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

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.

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.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Wilson, Gerald Einar
• Allen, Nicholas

Subject

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

Language

• eng

Date created

• March 7, 2005

Relation

• Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

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
• interviews

Archival item identifier

• WGE_456

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

• December 17, 2012

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.

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/10.58066/6ebz-g514

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Visibility	Actions
	SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail		Public	Press to Select an action Download
	Wilson_G_0456_01.mp3		Public	Press to Select an action Download