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 Accession Number: S01276

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.

Contextual Description

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

Details

People

• Squadron Leader Keith William 'Bluey' Truscott DFC & Bar

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Places

• England
• Lubeck
• Cologne

Units

• No. 460 Squadron
• No. 467 Squadron
• Empire Air Training Scheme

Tags

• Oral history
• Avro Lancaster
• Vickers Wellington
• Aerial operations