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formed on 1st April 1944) and Mr. Harry Hughes, Navigator of 692 Squadron, Graveley which was part of the Light Night Striking Force.

Interviewees - Mr. Edward ‘Ted’ Stocker, DSO, Air Commodore Gerry Bennington, Mr. Reg Cann, Mr. Harry Hughes, Mr. George Hall, Mr. Roy Pengilley, and Mr. Howard Lees conducted by Jenny Ford on behalf of Bedford Museum. The interview took place at the Moat House Hotel, Bedford on 18th June 2005. This was on the occasion of the final re-union of RAF personnel and their families of the No.8 PFF Group.

“My name is Roy Pengilley, Pilot, 582 Little Staughton, April 1944 to March 1945.

About 105,000 people took part in raids and 55,000 were killed. 12,000 were shot down and taken prisoner and 20,000 were wounded which gives you an indication of the risk. Most of us came from Main Force and George is another and the great bulk of aircrew were NCOs, the great bulk and you appear at Pathfinders and Squadron Leaders and Wing Commanders are two a penny, it’s a remarkable change.

Call signs at Staughton — ‘Red Board’ and ‘Valance’. And may I confirm that Oboe (radio bombing system) is a dirty word! I think we did 60 and the great bulk were at night and if you were invited during the day to fly a ‘heavy’ straight and level for however long it is it is too long. We substituted for Squadron Leader Wakeman on a wretched Oboe and we were bowled over and a week later he went on an Oboe and was bowled over. And it’s a pity that the Air Force, who took what in effect were the cream of the crews of Bomber Command in Pathfinders and said, ‘Oh, no let them do Oboes.’ Let the ruddy Main Force do Oboes, not Pathfinders. We did primitive formation of 12 or 20 with Oboe but please never fly a large aeroplane straight and level in unfriendly circumstances it really is a nonsense.

But Staughton was a good place to fly from in as much that if you came from Main Force almost invariably there are nasty things called hills about the place whereas Staughton was relatively flat and one of the only obstacles was the church roof of course!

When my Navigator, who was a dentist in Toronto had his Golden Wedding about eight years ago he very kindly sent Mary and I air tickets and gave us three weeks holiday in Canada as a small thank you for bringing him home safe. I’m telling you that the ‘crew’ in effect, the ‘crew’ whether it be a two Mosie or a seven Lanc nothing else matters other than the ‘crew’. The Group Captain could go and take a jump as far as it was concerned, the beans can be off, it doesn’t matter - it’s the ‘crew’ that counts and it’s everything. I’ve enjoyed the re-unions enormously and they are all much older than me of course!�

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