Mumbles Community Radio interview by Clive Saddington with Steven H. Jones, author of Fallen Flyers: tragedy in the skies over wartime Gower, regarding German and allied airmen who crashed on Gower during the Second World War.

[00:00:01] Music: 633 Squadron theme, Band of RAF Regiment. [00:00:24] Personal Details: Stephen H Jones (SHJ), aviation historian, interviewed by Clive Suddington(CS), Radio Mumbles. [00:01:33] Aviation: Fallen Fliers: The Tragedy in the Skies Over Wartime Gower, by SHJ. [00:01:43] War: Port Eynon: SHJ finds Luftwaffe flare pistol. [00:02:27] War: St Hilary's Killay, airmen in cemetery. [00:02:44] Historiography: Research methodology (PRO - now National Archives, Kew), squadron diaries. [00:03:05] War: Dornier crash off Port Eynon, only combat loss over Gower. [00:04:10] War: Swansea area aerial defences. [00:04:35] RAF Fairwood: RAF Fairwood opens post bombing, using raid debris as foundations. [00:05:20] RAF Fairwood: Variety of nations - Poles, NZ. [00:05:39] RAF: Stan Rokmynzsta [?], Polish flier - logbooks, stories. [00:06:20] Historiography: Research, interests - iteration of readers. [00:07:36] RAF Fairwood: Mainly nightfighters - Beaufighters. [00:08:20] RAF Fairwood: Offensive role, staging via south coast bases. [00:08:49] RAF Fairwood: Offensive intruder missions; trains, airfields. [00:08:20] Luftwaffe: Port Eynon Dornier [probably Do 217], February 1943, last raids on Swansea, Fairwood casualties. [00:10:11] War: Bombing of Swansea 1941. [00:10:53] War: Variety of aerial casualties around Gower. [00:11:20] RCAF: Losses - Lysander, P-40 Tomahawk (latter a mystery, possibly friendly fire). [00:14:14] War: Friendly fire: tanker shoots down Wellington, all crew dead. [00:16:03] RAF: SHJ in RAF at age 18 - fire brigade. [00:16:38] RAF: Flt Sgt Andrew Simms, navigator, of Caswell, KIA age 20. [00:18:45] RAF: Bomber Command deaths (55,000), mostly very young. [00:20:46] Art: Ieuan Matthews, Guild of Aviation Artists, picture of 125 Sqdn Beaufighter. [00:21:44] RAF Fairwood: Post war used as base for Pembrey air to ground firing range, and army's AA school range at Manorbier. [00:22:38] Aviation: Fairwood use, post war. [00:23:24] War: Wellington shot down by tanker: war grave. [00:23:56] Aviation: Aircraft construction light, so poor survivability over time - engines, ribs remain, rest lost. [00:26:14] Aviation: Wind farm surveys may locate more wrecks. [00:27:35] Aviation: Fallen Fliers of Carmarthenshire, forthcoming SHJ book. [00:29:30] Historiography: Research methodology from parts discovered, discovery of Vickers Warwick [Wellington successor, used for ASR]. [00:33:28] RAF: Sunderlands based at Pembroke Dock; intact one found at bottom of Milford Haven, there since 1941, intention to raise. [00:34:26] Aviation: Flying Boat Centre, Pembroke Dock. [00:34:47] Aviation: RAF Museum, Hendon: Sunderland, late of Pembroke Dock. [00:35:13] Aviation: Pembroke Dock largest flying boat base in world in 1940s. [00:35:43] Aviation: Sunderland endurance, facilities. [00:36:29] Historiography: Research - photos, men, families. [00:39:50] Music: 633 Squadron theme, Band of RAF Regiment