Burrows, Syd: my RCAF experience (March 9, 2019)
Interviewee: Burrows, Syd
An interview/narrative of Syd Burrow's experiences serving with the RCAF. Interview took place on March 9, 2019 in Comox, B.C.
Interviewer: Bargh, John
ABSTRACT: Mr Burrows recounted numerous anecdotes and stories from his military career in a most animated matter. He began by talking about his early life and initial enlistment in the military. He segued into talking about past wartime heroes he got to meet, such as Billy Bishop. He then spoke about Operation Leapfrog, training aircraft, the De Havilland Vampire, and the F86 Sabre. He then spoke about the Sabre more specifically and the details of Operation Leapfrog. He had a lot to say about his impressions of post-war Germany, his interactions with the local populace, as well as the political situation with the Warsaw Pact countries. He spoke about flying the F86 as compared to the disadvantaged enemy flying the MiG, and then spoke more about the Sabre. Unfortunately, the recorder stopped near the end of the interview unbeknownst to either the interviewer or interviewee. 0:00 – 8:50 – Early life, initial service time, people Mr Burrows met – such as Billy Bishop. 8:50 – 26:15 – Details about Operation Leapfrog, the De Havilland Vampire, the F86 Sabre, impressions of and details of the Sabre. More Operation Leapfrog details. 26:15 – 39:19 – Impressions of post-war Germany, interactions with the populace, impressions of the political situation, flying the F86, more details about the Sabre.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 51.5, 10.5
- Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- BS_869
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 9, 2019
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2019. 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
