Irwin, Ross: my Air Force recollections (November 10, 2005)

Interviewer: Chapman, Matthew

Interviewee: Irwin, Ross

Rank: Warrant Officer.

An interview/narrative of Ross Irwin's experiences during World War II. Warrant Officer Irwin served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on November 10, 2005.

ABSTRACT: Warrant Officer Irwin Ross (Tape1, Side1) Discusses Family Life (00:46). Born in Sarnia Ont. Went to school in Toronto and worked for DeHavilland A/C. Joined RCAF in Aug 1940 (03:05). Went to Brandon Manning pool. Should have gone to Toronto Manning Depot, but typhoid outbreak caused him to go to Manitoba. Discusses manning depot (04:35). Parade ground training. Went to CRAFTS Canadian Royal Air Force Training School in St Thomas Ont. Posted initially to Dunville Ont. Was only there about 3 months, then posted to #3 wireless school in Winnipeg. Flying Tiger Moths. 1st of Nov 1941 was promoted to Corporal and in December went to Halifax to wait for a ship to take him over. From Bournemouth went to 418 squadron (09:15). In April 418 moved to Bradville Bay in Essex. More and more Canadians joining at this point. (11:50) Discussion about hard landings on Tricycle landing gear. Discusses how he went from being a mechanic to flight crew (14:35). They were looking for volunteers who were mechanics to take training as a flight engineer. He was then posted to St. Athens in Wales. Loved the Hercules engines. Sleeve Valve engine. Part of the course was a gunnery course (16:15). This was when 6th group was forming. So he thought he was going to RCAF. Discusses a crash landing in a Halifax at his HCU (20:25). He questions why the pilot decided to do a one wheel landing (22:35). Believed that he was comfortable with the training at his HCU, but thought that possibly the pilot was not (24:15). 6 Group was seen as a bit of a chop operation. He also found out that they could get away with little things that they could not have in 6 Group. Discusses his duties on a mission (29:50). Main job was keeping track of the fuel. They did not have any Gas gauges, so they waited until an engine actually shut off before switching tanks. Fuel was very important. Talks about the early Halifaxes (31:50). He thought it was a very satisfactory aircraft. It was easy to get in and out of, as opposed to a Lancaster. One night, they had problems with the rudders and went into a spin over Duisberg. Spun from 19000 to 5000 before pulling out. Discusses issues relating to the location of the Yorkshire bases in the north (34:30). Excitement kept them awake (35:50). Went on back to back missions. Did Frankfurt on one night and Stuttgart on the other night. Given wakey-wakey pills every mission, though usually didn't take the pills until on the way home. Discusses the timetable of a day's mission (37:10). Discussing the briefings received and how useful they were (40:08). He was told targets, flight route, types of flares. Discusses winds (41:20). Discusses H2S and Oboe. Didn't feel there was an increase in accuracy in bomb aiming. Discusses the battle of the Ruhr (46:00). (End of Tape 1, Side 1) (Tape 1, Side 2) Discusses his first pilot (02:20). The pilot used to grunt and groan as they went down the runway. Discusses 2nd crew (04:33). He didn't like to make friends. "It's best not to make friends." Discusses mission in which he earned his distinguished flying medal (06:16). Talks about his crew continuing on after he was screened (11:00). RAF procedures for reporting men missing (21:00) (23:14 End)

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Chapman, Matthew
• Irwin, Ross

Subject

• Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force
• Military history
• World War (1914-1918)
• Tanks (Military science)
• World War (1939-1945)

Language

• eng

Date created

• November 10, 2005

Relation

• Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
• Title of paper: "RCAF Bomber Crews". Link:  http://rusiviccda.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Oral-History-and-the-Recollections-of-RCAF-Bomber-Crews.pdf

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 2 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Nova Scotia--Halifax

Coordinates

• 44.6464, -63.57291

Additional physical characteristics

• Original sound recording on audio cassette also available.

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
• reminiscences
• oral histories (literary genre)

Archival item identifier

• IR_523

Fonds title

• Military oral history collection

Fonds identifier

• SC141

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection

Date digitized

• July 19, 2012

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/1wza-3v61

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