Lancaster (Bombers)

Date: 24 Sept 1987 - 24 Sep 1987

From: NZOHA Electricity Centenary Oral History Project Stages I, II and III

By: Webb, Norman David, 1913-2005

Reference: OHInt-0003/20

Description: Norman Webb describes family background; father, Herbert Webb as pioneer in the early electrical industry; childhood; early education; life as an electrical apprentice at W B Alexander, Wanganui; details of staff; rudimentary power system in houses; umbrella aerial installations for early radio; electrical wiring regulations; standards; accidents; development of the Wanganui domestic electricity supply; staff at W B Alexander, Stan Terry, Roy Blewitt; education at Canterbury University studying for an electrical engineering (civil) degree; lecturers, J E L (Jelly) Cole, Percy Powell, Billy Darwin. Recalls work as a cadet for Hydro Electric Branch, Public Works Department, Addington; construction of sub station; function of sub station; as assistant engineer work on transmission supply of Highbank Power Station; wiring at Burnham Camp during World War II; the domestic wiring process; electrical hazards and safety; live line testing; reference to distribution engineer, John Stevens and assistant, Jack Fazackerley; restricted occupation during war; training as pilot in Tiger Moths; service for Royal Airforce 61 Squadron in Lancasters and Wellington Bombers; attitudes to survival and wartime lifestyle; parachuting after being hit by night fighters; capture; internment at Sagan as prisoner of war; transition to civil life. Describes construction work at Methven; construction village; details of erecting poles and running power lines; relations with farmers; isolation and social problems in the construction villages; roles as engineer at head office, Wellington from 1948; in purchasing section; fifteen years in sub station design work; attitude to head office; layout of Department; period of rapid change post war; rapid growth; personality of F T M Kissell; reference Bob Semple; personality of A E Davenport; social structure at head office; details of design of sub station; heavy post war demand; relationship with district engineers; background to promotion to maintenance engineer; role as inspection engineer, 1966-1968; travel involved; reference to Johnny Lough and Jerry Meredith. Discusses role as commercial engineer; work with the supply authorities; reference to Alec Heir, E B McKenzie, Phil Blakeley; relationship between the Electrical Supply Authorities Association and the New Zealand Electricity Department; rationing of power before the Cook Strait cable; power blackouts; recalls ministers of electricity, Tom Shand, Les Gandar, Brian Talboys, Lance Adams-Schneider; future of power generation in New Zealand; work at the Electric Supply Authorities Association after retirement. Access Contact - See oral history librarian Venue - Wellington Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - Mr Webb's home at 11 Corlett Road, Plimmerton, Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001702 - OHC-001704 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 270. Search dates: 1913 - 1987

Date: 29 Sep - 10 Dec 2004 - 29 Sep 2004 - 10 Dec 2004

From: New Zealand Defence Force Military oral history project

By: Mallon, William, 1920-2010

Reference: OHInt-0938-06

Description: Interview with William (Bill) Mallon, born in Bell Block in 1920. Talks about his father, an Australian-born Boer War veteran. Recalls growing up in Bell Block, attending the local primary school and New Plymouth Boys' High School, school cadets and ANZAC Day parades. Remembers the Depression and seeing unemployed men levelling land at Bell Block that was later used as an aerodrome. Recalls being aware that war could be coming from the time Italy invaded Ethiopia. Mentions being a volunteer fireman after he left school. Remembers hearing war being declared when he was 19, at a time when one brother was already in the RAF in Britain. Describes Army call up in 1941 and sending to the Great Barrier Island garrison when the Japanese were advancing south in the Coral Sea. Talks about joining the Air Force in 1942, and being posted to an air defence unit at Tauranga, then sent to the Rotorua Initial Training Wing for aircrew in 1943 and later to the EFT at Taieri to train as a pilot in Tiger Moths. Gives details of going to Brantford, Ontario where he trained in multi-engined Ansons and got his wings. Talks about sailing to England in a crowded troop ship and initially working in air traffic control at RAF Manston in Kent before being sent to the Advanced Flying Unit at Cirencester on D Day in June 1944 where he learnt to fly Oxfords, flying by their instruments under European weather and blackout conditions. Comments on going to an Operational Training Unit at Bilbury to form a crew and train in Wellington bombers and explains how the crew on a bomber operated. Refers to going next to a Heavy Conversion Unit course to train on four-engined Lancasters and flying some diversionary operations. Discusses being posted to No 75 New Zealand Squadron in March 1945 and his first mission, a night raid to railway yards near Berlin as second pilot. Describes long-range raids on German oil refineries, talking about briefings before raids, the roles of the master navigator and master bomber, and flying home independently. Comments that they flew to the targets independently on night raids and in formation on day raids. Mentions the V1 and V2 rocket attacks on England. Talks about being withdrawn from the squadron after two months operational time and posted back to New Zealand after a brother was killed. Refers to being demobilized quickly after he arrived home as the Air Force was scaling down. Reflects on how his wartime experiences particularly as the captain of a bomber matured him. Comments on hearing about German concentration camps after the War. Interviewer(s) - Martin Halliday Accompanying material - Photocopy of William Mallon's Pilot's flying log book Quantity: 6 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s) - edited. 1 Electronic document(s) - edited transcript. 1 interview(s). 6 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHDL-000396, OHA-6154. Search dates: 1920 - 1939 - 2004 - 1945

Date: 08 Sep 1995 - 03 Nov 1995 - 08 Sep 1995 - 03 Nov 1995

By: Alpers, Philip, active 1966-1967

Reference: OHColl-1131

Description: Comprises 22 interviews with pilots, gunners, aircraft engineers, navigators and flight attendants on the Lancaster Bomber and the Teal Short Solent Flying Boat, respectively. The Teal Short Solent and an Avro Lancaster Bomber feature in MOTAT's aviation collection. Nine interviewees who served in RAF Bomber Command operational squadrons, including the New Zealand 75 Squadron, talk about their experiences crewing Lancaster bombers and flying over Western Europe during World War II. They discuss duties and conditions for personnel such as bomber pilots, navigators, wireless operators, flight engineers, bomb aimers and rear gunners. They comment on aspects of aircraft handling, flight speed, conditions on board, aerial combat and aircraft damage. The interviewees are: Desmond Yarborough Andrewes, Alfred Sydney Drew, Harry John William Furner, William Desmond Hall, Vincent Rex Jamieson, Graham Lloyd Mandeno, Ronald Desmond Mayhill, Laurence Douglas McKenna, Ronald Walter Stewart. Thirteen interviewees talk about their various experiences operating the Teal Solent flying boat service that flew from Mechanics Bay, Auckland and Evans Bay, Wellington. Personnel recall the lengthy flying times between New Zealand and Australia and journeys on the Coral Route in the Pacific, visiting Akaimi and Aitutaki (Cook Islands), Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga. Former flight crew recall requirements for take-off, landing on water and the difficulties of rough sea (leaks were common). They mention general handling, altitude, the stringent weight considerations and refuelling. Former flight attendants (stewards and stewardesses) recall passengers dressing up to travel and the spacious cabins offered them. They discuss cabin service including the fresh food prepared on board and served on quality china and cutlery. They recall incidents of air sicknesss on the double decked seaplane. The Solent interviewees are: Janet Fay Beech, Gerald Walter Brown, Stanley Frank Eade, Geoffrey Arthur Freer, Jean Edith Freer (nee Stanich) and Marshall (joint interview), Raymond Gasparich, Joy Isabella Hanna, Irene Frances Kingwill, Maurice Eugene McGreal, John Sidney Shorthouse, Edgar Herbert Mervyn Tredrea, John Van Duivenboden. Awards/funding - Project received Award in Oral History grant Sponsored by - Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) Interviewer(s) - Philip Alpers Arrangement: Original recordings: OHC-11527 - OHC-11549 Transcripts and agreement forms are held at OHA-3972 to OHA 3992 Quantity: 23 C60 cassette(s). 22 transcript(s). 22 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - other partial transcripts are available. Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, 1996 Donor/Lender/Vendor - Megan Hutching, Ministry for Culture & Heritage

Date: 27 April 1945

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-01367-G

Description: photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: Sep 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-03915-G

Description: Photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: ¼ plate Glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: May 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-02280-G

Description: Copy negative taken by Whites Aviation. Original photographer unknown. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: ¼ plate Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: 27 April 1945

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-01366-G

Description: photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: 28 Sep 1944

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-02837-F

Description: Copy negative taken by Whites Aviation. Photographer of the original unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, ¼ plate

Date: 27 April 1945

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-01365-G

Description: photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: Sep 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-03910-G

Description: Photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: ¼ plate Glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: May 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-02259-G

Description: Copy photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: [between 1939-1943]

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-00391-G

Description: Copy negative taken by Whites Aviation, 1943. Photographer of original unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: [between 1939-1944]

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-00390-G

Description: Copy negative taken by Whites Aviation, 1944. Photographer of original unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: 1944

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-00310-G

Description: Photograph taken by Leo White. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: 1944

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-00312-G

Description: Photograph taken by Leo White. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: 1944

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-00311-G

Description: Photograph taken by Leo White. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: Sep 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-03909-G

Description: Photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: ¼ plate Glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: Sep 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-03914-G

Description: Photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: ¼ plate Glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: Sep 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-03911-G

Description: Photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: ¼ plate Glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: Sep 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-03908-G

Description: Photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: ¼ plate Glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches