| Accession Number | S00952 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Sound |
| Measurement | 1 hr 32 min 47 sec |
| Object type | Oral history |
| Physical description | audio cassette; BASF Ferro Extra I 60; two track mono |
| Maker |
Donald, Jack Stokes, Edward |
| Date made | 4 July 1990 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
|
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
| Source credit to | The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the war of 1939-45 |
Jack Donald as a flight lieutenant, 3 Squadron RAAF and as a prisoner of war in Europe, interviewed by Edward Stokes for The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45
Description
Jack Donald as a flight lieutenant, 3 Squadron RAAF and as a prisoner of war in Europe, interviewed by Edward Stokes.
Topics discussed include: Jack's early life and background as a State Ward, and later finding out that his father was a member of the Japanese Navy; growing up in Sydney, love of airplanes and obtaining a flying license; RAAF flying in Tiger Moths from 1940; taking part in the Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada, and seeing snow for the first time; arriving in Britain in 1941; impressions of the British people; enjoyment of flying Spitfires; description of 'synthetic training'; joining the all Australian 452 Squadron; air raids in Malta; lack of conversion training for Spitfire pilots to Kittyhawks; transport on aircraft carrier 'The Indomitable'; transfer to El Ballah for Kittyhawk coversion training; comparison of Kittyhawk and Spitfire aircraft; joining no 3 Squadron in April, 1942; morale in the Squadron; description of a typical sortie; engaging Stukas; description of the sortie on 16th June 1942, during which he was hit in the neck by an explosive bullet and lost alot of blood; reflection on fatal casualties in the Squadron and the attitude towards death; hospitalisation in Alexandria; rejoining the Squadron in May; quality of airstrips; living conditions in the desert; travelling through Palestine, Tel Aviv, Lydda, Bethlehem; reflections on what it means to be a 'true' fighter pilot; difference between RAF and RAAF perceptions of rank; relationship between ground and air crew; description of the day (15 September) when he was shot down in a dogfight off El Alamein; engine catching fire, 'rolling' the aircraft and dropping from it; captured by Italians; transfer to Sulmona; conditions in prison camp and comparison of Italian and German guards; the duty to escape; taken by Germans from POW camp at Sagain in January 1945, using upturned tables as sleds; marching through Hamburg and liberation in May.
Other persons mentioned include Bobby Gibbes, Nicky Barr, Paddy Finucane, Garth Glaven
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Jack Donald as a flight lieutenant, 3 Squadron RAAF and as a prisoner of war in Europe, interviewed by Edward Stokes for The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45
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Jack Donald as a flight lieutenant, 3 Squadron RAAF and as a prisoner of war in Europe, interviewed by Edward Stokes for The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45
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Jack Donald as a flight lieutenant, 3 Squadron RAAF and as a prisoner of war in Europe, interviewed by Edward Stokes for The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45
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