Audio file
Contributors
Researcher: MacKay, Paul
Audio engineer: MacKay, Paul
Date Recorded
2003-03-14
Date Digitized
2010-03-17
Abstract
This is an interview with Donald Stewart MacNeil of Little Harbour, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Donald starts of by telling about his entry into WWII and his beginnings as a pilot. He talks about the first plane he saw, his first ride, and the first time he flew a plane. He then tells about barnstorming, different pilots over the years, and the island of Tiree near Orkney in Scotland where he served for the RCAF. Donald tells of his days flying in Northern Scotland during WWII, and tells a story of dropping off a parcel for the lighthouse keepers of the Noup Head Lighthouse. He then talks about different planes, his logbook, and the time when he flew a plane with two of its four engines destroyed. Donald then tells of the troubles of flying over water and islands. He mentions a plane crash near Wick, tells of his crew of mixed nationalities, and talks about the social side of his service. Donald tells of various superstitions, briefly mentions life after the war, and reminisces of the good people of Northern Scotland where he served.
Genre
Subject (Temporal)
Rights
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Physical Location
Held by Reg "Dutch" Thompson
Duration
01:00:14
Model
1 1 Item in Collection
Transcript
SIDE A 00:00:00 -- 00:04:38
Discussion about the beginning of his service in WWII; WWII, 1920, Depression, 1930s, 1939, patriotism, RCAF, air force, Dalhousie University, 1940, wireless air gunner, air gunner, pilot, Summerside, general reconnaissance, navigation.

SIDE A 00:04:38 -- 00:07:38
Discussion about the first airplane he remembers, and his first experience flying; 1930, Capt Breton, Trenton, 1934, Montreal, Fleet Finch, Curtiss Robin.

SIDE A 00:07:38 -- 00:09:06
Discussion about barnstorming; barnstorming, planes, flying.

***Blips at 00:12:22 and 00:13:42.
SIDE A 00:09:06 -- 00:13:50
Discussion about different pilots; Junior Jones, Louise Jenkins, de Havilland Puss Moth, CF PEI, Paul Sharpe, pilots, flying, Charlottetown, Elton Woodside, Fleet Canuck, Pictou Island, Reg Pope, Carl Burke, Harry Trainor, Bob Mills, Father MacGillivray, Aviation Hall of Fame.

SIDE A 00:13:50 -- 00:20:44
Discussion about the island of Tiree in Scotland during WWII; Lockheed Ventura, Tiree, Scotland, Turnbury, eggs, night flying.

SIDE A 00:20:44 -- 00:23:21
Discussion about Orkney in Scotland during WWII; flight lieutenant, WWII, Orkney, Scotland, Noup Head, lighthouse, Days of Victory, RCAF, Flying Fortress, B17, B-17.

SIDE A 00:23:21 -- 00:31:09
Discussion about dropping parcels off for the Noup Head lighthouse keepers in Scotland during WWII; Noup Head, lighthouse, lighthouse keeper, WWII, Scotland, Orkney, 1944, John Cunningham, James McGaw, Skitten, Wick.

Side A ends at 00:31:09.
SIDE B 00:31:19 -- 00:31:52
Discussion about the lighthouse at Noup Head continues; lighthouse, Noup Head, Scotland, WWII, lighthouse keeper, 1944.

SIDE B 00:31:52 -- 00:34:12
Discussion about the types of planes he flew, and his logbook; B-17, Hudson, Ventura, Flying Fortress, 1944, WWII, logbook.

SIDE B 00:34:12 -- 00:37:46
Discussion about flying with two of the four engines out in his B-17; Flying Fortress, B-17, RCAF, RAF, Wick, 1945, submarines, fog, patrol, WWII.

SIDE B 00:37:46 -- 00:39:47
Discussion about icing on the planes; icing, carburetor icing, de-icer.

SIDE B 00:39:47 -- 00:41:09
Discussion about flying with engines out continues; WWII, friendly fire, E-Boat, German, convoys, destroyers, escorts, Navy.

SIDE B 00:41:09 -- 00:43:50
Discussion about flying over water and islands; navigation, German radio, Stravanger, Norway, WWII.

SIDE B 00:43:50 -- 00:46:31
Discussion about a plane crash near Wick; headstones, Wick, plane crash, aircraft repair, WWII.

SIDE B 00:46:31 -- 00:48:17
Discussion about the crews on Flying Fortresses; RAF, RAAF, RCAF, Australian, Canadian, crew, Flying Fortress.

SIDE B 00:48:20 -- 00:52:27
Discussion about the social life and air fields in WWII; social life, parties, WWII, air fields, pubs, Wick, jokes, Skitten, Castletown, golf course, Ventura, British Open, curling stones.

SIDE B 00:52:28 -- 00:54:55
Discussion about superstitions with pilots; pilots, superstitions, superstitious, rabbit's foot, dog tags, WWII, coin, Devonshire pixie.

SIDE B 00:54:55 -- 00:55:53
Discussion about life after the war and his favourite airplane; Flying Fortress, B-17,
SIDE B 00:55:53 --
Discussion about Northern Scotland during WWII and the Noup Head Lighthouse; Noup Head, Orkney, Scotland, WWII, lighthouse keeper, Balaclava, crew.

Tape ends at 01:00:14.