What Makes a Good Fighter Pilot?
Heroes Remember
What Makes a Good Fighter Pilot?
Transcript
Description
Mr. Weir gives his opinion about the characteristics that make a good fighter pilot.
John Weir
Mr. Weir was born in Toronto on July 22, 1919. His father was DSO MC in the First World War, a colonel. He was machine gunner in the 19th Battalion, and was gassed at Vimy and suffered from then on with asthma. After seeing the horrific pictures of the trench warfare from his father's service, Mr. Weir decided to join the Air Force rather than serve in the trenches. He joined the service the day after war was declared and began his training in Winnipeg. He started off as a pilot officer-provisional but wanted to be a fighter pilot. During his service, Mr. Weir was shot down in Barth and captured. He was a prisoner in a Gestapo jail, and was involved in "The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III". He was moved to various prison camps and witnessed atrocities of the Holocaust. He eventually escaped on a forced-march from Bremerhaven to Lübbecke by bribing a German guard.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 02:03
- Person Interviewed:
- John Weir
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Europe
- Branch:
- Air Force
- Units/Ship:
- 401 Squadron
- Occupation:
- Pilot
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Mr. Weir compares the Hurricane and the Spitfire.
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Getting Shot Down (Part 1 of 4)
Mr. Weir recalls being shot down as a result of flying with many new recruits. He recalls that his attention was more focussed on helping the new recruits, rather than the flying.
Getting Shot Down (Part 2 of 4)
Mr. Weir continues his account of being shot down. He recalls how he ended up blind and in enemy occupied territory.
Getting Shot Down (Part 3 of 4)
Mr. Weir thinks back to the time when he had to bail out of his plane at 25,000 feet.
Getting Shot Down (Part 4 of 4)
Mr. Weir remembers being picked up by the Germans and being treated in a German hospital.
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