McKay, Harold Jame: my Air Force recollections (July 2, 1982)
Rank: Flying Officer.
ABSTRACT: Flying Officer Harold James McKay Royal Canadian Air Force McKay_H_0097_01.mp3 Born on Apr. 29, 1916 in Morden, Man. Educated in Oshawa, Ont. where the family had moved. When the war started he was employed in an accounting position in Toronto. In early 1942 he joined the R.C.A.F. as an air crew prospect. After a period at the Initial Training School in Toronto he was allocated to the Bombing and Gunnery School to train as a bomb aimer. Then the Air Observer School in London, Ont. Commissioned after graduation. Enjoyed the service life; discipline no problem. Comments on crew formation at the Operational Training Unit in England (20:00) to which he was posted after a month in Bournemouth and time in several training schools in Wales and elsewhere. Great camaraderie in his air crew. Much training in the obsolescent Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber for which he had high regard. Early operations involved the dropping of "window" and diversionary raids. In Aug. 1944 he joined No. 428 Squadron, R.C.A.F. flying Avro Lancaster bombers. Made a total of twenty-eight operational flights. Describes the first such flight to Kiel, Germany where heavy flak caused them to jettison their bombload and, unfortunately, their bomb racks as well. They were in considerable trouble when they returned to base. In future all attacks were pressed home. Claims that he had no psychological compunction about dropping bombs on any target. (45:00) McKay_H_0097_02.mp3 Mentions Pathfinder operations, fuel consumption, etc. Operations produced a certain constant strained feeling. Some slight regret that he never became a pilot; loves flying. Some air crew problems discussed and the devotion required to undertake operations. (15:00) Recounts experience on a daylight raid against German troops in northern France. Anecdote on relations with R.A.F. (25:00) Life on an operational base involved considerable celebrating, but no alcohol-related problems of which he was aware. Last operational flight on an old well-worn aircraft, "D for Dog" in Feb. 1945. Could not maintain height or speed, a straggler at sixteen thousand ft. instead of the nineteen thousand ft. required. One engine stopped, jettisoned their four thousand-lb., bomb and returned to base. About to land, the second engine stopped, causing them to crash land in a field, killing two of the crew. The aircraft should never have been flown. Sent on an instructor's course. Returned to Canada and demobilized later that year. (45:00)
Interviewee: McKay, Harold James, b. 1916
Interviewer: Bell, Chris
An interview/narrative of Harold James McKay's experiences during World War II. Flying Officer McKay served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on July 2, 1982.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 51.5, 10.5
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- MHJ_097
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- July 9, 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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