Recorded interview with Aircraftsman 1st Class Bill Hassey, 8 November 2024

Interview with Bill Hassey, who served as an RAF armourer in the UK and with 26 Squadron in Germany, operating Tempest and Vampire ground attack aircraft during the late 1940s.

Bill Hassey trained as an RAF armourer and worked on Brigand and Vampire aircraft in the UK before being posted to 26 Squadron with Tempest aircraft at RAF Gutersloh. He explains the squadron’s role, remembers working with cannon and rocket armament and remembers the squadron’s conversion to Vampire aircraft. He describes the contrast between Tempest and Vampire, his experience of groundcrew team spirit and his awareness of the Berlin Airlift.