Waterman, Philip Fay: my Air Force recollections (August 18, 1986)
ABSTRACT: Flight Lieut. Philip Fay Waterman Royal Canadian Air Force Waterman_P_0143_01.mp3 Born on Dec. 25, 1918 in Alberta. Joined the R.C.A.F. in 1940. After the usual basic training and tour of guard duty he was accepted for pilot training. While not adapting easily to military discipline he was awarded his wings as a sergeant pilot in 1941. Posted to fighter training school. Voyage overseas was delayed in Halifax due to filthy conditions aboard the Empress of Asia. In England he had some personal difficulties with the R.A.F. attitude, prevalent in training establishments, toward those of junior rank. Sent to an operational training unit (O.T.U.) for several weeks, but ignored a posting to a bomber school. Posted to a staff-pilot school in North Wales for a six-month period where he gained much valuable flying experience. Commissioned. In 1942 sent to a Spitfire O.T.U. (Supermarine Spitfire fighters). Posted to No. 65 Squadron, R.A.F. in Cornwall where they conducted coastal patrols in low-altitude Spitfires. (30:00) Moved to Gravesend where they provided "high cover" to the U.S.A.F. (United States Air Force) for which they were issued high-altitude aircraft. In Jan. 1944 he and one other conducted a low-level attack on a German airfield near Aachen which was quite successful. Waterman_P_0143_02.mp3 On the return he was shot down near Brussels by enemy aircraft. Unfortunately Waterman was dressed in civilian clothes, except for his flight jacket, as he proposed to depart for London on leave as soon as he had returned to base. Captured by the German army, questioned by the Gestapo for ten days as they could not believe that he was not a spy, and eventually sent to the Luftwaffe interrogation unit near Frankfurt. (45:00) Transferred to Stalag Luft 3 near the Polish border. Their rations in prison camp were on the German scale of "nonworking civilian", but the weekly Red Cross parcel kept them reasonably fit. As the Russian army approached they were given two hours notice to leave camp on a forced march to the west. Waterman feels that the Germans did this in case the P.O.W.'s could be used as a future bargaining point. Eventually released by the Russian army. Stole a bicycle and in five days reached the American army on the Oder River. In Brussels on V-E Day. England. Returned to Canada where he found the readjustment to civilian life somewhat difficult for a period of a year or two. (20:00)
An interview/narrative of Philip Fay Waterman's experiences during World War II. Flight Lieutenant Waterman served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on August 18, 1986.
Interviewer: Aylward, Rick
Rank: Flight Lieutenant.
Interviewee: Waterman, Philip Fay, b. 1918
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 60 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- WPF_143
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- November 24, 2008
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 32 kHz. Digitized by HC, 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 2008. 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
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail |
|
|
|
Waterman_P_0143_01.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Waterman_P_0143_02.mp3 |
|