Arthur William Doubleday, as a Squadron Leader, interviewed by Laurence (Laurie) Field about his service in 460 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the Second World War

Places
Accession Number S01276
Collection type Sound
Measurement 2 hr 23 min
Object type Oral history
Physical description audio cassette; TDK D90; mono
Maker Doubleday, Arthur William
Field, Laurence Melville (Laurie)
Date made 9 November 1988
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright

Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Permission of copyright holder required for any use and/or reproduction.
Source credit to AWM Research Grants Scheme
Description

Speaks of his pre-war life; enlisted in RAAF in November 1940 aged twenty seven; training in Australia and Canada; December 1944 posted as acting commanding officer 27 OTU; attended Staff College in United States April-August 1945; returned to Australia to take over family farm; in 1947 joined Department of Civil Aviation; family after war; met wife in England; wife injured in V1 attack; commissioned in Halifax, Canada at end of training in August 1942; convoy to England; posted to 460 Squadron; training first on Wellingtons then Lancasters; most memorable operations; high opinion of Arthur Hubbard; leave breaks six days every six weeks; after first tour was posted to Litchfield as instructor at 27 OTU; second tour as flight commander with 467 Squadron RAAF; improvement in bombing and navigation aids; opinion of the Wellington bomber; morale of 467 Squadron; coping with the experiences of bombing operations; Bomber Command tactics; decorations and commissions; area bombing; United States Army Airforce; letters to families of missing airmen; commanding 61 Squadron RAF; injured by exploding photo flare; health problems in later life attributed to war service.

History / Summary

Speaks of his pre-war life; enlisted in RAAF in 1940 aged twenty seven; training in Australia and Canada;