Halifax (Bomber)

Date: 1941-1944

By: Judd, Stratford Frederick, 1919-2010

Reference: PA-Group-00632

Description: Photographs illustrating the career of Stratford Frederick Judd with RNZAF during World War II, including training in Canada, and Hullavington (England), and service in North Africa and the Middle East. Photographs include: portraits of servicemen and their aeropanes; military vehicles and military camps; images of burnt-out aeroplanes; scenes of leisure including a rugby game; sight-seeing photographs in Canada, the United Kingdom, and sites across North Africa and the Middle East; photographs of local people. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). 71 b&w original negative(s). 39 digital print(s). 3 b&w original negative(s) strips comprising 4 images. Physical Description: Photographic prints, photographic negatives, digital prints with ms annotations Provenance: Purchased at auction, 2008

Date: 8 - 22 July 2004 - 08 Jul 2004 - 22 Jul 2004

From: New Zealand Defence Force Military oral history project

By: Goldblatt, Joseph, 1923-

Reference: OHInt-0938-15

Description: Interview with Joe (Joseph) Goldblatt, born in Wellington in 1923. Mentions that his parents divorced when he was very young and he lived from the age of 12 in the Deckston orphanage for Jewish children. Comments that he had to leave school shortly after and was apprenticed as a tailor's cutter and tailor. Refers to boarding, and living in the Boys Institute and a boarding house. Discusses the Jewish community in Wellington when he was young. Mentions Jewish refugees from Europe who brought some news of what was happening in Germany in the 1930s. Talks about volunteering for air crew for the Air Force on his 18th birthday and joining in 1942. Comments on being called up by the Army in the intervening period, having six weeks' basic training in a new camp at Johnsonville, and then being sent by the Air Force to the Bell Block station to do guard duty. Talks about attending the Initial Training Wing in early 1943 for ground training and then being sent to Winnipeg, Canada in April. Discusses training as a bomb aimer as well as learning aerial gunnery, observing, aircraft recognition and some navigation. Mentions his promotion to Sergeant at the completion of training and spent his embarkation leave in New York meeting his mother's family. Refers to sailing on the Queen Mary to England, attending an Advanced Training Unit at West Frew in Scotland where they trained in Blenheim bombers, and then an Operational Training Unit at Westcott to form crews and learn to work together, flying Wellington bombers. Refers to being trained in a ground-based link trainer to assist the pilot, and comments bomb aimers assisted pilots and relieved other crew positions on bombers. Mentions converting to four-engined Sterlings at Chedborough, including training for high level bombing, combating fighter attacks and avoiding searchlights. Describes posting to 199 Squadron in Norfolk in August 1944 where they initially did special night flying operations jamming German radar by flying in 10 minute circles with the radio operator transmitting interference, or by dropping "window". Talks about life in the Squadron: preparation for missions, flying kit, and training and equipment for bailing out and being captured. Comments that the ground crew had to service and repair planes out in the open air. Refers to leave in London where he stayed with the family of a cousin's husband, and visiting his father's relatives in Glasgow. Talks about moving in February 1945 to the much bigger and heaver four-engined Halifax bombers. Describes being on leave in London when VE Day was announced and walking around the streets, and the Squadron ceasing operations immediately. Refers to waiting several months to be shipped back home, and being delayed for a day outside Lyttelton Harbour because the watersiders would not handle the ship on Labour Day. Mentions returning to his trade when he was demobilised, rejoining the Wellington Jewish community, marrying in 1946, and later setting up his own bespoke tailoring business. Interviewer(s) - Martin Halliday Accompanying material - Two photocopies of Joseph Goldblatt's Flying Log Book. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-017213 - OHC-017218 Quantity: 6 C60 cassette(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - transcript. 1 transcript(s) - printed. 1 interview(s). 5.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHDL-000406, OHA-6151. Search dates: 1923 - 1939 - 2004 - 1945

Date: 1940 - 1945

By: Turner, Charles E, 1883-1965; Glover, Brian Guinness, 1914-2004; Glover, Henry Lawrence Matthews, 1907-1974

Reference: G-195-2

Description: A black and white photographic reproduction of a painting signed by artist C E Turner. It shows a four-engined bomber plane touching down at an airfield, with buildings and other aircraft on the ground at the right. Quantity: 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph on copper plate, 200 x 270 mm (framed) Provenance: Previously owned by his older brother Captain Henry Lawrence Matthews Glover (1907-1974). Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - Brian Glover estate..

Date: [between 1945-1946]

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-03744-G

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

Date: 25 Oct 1946

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-04156-F

Description: Photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, ¼ plate

Date: [between 1939-1945]

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-00444-G

Description: Copy negative taken by Whites Aviation, 1945. Photographer of original unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative, 3.25 x 4.25 inches

Date: May 1947

Reference: WA-07439-F

Description: Photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative

Date: May 1947

From: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Reference: WA-07440-F

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

Date: 27 August 1993 - 27 Aug 1993

By: Smith, Keith, 1923-2010

Reference: OHColl-0066/1

Description: Keith Smith born Denniston, north of Westport but moved around the area as father, originally a miner, became mine manager. Gives a detailed account of an adventurous childhood spent playing outdoors and gives a history of his friendship with the interviewer, Harvey Hammersley. Recalls school days with reference to Mr Lambert, a school teacher at Aran School. Describes education at that time and compares class sizes then and now. Other aspects of childhood discussed include: whitebaiting at Cape Farewell Spit; illnesses and cures e.g. `brown paper and goose fat on chest'; diet - dried figs instead of sweets; travelling store; Ruamanga Movie Theatre and method of paying; father's serious accident and move to Christchurch where Keith attended Technical College at the age of 12 years. Describes World War II experiences in detail: joined Territorials, ending up in B Company First Canterbury Regiment, finishing April 1941. Reference to Captain Sleuth. Entered Air Force and after 4 months of night school was sent on navigation course to Rotorua and then to Canada on the `Matsonia'. Mentions presence of Armed Radar in the Pacific; more navigational training at Winnipeg; bombing course 1942 at Leftbridge near Calgary and shipping course 'bombing ships'; sailing from Canada to England on the `Louis Pasteur', a French ship which he describes. Recalls being at Bournemouth (England) with Australians and New Zealanders ca June 1943 when Cathedral was bombed, killing 38 men, with reference to Fok Fold Wolff? (Focke Wulf?) planes. Gives detail of aircraft, locations of bombing operations and loss of aircraft over a five month period. Refers to citation and receiving decoration. Talks about his own aeroplane, a Halifax, which had done `128 trips and had 128 holes'. Describes how it was on show in London. Compares Halifax aeroplanes and Lancasters. Explains how plane remained with him. Discusses post war occupations and the problems of finding work. Compares his job as a linesman with the Air Force. Venue - Christchurch Abstracted by - Gabrielle McLaughlin (Oral History Centre) Interviewer(s) - Harvey Hammersley Venue - Buttervield Avenue Christchurch Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005208 - OHC-005210 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - other AB-1062 (consists of a printout from Kiwinet).