Wilson, W. A.: my Air Force recollections (August 10, and 11, 1986)
An interview/narrative of W. A. Wilson's experiences during World War II. Flight Lieutenant Wilson served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on August 10 and 11, 1986.
Interviewee: Wilson, W. A., b. 1917
Rank: Flight Lieutenant.
Interviewer: Aylward, Rick
ABSTRACT: Flight Lieut. W.A. Wilson Royal Canadian Air Force Wilson_W_0146_01.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 1) Born on Jan. 17, 1917 in Banffshire, Scotland. He was motivated to join the Air Force by the entry of Italy into the war in 1940, also because he felt that he should do his bit as his friends were doing. Volunteered for air crew. Early training in Regina. Mentions some of his courses and the value of general military training. Trained as a navigator. Overseas to Bournemouth after a very comfortable crossing of the Atlantic. Was posted to a R.A.F. Regiment training school for officers. Anecdote. Feels that R.A.F. Training Command patronized "colonials". In Sept. 1943 was posted to an operational training unit at Honeybourne where they flew "Armstrong Whitworth Whitley" aircraft. "Crewed-up" which usually took place at the local pub. (20:00) Attended a course on procedures to use if he was shot down and taken prisoner. R.C.A.F. conversion unit to four-engined aircraft. Was posted to No. 427 Bomber Squadron, R.C.A.F. Assigned an unpopular room (No. 13) in the officers' quarters with an unfortunate reputation: most occupants seemed to get shot down. Operations against the enemy most often against industrial targets in large cities, although they participated in daylight bombing of rocket sites. Frankfurt and Berlin had particularly heavy defences. Discusses navigation problems during operations. High winds posed a particularly difficult one. If wind strength was incorrectly ascertained or applied, off course and heavy casualties could result. (35:00) On June 24, 1944 was shot down during a raid on Metz, France on his twenty eighth mission. Describes control of aircraft and conditions prior to bailing out, difficulty of leaving. On the ground spent a day hiding from the Germans near an airfield. (48:00) Wilson_W_0146_02.mp3 (Side 2) Eventually tried to walk out of the area, but was captured by two Germans in a village where he was a prisoner of a Luftwaffe anti-aircraft unit which treated him well. Three days later met three others of his air crew and were driven to Brussels and placed in cells. Lunch, soup; supper, two small potatoes; breakfast, bread and coffee. Gives details of another interrogation. Train to Frankfurt where he was questioned again. Given extra clothing consisting of an assortment of cast-off Allied items. Train to Stalag Luft 3. Describes some other prisoners whom he met. (25:00) Reduced Red Cross rations in the camp. Comments on quarters, friends, sports, concerts, etc. In Jan. 1945 the prisoners were given two Red Cross parcels each and marched toward Bremen. There they were placed in a bare barracks, no beds, had to build their own stove, one water tap per building. (40:00) Moved again on Apr. 10, 1945. Lived partly in the open. He and others managed to escape from a working party. Headed west for six days, but were captured within a few miles of the Allied armies, taken to Hamburg, and placed in a small prison which held about fifteen persons. Food better after making friends with a guard. Released by the 7th Armoured Division (British). He and three friends commandeered a Mercedes and decided to drive to Belgium. (47:00) Wilson_W_0146_03.mp3 (Reel 2) Details of motor adventure. Had the Mercedes painted R.A.F. grey and, with phoney passes, started for Belgium. First night in Muenster with the American army. Bluffed their way through all the border crossings. Reported to the P.O.W. Centre in Brussels. Sold the Mercedes for forty thousand Belgian francs and for two weeks in Brussels had a great holiday. Flew back to Britain. July 1945 back in Canada. Considered himself a civilian in uniform, but the experience was worthwhile despite the hardship of the P.O.W. camps. Taught him very valuable lessons about life, camaraderie, and survival. (20:00)
- In Collection:
- 3 sound recordings (MP3)
- 46, 2
- Two original sound tape reels (ca. 110 min.) : 3 3/4 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- WWA_146
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- January 13, 2009
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 32 kHz. Digitized by QL, 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 2009. 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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