Questions for an interview with a WWII WAAF veteran.

[Karnak]

Right now I work for a paratransit organization in Marin County in an office, but I still drive on accasion.  Late last year I was chatting with a passenger about our interests on my bus when another passenger mentioned that she had been in the RAF in WWII.  I chatted with her about the subject for the rest of her ride and she had quite a bit to say and was very enthusistic about it.  It was interesting to talk to an elderly woman who knew what a Mosquito or B-17 or Spitfire was, not in an abstract fashion, but exactly.  She was stationed at the field were all RAF photo recon flights flew out of and a few miles from where the USAAF photo recon missions flew out of.  Her job was to call the different fighter squadrons to let them know the ETA for the returning American bomber raids as well as the individual PR flights.  She also got to see a lot of the recon photos brought back by the PR Mossies and Spits.

Last week I gave her a ride again and asked her if she'd be interested in doing an interview as I knew a bunch of guys who'd like to hear what she had to say.  She loved the idea and wants me to do the interview.

What I'd like to offer you guys is a chance to put some questions out there that I could ask her.

Once I have it done, I'd type it up and post it here.  I am moving right now, so it'll take a bit, but I'll get it done.

[lyric1]

Wonderful I guess she must have married a US service men then? That would explain her being here.

[Karnak]

Wonderful I guess she must have married a US service men then? That would explain her being here.

I don't know, but it is the most likely reason, if so he is no longer with us.  Sometimes Brits make it over on their own though.  One lady's SO was a guy who was ground crew for Wellingtons.

[Old Sport]

Okay, here are a couple of questions:

Does she remember anything in particular about the Battle of Britain of direct significance to her, in the summer of 1940?

Did she feel that Germany's bid to invade was completely thwarted by the fall of 1940, or were most Brits still worried that invasion was a real possibility for a while longer?

We always see films and news clips that the Brits kept a stiff upper lip during the dark days of WWII. Does she remember any significant minority among the people that wanted to capitulate and sue for peace with Germany? Or were almost all ready to fulfill Winnie's charge to fight them on the beaches?

What did she think of the US strategy of daylight precision bombing, contrasted with British night area bombing?

When did she start feeling that the turning point of the war had come, the point when everyone in Britain knew Germany had lost the war? (Stalingrad? D-Day? etc.)

Were there female personnel of the RAF stationed in India or the Far East in the war against Japan?

Thats prolly enough for now.

Please pass on my best regards.

[rod367th]

If she couldv'e flown, In battle like russian woman did would she? OR did she know some woman that wanted to fly? Tell her Bob Curry is in america at the AIRZOO in kalamazo, MI hes youngest british pilot with a kill. 15 1/2 years old first kill.

[chaingun]

Gents, you guys need to talk to Vilkas, he is my squaddy, he was in w2 baltic sea, 2 kills tbm w/ 37 mm aa gun, he was 14 if i,m correct, he is turning 80 this summer great man, w/ great stories, Yes he has seen a me 262 late in 1945 in action to, he was in lithuiania, when he was a boy, germans, took him, he was too young for the 88s so they put him on the 37 mm aa gun, well Guys Have A Blessed Day>>>>>>>.if you have a chance to speak w/ him please do.

[LYNX]

Gents, you guys need to talk to Vilkas, he is my squaddy, he was in w2 baltic sea, 2 kills tbm w/ 37 mm aa gun, he was 14 if i,m correct, he is turning 80 this summer great man, w/ great stories, Yes he has seen a me 262 late in 1945 in action to, he was in lithuiania, when he was a boy, germans, took him, he was too young for the 88s so they put him on the 37 mm aa gun, well Guys Have A Blessed Day>>>>>>>.if you have a chance to speak w/ him please do.

Now there's a profile for Yanksfans & JD's Aces of Aces High if ever ther was one.  Perhaps an expanded one to include his experiences if it's not to rude to ask. 

He's always come across like a nice chap in game vox and  80

[wrongwayric]

Ok here's one. Is there one returning bomber or recon flight that came in wounded/shot up that she really remembers? I know some of those planes came back so shot up you would swear there was no way in heck they could have stayed flying.