Recorded interview of Bob Barber and his wife (unnamed) by Dick Wickham, part 2 of 2 (first part of side B of microcassette) (MC 376/565/2a)
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Recorded interview of Bob Barber and his wife (unnamed) by Dick Wickham, part 2 of 2 (first part of side B of microcassette)

1


MC 376/565/2a


part of 1 side of microcassette

nd [late 1980s]


General documents relating to the activities of the 2nd Air Division/Wartime Norfolk/Dick Wickham's recordings of Norfolk residents


Dick Wickham, Bob Barber

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Description
Most comments made by Bob Barber and Dick Wickham, with some contributions by Mrs Barber. Stories about taking bomb boxes home to make chicken houses and collecting lost items such as cigarettes. Descriptions of local farmers and apple orchard owned by a Dutchman. Stories about poaching, including Americans piled on bicycle to go poaching. Stories of aircraft crashes including Thunderbolt at Southerton, a belly-landing on what is now Wangford bypass and Mustang crash, which lead to their first sight of an American torch. Reference to the building of Holton airfield [Holton Hall was used to house officers] by Irish workmen. Stories of encounters with American airmen off-base; poaching; tampering with and collecting ammunition. Descriptions of parachutes, harnesses and lined leather trousers worn by ground crew. Stories about Americans visiting fish and chip shop at Harleston and being short-changed; an RAF beacon between two small woods which was left alight as not considered an enemy target; American airman who didn't want to take an English girl back to his father's ranch because she would be the only woman during winter logging season. Recording finishes after 24 minutes 45 seconds. For preceding recording, see MC 376/565/1.