James Goulty - Eyewitness RAF: The Experience of War, 1939–1945

The Experience of War 19391945

James Goulty

First published in Great Britain in 2020 by

PEN & SWORD AVIATION

An imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Yorkshire Philadelphia

Copyright James Goulty 2020

ISBN 9 78152 675 37 6

eISBN 9 781526 752 38 3

Mobi ISBN 9 781526 752 39 0

The right of James Goulty to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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I am deeply grateful to Pen and Sword Ltd. for agreeing to this project, and for their continued support. In this regard, Rupert Harding has been an excellent editor and I remain thankful for his sound council during the writing process. For her assistance as copy editor, Linne Matthews was invaluable.

The book employs various sources and readers will find full details in the accompanying chapter notes. I thank the National Archives at Kew for allowing me to consult Operations Record Books. The Department of Sound at the Imperial War Museum, London, graciously allowed me to quote from select recordings of oral history interviews with RAF veterans held in their collection. Anthony Richards of the IWM was especially helpful and offered advice on copyright issues. The Trustees of the Second World War Experience Centre, at Otley, West Yorkshire, kindly allowed me to quote from materials held in their archive. Anne Wickes and Amanda Herbert-Davies from the SWWEC provided assistance and made visiting the archive a pleasure.

Paul Carter kindly allowed me to quote from his late fathers book: Alan Carter, Survival of the Fittest: A Young Englishmans Struggle as a Prisoner of War in Java and Japan (privately published, 2013). Wing Commander Harry Blee agreed to be interviewed for the book, which was a real highlight. Notably, we discussed his period as an RAF apprentice and later as a flight engineer, including experience of operational flying with 358 Squadron, based in Jessore, India. His son, Simon, kindly provided copies of wartime photographs relating to Harrys service in Britain and India. I am grateful to Helen, Simon and Harry Blee for their hospitality during my research trip. Thanks go to Charlie Wainwright, who let me use documents and photographs regarding the wartime RAF career of Reggie Wainwright (his late father). Reggie served as an NCO navigator with 38 and 24 Squadrons, and was later commissioned, before enjoying a career in civil aviation after the war. Alastair Fraser kindly loaned me several books on the RAF, and allowed me to employ photographs from the album of Major Maurice Alexander Fraser (his late father). Major Fraser joined the Territorial Army in 1928, and during the war served with a searchlight (SL) unit of the Royal Artillery. After the SL effort was scaled down, he became an air liaison officer (ALO) with 2 Group, a post he held from June/July 1944 until 1946. He experienced service during the campaign in North-West Europe, and pictures from that period provided much of the inspiration for his album. I also am extremely grateful to my brother, Robert Goulty, for the loan of books on the wartime RAF and photographs of Sunderland flying boat C for Charlie from his collection, two of which appear in this publication.

Last but not least, I remain immensely thankful for the love and support of my family, including Poppy the Boxer. On a personal note, my late grandparents served with the wartime RAF and WAAF, and I hope that theyd have appreciated this book. Like so many of their generation, they didnt talk too much about their war, but I know that they were proud to have served their country.

A group of RAF personnel eagerly inspect the remains of a Junkers Ju 88 shot down near St Osyth, Essex, in September 1940. (Authors collection)

Airmen from 38 Squadron in their full-length flying suits, flying boots, and parachute harnesses. NCO Navigator Reggie Wainwright stands at the back left wearing a field service cap. (Charlie Wainwright)

Reggie Wainwright (third from left) and his Wellington crew from 38 Squadron. They served in Europe before moving to the Middle East in November 1940. (Charlie Wainwright)

The WAAF made a major contribution towards the war effort. Maise Goulty was granted an emergency commission in April 1944, and promoted to section officer the following November. (Authors collection)

A WAAF band parades in Brussels shortly after the Allied liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation, 1945. (Alastair Fraser)

Sport was a major part of Service life, even in wartime. Here, the winning team from 2 Group, Brussels, 7-a-side tournament pose for the camera in May 1945. (Alastair Fraser)

Harry Blee on passing out as a flight engineer from RAF St Athan. After serving in the Far East, he was granted a permanent commission, and served until 1975. (Simon Blee)

Flight Lieutenant Anthony Goulty photographed at the end of the war, while serving with Number 7 IAU in the Far East, sporting the medal ribbon of the Burma Star. (Authors collection)

With 358 Squadron, Harry Blee (flight engineer, second from right) regularly flew Liberators with Chris Headley (skipper, far right), and Jack Tubb (navigator/side-gunner, third from right), India 1944. (Simon Blee)

Reggie Wainwright served as navigator aboard this Avro York, regularly used to ferry Earl Mountbatten (Supreme Commander South-East Asia, 194346), who has signed the photograph. (Charlie Wainwright)

The Mosquito, affectionately dubbed the Mossie, was one of the most successful and versatile of all the aircraft employed by the RAF during the war. (Authors collection)

A fine view of a Sunderland flying boat: C for Charlie, registration SZ268, moored in a Norwegian fjord. The Sunderland proved especially useful in antisubmarine work. (Robert Goulty)

On 21 March 1945, Mosquitoes from RAF 2nd TAF, escorted by Mustangs, launched a daring low-level strike against the Gestapo archives in Shell House, Copenhagen marked here by an X. (Alastair Fraser)