Coastal Command or Bomber Command
Heroes Remember
Coastal Command or Bomber Command
Transcript
Description
Mr. Campbell discusses his reasons, both practical and personal, for selecting service in Bomber Command over that in Coastal Command.
John Campbell
John Campbell was born in October, 1923 in Coleman, Alberta. He was the younger of two brothers. His father was a coal miner and Mr. Campbell credits the mine’s support of the local school for his good education. Following the death of both his parents, he went into the mine. Because of the diverse ethnic mix in Coleman, the onset of war saw many miners return home to serve in their respective forces. He enlisted in 1942, joining the Air Force and becoming a bomber pilot. He finished his full complement of thirty-two missions with the same crew. After the war he remained in the Air Force and was a first responder on the DEW Line.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 1:09
- Person Interviewed:
- John Campbell
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Branch:
- Air Force
- Units/Ship:
- 626 Squadron
- Rank:
- Flying Officer
- Occupation:
- Pilot
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From Air Gunner to Bomber Pilot
Mr. Campbell discusses how a lucky break on a mathematics re-test allowed him to be streamed into pilot training.
Pilot training
Mr. Campbell discusses the various training steps necessary to become a pilot, and flying the Tiger Moth and Cessna Crane, two of the Air Force’s training aircraft.
Bombing and Gunnery Training
Mr. Campbell describes bombing practice and adjudication, and air gunnery practice against drogues, towed aerial targets.
Photographic Evidence
Mr. Campbell discusses the practise of photographing bomb drops over enemy targets, and how the danger from adjacent aircraft was often evident in the photos.
Problems in the Bombing Stream
Mr. Campbell describes how missing your bomb drop meant exiting and re-entering the bomber stream for a second try, and how dangerous this could be.
Coning and Night Fighters
Mr. Campbell describes the German tactic of coning, illuminating enemy aircraft with powerful search lights so they could be attacked, and what German pilots did if coned by their own lights.
Diversion Raids
Mr. Campbell describes the Allied tactic of faking raids against German assets in coastal France, which forced the enemy to scramble its aircraft, thus expending its limited resources for no reason.
Evasion Tactics
Mr. Campbell describes his techniques for evading danger immediately after dropping bombs on heavily defended targets.
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