Paul, Ralph T.: my Air Force recollections (July 14, 1977)
Interviewee: Paul, Ralph T., b. 1913
Interviewer: Murphy, James
An interview/narrative of Ralph T. Paul's experiences during World War II. Squadron Leader Paul served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on July 14, 1977.
Rank: Squadron Leader.
ABSTRACT: Squadron Leader Ralph T. Paul Royal Canadian Air Force Paul_R_0113_01.mp3 (Side 1) A native of Winnipeg, Man., born on Sept. 30, 1913. Involved in the logging business in prewar British Columbia. Joined the R.C.A.F. in 1939, called up in 1940 as air crew. Manning Depot, Toronto then No. 3 Air Observer School at Regina airport. Bombing and Gunnery School, advanced navigation at Rivers, Man. Promoted to sergeant. Discusses officer and N.C.O. proportion of graduates. Voyage overseas broken by a one-week stay in Iceland. Operational Training Unit (O.T.U.) at Andover, Hants. where he crewed up on a Bristol Blenheim (medium bomber). Transferred to a torpedo training unit where they flew Bristol Beaufort aircraft. Flew to Malta via Gibraltar where they formed No. 39 Sqn., R.A.F. in July 1941. Squadron of twelve aircraft destroyed in an attack on shipping in the harbour of Catania, Italy. His was the only aircraft to return, and they crash-landed. Crew returned to England and joined No. 86 Sqn. for about two months. Attacks against coastal shipping near the Frisian Islands. In Nov. 1941 joined No. 407 Sqn., R.C.A.F. flying Lockheed Hudson bombers. After a total of twenty-eight operations he transferred to the School of Air Navigation in Lancashire. Returned to Canada, instructed at various R.A.F. stations in the Maritimes. In Sept. 1944 joined No. 164 Transport Sqn. flying Douglas Dakota (DC 3) aircraft. In an aside discusses his part in the attack on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau (German battleships) during their dash through the English Channel in Feb. 1942. Almost nil visibility conditions although they did sight one of the German ships. (30:00) Additional comments on living and flying operations in England. While in Canada he was commissioned. Additional tales of flying experiences. (45:00) Philosophy of the dangers of flying. Remained in the Air Force after the war. Paul_R_0113_02.mp3 (Side 2 - some repeated material) (02:00) Description of staying in a London hotel during an air raid which, because of the effectiveness of the British night fighters, may have been the last major German raid. The situation regarding rations and civilian rationing provided many opportunities to operate in a "grey market" in cigarettes, which occasionally became a useful source of funds. Discusses disparity in pay scales between R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. Additional information on the Scharnhorst incident; ceiling so low that bombsight was useless, eventually "threw" the bombs in the direction of the German ship by releasing and turning sharply away. His reaction to operations, missing friends, etc. General comments. (48:00)
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 min.) : 3 3/4 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- PRT_113
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- July 13, 2007
- 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
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