Bartram, Dave: my armed forces recollections (November 7, 2008)

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Interviewer: Disher, Courtney

Rank: Major General.

Interviewee: Bartram, Dave

An interview/narrative of Major General Dave Bartram's experiences during the Gulf War. Interview took place on November 7, 2008.

ABSTRACT: Dave Bartram Bartram_D_0570_01.mp3 4:00min The navy supported the alliance blockade in the Persian gulf The air force our mission was in support of the navy against air attacks, Iraqi Exocet missiles, and Iraqi fighter aircraft Our air force helicopters and our ships were in support of the navy - naval blockade The mission as time went on expanded, and expanded again The missions changed as time went on because the capabilities of the CFl8 were being grossly underutilized only patrolling One of the first times since WWII and the Korean war that Canada had worked all together, the navy, air force and army The air force cOl1ll1lunitywasn't as up to speed as it could have been 15:00min Didn't think Canada as a nation would be immediately threatened Our national interests, and our allies would be threatened if he succeeded As a free nation, Canada had a right to stop this Canadian citizens over there who would be in danger Believed that Saddam would have not stopped with Kuwait l8:50min 'The majority were not integrated until it was forced upon us by the US planners:' We needed to operate in a combined mission, although the US didn't operate that way Unsatisfactory communication equipment The inability to talk securely over the phone between the allies was terrible countries had different kinds of systems The CFI8's were not used to their full capability until January Going into the bombing mission, the planes were capable, but there were no weapons Got weapons from the US 30:00min From an air perspective and air fighter perspective we were prepared Fairly prepared - understood the mission 31:30min Our military was under-funded tor many years - we had a deficit and the government was taking the peace dividend out of that Were very focused during this war - had everything or got everything they could have asked for - anything they asked for got done Initially the pilots felt as if they were underutilizedo Initially morale was weak because they felt as if they weren't being used to their full extent - changed as they got authorizations to do the sweep and escort as well as bombing missions 38:55min Fairly confident in the troops - well trained Lack of combat experience was made up with schooling and training under NORAD and NATO Always preparing for the unknown - planning and preparing and training 42:30min Canadians were under fire - navy, and air SAM's surface to air missiles from Iraqi's Was direct fire at areas - threat was always there Pilots were under direct attack most - roaming missions targets 45:00min Believes that everyone suffered from this, in different ways Not much known about it 46:30min Respiratory problems Cause of PTSD? Not enough known yet 48:20min Many lessons have been passed on Has spent years with commanders working in Afghanistan so he knows PGM's precision guided munitions Learned about taking care of military families and when the people come back 51:10min "The gulf war was an operation which was sanctioned by the UN, by the various nations in the UN supported and by the Security Council, resolutions supported by the Security Council." The gulf war was sanctioned by the UN and the countries in the UN War, peacemaking and peacekeeping are all different missions Peacekeeping contingent in Rwanda - trying to keep 2 sides apart in a relatively benign environment Not like the war in the gulf It's not like peacemaking like we are trying to do in Afghanistan Confident that they had the backing through the countries and the security council for the Persian Gulf invasion 55:00min Tremendous support from the Canadian people - great for morale Is forgotten in the context of Iraq "We had tremendous support from the people, absolutely tremendous support ... lots of people wrote and lots of people sent gifts ... unbelievable support from the Canadian people ... great for the troops, absolutely phenomenal."

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 33.13906, 35.85869
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • BD_570
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • October 6, 2009
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2009. 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

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