Rose, Raymond: my wartime experiences (March 13, 2007)

ABSTRACT: Ray Rose Ray was born in Victoria. At the age of 22, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Ray felt it was the right thing to do, and that he should go where he would be useful. His training was done at various air force bases in Alberta and Saskatchewan, which proved fortuitous as he met his future wife Annette in Lethbridge. In November of 1943 Ray was shipped out to England, to be based in Bournemouth and Yorkshire. From 1943-45 Ray flew 33 bombing missions over France, Germany and Poland. There was one more mission but that day there was heavy cloud over Holland and they couldn't drop their load on their intended target so they dumped the bombs over the ocean before their return to England. It was only much later that he realized how dangerous these missions were, and how grateful he was for the safe landings. He was especially thankful given the terrible weather over England which made these missions even more hazardous. After the war, Ray married Annette and joined the family jewelry business in Victoria. They have been married 62 years. The Night of 1,000 Bombers One night Ray and his crew were awakened at 0230 hours. Their orders were to bomb the area of the Ruhr/Rhine junction in industrial Germany. They were part of a campaign of 1,000 bombers that each went out twice in 24 hours. Ray's crew returned to base, had some sleep, and was again sent out at 1430 hours. This was indeed a test of perseverance.

Interviewer: Fitch, Edward and Sharon

Interviewee: Rose, Raymond

An interview/narrative of Ray Rose's experiences during World War II. Rose served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 13, 2007.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Fitch, Edward and Sharon
• Rose, Raymond

Subject

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

Language

• eng

Date created

• March 13, 2007

Relation

• Part of the Edward and Sharon Fitch collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 1 sound recording (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• British Columbia--Victoria
• Germany

Coordinates

• 51.5, 10.5
• 48.4359, -123.35155

Additional physical characteristics

• Original sound recording (DVF) also available.

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• oral histories (literary genre)
• sound recordings
• interviews
• reminiscences

Archival item identifier

• RR_554

Fonds title

• Edward Fitch collection

Fonds identifier

• SC413

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/edward-fitch-collection

Date digitized

• August 28, 2012

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Interview recorded in 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/bcvm-sg83

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Visibility	Actions
	Rose_R_0554_01.mp3		Public	Press to Select an action Download
	Rose_R_0554.jpg		Public	Press to Select an action Download