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Greenwood, Alfred Lewis Francis: my Air Force recollections (October 22, 1978 - August 24, 1979)

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An interview/narrative of Alfred Lewis Francis Greenwood's experiences during World War II. Squadron Leader Greenwood served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on October 22, 1978 and August 24, 1979.

Interviewer: Main, Chris D.

Rank: Squadron Leader.

ABSTRACT: Squadron Leader Alfred Lewis Francis Greenwood Royal Canadian Air Force Greenwood_A_0067_01.mp3 Born on May 4, 1917 in Vancouver, B.C. (died in Aug. 1988). His mother moved to Quebec and there married M. Dumont Huot, a member of a very old French-Canadian family (ca. 1670). Early schooling was in English, but at twelve or thirteen enrolled in a Jesuit college, the only Anglo-Saxon Protestant student for the entire nine years that he attended. Graduated in 1939 with a B.A. which was awarded through the University of Montreal. Describes experiences in school and his French-Canadian/Irish home life. Applied to join the air force in Montreal and on Oct. 9, 1939 as commissioned as a provisional pilot officer. Elementary flying training at Kingston, Ont. at a civilian flying school. Moved to Trenton, Ont. where he was issued uniforms for the first time. Describes quarters, mess life, training. Anecdotes. (30:00) Ambition to go overseas: main fear was to be appointed an instructor in Canada. Advanced flying training at Camp Borden where he flew North American Harvard training aircraft. (40:00) Was awarded wings, then had the services of a batman. Also flew the Fairey Battle (light bomber). Description of bombing range, methods employed, etc. (45:00) Account of forced landing. Army Co-operation training at Rockcliffe Airport, Ottawa where he flew the Westland Lysander, artillery spotting. In the fall of 1940 was posted to No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Jarvis, Ont., for about two weeks (15:00) before being sent overseas as a flying officer. Sailed from Montreal in the Duchess of Athol (Canadian Pacific Steamship liner). Virtually conditions of civilian peace-time travel as, among the passengers, there were only twelve R.C.A.F. officers aboard, however they did have to stand anti-submarine watch. Anecdotes of trip, arrival in England, etc. (34:00) Greenwood_A_0067_02.mp3 (Side 2) Was posted to Sutton Bridge, No. 6 Operational Training Unit (O.T.U.), a R.A.F. station where he first flew the Hawker Hurricane (fighter). Formation flying, navigation, gunnery. Tactics were learned in operational squadrons. After about a month he joined No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, R.C.A.F. (which became No. 401 when later renumbered) at Prestwick, Scotland. (10:00) Shortly thereafter the squadron returned to the operational role at Castletown in northern Scotland. First operational "scramble" in Jan. 1941. Explains "ready aircraft", three aircraft kept continuously warmed up by the ground crew. After a few months was posted to No. 110 (Army Co-operation) Squadron where he flew Lysanders. (30:00) "Playing with the Army" was, he felt, a come-down! Mess and social life. (40:00) On May 3, 1941 converted to Curtiss Tomahawk (P-40 fighters), an obsolescent fighter aircraft. Seconded to an air-sea rescue unit at Manston. (45:00) Flew Lysanders equipped with smoke floats and two dinghies. Their task was to locate downed aircraft and call out the high speed rescue launches. On standby from dawn to dusk; a boring assignment. Returned to No. 110 Squadron. Was posted to No. 414 (Army Co-operation) Squadron where training operations changed to an attack role in support of the army. Squadron leader. Flew the early model North American Mustang (P-51 fighter) which was excellent for low-level flying. Much aerial photography. Landed first aircraft (a "Tiger Moth") at the first aerodrome built by the Royal Canadian Engineers. (30:00) Was posted to Canada (1943) and taken off flying at his own request. Became an air traffic controller, first in British Columbia, then in Newfoundland where he was in command of the air traffic control centre. Anecdote. Demobilized at Boundary Bay, B.C. In civilian life a high school teacher, retiring from that position in 1979. (40:00)

Interviewee: Greenwood, Alfred Lewis Francis, 1917-1988

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
  • In error S/L Greenwood gave his Christian names on tape as Francis Alfred Lewis. His birth certificate states Alfred Lewis Francis Greenwood. Confirmed with Mrs. Greenwood, Nov. 8, 1988 by William S. Thackray.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 54.75844, -2.69531
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 165 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • GALF_067
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • June 4, 2007
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2007. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI
Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Actions
file details SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail
file details Greenwood_A_0067_01.mp3
file details Greenwood_A_0067_02.mp3