Yeah.
AR: That was a good one. How long was that?
SB: Five hours fifteen.
AR: Five fifteen.
SB: Five fifteen.
AR: Yeah. Yeah.
SB: Right. The next one we’ve got is ops against enemy aerodrome at Castel Benito.
AR: Oh, that was a bugger.
SB: Attacks at two hundred feet.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Wow. That sounds pretty exciting.
AR: That was, that was awful.
SB: Yeah.
AR: But the fact is that I don’t know if it says there the Italians had their aircraft laid out. They didn’t bother. They just laid them out you know and you could go down to low level and machine gun them all the way along. That’s what we did. Now, what does it say there?
SB: It says, “Attacks at two hundred feet.”
AR: Yes.
SB: “Machine gunned the planes.” What you were just saying.
AR: Yeah.
SB: “Five bullet holes in our plane.”
AR: Yeah, we got hit a bit here. Not very much. It was very good. That was quite exciting.
SB: It [laughs] it sounds it.
AR: Yeah.
SB: And then we’ve got the enemy fleet at Naples again.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Three attempts. Dive attacked at five thousand feet. Hit the dockside.
AR: Yeah. That was a bugger that was. That was a tough one.
SB: I should imagine there was a fair bit of flak coming up at you wasn’t there?
AR: Oh, yes. It was terrible. Terrible. Naples was, was actually where the Italian fleet was.
SB: Yes.
AR: And so what does it say? What were we were attacking?
SB: Enemy fleet at Naples.
AR: Oh yes. It was just the enemy fleet. It was just to, to gall them. That was hellish. Yes.
SB: So I imagine the, the flak was coming up from the ships and the shore was it?
AR: Ships and shore.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Unfortunately, the ships were sitting say here. Right.
SB: Right.
AR: And there’s the great big bay.
SB: Yes.
AR: And the fire was coming up from each side so when we were there we were getting it from three sides. It wasn’t all that accurate. It was what we called [pause] not Flying Angels. Christ. We called them something. I forget what it was but there were, they were like strings of coloured onions. Different colours.
SB: Oh yes.
AR: That moved about. Flaming Onions.
SB: Flaming Onions. Right.
AR: That’s what we called them.
SB: Right.
AR: And they flew. You could see them.
SB: Yeah.
AR: It didn’t help you much because they still hit you but you could see them at least on either side.
SB: Yes. Yeah. Oh, right.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Right. Moving along. What have we got now?
AR: You could actually see these bloody things.
SB: Really?
AR: Gosh, yeah. I can. For some reason we could see the, the shore and everything.
SB: Right.
AR: The houses were all white and everything of course. So if you had a bit of moonlight you could see all the buildings.
SB: Did you get any enemy fighters taking an interest in you or was it always just flak?
AR: Not at that time.
SB: Not at that time. Ok.
AR: Yeah. We got night bombers then.
SB: Right. Ok. Well, this sounds interesting. You’ve got a WT test. Flying to ten thousand feet and dived at three hundred and ten miles an hour.
AR: Yes.
SB: For six thousand feet.
AR: What else does it say there?
SB: Saw Mount Etna. Low flying ok. Fifty five minutes.
AR: Yes. That’s right. That was who was that?
SB: Dalton.
AR: Oh, he was a stupid. He was a mad bugger. Yeah. He was a good pilot but he was mad.
SB: What was the idea of doing that? Do you remember?
AR: I haven’t the faintest idea.
SB: No. No.
AR: I didn’t have any say in the matter.
SB: Right. Then the docks at Tripoli.
AR: Yes.
SB: Two, two or three against there. Oh, against Power Station. Power Station, Tripoli. Power Station.
AR: Yes.
SB: Customs houses and oil farm.
AR: Yes. That was, that was a great big installation in Tripoli. Yes. Well, you couldn’t miss it because there was desert and Tripoli.
SB: Right. Right. Oh, here we go again. Dive bombed at three hundred and ten mph to one thousand feet over the town of Tripoli.
AR: Yes. Yes. What, what was the target?
SB: Power Station at Tripoli.
AR: Yeah. That’s right.
SB: Yeah.
AR: There was a Power Station at Tripoli.
SB: That was with Pilot Officer Day.
AR: Yeah.
SB: As first pilot.
AR: The Army I remember asked us to do that at the briefing. They wanted, or was that the Navy? The Navy. The Navy wanted us to put out the Power Station.
SB: Right.
AR: If we could because they wanted to go in and do something. I don’t know what that was.
SB: Right. Right. Ok. Oh, then back to the enemy fleet at Naples again.
AR: Yeah. We did a lot of that.
SB: Palermo. Attacking cruisers and shipping in the docks at Palermo.
AR: That was, that was a real bugger that was. Yeah.
Now we’ve got enemy cruisers at Messina. Two sticks of three times five hundred pounders. Hit score both times.
Yeah. That’s right. Messina. I can see that place too. Messina.
SB: Oh, and during that you had an electrical system failure.
AR: Oh, yes. Yes. I remember that. I think we got hit. We didn’t realise it at the time but the electrical system failed. We still got back and landed. You see we were coming back in daylight in those days.
SB: Yes. Oh, right. Ok.
AR: Yeah. Yes. You know. At that time.
SB: Back to Catania again on the aerodrome. Hits on the hangars.
AR: That was our, the place we hated because that’s where the German, first of all it was just the Italians. We didn’t worry a lot about them their fighters tended to come up and wave their wings at you and say, you know. But not the Germans. The Germans were bastards actually and they came to Catania.
SB: Right.
AR: And then we started to go and bomb it. Catania. What does it say there?
SB: It says, “Op against enemy drome at Catania. Hits on hangars. Fires started in dispersal area. Anti-aircraft good. ‘Drome defended and used by Germans.
AR: Yeah. It was. It was.
SB: Then we’ve got, “Comiso. Weather unfit. Attacked Syracuse. Large explosions for seven minutes.”
AR: Oh. That was a cracker that was. Did you say Syracuse?
SB: Syracuse.
AR: How long was that trip?
SB: Two and a half hours.
AR: That was right. A short one. We didn’t know what it was. We just —
SB: Right.
AR: Attacked it.
SB: Right.
AR: And suddenly it all blew up. It was incredible. We must have hit an explosive —
SB: It says, “Fires left burning. Very good results.”
AR: Yeah.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Sounds horrible but it’s true.
SB: Well, that’s war isn’t it?
AR: Yeah.
SB: What have we got here? Back to Naples again. Railway Station and railway yards.
AR: Yes.
SB: Oh, red lava stream down Mount Vesuvius.
AR: That was wonderful. I’d often wondered when we went on the other raids if we’d ever see anything of Vesuvius you know and on this one the lava was coming over the edge.
SB: Oh right. Because it had a big eruption in ’44 didn’t it? So this is —
AR: I can’t remember.
SB: Yes. This may be leading up to that.
AR: Oh, yes. It may well have been. Yes. Yes.
SB: Ah, this is interesting. We’ve now gone from Luqa to Heliopolis.
AR: From where?
SB: From Luqa, Malta.
AR: Oh yes. Yes.
SB: To Heliopolis.
AR: Yes.
SB: Now, invalided from Malta. Invalided from Malta.
AR: How Luqa to —
SB: You had an accident on the 28th of January ’41.
Other 1: This is —
AR: Yeah.
Other 1: This is when your block got bombed.
AR: What?
Other 1: This is when your block got bombed. When, when you got back from a trip and you were in your block.
AR: Oh yeah.
Other 1: You went to the toilet.
AR: Yes.
Other 1: Are you alright with this?
AR: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Other 1: You’re sure.
AR: Yes.
Other 1: Ok.
AR: Yes. You’re quite right. I came back from a trip.
SB: Right.
AR: And went to my billet. I went to the toilet and the Jerries came in and bombed all the hill and I was in the toilet. It blew out the side of the building and all kinds, it was in a hell of a state.
SB: Oh God.
AR: What else does it say there?
SB: It says, “Left Malta as a passenger in a hurry having been made u/s by Jerry dive bomber.”
AR: Yes. That’s right. I was whatever that is that bomb dropped.
SB: Right. That must have been Luqa then. Malta. Was it?
AR: It must have been.
SB: It must have been.
AR: Yes. Yes. It had to be Luqa.
SB: Yes. Oh, right.
AR: Yeah. Yeah.
Other 1: You were blinded.
SB: Were you?
AR: Sorry?
Other 1: You were blinded.
AR: Grounded?
Other 1: Blinded dad.
AR: Oh yes. I was. I’m sorry.
Other 1: We’ve got photos of these.
SB: Ok.
AR: I was shell shocked obviously and blinded and that’s when they sent me to —
SB: Heliopolis.
AR: Heliopolis.
Other 1: Yes. That’s right.
SB: Right.
AR: I went to the hospital there. 26th General. You wouldn’t believe it but one of the sisters that came to look after me was a girl from my hometown.
SB: Really?
AR: Harriet Lowe. Incredible.
SB: It is.
AR: I remember when she came to my bed. I wasn’t seeing very well and she came to my bed and she said, ‘Is that just Richardson?’ ‘Yes. Yes.’ ‘Now, where are you from?’ And I said, ‘You’ve got a Scottish accent.’ She said, ‘Yes. I am from Scotland.’ I said ‘Whereabouts?’ She said, ‘Blairgowrie.’ I said, ‘Jesus Christ, that’s where I’m from.’ And she said, ‘Richardson.’ She said, ‘I’m, my name is Lowe. Harriet Lowe.’ And I never forgot that.
Other 1: Presumably you couldn’t see her at the time, daddy.
AR: Sorry?
Other 1: Presumably you couldn’t see her at the time.
AR: Well, I couldn’t see her very clearly.
SB: No. Right.
Other 1: He was blinded for some weeks and then very fortunately got his eyesight back.
AR: I wouldn’t have known her in any case because she was a good bit older than me.
SB: Oh, right. Right. Well.
AR: Harriet Lowe. And one, after the war finished we came back I went and saw her again. Yeah.
SB: Well, now obviously you’ve now recovered from that because we jumped forward to June ’41.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Blenheims.
AR: Yeah. How the hell did that happen? What was the last?
SB: The last entry before that was the 12th of February ’41.
AR: ’41.
SB: When you were flown out to Heliopolis.
AR: Ah. Yes.
SB: And then the next entry is the 8th of June ’41 when you start flying Blenheims at 70 OTU Ismailia.
AR: Ismailia.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Yes. Yes. I was, I was in a hospital someplace. I don’t know where it was. Does it say in there?
Other 1: I think you went to hospital in Cairo didn’t you daddy?
AR: Sorry?
SB: Hospital in Cairo it would have been would it?
Other 1: I think —
AR: Oh, was it in Cairo.
Other 1: I think it was in Cairo.
SB: Yes.
AR: 26th General.
Other 1: And Steve, I’m sorry that’s where I said that there are some gaps.
SB: Yes. That’s fine. That’s fine. No.
Other 1: Yeah.
SB: That’s fine.
AR: 26 General was the —
SB: Right.
AR: Name of the hospital.
SB: Right. Ok. Ok.
AR: I think.
SB: Ok, but then, but then you find yourself on Blenheims.
AR: Yeah. That was a long time because I was quite a long time in that rest home.
SB: Yes, it’s about a four months gap.
AR: Yes. That’s right.
SB: Yes.
AR: And then I got fed up of being there and I asked if I could go back to flying. What did you say I went to?
SB: 70 OTU.
AR: Yes.
SB: Ismailia. On Blenheims.
AR: Oh yeah. Ismailia.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Yeah. That’s right. And I, what aircraft was that?
SB: Blenheims.
AR: Blenheims. Yes.
SB: Yeah.
AR: That’s right.
SB: And —
AR: And I just flew there and then it moved down to Kenya.
SB: Right. Yes. So —
AR: I think.
SB: Yes. Nakuru. Is that right?
AR: That’s right. Nakuru.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Yes, that’s right.
SB: So —
AR: I think that’s why they put me on there. To get me down to —
SB: Right.
AR: Yeah. I remember they said they had to get me away from the, any kind of fighting zone.
SB: Right. Right. Ok.
AR: Where there might be bombs there.
SB: Yeah. So that all goes on. Oh, then a lot of Oxford flying as well.
AR: Yes. Yes.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Yes, that was quite good. Oh. That was a peaceful time.
SB: I’ll bet it was. Yes. Yeah.
AR: Good weather. A nice country. Lovely. I don’t know what came after that.
SB: Now, we are into the start of 1942. You got a trip in an Empire Flying Boat as a passenger.
AR: Yeah.
SB: From Uganda to through Sudan and Cairo.
AR: Oh, that’s going up to join 211 Squadron.
SB: Ah. Oh yes. Right. Ok. So joined 211. Blenheims still.
AR: Yeah.
SB: January ’42.
AR: Yeah, that’s correct. They were asking. They asked us for, they asked for volunteers to go up to, go to the Far East.
SB: Oh, right. Ok. Oh, yes and then your —
AR: And I stupidly volunteered.
SB: So then you’re going out via Iraq and Sharjah, Karachi.
AR: Yes, that’s right.
SB: Allahabad. Ending up in —
AR: That should be Pilot Officer Coughlan, is it?
SB: It is. Yes
AR: That’s —
SB: Coughlan. Yeah.
AR: He was a marvellous pilot.
SB: Really. Yeah.
AR: Oh crikey. Ex-sergeant. Commissioned. And he could make a Blenheim stand on its tail.
SB: Really?
AR: If it wasn’t for his flying on operations I wouldn’t be here today.
SB: Really?
AR: He could make a Blenheim stand anywhere and he could, he would say to you, ‘Where are the fighters?’ So if you told him starboard quarter he would then, oh I don’t know how he did it turn it like this so I had them on the beam and you could blast them anywhere. I don’t know how many we shot. I got two definite.
SB: Did you?
AR: Oh yeah. I got two chaps but I don’t know how many I actually got.
SB: Right.
AR: You never know that.
SB: Well, let’s have a look. You’ve got, we’re in February ’42. You’re a fighter escort for a convoy.
AR: Yes.
SB: Saw six Jap bombers, nine fighters.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Attacked by one fighter. Attacked again by two fighters. Ok.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Bombing and strafing Japanese convoy.
AR: Yeah. That’s right. I remember that. That was tough.
SB: Oh, you had a hangup.
AR: I can’t remember.
SB: During, during that. It says two hits on transport. Hang up. Dropped. Blew in camera hatch and whole port wing in two places.
AR: I should remember that. Yeah, I just remember that vaguely. What does it say?
SB: Right. You were attacking a Japanese convoy and landing parties in the Palembang River and estuary.
AR: Yes. That’s right.
SB: Attacked at zero feet.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Dived from four thousand feet. One near miss. Two hits on transport.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Hang up instantaneous. Dropped. Blew in camera hatch and whole port wing in two places.
AR: Yes, that’s right. I remember it. Yeah. Great holes in the wing. We got back.
SB: Yeah. Evacuated from Sumatra. Brought five passengers out. Lost everything. Broke. Obviously got out in an almighty hurry.
AR: That was horrible.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Absolutely horrible. We had nothing. We came out in the [unclear] does it say there? That was the name of the ship I think.
SB: Oh Yes. Yes. Yes.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Oh hang, yes. That’s right. Yes. Yeah.
AR: It was just a little thing. I think because it was so small the Japs didn’t bother us. They were sitting outside the estuary and just blowing up all the shipping going out but our boat was so small I think they didn’t bother with it.
SB: Oh, right. Right.
AR: I don’t know. You didn’t query those things in those days. You —
SB: No. I guess not.
AR: You just accepted them. What’s that bit of paper?
SB: Well, this is about February the 16th. Obviously ’42 Singapore surrenders. Japs capture Palembang, Sumatra where you’ve just evacuated from.
AR: Yeah. That’s just in there to remind me.
SB: Yeah. You’ve got one here. 19th of February raided Palembang. Trying to get your own back obviously
AR: Yeah.
SB: Bomb bursts near enemy aircraft. Attacked by seven Jap fighters.
AR: Oh, that was hellish.
SB: Attacked continuously for forty minutes.
AR: Yeah. That was terrible.
SB: Shot down an ME 109.
AR: The Japs had 109s.
SB: Right. Right. Flak smoke covering his engine and fuselage. Returned undamaged.
AR: Gosh, I can remember that clearly. That was terrible.
SB: Forty minutes. Wow.
AR: Yes. Yes, it was. It was hellish. By that time remember I was a fairly experienced gunner.
SB: Sure.
AR: So I could fire. I knew what I was shooting at.
SB: Absolutely.
AR: Probably enough to we used to load up with quite a bit of tracer. That used to keep the Japs off. They didn’t like the tracer.
SB: Right. Oh really?
AR: Yeah. The Germans didn’t bother with it but the Japs didn’t like the tracer. I don’t know why. They just didn’t like it.
SB: Did they not have tracer? Did they not?
AR: Oh, they had. They didn’t use it much.
SB: They didn’t.
AR: No. No.
SB: Oh.
AR: No. Not the fighters anyhow.
SB: Now, where are we? Allahabad.
AR: Oh, that’s, that’s civil flying. That’s after I got back to India.
SB: Right. Oh. Ok. Yes.
AR: Yes. I’m trying to remember about that now.
SB: Well, there’s one. There’s an interesting one here if I may. 18th of August.
AR: Yeah.
SB: “Reconnaissance for hostile natives destroying railways.”
AR: Yeah. That’s right. Did quite a bit of that actually.
SB: Oh.
AR: Yeah. It was when there was the uprising at Central Plains and they tore up railway lines and bridges and stuff. There should be more of that.
SB: Well, there is. Oh yeah. This says a lot more here. Much damage seen on the railway lines.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Bridges torn down. Stations burning.
AR: They did kill a few people.
SB: Right.
AR: For sure.
SB: Right.
AR: Of course, I can remember that clearly. Jesus.
SB: More reconnaissance for Army cooperation.
AR: Yes.
SB: Burning villages etcetera.
AR: I’ve seen life.
SB: You certainly have. Goodness me. Yes. Oh, I see you flew the Bisley a few times as well.
AR: Bloody awful. Terrible.
SB: What was, what was wrong with it?
AR: Heavy.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Heavy and something wrong with the [pause] I mean I couldn’t tell. There was something wrong with the wings because she could never go fast enough.
SB: Oh.
AR: Oh she got to a certain point she tended to go all over you know. But not the Blenheim.
SB: Oh.
AR: And yet she was supposed to be the sister of the Blenheim.
SB: Yes. Indeed. Yes.
AR: I think they put too much on her.
SB: Ah right.
AR: The British tended to do that. If they had a good aircraft like the Hurricane they loaded it up with bloody stuff.
SB: Yes.
AR: Until it couldn’t fight.
SB: Yes. And lots and lots of Blenheim and Bisley flying.
AR: Yes.
SB: At [pause] 308 Maintenance Unit.
AR: Sorry?
SB: 308 MU.
AR: Yeah. 308. Yeah.
SB: Right. And that’s, so that’s really from —
AR: That was Allahabad.
SB: Yes.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Right. So that’s from August ’42 to January, oh I think, oh hang on it goes on.
AR: I think I left from there to go to Rhodesia.
SB: Well, we’re up to April ’43 now. Oh, picking up some Beaufighters now.
AR: Beaufighters. Is that still India?
SB: I think it may be. Let’s see. Yes. It is.
AR: Yes. That’s right. We flew everything.
SB: Yes. And the old Wellington reappears I notice.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Installation. Testing for some sort of installations have been done correctly.
AR: Yeah. That was quite a reasonable time in Allahabad because there was no, there was no enemy.
SB: Right. Right.
AR: You were just flying.
SB: Yes.
AR: Or testing always.
SB: Yes. Oh, Hudsons.
AR: Yes.
SB: Vengeance.
AR: Oh, the Vultee Vengeance. We had a test pilot there called Taffy Davies was it? Is his name there?
SB: We’ve got a Thompson. Lloyd.
AR: Was that flight sergeant?
SB: That was Thompson. Flight Sergeant Thompson.
AR: No.
SB: Flight Lieutenant Lloyd seems to be the most common.
AR: Yeah. That’s Flight lieutenant Lloyd. Yeah.
SB: Yes.
AR: Taffy. I forget his bloody name now.
SB: Blair?
AR: Sorry?
SB: Blair?
AR: No.
SB: Wright?
AR: Maybe I’ve got the name wrong.
SB: Well, not to worry.
AR: But we tested a hell of a lot of Vengeance because they were being equipped on the Burma side.
SB: Right.
AR: Whenever they were tested they were flown straightway. The pilot came and took them away. They were good aircraft.
SB: Yes. Yeah.
AR: Very good radio. Top class radio. Bendix.
SB: Right. Now, where are we going now? We’re not up to October ’43.
AR: I don’t know where that is.
SB: A Mosquito is coming in now in November ’43.
AR: Flight Lieutenant Lloyd.
SB: Lloyd. Yes. Yes. Goodness me. You certainly had a variety of flying didn’t you?
AR: Oh, yes. Yes.
SB: Gosh. Lots and lots of Vengeances as you say and –
AR: Yes. And I did a hell of a lot more after that too because after that I flew Shackletons, Lancasters.
SB: Oh, right. Right. Well, that one finishes now in January ’44.
AR: Yeah.
SB: And you’re still in 308 MU. So, where do we go next, John? What was the next one?
AR: 308 MU. That’s India?
SB: Yeah. Yes. So —
AR: I don’t know where the next one is to tell you the truth. See if you can find —
SB: Right. Let’s see when this one starts. Oh, this is 1954 this one.
AR: This is ’44.
SB: That’s the one. That’s the one that follows on. Thank you.
AR: There’s bits of paper all over the place.
SB: Yeah [pause] Right. Where are we then? Ah, we’re now, yeah August ’44. Cornell flying now.
AR: That’s the —
SB: So this is all pilot training.
AR: That’s pilot training. Yes. Yes. That’s right.
SB: With Flying Officer McCullough.
AR: Oh, my God. I’ll never forget him. Now, this is no joke. He was a little chap. I doubt if he was that height. He must have been about sixty something but he cheated his age to get in. He was VR. But he’d flown. What the hell had he flown? He’d flown something which he cheated with and he got in. He was a good pilot and he was my instructor. But there was something I was going to tell you about him and I’ve forgotten what it is now.
SB: It’ll come back to you I’m sure.
AR: William McCullough. I’ve forgotten.
SB: Quite a lot of flying with him. December. Oh, 27 EFTS. Right.
AR: Where is that?
SB: Could it be in Guinea Fowl or something like that.
AR: Something like that. Yes.
SB: Yeah.
AR: 27 E.
SB: 27 EFTS.
AR: No. That’s Southern Rhodesia. Bulawayo.
SB: Oh, Bulawayo. Right. Ok. Yeah. Now, Harvards. We’re into 1945 now.
AR: Yes. Yeah.
SB: So you’re advanced.
AR: I was at Thornhill.
SB: Thornhill. Right. Ok. Flying Officer Johnstone seems to have been your instructor.
AR: Oh, he was a good lad.
SB: Yeah.
AR: A little chap. Young but a brilliant instructor. Johnny Johnstone.
SB: So where are we? April ’45. May. Into June now. Are we still, still at Thornhill? I guess so. Yes. 22 SFTS.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Yeah. Ok. You got your flying badge on the 28th of June ’45.
AR: That’s right. Was it the 28th?
SB: That’s what it says here.
AR: Yeah. That’s right.
SB: Yeah.
AR: 28th of June ’45.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Yeah. That was my wings. My double wings. Yeah.
SB: Right. You’ve now got a flight engineer’s course.
AR: Yes, because —
SB: At St Athan.
AR: When I came back [pause] when I got back to the UK there was nothing to do. It was terrible. Pilots walking about doing nothing and I went to see somebody and said, ‘Can I do something? Could I do a course of some kind?’ And this chap, he said, ‘How would you like to do a flight engineer’s course?’ I said, ‘Why not? What does it mean?’ He said, ‘You just do it.’ So I went and did it. Athan’s.
SB: St Athan. Yeah.
AR: Yeah.
SB: That’s where I did my training.
AR: Really?
SB: Yes.
AR: That was the finest course that I ever did.
SB: Really?
AR: Oh, it was a fabulous course. And of course I then went and flew actually as a flight engineer I think.
SB: Right. Ok. So you went to 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit at Swinderby.
AR: Yes, that’s right.
SB: In September ’46.
AR: Yeah. I did that as a flight engineer.
SB: Oh right. Right.
AR: Yeah. Amazing.
SB: Did you like the Lanc?
AR: I felt, sorry?
SB: Did you like the Lancaster?
AR: Did I like it?
SB: Did you like it?
AR: Oh I thought it was a wonderful aircraft.
SB: Yeah. Yeah.
AR: Oh marvellous. When they were, when they were properly serviced but they got to a stage when they were kind of half looked after. That was bad because things broke and engines failed and things.
SB: Right.
AR: When the war ended, at their prime they were beautiful.
SB: Right.
AR: I loved the Shackle.
SB: Did you? Yeah.
AR: I did the trials on the Shackleton.
SB: Ah. Right. Now you, right 35 Squadron.
AR: Sorry?
SB: 35 Squadron. January ’47. Lancasters.
AR: Yes. I seem to remember 35 Squadron. What were they?
SB: They were Lancasters.
AR: Lancasters. Yes.
SB: Yeah.
AR: That’s right. Where was that? Does it say?
SB: No, it doesn’t actually say where. Oh, Stradishall.
AR: Yeah. Strad.
SB: Yeah.
AR: That’s right. Strad. God.
SB: So that. Ah. Now we have a break. What does that say? Hold on a second. What happens here. Now, that lasts until June ’47 and then we’re on Tiger Moths.
AR: That must be Perth. Scone.
SB: Oh, ok.
AR: Does it say Scone?
SB: Yes. 11 Reserve Flying School, Scone. Yes.
AR: When was I there?
SB: You were there in —
AR: I must have just got posted up there. I can’t think why.
SB: You were there in June 1947 and then March 1948. Ok.
AR: Yeah. That’s an awful long spell in between.
SB: It is isn’t it?
AR: June 1947.
SB: Yes. Nine months.
AR: Wait a minute. I was in hospital for a long time.
SB: Oh ok.
AR: What was that? Tiger Moths?
SB: Tiger Moths were June and July ’47. Then there’s nothing until March ’48 on Tigers again.
AR: Right. Right.
Other 1: Mummy might remember because you were married then.
AR: What was that?
[pause]
Other 1: June 1947 to —
AR: Yes.
SB: March ’48.
Other 1: Mummy.
SB: Then March ’49 Harvards at 2FTS. Harvards.
AR: Whereabouts?
SB: Well, it was 2 FTS wherever that was.
AR: 2 FTS. Doesn’t it say there?
SB: It doesn’t say where. Hang on. It might. Here we are. South Cerney.
AR: That’s right. That’s me going back in again.
SB: Ah, ok.
AR: It must be.
SB: It says getting your hand in again so to speak.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Yes. There for quite a while until May ’49. Oh, and then it carries on. Then 3 FTS Feltwell.
SB: Yes, that’s right.
AR: Prentice and Harvard.
SB: Yes.
AR: You did get around didn’t you?
SB: Oh, yes. Yes. I think I visited most places.
AR: Oh, and now we have Mosquitoes.
SB: Yeah.
SB: 204 AFS Driffield.
AR: Yes, that’s right. I flew Mossies. I loved Mossies. They were, they were buggers to fly.
SB: Yeah.
AR: If anything went wrong. If they were up to scratch they were wonderful.
SB: Right. Right.
Other 1: She’s working on it.
AR: Sorry?
Other 1: She’s working on it. She can’t think right now. Right.
SB: So, right. We’re at July August ’49. September. Oh, we have a crash landing here in a Mossie. September the 12th —
AR: What does it say?
SB: ’49. It says, “Solo formation. Crash landed on airfield. Engine on fire.”
AR: Ah, yes. Yes. Where was that?
SB: Driffield.
AR: Driffield.
SB: Oh sorry. Brize Norton. Brize Norton.
Other 1: Brize Norton. That’s the one. Remember we went and found the pub?
AR: Yes.
Other 1: You said you crash landed off the end of the runway and there was this pub and we couldn’t find a building off the end of this runway because my husband was based at Brize Norton.
SB: Well, so was I for five years.
Other 1: Really?
SB: Yeah.
Other 1: When?
SB: ’75 to ’80.
Other 1: Ah, that’s when I was at Lyneham. No, this was later than that because we were married. It was about ’87 ‘88’ ‘89.
SB: Oh right.
Other 1: He did an OC [unclear] tour there. Anyway, so dad visited. He said, ‘I remember. Yeah.’ He said, ‘I was never based here but I remember.’ And we went nah. Anyway, you looked at an old map. Disused runway. Right off the end of the runway. What was it called? The Black Swan or something.
AR: Yeah, that’s right.
Other 1: We took him around. He said, ‘Oh yeah. This is it. I remember.’ Because he’d crash landed and then gone into the pub.
SB: Gone in the pub [laughs]
AR: That’s it.
SB: Quite right too. What else would you do?
Other 2: You were asking me something just now about leaving Stradishall in nineteen what?
SB: ’47 ’48.
Other 1: June ’47 to March ’48 they’re looking for. What you were doing then.
Other 2: Well, we left Stradishall and I remember we went from there –
AR: To where?
Other 2: June of ’47 I went home to Blairgowrie because I was expecting Adrian.
AR: Oh, yeah.
Other 2: He was born in September ’47.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Ah.
Other 2: Alright.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Ah, right.
Other 2: And I stayed there from May ’47 until February the following year I think it was.
AR: I can’t remember.
SB: So that’s why you were at Scone then.
Other 2: ’48.
SB: Obviously. That’s why you —
AR: [unclear]
SB: That’s why you would have been why you were at Scone then.
AR: That’s possibly it.
SB: Yes. Oh, right. Ok.
AR: I can’t remember.
SB: Whereabouts was that?
Other 2: Well, that, yes that would be it because after that I remember we went back to [Auntie Ruth’s]
AR: Yes.
Other 2: What was the name of the station there?
AR: On the Fosse Way.
Other 2: Yes. That’s right.
AR: Christ.
Other 2: RAF —
AR: A big aerodrome on the Fosse Way.
SB: South Cerney.
Other 2: No. It’s near —
SB: Waterbeach? Feltwell?
Other 2: It’s not far from Lincoln.
SB: Oh.
Other 2: South of Lincoln.
SB: Oh right.
Other 2: I remember we used to go up to shop in Lincoln.
AR: Yes. That’s right. I can’t remember the name of it.
Other 2: On the Fosse Way.
SB: Waddington.
AR: No.
Other 2: No.
AR: No.
Other 2: No.
SB: Syerston. Swinderby.
AR: Swinderby.
Other 2: Swinderby.
SB: Swinderby. Ah, yeah.
Other 2: That’s —
SB: You’ve got Swinderby here. Here we are.
Other 2: That’s the one.
SB: Yeah. Yeah.
Other 2: And we, we were there then.
AR: Swinderby.
Other 2: For about [unclear] a half —
SB: Oh, right. I’ve just found those pages actually so that’s —
Other 2: Six to nine months I think.
SB: November ’49 to about February ’50. Yeah.
Other 2: That’s right. Well, yes.
SB: Back on Wellingtons again at Swinderby.
AR: I think so. Yes.
SB: Yeah. 201 Advanced Flying School.
AR: Yeah. That’s right.
Other 2: Can I go now?
SB: [laughs] Oh yeah. Thank you very much.
[background chatter]
SB: Was that a course you were doing at Swinderby?
AR: I can’t remember what it was but I was doing a course there.
SB: It’s followed by Lancasters again at OCU. So, I imagine you were probably doing a twin update on something.
AR: That’s possible.
SB: At Swinderby on the Wellington.
AR: Yeah. That’s just possible.
SB: I think it says doesn’t it?
AR: What does that say there?
SB: It’s flying. Yeah. It just says course commencing the 1st of January 1950. White card rating, instrument flying. Yeah. I think it’s just probably a dual update isn’t it I would think. And then 236 OCU. Kinloss.
AR: That’s Kinloss. Yes.
SB: Right.
AR: What was I doing there? Does it say? I think I was an instructor. Maybe I —
SB: I think, I think you may well have been. Yes. You were there from May ’50. It goes on quite a long time because this is the coastal Lanc wasn’t it?
AR: Yes. Oh yes. Yes.
SB: Yeah. And that’s until [pause] right. That’s until August ’50.
AR: Yeah.
SB: So that’s obviously the Lanc conversion.
AR: Yes.
SB: The coastal Lanc conversion.
AR: I would think so.
SB: And then September ’50, 120 Squadron.
AR: Yeah. Whereabouts? Does it say?
SB: It must be here. Let’s have a look [pause] Kinloss.
AR: Kinloss.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Yeah. I think that’s right.
SB: Right.
AR: But I was always for a while at Leuchars with 120.
SB: Oh yes. Yes, just for about three months at Leuchars.
AR: Yes.
SB: And then to Kinloss.
AR: And then we moved back up again.
SB: Right. Right. So I imagine you did some quite long trips didn’t you on your —
AR: Oh yes. Very long ones. That was the whole idea of the Shackleton. Long range. So —
Other 2: You used to be away for about fourteen or fifteen hours at a time. I remember when you were at the Shackleton.
SB: On the Shack. Yeah.
Other 2: Across the Atlantic. There was, you always used to come and say we nearly got to the point of no return.
SB: Right. ’51 we’re in now still. Oh, here we are. Now, the Shackleton appears in May ’51.
AR: May ’51.
SB: May ’51.
AR: Yes. Yes.
SB: Yeah. So —
Other 2: You did the trials in the Shackleton.
SB: You did trials on Shackletons.
AR: Yes. I did.
SB: You said earlier on.
AR: Yes.
Other 2: Trials on the Shackletons for about three or four months.
AR: Yeah.
SB: What, what sort of trials were they?
AR: The acceptance trials.
SB: Oh, acceptance. Oh right.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Ok. Ok.
AR: We had to do acceptance trials to see if it was suitable for coastal.
SB: Right.
AR: And it was.
SB: Right.
AR: It was a good aircraft.
SB: So this is the Mark 1 Shackleton.
AR: That was the Mark 1. Yes.
SB: Yeah. Was it a big improvement on the Lanc did you think?
AR: It didn’t fly as well as the Lanc. But it was much more stable and solid. Good four lovely engines. Griffins. Griffin 57s.
SB: That’s it. Yeah.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Yeah.
AR: A good aircraft. I don’t know how the hell they kept going. I used to wonder about that.
SB: Well, yes. That’s right.
AR: She could fly on two.
SB: Really? Yeah.
AR: Not very well but she —
SB: Did you have any problems with it?
AR: With?
SB: With the Shackleton. Any problems?
AR: I can’t think of any really.
SB: No.
AR: It was a wonderful aircraft. No. The usual problems caused by the RAF overloading.
SB: Right. Yeah.
They did it to the Lancaster. They did it to the Wimpy. So we’re now going on to ah ok so you finished on 120 Squadron.
SB: Yeah, in November ’51. Then go back to 236 OCU.
AR: Yes. So —
SB: As a staff man I guess. As an instructor.
AR: That’s Right.
SB: Yeah.
AR: I Became CGI. Chief Ground Instructor.
SB: Oh right. Ok. Yes. A little bit of Shackleton flying. A little bit of Oxford flying.
AR: Yeah.
SB: You see out of all the aircraft that you had flown in, out of all the aircraft that you’ve experienced which would be your favourite? Or is that an unfair question?
AR: No. No. No. No. That’s a fair question. I think the Lancaster.
SB: Yeah.
AR: No. Mosquito.
SB: Mosquito. Ah right.
AR: Beautiful aircraft.
SB: So long as it —
AR: Difficult to fly.
SB: Yeah. Because I was thinking —
AR: Not difficult to fly. No. Difficult to land.
SB: Right.
AR: And you had to be very careful with her. She stalled very quickly. But she was a beautiful aircraft.
SB: Yeah. Yeah.
AR: They all had their peculiarities.
SB: Yes.
AR: Isn’t it funny? Just like people.
SB: Yes [pause] Now, that’s interesting. This is May ’53 now. Aldergrove.
AR: Yeah. What about —
SB: Flying. Flying Wing at Aldergrove.
AR: What am I flying there?
SB: Well, Shackletons. The odd Hastings. Oxfords quite a lot.
AR: Oh, I was. Yes, I wasn’t, I was a flying Wing adj surely.
SB: Flying Wing adj, that’s it. Yeah.
AR: That’s right.
SB: Yeah.
AR: But that was a good job. I liked that.
SB: Yeah.
AR: I had a wonderful CO called Ben Fleming. Wing Commander Ben Fleming.
SB: Yeah.
AR: A Canadian.
SB: Yeah.
AR: He was a wonderful man. He said to me when I joined him, he was Canadian, he said, ‘Do you know all about these books and things?’ I said, ‘Fairly well. Enough to — ’ ‘Good,’ he said, ‘You run the place and I’ll fly.’ He wasn’t as bad as he sounds but he did that the first day.
SB: Oh, very good.
AR: He was a wonderful bloke. He had a shithouse of a wife.
SB: Oh really.
AR: Why do these blokes get these people? I don’t know. He was such a wonderful man and she was a little shithouse. I always remember that.
SB: Oh dear. So here we are. Next book now. We’re still in 1954. We’re still on Shacks.
AR: I think that’s [pause] yeah. That white paper there [pause] that’s it. Now, was it just the white paper.
SB: This one?
AR: No. Maybe I’m wrong.
SB: Well, it’s —
AR: Yes. That’s right.
SB: Ah.
AR: Wait a minute. See if I’ve got this right. Yes. It’s all my ops.
SB: Ah. Oh, right.
AR: Yes. Yeah. It is. Just written on that piece of paper.
SB: Oh, ok. I’ll copy that if I may. Save me [pause]
AR: Yeah, that’s, that’s Britain and so on right down and then Italy.
SB: Right.
[pause]
SB: Lovely. Good. Ok. Right. So where are we? You had quite a long time on the Shack didn’t you?
AR: Oh yes. Yes. Well, I did the trials on them and then I just kept on flying them.
SB: Right.
AR: In fact, I think —
SB: ‘55.
AR: When I retired I retired from the Shackletons.
SB: Oh, right. Ok.
AR: I think so. No. No. No. No. I must have been posted down to 18 Group.
SB: Ah ok. Because we’re still ‘55 now. Still on 120 Squadron.
AR: Yeah. I think I went down to 18 Group as flight safety officer or something.
SB: At Northwood you mean?
AR: No. No. 18 Group. Pitreavie Castle.
SB: Oh, Pitreavie. Oh right.
AR: Yes.
SB: Yes. Yes. Ok.
AR: What’s one of these?
SB: We’re still, still Shacks. Still 120 Squadron.
AR: Yeah.
SB: ’55.
AR: That’s right.
SB: Lots of long trips out to Luqa and places like that.
AR: Oh, we did some very long trips on it.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Lovely aircraft [pause] Still with the Lanc?
SB: Yes.
SB: But the Lanc was a bit more unsteady than the Shack. The Shackleton was steady.
SB: Really? Yes.
AR: And you could walk about in it.
SB: Right.
AR: I think that was the reason. You could walk down to see somebody and —
SB: You didn’t have to climb over the spar.
AR: Just one spar.
SB: Yes.
AR: The crew, all crews loved the Shackleton because they all had a decent space.
SB: Yeah. Ah, right. Now, here we are. Posted from 120 Squadron to Headquarters 18 Group the 1st of January ’57.
AR: That’s right.
SB: And then we get a bit of Anson flying.
AR: Yes, that’s right.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Anson. And there was something else as well.
SB: And then Vampires. 4 FTS.
AR: What was I doing?
SB: Vampires.
AR: What was I doing at 4 FTS?
SB: Well, you were doing a lot of Vampire flying.
AR: Oh yes. That’s right. Yes. I did that because I was flight safety.
SB: Right.
AR: And we had jets in Scotland and I wanted to know how they worked.
SB: Right.
AR: So they said the best thing you could do is go down and fly the buggers.
SB: So that must have been Valley. At Valley in Anglesey.
AR: No.
SB: No.
AR: I went down to [pause] it’s in there somewhere.
SB: Well, it’s 4 FTS. It doesn’t actually say.
AR: I’m trying to think where the hell it was.
SB: Hang on. 4 FTS [pause] I’m trying to think where it was before it went to Valley then. I can’t remember. No. It doesn’t actually say where. Not to worry.
AR: Isn’t that amazing?
SB: Well, wait a minute. No, that was [pause]
AR: I’m sure it was —
SB: I can’t remember. Because I was on 4 FTS at Valley but obviously it was somewhere else in those days. That’s ’57. And then a bit of Anson flying again. Back to 18 Group.
AR: I don’t know why that’s scored out. I must have changed to a new logbook or something.
SB: Oh right. It’s Chipmunk flying at Turnhouse. Chipmunks at Turnhouse.
AR: Yes, that’s right. Turnhouse.
SB: So —
AR: Of course.
SB: Flying Cadets.
AR: I was in 18 Group but I, we flew at Turnhouse. That’s right.
SB: Yes. To fly the Cadets.
AR: Yeah.
SB: Yeah. Ok. And then this must be the last one is it?
AR: Yeah.
SB: Half this, oh here we are. Yes, you put them all in here. Yes.
AR: [unclear]
SB: This is all Chipmunks at Turnhouse.
AR: Oh yes.
SB: 12 AEF.
AR: Yeah.
SB: In ’63.
AR: 12 AEF. That’s Scone, isn’t it? Does it say?
SB: No, it doesn’t actually say but yes it probably was. Yes. It says Turnhouse actually.
AR: Yes. That’s correct.
SB: Yeah.
AR: Yeah.
SB: ATC again ’64.
AR: They’re still Chipmunks.
SB: Still Chipmunks. Yes. Camp at West Raynham.
AR: Oh, yes. Yes.
SB: Coltishall Summer Camp.
AR: Oh yes. I remember that. I used to get my holidays to go down you see.
SB: Right. Let me find, ah now the last entry then is ’67. The end of ’67.
AR: That would be right.
SB: Yeah. And that was the point at which you retired then was it?
AR: I think so. Yes.
SB: Yeah.
AR: I think so.
SB: Yeah.
AR: I’m hellish lost on years.
Other 1: Is, is now a good time to have a bit of lunch?
SB: It is actually because we’ve just got to the end of the last logbook. It would be perfect.
Other 1: Excellent. I, do you see what I mean about there being perhaps the odd gap?