The latest Wings Over New Zealand Show is Episode 153 – Phillip Leech.
Phillip Leech was an English-born member of the Royal Air Force, but he served as a Navigator on the Coastal Command Bristol Beaufighter torpedo bombers with No. 489 (NZ) Squadron. His pilot was Pete Brunton, who was also RAF.
Phillip joined the RAF in late 1941 hoping to be a pilot, but the RAF had other ideas and after initial training in London and at Babbacombe, he embarked for Canada where he studied Navigation at Hamilton, Ontario. This was followed by a course in general reconnaissance at Prince Edward Island, before he returned to Britain where he did a course at Squires Gate, Blackpool, in beam navigation. Then he completed a wireless operator’s course at RAF Cranwell.
Posted to the Operational Training Unit at Crosby-on-Eden near Carlyle, Phillip was only there for a day or so before being posted to No. 489 (NZ) Squadron, at RAF Leuchars in Scotland. He was teamed up with Pete Brunton and would have to learn to adjust to the Bristol Beaufighter and operations as he went.
Phillip talks all about life on the squadron, specific operations, and what it was like to fly operationally in the Beaufighter, making torpedo attacks on the German convoys off the coast of Norway, the shipping route up the Dutch coast, and various ports. Phillip served with the squadron also at RAF Langham and RAF Dallachy in Scotland.
When he finished his tour with No. 489 (NZ) Squadron Phillip was posted to an Air Sea Rescue squadron flying as navigator in Supermarine Sea Otters.
You can download the episode or stream it to listen here:
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2017/07/phillip-leech/
By: Mothminor - 31st July 2017 at 21:17
Thanks, Dave. Both sound interesting stories. I ended up transferring your podcast to my phone and listening to it through earphones while lolling on the couch! Much more relaxing than sitting at the computer and I can now understand the appeal of audio books. I’ve bookmarked your home page now for ongoing listening! 🙂
By: Dave Homewood - 31st July 2017 at 00:58
Thanks so much for the feedback Mothminor. I am very glad you enjoyed the interview. I think you’re absolutely right that Coastal Command is somewhat overshadowed by the deeds of Bomber Command and Fighter Command. I am sure you’d enjoy the latest episode which also features a Coastal Command story, this time with RNZAF pilot Stan Walker who flew Short Sunderlands with RAF Coastal Command from Jui, Sierra Leone. He too had a promising career interrupted, he was studying to become a teacher at Auckland University College when he was called up in 1941. Here’s that episode:
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2017/07/stan-walker/
If you enjoy that one, here’s another RNZAF Sunderland pilot, Mac Bettjeman, who flew out of Lagos.
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2016/02/episode-99-mac-bettjeman-sunderland-pilot/
By: Mothminor - 30th July 2017 at 23:34
Hello, Dave. Just finished listening to your programme. What a varied life and career Phillip Leech has had! The reason I listened to this episode was because of the “local” connection of Leuchars and Dallachy. However, I found Phillips entire story very interesting – how he was living a normal life, in a normal job then trying to study to become a doctor only for war to come along and put all his plans to one side for some years; how he came through the war years considering himself always very lucky; the winding down of his RAF career and ferrying the Sea Otter; how he picked up the threads of his pre-war life again and finally realised his wish to become a doctor in 1960! Meanwhile he obviously still enjoyed flying as a gliding instructor for many years.
Personally I think Mr Leech is quite generous when he says he doesn’t think of Coastal Command as a “forgotten” service. I think it is all too easy for the big battles and big personalities of the time to detract (or distract) from the other, what some may consider minor, actions which were going on involving less well-known names. Their stories deserve to be heard too. I think it is great that you are doing these interviews as time is slipping by and all too soon the wartime generation will disappear.
I liked your interview style too which I think kept the conversation flowing well.
By: Mothminor - 25th July 2017 at 21:04
Not yet, Dave. Bit of a busy time at the moment but will post my thoughts when I have.
By: Dave Homewood - 25th July 2017 at 14:24
Have you had a chance to listen yet Mothminor? Just wondering what your thoughts are.
By: Mothminor - 20th July 2017 at 21:49
Downloaded this thanks, Dave. Will listen to it later. Nice link to the IWM Beaufighter video. We visited Dallachy last year and wandered around the old airfield. Good to see the control tower still there – hopefully it will be restored one day.
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July 20, 2017 at 1:03 am