Canadian Military Oral Histories

User Collection Public

The Canadian Military Oral History Collection is composed of interviews of veterans of WWI, WWII, the Korean War and the War in Afghanistan. Over 370 recordings done by Dr. Reginald H. Roy and his students are the largest holding in this category. Historian Hal Lawrence also donated over 180 recordings that he collected of Canadian Naval personnel.

Collection descriptions

The following are descriptions of the major collections of interviews that make up the collection:

Reg Roy collection

Dr. Reginald H. Roy was the Chair of Military History (1968-1988) and the Social Sciences Research Centre (1970-75) at the University of Victoria. The Reg Roy fonds contains over 370 sound recordings of oral histories conducted over his career and was recognized by Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo in 2005.

Social Sciences Research Centre collection

This is an important subset of the Reg Roy collection of military oral histories and consists of extensive interviews with Major-General George R. Pearkes and other interviews with his family and a number of personal and professional associates for his biography entitled For Most Conspicuous Bravery: A Biography of Major-General George R. Pearkes, V.C., Through Two World Wars (1977).

Hal Lawrence collection

This collection includes approximately 120 interviews conducted by Commander Hal Lawrence in collaboration with National Defence/Défense nationale on the Canadian Navy (1940-1995). Some of these interviews have been transcribed and some are only available as transcripts.

Shawn Cafferky collection

This collection of 14 interviews by military historian Dr. Shawn Cafferky of the University of Victoria's Department of History were conducted in 1997 and refer to the experimental Squadron VX-10, and the testing and use of the Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopter.

Military oral history class interviews

Since 2005, the History Department has offered a Military Oral History seminar course as a component of the Canadian Veterans Oral History Project, a joint project of the Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island (RUSI VI) and University of Victoria. The seminar course offers students the opportunity to interview veterans for course credit and the resulting interviews are deposited with University of Victoria Special Collections.

Elizabeth Hazlitte collection

This collection is comprised of six interviews with veterans of WWI conducted from 1983-84 by Elizabeth Hazlitte, a nurse at Victoria's Veteran's Hospital at the Memorial Pavilion.

David Stafford collection

This collection is comprised of nine interviews conducted by Dr. David Stafford, retired history professor at the University of Victoria, for his monograph on clandestine operations in WWII.

Copyright policy

The material is to be used solely for the purpose of research or private study. Any use of the copy for a purpose other than research of private study may require the authorization of the copyright owner of the work in question. The user must assume full responsibility for obtaining copyright permission to publish items in whole or in part.

Although the University of Victoria has permission to make the oral histories available to researchers, the copyright belongs to the interviewees. If extensive passages are used for publication, exhibition or presentation permission from the copyright holder is necessary.

Publication credit

The University of Victoria Special Collections will be given a copy of the book, article, exhibition catalogue, or supporting publication in all cases of publication, exhibition, or presentation of the oral history reproductions. In such cases a credit line citation should read as follows:

University of Victoria, Special Collections, Military Oral History Collection,
[Name of Interviewee], [Record ID Number]

Image: Elizabeth Hazlitte interviewing World War One veteran Egbert Browning in 1983

Resource type

Collection

Subject

Genre

Location

Canada, , Canada

Permalink: http://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/4a7eade6-d0b7-4807-8cd2-6eb9c5a66937

Collection Details

: Items 789
: Last Updated 2025-04-01

Parent Collections (1)

Military History Collection

Works (789)

331. Wilson, Gerald Einar: my Air Force recollections (March 7, 2005)

Title:: Wilson, Gerald Einar: my Air Force recollections (March 7, 2005)
Description:: Interviewer: Allen, Nicholas, ABSTRACT: Flight Lieutenant Gerald E. Wilson Gerald Wilson attended the University Alberta where he completed an undergraduate degree just prior to entering the service. He joined the Royal Canadian air force at the end of 1941 shortly after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour. He was a member of the 49th battalion in Edmonton as a member of the bugle band during high school prior to entering the service. (8:00) He became a Navigator B following his initial training. He explains the training he received, what type of aircraft he used. (10:00) He discusses his training operations in Britain, relations with his crew and how they came together. He explains the relations between different air forces in Britain and the different nationalities amongst the aircrews. (16:00) He explains which squadrons he served with and which operations he participated in. (18:00) He tells his most interesting trip about a bombing raid on an oil plant (see picture) during February of 1945. (20:00) He explains how the pathfinders operated in an operation using this particular operation has an example. (26:00) He explains how strategic the bombing operations were to the entire war effort. (31:00) Gives an example of how the relations between American and Canadians during the war. (36:00) How they avoided being shot down by anti-craft and German fighters. (38:00) Explains how the aircraft would hold up under fire., Interviewee: Wilson, Gerald Einar, Rank: Flight Lieutenant. , and An interview/narrative of Gerald E. Wilson's experiences during World War II. Flight Lieutenant Wilson served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 7, 2005.
Subject:: World War (1914-1918), World War (1939-1945), Military history, and Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force
Contributor:: Wilson, Gerald Einar and Allen, Nicholas
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-07
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: Japan
Coordinates:: 35.68536, 139.75309
Additional Physical Characteristics:: One original audio cassette in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: sound recordings, oral histories (literary genre), reminiscences, and interviews
Archival Item Identifier:: WGE_456
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2012-12-17
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

332. Rodney, William: my Air Force recollections (March 9, 2005)

Title:: Rodney, William: my Air Force recollections (March 9, 2005)
Description:: An interview/narrative of William Rodney's experiences during World War II. Flight Lieutenant Rodney served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 9, 2005., ABSTRACT: Flight Lieutenant William Rodney Enlisted into the Air Force at 17 and called up when turned 18. He served from June 1941 to the end of 1945 and during the post-war from 1947 to 1950. He spent 2 to 3 years overseas. He spent the majority of time at the Commonwealth Training school. He was part of the coastal command in British Columbia prior to going overseas. He explains the different aircraft and their flaws during his training experiences. He flew 18 different types of airplanes. He talks about his low-level flying during the time serving in the coastal command. He became an instructor after the American instructors went back to the states following the bombing of Pearl Harbour. He explains this saved his life because he was not sent overseas but instead stayed to instruct. He joined the Air Force because of his interest in aircraft and flying. He went overseas in the spring of 1943. He was stationed in Perth, Scotland, which would be the farthest station North. He explains the relations in his squadrons. He feels that mix squadrons were the best ones. His first operation was in the early spring of 1944. He explains the two operations he flew on D-Day over Utah beaches. He then explains that the resistance he would engage in during the bombing flights from enemy aircraft to flak. Rodney explains a couple of close calls he had when taking off and landing his Wellington a few times. He explains the mining of Brest Harbour. He describes the reason for the operation and situation there as a U-boat and naval port for the German Navy. The operation was to block the harbour from getting involved in the D-Day landings., Interviewer: Allen, Nicholas, Interviewee: Rodney, William, and Rank: Flight Lieutenant.
Subject:: World War (1914-1918), World War (1939-1945), Military history, Naval history, and Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force
Contributor:: Allen, Nicholas and Rodney, William
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-09
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: British Columbia and Scotland--Perth
Coordinates:: 56.39522, -3.43139 and 53.99983, -125.0032
Additional Physical Characteristics:: One original audio cassette in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: reminiscences, oral histories (literary genre), sound recordings, and interviews
Archival Item Identifier:: RW_447
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2012-12-03
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

333. Skaalen, Lloyd: my Air Force recollections (March 9, and 10, 2005)

Title:: Skaalen, Lloyd: my Air Force recollections (March 9, and 10, 2005)
Description:: An interview/narrative of Brigadier-General Lloyd Skaalen's experiences whilst serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 9 and 10, 2005., Interviewer: Scales, Peter, Rank: Brigadier-General. , Interviewee: Skaalen, Lloyd, and ABSTRACT: Brigadier-General Lloyd Skaalen Royal Canadian Air Force (Cassette 1, Side 1) (0 minutes) Born on February 26, 1931 in Tofield, Alberta. (5) In December 1948 Skaalen joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Flight Cadet. He had been in Air Cadets in Edmonton, and in Army Cadets in Vancouver. He was sent to Manning Depot in Toronto for to two months Dec. 1948 - Jan. 1949) for an introduction to Air Force life. Of 50 people in his class at Manning Depot, 25 were selected for pilot training. (10) Basic training started at Centralia in February 1949, where most students were Canadian. Some students had been in the lower ranks in WWII. (14) Canada bought or borrowed a small number of Vampires, an early jet fighter, in the 1950's. Skaalen's first flight in a Vampire was on April 17, 1950, at Chatham, New Brunswick. Skaalen logged 278 hours and 45 minutes on the Vampire. (23) In January 1951 Skaalen's unit, 421 Squadron, moved to Royal Air Force station Odiham, where they flew leased RAF Vampire V's. The mission or 421 Squadron, in England and in Canada, was air defence vs. enemy fighters and bombers. (28) The squadron returned to Canada for conversion to the F-86 Mk II. Training was held at St Hubert, in Montreal, including ground school and flying time. (30) Discussion about the F-86. (32) Received instruction from F-86 pilots who had been or would go to the Korean War. (34) In 1952 421 Squadron moved to Grostenquin, France. Discussion of life in Grostenquin. (40) Discussion of Soviet threat to Western Europe and preparations for combat, which included simulations, intelligence and study of the latest Russian equipment. (Cassette 1, Side 2) (0 minutes) After flying Sabres in Grostenquin Skaalen worked in the Overseas Ferry Unit, flying and coordinating the move of lighter aircraft from Canada to Europe. He later became a transport pilot at RCAF Station Trenton, flying North Stars. (6) During his years at 426 Squadron, he flew in the Arctic, the Belgian Congo, Nigeria, and points in between. He did not fly behind the Iron Curtain, although many others did, especially 412 Squadron (VIP flight). (12) In August 1966 he started work at the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff in Washington. His title was Wing Commander Air Operations and he advised RCAF headquarters on operational matters, training and flight safety. Flight Safety was "a great priority" even in the Sabre days. (20) In July 1972 he became base commander of Canadian Forces Base Summerside, PEI. Maritime patrol missions were flown from Summerside, looking for Russian submarines. Soviet submarines were sought between Iceland and Newfoundland. (28) For about one year, from July 1976 to August 1977. BGen Skaalen was the Director of International and Arms Control Policy at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Discussion of Arms Control Treaties. (39) Discussion of Soviet and North Korean posturing. (44) Skaalen went on to be deputy commander of a NORAD (1977 - 79). (Cassette 2, Side 1) (0 minutes) Discussion of NORAD and the military-industrial complex. (13) From 1982-84 BGen Skaalen returned to NDHQ as the Director General of Current Policy. This set him again into arms control negotiations, during the Trudeau government. Discussion about the state of the Canadian Military. (23) Discussion about the integration of women in the military in the 1980's as well as their role in Afghanistan. The Integration of women was not a military initiative but was "very much a government initiative...equal rights was the order of the day". Discussion of the value of outspoken officers. (Cassette 2, Side 2) (0 minutes) Skaalen retired and joined Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) as their representative in Ottawa. Discussion about Canadian defence and foreign affairs policy. Impressions of the Cold War.
Subject:: Cold War (1945-1989), North American Aerospace Defense Command, Military history, Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force, and Afghan Wars
Contributor:: Skaalen, Lloyd and Scales, Peter
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-09
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 4 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: Afghanistan and Québec--Montréal
Coordinates:: 45.50884, -73.58781/33, 66
Additional Physical Characteristics:: Two original audio cassettes in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: reminiscences, sound recordings, interviews, and oral histories (literary genre)
Archival Item Identifier:: SL_453
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2012-12-06
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

334. Chance, Peter: my Navy recollections (March 10, 2005)

Title:: Chance, Peter: my Navy recollections (March 10, 2005)
Description:: An interview/narrative of Peter Chance's experiences during World War II. Commander Chance served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on March 10, 2005., ABSTRACT: Commander Peter Chance Royal Canadian Navy Chance_P_0136_01.mp3 (Cassette 1) Born in Ottawa; Fall 1938 joined Naval Reserve, RCNVR Division Ottawa as midshipman; life in RCNVR in Ottawa; Spring 1939 appointed to Stadacona in Halifax for training. placed on active list; description of Halifax: Admiralty House; Roommates with Doctor Best; courses including gunnery, signals, and parade, seen as rudimentary; trained in ciphers and codes at Staff Officers Intelligence; felt war was evident with increase in sailors: saw HMS Barrick in port; conducted survey of boom defence of Halifax Harbour; handful amount of officers to train influx of sailors; prepared for war before Canadian declaration; Sept 14th 1939 goes to sea aboard HMCS St. Laurent, under Harry DeWolfe; sailed on HX1 Sept. 15th; detailed description of difficulties of armaments and equipment of St. Laurent at start of war (weapons, communication, Asdic); reliance on Battleship, no fuelling at sea; Commodore of the convoy and zigzag book/clock; describes difficulty of keeping position in convoy; lack of working knowledge of torpedoes and depth charges, inappropriate clothes; life jackets; on convoy duty from Sept-Dec; concern was raiders and pocket battleships; "totally unprepared"; transferred to RCN: lack of sleep 4 hours on,4 hours off watch; entertainment mainly onshore; number of escorts at four; men vs. sea, not a feeling of being in a battle one; merchant/escort relations; Commodore convoy conference; duration and distance of convoys; The Great Circle Route; April '43 joins HMCS Skeena as Sub-Lieutenant; (back tracks to time with RN): June '40 in Quebec City as "special entry"; crosses to UK in late August; outfitted at Geeves: Chance_P_0136_02.mp3 Lancaster Gate Hotel during the Blitz; attempts to join fire brigade; arrive at college to a class of "special entries" of mixed nationalities; four month class Sept. to Dec. '40, starting from scratch; threat of invasion, senior cadets to dig trenches for college down to harbour; remarks about Royal Air Force; the Siege of Britain; '43 as turning point in Atlantic with industry, better equipment and training; reroute convoys through decrypting German signals; never encountered a submarine, did make contacts but not confirmed; December '44 passenger on Seacliff frigate on first operational cruise, crossing to Canada forced submarine to surface; sentry of German POW from U-Boat; censorship; (Back tracks to RN Training) HMS Mauritius Jan '41 AFTER Dartmouth training; brand new vessel; Flying on biplane; Convoy on East coast of Africa; Indian Ocean patrolling for raiders; dry-dock in Singapore in Fall of '41; assigned various duties to further education while ship in dry-dock; Invasion of Singapore by Japanese; Operation Peter against local Japanese merchants; escape Singapore; return to England; view first one thousand bomber raid; shot down friendly Polish aircraft; Seamanship's exam; Sept to December 1942, Sub-Lieutenant's courses: Jan '43 Jamaican Planter sank from collision with tanker; May '43 joins HMCS Skeena on Newfie-Derry run; friendly submarine training to prep for future D-Day invasion; D-Day Invasion with Escort Group 12 as a barrier force on English Channel; encounter with acoustic torpedo and CAT gear operations; August and Operation DREDGER off French Coast; navigation difficulties almost led to running into lighthouse. Chance_P_0136_03.mp3 (Cassette 2) Navigation difficulties; operations off French coast and collision with friendly vessel; Skeena faces opposition from Heinkel bomber, RCN better equipped; Skeena receives a piano from Londonderry for wardroom; party with famous jazz musician Eddie Duchane (spelling?!?!); joins Escort Group 11; Oct '44 onboard when Skeena is lost at anchor from storm in Iceland, fifteen men lost; returns to Londonderry; Survivor's Leave; joins Gatineau, then XO of the second Ottawa for troop convoying back to Halifax; Takes shore based position and ends role; British naval losses compared to Canada, training facilities; reflection on RCN commitment., Interviewee: Chance, Peter, Rank: Commander. , and Interviewer: Horne, Marshall
Subject:: World War (1939-1945), World War (1914-1918), Canada. Royal Canadian Navy, Operation Overlord, Naval history, and Military history
Contributor:: Chance, Peter and Horne, Marshall
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-10
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 3 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: England and Japan
Coordinates:: 52.16045, -0.70312 and 35.68536, 139.75309
Additional Physical Characteristics:: Two original audio cassettes (ca. 180 min.) in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: sound recordings, reminiscences, oral histories (literary genre), and interviews
Archival Item Identifier:: PC_136
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2010-05-18
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2010. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

335. Reid, Norman Leslie: my Air Force recollections (March 10, 2005)

Title:: Reid, Norman Leslie: my Air Force recollections (March 10, 2005)
Description:: Interviewer: Johnson, Gene, Interviewee: Reid, Norman Leslie, An interview/narrative of Norman Reid's experiences during World War II. Flying Officer Reid served with the Royal Air Force. Interview took place on March 10, 2005., ABSTRACT: Flying Officer Norman Reid Norman Reid Pt 1.mp3 Flying Officer Norman Reid. Royal Air Force. Interviewed by undergraduate student Gene M. Johnson as part of oral history program sponsored by the Royal United Services Institute. Please note that on the 26 March 2005 the first part of interview was inadvertently deleted. Deleted portion contained information concerning Mr. Reid's father. His father had served at Monz and Paschendale and spoke often of his experiences. Together with his parent's British background, these stories instilled in him a deep sense of patriotism and influenced his decision to join the forces. Also spoke extensively on the recruiting and training process. Following training he transferred to the RAF and proceeded to Britain. Sailed from New York to Britain on the Queen Elizabeth along with 17000 other men. Most of these were Americans. In the deleted portion of the recording, Mr. Reid is asked about casualties. Could he explain why certain crew stations sustained higher casualty rates. Mr. Reid expressed the belief that a comprehensive study would refute claims that tail-gunners sustained greater casualties than other crew members. In certain types of situations, they did sustain higher casualties, but he believes that in other situations other crew members were at greater risks. On what remains of the recording, Mr Reid discusses night fighters, training and survival. There were no practice bail outs, they were an unnecessary risks. It was impressed on aircrew was that there were underground resistance groups. If crew survived destruction of aircraft and evaded capture they needed to contact these groups. Describes survival gear. Talks of recent lectures to NATO and US forces concerning evasion techniques. From Operational Training Unit (OTC) went to ferry-training unit for aircraft testing and familiarity. German operational training units used to prey on allied aircraft along the Harwell-Gibralter route. From Gibraltar flew to Fez, then to Uduna to Tafarui and finally to Cairoan, a Wellington base located in Tunisia. Long distance bombing raids to Milan, Turin, and sub-pens at Toulouse. These were coordinated with attacks launched from Britain. Discusses the significance of oil installations at Ploesti, Romania. Goes into detail concerning plans for Ploesti. Full scale raids against Ploesti began in early 1944. Describes differences between American and British bombing raids. Mentions Iron Gates, a chokepoint located at the intersection of the Carpathian and Transylvanian Mountains and night photography. Discussion of the importance of the Navigator and their relationship to the pilot. Discussion of timed and dummy runs. Description of an incident when the crew bailed out over Eastern Serbia, they made contact with guerrilla forces next day. Provides historical interpretation of the Yugoslavian situation. Recalls that aircrew briefings stressed that downed airmen would not survive without assistance. Decided to make contact. Discusses the need for caution on part of the Resistance as Germany would drop spies dressed as allies in order to uncover escape network. Long journey in a northwest direction with many stops along the way. Discussion of Mihailovich, who he met on several occasions, and the Chetniks. Describes close calls with German forces. Mr. Reid assisted Chetnik doctor as he worked on downed airmen. know. Fire-fights between Chetniks, Germans and the Italians were common. Describes making contact with Allied forces. Devised codes based on aircraft names, American dog tag numbers and miscellaneous information that would not be known to Germans. American authorities believed the transmissions to be credible but he British felt they were false. In August, at dawn 6 DC-3s, accompanied by 2 squadrons of P-51 s appeared from the west. The DC-3 landed and kept their engines running while downed aircrew embarked. P-51 flew escort all of the back to Italy. Describes de-lousing and de-briefing at American base. Operation Halyard, the rescue of allied airmen from Yugoslavia continued until the end of 1944. Norman Reid Pt 2.mp3 (Mini Disc 2) Discussion of Post Traumatic Stress and LMF. Dishonour associated with LMF stuck with the man even after he returned home. Closing comments. Royal Air Forces Escaping Society (RAFES) was formed to "repay a debt of honour that we feel we owe to the members of the underground resistance groups (helpers) who lay their lives on the line, and in many cases, gave their lives and those of their families to help us." Every year RAFES brings over to Canada 5 or 6 helpers., and Rank: Flying Officer.
Subject:: World War (1939-1945), Military history, Personal narratives--Canadian, and World War (1914-1918)
Contributor:: Johnson, Gene and Reid, Norman Leslie
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-10
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: Yugoslavia and Germany
Coordinates:: 51.5, 10.5 and 44, 19.75
Additional Physical Characteristics:: Original recordings (MP3) on compact disc (CD-R) in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: interviews, sound recordings, oral histories (literary genre), and reminiscences
Archival Item Identifier:: RNL_445
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2005-04-03
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 128 kbps and 44 kHz. Digitized by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2005. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

336. Rodney, William: my Air Force recollections (March 10, 2005)

Title:: Rodney, William: my Air Force recollections (March 10, 2005)
Description:: Interviewee: Rodney, William, An interview/narrative of William Rodney's experiences during World War II. Flight Lieutenant Rodney served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 10, 2005., Interviewer: Nicks, Jennifer, Rank: Flight Lieutenant. , and ABSTRACT: Flight Lieutenant William Rodney TRACK 1 Interest in Airplanes led to enlisting for Air Force. Saw the War as a prolonged agony. (4 minutes) Education - finished high school, enlisted at 17 called up when he turned 18. Education offered during the war was only a variety of training for the war effort. Education after the war was on one's own initiative. (6 minutes) Met people from all over the world during time in service. Traveled on leave to see England. Trained on Tiger Moths, (biplane) to fly it properly one had to have care and attention. Multiple engine training on Cessna Crane's. Odd aircraft because it was light. Anson's had manual undercarriage, which allowed for developing ones right arm. Hampton's were used later in training. Some people were better at conversion than others since they had natural aptitudes. (10 minutes) Hampton's were single seaters, (pilot's airplane); its reputation was uncalled for. Nice airplane to fly. Problems were based in poor handling, (self induced). Not able to have dual instruction, learned cockpit drill, squeezed in behind pilots seat to attempt to see what the pilots was doing, then sent on their own. (13 minutes) Conversion to Wellington, Halifax, and Lancaster they received dual instruction. Wellington was a durable old aircraft. (15 minutes) One engine was cut soon after takeoff for training in case an engine was lost. Actually lost an engine one day and was able to get the plane settled. His anger was able to get them out of it. (18 minutes) Training had worked. Briefed about some things such as remedial actions. One had to use their own mind and senses. No directive for every issue. TRACK 2 Real airplanes existed fifty years ago but not today. In the past one had to have lots of training to make the aircraft do anything. (2 minutes) Technology has made things easier; pilots are not as well trained today as former pilots were. Pilots had never been upside down or spun in an airplane today. (5 minutes) Briefings. Base was a small village. Map of Europe was on the wall of the briefing room. Given target, route, nature of topography, turning points and informed or any markers. (7 minutes) Saw very few if any markers depended on good flying and navigator as well as rest of crew. Object was to fly accurately, drop the bomb, and hold steady long enough to take a picture. The Picture would have shown where you had dropped your bomb in relation to the target. (9 minutes) Stay low to prevent damage, since many attacks came from below. Germans flew 200-300 feet below and fired at the wing tanks. Gave crew 30-55 seconds to get out of the aircraft. Did not want anyone underneath, thus flew low. Sent to General Reconnaissance School in Summerside PEI - all pilots were there to learn navigation skills. Did chart with navigator, carried map in his flying boot for reference. (13 minutes) Supposed to go to coastal command because of his training - compares costal command to bomber command. (15 minutes) Discusses orders and their applicability. TRACK 3 Pilots used what they had, did not have a chance to complain. Halifax Mark 3 was his preference. Lancaster's were overgrown Anson that anyone could fly. Halifax had teething problems. Crew was better situated in the aircraft. Escape hatch was in a better position. (2 minutes) Halifax and Sterling were better to escape from. Higher survival rate - around 20% while Lancaster's were only around 12%. Radial engines were quieter and better performing. Lancaster never out of Great Britain. Lancaster pilot could not land a Halifax. (5 minutes) Halifax was preferable. Improving technology during the war, was it done fast enough and efficiently enough? Junior ranks just used what they had and did not have much choice, yet some did have preferences as to what aircraft they flew. (8 minutes) Aircraft was modern for the time but crude by modern standards. You could complain that your aircraft was not the newest or the hottest but there was not much that you could do about it. (9 minutes) D-Day experiences. Had to take out a key position and they flew in horrible weather. They were able to impair it but were unable to destroy it as planned. When leaving they could see the activity of D-Day. Flew second operation to Utah beach, took out transportation railways and communication lines. (12 minutes) Air Force reassured the Navy - Navy has always been concerned about getting shot at! He went to Cambridge to University, but remained with 418 squadron on reserve. Had a variety of aircraft such as Harvard, Expeditor, and Mitchell. Flew on weekends and nights while going to school. Had more flying time as reserve officer than anyone else on the reserves. (15 minutes) Hitting the `wrong' target - not worried, big targets did you hit the aiming point? Many crews may have agreed to avoid areas of significance such as cathedrals. (18 minutes) Mine Brest Harbour- bottle up any German Naval Units. Used mines that could not be diffused - would go safe after certain time period so that they would not affect the Allied advance. Navy came into brief them on the nature of the mines and the operation. Got temporary Bomb aimer, who was the naval sub-lieutenant. The Group Captain stuttered, and always used to wish good luck this night he reminded the troops that they only provide name number and rank. Went out at 2 or 3 in the morning for the long flight. (22 minutes) Piped the naval officer aboard the aircraft. Dropped mines from 1500 ft with navigational and visual skills. Needed control of airspeed since the bomb bay doors needed to be adjusted to close properly. They flew down toward the ground and were able to lose the Germans defences. Once the aircraft was down they would reduce airspeed. Returned home to a beautiful morning. Never saw the naval bomb aimer again. (26 minutes) still stay in contact with his crew.
Subject:: Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force, World War (1939-1945), Naval history, World War (1914-1918), and Military history
Contributor:: Rodney, William and Nicks, Jennifer
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-10
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: Europe and England
Coordinates:: 48.69096, 9.14062 and 52.16045, -0.70312
Additional Physical Characteristics:: One original audio cassette ; 1 digital audio MiniDisc in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: sound recordings, oral histories (literary genre), reminiscences, and interviews
Archival Item Identifier:: RW_448
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2012-12-04
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

337. Gordon, Hugh: my naval experiences (March 12, 2005)

Title:: Gordon, Hugh: my naval experiences (March 12, 2005)
Description:: Interviewer: White, Cameron, Rank: Lieutenant-Commander. , ABSTRACT: Lieutenant Commander Hugh Gordon Royal Navy Born in Oak Bay in 1919, Gordon chose the Navy because he had experience on the seas. Father was an agent for a Norwegian shipping company, so Gordon met a variety of merchant Captains as a boy. In 1932 Gordon sailed across the Pacific to Shanghai, sailing back in 1937. It was there that he had his first military experience, as part of a volunteer security force. In 1939 he sailed across the Pacific and back aboard a freighter. Basic training at HMCS Stadacona, Halifax. Discusses facilities, only class to go through the "mousetraps," a very basic housing setup on the grounds of Admiralty House. Trainers included a well qualified Navigation instructor with extensive sailing experience (taught in a church basement), strict gunnery trainers at dockyard and an RCN signalman at Camp Hill hospital. ASW training at dockyard Torpedo school, seamanship training did not include any ship time beyond a rowboat. Deployed to HMCS Fredericton, flower-class corvette, where he spent 6 months. Only three other officers, no engineer. Only RCN personnel were Coxswain and Bosun, possibly the Yeoman. Captain an experienced merchant sailor, 1st Lt. RCNVR, pleasure sailor, navigator RCNR with second mate's ticket. Towed an icebound Bangor to Quebec on first sailing. Discusses watchkeeping, alone and inexperienced but didn't know any better. Discusses living conditions, inadequate clothing for open bridge watch, his cabin as aft, had to go outside to reach the bridge. Never received operational training until 1945. Discusses service aboard an RN four-stacker, HMS Mansfield as group A/S officer, more later. Notes that he received his watchkeeping cert. in three months although he'd already been standing watch; didn't know what the cert was when he received it. Further discussion of watchkeeping; describes an incident in which his 151 Lt. (who he calls Bob) accidentally steered the ship into the middle of the convoy, Bob never went to sea again as a result. Also tells of an incident where they lost the convoy altogether. Discusses ASW weapons, pros and cons of each and how they were used. More on four-stackers: tells of a storm so bad that the ship was decommissioned because of damage. Describes a voyage which resulted in three boards of inquiry, incidents included a deadly case of friendly fire, which Gordon blames on the RN obsession with regulations, wouldn't have happened on a RCN ship. After Mansfield, Gordon was sent to Belfast to await the commissioning of a state of the art Castle class corvette, HMCS Arnprior. Equipped with two modern ASDIC sets and Squid, the latest ASW weapon, she was one of only 10 such ships in the RCN. Describes the advantages of Squid over depth charges. Speaks briefly of service aboard HMCS Lanark, a new frigate, he has some ships papers. Little turnover aboard his ships. Talks about his A/S team, which he assembled and trained personally. Further discusses the Castle class Arnprior, equipment included HF/DF and type 272 radar; many crewmates were old acquaintances, a happy ship. Notes that ASW ships were almost all RCNVR crewed. Speaks of mutiny aboard HMCS Chebogue, while this incident is on the record, Gordon provides details on the causes of the mutiny, and also the circumstances surrounding her torpedoing which differ starkly from the record, says Chebogue "did every wrong to get torpedoed." Some crew refused to be evacuated aboard the same vessel as the unpopular and apparently incompetent SOE. Discusses overall effectiveness of RCN vs. RN, training, equipment. Argues that the introduction of escort carriers was the deciding factor in the Battle of the Atlantic. Speaks of the importance of shore based HF/DF to ASW. Aside from Chebogue incident, never experienced a u-boat attack., An interview/narrative of Hugh Gordon's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant-Commander Gordon served with the Royal Navy. Interview took place on March 12, 2005., and Interviewee: Gordon, Hugh
Subject:: World War (1914-1918), Personal narratives--Canadian, World War (1939-1945), and Military history
Contributor:: White, Cameron and Gordon, Hugh
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-12
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: Nova Scotia--Halifax
Coordinates:: 44.6464, -63.57291
Additional Physical Characteristics:: One original audio cassette in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: reminiscences, oral histories (literary genre), sound recordings, and interviews
Archival Item Identifier:: GH_434
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2012-09-13
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

338. Lane, Barbara: my wartime experiences (March 14, 2005)

Title:: Lane, Barbara: my wartime experiences (March 14, 2005)
Description:: An interview/narrative of Barbara Lane's experiences during World War II and during the post-war years. Interview took place on March 14, 2005., ABSTRACT: Barbara Lane (Tape 1, Side 1) 000 - Mrs. Barbara Lane was born on September 08, 1924, in Yorkshire, was an only child and she was quite ambitious and wanted to be an actress. She began performing the troops at age 15, joined the Concert Party. She and her family had much fun during this time. Rationed extra gas coupons by the army for the traveling her father did taking her to and from shows. Did 640 shows performed. 026 - In 1944 she meets her husband had finished his 3rd tour flying Halifax and Lancaster's in Bomber Command over Europe. Husband stationed at 6 Bomber Command group headquarters. Became engaged in 1945 but husband would not marry her because he was going to the east and did not want to leave a widow behind. Fortunately war was over before he left. Were married December 3 1945. 039 - Husband commanding officer at RAF station at Odeon, her first experience as an air force wife. Where she learned about entertaining. Husband posted in Halifax where she followed as a war bride. Then boarded train to Vancouver and then took ferry to Victoria. 064 - Husband leaves for Toronto to attend Staff College, she stays behind because of lack of accommodation. Becomes homesick and is pregnant with first child. In march husband posted to Ottawa where Mrs. Lane follows with first daughter Susan. House and furniture was bought and ready for them where they could start their lives together. 086 - Second daughter Debra is born in Ottawa this time with her husband in 1948. 1950 moves to Edmonton where husband is commanding officer. Lots of entertaining and being entertained. 1952 moved back to Ottawa with 3 children, new son John. Posting to be 2 years. Husband honorary aid to the governor general, Vincent Massey. 109 -While in Ottawa met the Queen Mother. Next moved to London, England so husband could attend imperial defence college. Now husband, air commander. Then moved to Ottawa again where husband resumed position as honourary aid. 125 - Stayed in Ottawa until 1961 where he was posted to Trenton as Air Officer Commanding of Transport Command. Husband away a lot. Wives were not allowed to fly, so if she went along she drove to the location. 1964 fourth child born David in Trenton. Next they leave for Metz, France in 1965. Next to Germany after De Gaulee stepped out of NATO to the town of Lahr. Husband is now Vice Marshall. Finds people of Lahr very friendly. Where she learns German from a local. 186 - Next Posting is in Montreal, where husband was Deputy Commander of Mobile Command in the army. House provided by army. During the stay they went through the FLQ crisis, where her husband had an escort and was armed with a revolver. Had a guard outside the house, it was a very tense time. 217 - 1972 move to Colorado Springs where husband was Deputy commander chief of NORAD, with rank of lieutenant general. Husband very busy but now she can fly with them to various events. Were there for 2 years where he then retired. Before meeting her husband she had no military experience since her family was not involved. Had to deal with rationing when they were at Odean and were entertaining. Husband never away for too long except for the 6 months at staff college. Family knew what their father did and accepted it. Family was very close and still are., Interviewer: Sinclair, Kate, and Interviewee: Lane, Barbara
Subject:: World War (1914-1918), Military history, World War (1939-1945), and North American Aerospace Defense Command
Contributor:: Sinclair, Kate and Lane, Barbara
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-14
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: Germany, Colorado--Colorado Springs, British Columbia--Victoria, and Québec--Montréal
Coordinates:: 48.4359, -123.35155, 51.5, 10.5, 45.50884, -73.58781, and 38.83388, -104.82136
Additional Physical Characteristics:: One original audio cassette in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: interviews, oral histories (literary genre), reminiscences, and sound recordings
Archival Item Identifier:: LB_440
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2012-11-15
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

339. Lang, Jim J.: my Air Force recollections (March 15, 2005)

Title:: Lang, Jim J.: my Air Force recollections (March 15, 2005)
Description:: ABSTRACT: Flight Lieutenant Jim Lang Royal Canadian Air Force Jim Lang.mp3 Mr. Lang's grandfather immigrated to Canada in 1910. Mr. Lang was born on Saltspring Island. Provides family details. Father joined Royal Navy and served in Middle-East. Returned 1920, but family orchard had been sold. Father took family to England to family manage saw mill. Schooled in Cheltenham and then as boarder at Dean Close. Motives for joining not related to Father wartime experience. Not due to patriotism. Survival in 1930s occupied his time. Talks of apprenticeships and state of English economy. The sport of rugby provided contacts which led him to Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps. September 1939 members of corps called up and "guarded the beaches of Bermuda to the best of our ability." Eventually became Second Lieutenant. Volunteer Rifle and local flying club trained up ten pilots. Governor of Bermuda shipped these ten off to Britain. Spent month on the water and was on water when Jarvis Bay was sunk. Met survivors in Halifax. Once in England joined the RAF. Entry rank Aircraftsman Class 1. From ITW (Initial Training Wing) went to Redding for Elementary Flying Training 2TEFTS. Explains training sequence. Awarded wings and went on to Operational Training. Trained on Bleinheims and eventually posted to a Mosquito squadron. Spring of 1942 twenty Mosquito crews put together "to see what the Mosquito was good for." Losses quite high during this period. Shot down 11 October 1942 over Utrecht. He and his navigator were no. 15 and 16 to be shot down. Hanover had been target. "Industrial areas only. I excuse it by saying that... nuisance raids only at that point." Asked to provide information regarding training geared towards survival and evasion. "Yes, on rainy days." Little emphasis given to this aspect. "It wasn't going to happen to us." Describes difficulty of exiting Mosquito. His version of being shot down quite different from that of his navigator. "I do not recall getting out of the aircraft." Hypoxia is possible explanation. Describes waking up floating downwards through cloud. Describes making contact with resistance. Pilots at this time were not aware that resistance groups existed; still early in the war. Safe house right next to German's officer's mess. Stayed there a week. Handed over to Dutch police and later to the Germans. From Amsterdam he was shipped to a processing centre. Interviewed by German officer then "spent the night in a jail with a lot of Germans in there for various violations of their own discipline.... No animosity at all, absolutely none." To Rotterdam then down Rhine to Frankfurt. At a second processing centre in Frankfurt, he was reunited with his navigator. Germans new quite a lot about the squadron and its personnel. Didn't attempt to extract information about the Mosquito. Once sufficient numbers of POWs were assembled they were shipped off to Stalag Luft 3. "We had the biggest hodgepodge of crooks and nationalities you could imagine.... the whole spectrum of the allies... make as big a nuisance as we could to the Germans." Went in to Stalag Luft 3 at age of 29, determined to keep fit; did not participate in courses that other POW were taking. "There were people who were bothered by the wire. They had jump into it... It didn't affect me that way.... I would join into the production of tunnels where I could fit in." Escape was not uppermost in his mind. "We used to beef like hell" about tunnellers. "I was a seasoned old Kriegie." Concerned about survival, not escape. Talks about Big X, Roger Bushell, who organized the Great Escape tunnel. "He was told that if he ever escape again they'd shoot him." Talks about his role in the construction of the tunnel; As a watchman he kept a tab on the ferrets (German guards); as a Penguin he distributed sand from the tunnel across the whole compound. Flt Lt Lang stresses that he did what he could to help, but did not want to escape. As for the escape "It was a waste, a terrible waste of good people. But I suppose it had to be done." SBO (Senior British Officer) great. American discipline not as good. Great relationships between the POWs. Cooperation that he hadn't seen before and hasn't seen since. Great Escape. news of the massacre. Effect on morale. "The German commandant was ashamed to say what he had to say." "And in the summer they started sending back the urns." Talks about the arrival of POWs who had been transferred from concentration camps. Mentions Art Kinnis, a Buchenwald survivor. More on the Great Escape. Was the sacrifice of good friends worth it? "Where we had inconvenienced the German army at the expense of fifty friends." In 1945 camp evacuated and moved north towards the Elbe. During Great March "we maintained the unit wherever we could." Marching north, everyone became more determined to live. Some animosity from German people. Guards and prisoners were in the same boat. The guard "was quite happy to be with us, marching in a safe situation." Alternative was the eastern front. Liberated by a single jeep. Commenting on the allied forces: "I'm sorry I saw a conquering army, because there was no discipline and it was horrible how they were treating the German civilians." Taken by truck from Lubeck near where 2nd Army was billeted. Given 5 pounds on eve of VE Day and went into Brussels. Had planned to go AOL, but 5 pounds didn't go far. On VE Day was flown to London. Didn't have anywhere to go so remustered. Sent to Luxor Egypt to serve as airport commander. No flying duties. Decided to take a couple of training flights and realized that flying was dangerous, was tired of the uniform, and requested transfer to Canada in time for the Salmon season. Vesuvius Lodge on Saltspring. Getting back into civilian life in Canada not easy. As former member of RAF, he was not able to get same benefits as members of the RCAF. Married, did an assortment of jobs. Under legislation passed in 1976, but only after a legal battle, Flt Lt. Lang recognized as eligible for POW benefits. Pension and lump sum allowed him to start over again in late seventies. "In retrospect, the experience of a POW is something that certainly help put things together in some sort of proportion....It stood me in good stead when I look at my fellow man and understood what my fellow man was doing for me in POW camp.... It did benefit me in many ways." Describes own life to that of his navigator. Describes what makes a good Mosquito crew. Pilot/navigator teamwork. Compares the relationship with his first navigator. "We were not a good unit." Thinking back on that first crew relationship, he discusses discipline in RAF and expresses views on term LMF. Little thought given to stress and its effect on people. In conclusion discusses difference between the youth of today and that of his own era. "As I say, why the hell did I leave Bermuda lying on the beach at 21 years of age. But I did." Brief comments concerning the interview., An interview/narrative of Jim Lang's experiences during World War II. Flight Lieutenant Lang served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 13, 2005., Interviewer: Johnson, Gene, Interviewee: Lang, Jim J., and Rank: Flight Lieutenant.
Subject:: V-E Day (1945), Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force, World War (1939-1945), Military history, and World War (1914-1918)
Contributor:: Lang, Jim J. and Johnson, Gene
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-15
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: Bermuda Islands and England
Coordinates:: 52.16045, -0.70312 and 32.30444, -64.75167
Additional Physical Characteristics:: Original recording (MP3) on compact disc (CD-R) in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: sound recordings, oral histories (literary genre), reminiscences, and interviews
Archival Item Identifier:: LJJ_441
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2005-04-03
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 128 kbps and 44 kHz. Digitized by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2005. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

340. Craig, Kathleen: my Air Force recollections (March 16, 2005)

Title:: Craig, Kathleen: my Air Force recollections (March 16, 2005)
Description:: Interviewee: Craig, Kathleen, ABSTRACT: Kathleen Craig Royal Air Force (Cassette 1, Side 1) 000: Mrs. Kathleen Craig was born on September 12 1922 in Otly, Yorkshire, England. Joined the RAF in 1940 on her eighteenth birthday. Where she met her husband who was with 5-group bomber command at Leeming he was station navigator in 1943. Engaged in 1944 and married soon after. Once married he was sent for second tour to Tholthorpe. Mrs. Craig was stationed in Harrogate with the Air Ministry of Production. Stayed there for the whole of the war. In 1945 she found out she was pregnant and applied for a discharge. They rented a house as her husband started his second tour. 069: She would watch the thousand bomber raids beginning. She did not know what was happening because there was no communication between the base and the outside. Only English wife, all of the other wives were in Canada. Crew always at the house, she didn't know how to cook and was taught by the crew. Hard to get a lot of food because of rationing. Participated in VE day celebrations. 132: Husband was to go Far East. She insisted to wait for him to go to the Far East but he never actually went. Their first child was born. In 1946 she had a passage to Canada on the Queen Mary, her husband left before her about a year before. Speaks about her trip across the Atlantic. Husband waiting for her in Halifax. Talks about housing after the war. 176: Leave for a trip across Canada to see her husband's parents. On the trip back the brakes failed in the vehicle and were in a horrible car accident. Were taken to a nun hospital where they received some treatment but were asked to leave when another big accident happened. Went to see her husband's aunt in Boston to recover for a couple of days. Returned to Halifax. 266: Posted to Greenwood. Had to find furnished accommodation wherever they went. Then were posted to Summerside, PEI. In the fall he went to Staff College in Toronto. She is not pregnant with third child. Had to fly to Halifax to have her baby. Moved to Toronto to be with husband while he was in Staff College. 353: In 1950 they were posted to Rockcliffe, Ottawa where they rented a house. They then moved to PMQ in Radcliff that was a great financial relief. Then posted to Winnipeg in 1951. Husband ran the number two navigational school for NATO. Had PMQs in Winnipeg. Had many visiting VIP's when the class would graduate and they would hold teas in honour of them. Re-met an old acquaintance from the Air Ministry. 443: They then returned to Ottawa for four years and they bought a house. In 1958 they moved to Trenton where they experienced their best posting in Canada. Re-met Barbara Lane and their families spent time together. Started a riding school for everyone to join. Husband was Chief Administrative Officer. Lots of people coming and going so they had much entertaining to do. Met Johnny Johnson, a World War I hero. Also met one of the Queens ladies in waiting, Lady Egerton. Did lots of charity work there with other military families. 656: Next posted to Paris, SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters of Allied Powers in Europe). Time of the Iron Curtain and the French problem with Algiers. (Cassette 1, Side 2) 000: Received PMQs in SHAPE village. Four children were enrolled in the French school program. Would attend a ball in the Versailles Palace that was not open to the public. The last year they attended they brought their older children with them. Enrolled eldest son in Pangbourne Nautical College in England. 095: Applied for their last posting in BC and were sent to Mount Lolo where they didn't know anyone there. Mrs. Craig's husband soon retired and moved to Vancouver then to Victoria in 1969. Talks about their family life and the travelling that they took advantage of while they were in Europe. While in Paris they had to entertain a lot., Interviewer: Sinclair, Kate, and An interview/narrative of Kathleen Craig's experiences during World War II. Craig served with the Royal Air Force. Interview took place on March 16, 2005.
Subject:: World War (1939-1945), V-E Day (1945), World War (1914-1918), and Military history
Contributor:: Sinclair, Kate and Craig, Kathleen
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 2005-03-16
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License:: 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
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Sound
Extent:: 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage:: British Columbia--Victoria and England
Coordinates:: 52.16045, -0.70312 and 48.4359, -123.35155
Additional Physical Characteristics:: One original audio cassette in Special Collections.
Physical Repository:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Collection:: Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider:: University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
Genre:: reminiscences, oral histories (literary genre), sound recordings, and interviews
Archival Item Identifier:: CK_431
Fonds Title:: Military oral history collection
Fonds Identifier:: SC141
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
Date Digitized:: 2012-09-04
Technical Note:: Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.