Scannell, Brian John
Production date
21 Apr 1994
Description
Oral history. Born 1915 at Inglewood, his Father was a policeman at Whangamomona. His grandfather had the hotel at Inglewood and later at Whangamomona. Hard times as policeman at Whangamomona as labourers laying the railway line were exprisoners. They moved to Manaia 1917 and he attended Manaia Convent School and then Manaia High School. Went to the Primary school for woodwork and cooking. Remembers Ngaere Gardens and life as a policeman's son being no problem. After 9 months at High School got a job at Meldons, a jail with 2 cells. Talks of shops in Manaia and playing in a band with Jim Cosprove and bandmaster. He was also Mayor. Job came up at Kaukoponui store after a year at Meldons. Turned down for WWII because of varicose veins, but was call up for Home Service at Trentham with a job in the office of the Transport Dept. Transferred to Masterton, then Rotorua and the Air Force proper. Sent to Christchurch to train as a pilot but crashed 2 Tiger Moths in one day when flying solo. Sent back to Wellington then Rotorua. Went to Canada to train as a navigator for 3 months. After graduation given a weeks leave in New York where he ran into his brother on the street! Returned to Canada to be kitted out, then sailed to UK on "New Amsterdam". Taken down from Scotland to Brighton where they stayed for 3 weeks. Then sent to Scotland for night flying training and to get final crew of 22 for their 166 squadron of mixed nationallities. Theirs a night operation squad sent to Kirmington out of Grimsby. Germans allowed them to fly loads of food to the Dutch as long as they didn't carry bombs, and later brought soldiers from Italy once a week. Talks of Drogue flying and court of enquiry into his broken wrist. Averaged 1 flight a week, once flying 3 nights in succession. Talks of the Dresden raid, then life on the ground with parades and debriefings. Mentions Sandy George from Manaia and Butcher Harris, C.O. of Bomber Command. Returning home by ship it broke down so they had to return to England. Returned to job in Manaia with Mac Walker and 1949 they bought Kiwi Dairy Co store, an amalgamation of Jolls and Kaupokonui store. Retired 1993. Tape 4 returns to descriptions of childhood.
Recorded: 23 April 1994
Interviewer: Margaret Fox
Abstraction: Margaret Fox
Restrictions: None
Object detail
Part 1
Research tape
Part 2
Abstract
Part 3
Master tape
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