Description
Object description
A collection of memoirs, anecdotes, articles (some written for 'Fly Navy' the Fleet Air Arm magazine), and correspondence relating to his service as an Observer in the Fleet Air Arm branch of the RNVR, with occasional repetition of stories, and consisting: a ts summary of his career (3pp) giving details of postings and ranks (September 1939 – January 1946), with brief quotes about his time in each unit; a ms account (4pp) of joining 804 Squadron, Yeovilton, (February 1941); ts account (9pp) about service in 775 Squadron, Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU), at Dekheila, Alexandria, Egypt (July – October 1941), and 815 Squadron, flying Swordfish (October 1941 – October 1942), with anecdotes about blind flying at night, flying in sandstorms at Sidi Barrani (January 1942) making emergency landings, training exercises, working with ASV (Anti Surface Vessel) radar sets, 815 Squadron becoming a full time anti-submarine squadron (January 1942) with details of U-boats attacked, and methods of attack; two ms accounts (both 5pp) about a mistaken dive bombing attack by 826 Squadron on retreating British troops (November 1941) and other bombing attacks in the desert; an anecdote (3pp) about a Chief Air Gunner shooting two Air Gunners while psychologically disturbed (1942); a copy of a ms letter (5pp, written 1990) describing attacks on U-boats (January 1942), specifically U 577, with a report by the Naval Foreign Documents Section (3pp, November 1990) stating that records were being amended to show that U 577 was sunk by Walker's Swordfish, with copies of three original reports on attacks on submarines involving Walker (January 1942 and January 1943); a photocopy of a ms account (8pp) of an attack by Swordfish from 815 Squadron on the submarine HMS Thrasher (July? 1942), with details of the background to the incident, the attack, and the subsequent Court Martial; two ms accounts (8pp and 3pp, written in the 1980s) of being transferred to 821 Squadron, flying Albacores, and describing the opening barrage at the start of the Battle of El Alamein as seen from above (23 October 1942), as well as discussing the tactics used by Swordfish and Albacore squadrons to mark enemy positions with flares on bombing operations for Wellington bombers, with the dangers of fire from below and bombs from above, the thrill he got from seeing the 'fireworks' of Anti-Aircraft fire, bombs and artillery shells, and the terror of being caught in enemy searchlights; a photocopy of ms recollections (10pp) of joining 821 Squadron (Albacores) (October 1942) and flying to Malta (November – December 1942), with details of the conditions, duties providing air cover between Sicily and Tunisia; ts anecdotes (4pp) about his time with 771 Squadron, FRU, at the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) Twatt, in the Orkneys (May – August 1943), with remarks about the base, training, and difficulties attached to flying; photocopies of ms memories (21pp) of his posting to RNAS Burscough, Lancashire, as Signals Officer (September – November 1943) with details of the station, the family he was billeted with, staff, WRNS, preparing Squadrons for Italy landings, and including sketch maps of the base and an aerial photograph; three ms memories (5pp, 2pp and 2pp) of 841 Squadron (Barracudas), at Lee-on Solent, and then RNAS Fearn, Ivernesshire (February – July 1944); a photocopy of a ts eulogy (5pp, 1992) for a colleague and friend, Lt D M Lubbock RNVR, who had served with him on the 40th Observer's Course, 'The Gentlemen Observers' at the Signal School, RN Barracks, Portsmouth; a ts article (1p) about the aircrew knife; A photograph of Walker; a note in Arabic carried by airmen to ask Arab peoples to help and provide assistance to downed airmen (1p); a silk map of North Africa; and a map of the channel and North West Europe.
Content description
A collection of memoirs, anecdotes, articles (some written for 'Fly Navy' the Fleet Air Arm magazine), and correspondence relating to his service as an Observer in the Fleet Air Arm branch of the RNVR, with occasional repetition of stories, and consisting: a ts summary of his career (3pp) giving details of postings and ranks (September 1939 – January 1946), with brief quotes about his time in each unit; a ms account (4pp) of joining 804 Squadron, Yeovilton, (February 1941); ts account (9pp) about service in 775 Squadron, Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU), at Dekheila, Alexandria, Egypt (July – October 1941), and 815 Squadron, flying Swordfish (October 1941 – October 1942), with anecdotes about blind flying at night, flying in sandstorms at Sidi Barrani (January 1942) making emergency landings, training exercises, working with ASV (Anti Surface Vessel) radar sets, 815 Squadron becoming a full time anti-submarine squadron (January 1942) with details of U-boats attacked, and methods of attack; two ms accounts (both 5pp) about a mistaken dive bombing attack by 826 Squadron on retreating British troops (November 1941) and other bombing attacks in the desert; an anecdote (3pp) about a Chief Air Gunner shooting two Air Gunners while psychologically disturbed (1942); a copy of a ms letter (5pp, written 1990) describing attacks on U-boats (January 1942), specifically U 577, with a report by the Naval Foreign Documents Section (3pp, November 1990) stating that records were being amended to show that U 577 was sunk by Walker's Swordfish, with copies of three original reports on attacks on submarines involving Walker (January 1942 and January 1943); a photocopy of a ms account (8pp) of an attack by Swordfish from 815 Squadron on the submarine HMS Thrasher (July? 1942), with details of the background to the incident, the attack, and the subsequent Court Martial; two ms accounts (8pp and 3pp, written in the 1980s) of being transferred to 821 Squadron, flying Albacores, and describing the opening barrage at the start of the Battle of El Alamein as seen from above (23 October 1942), as well as discussing the tactics used by Swordfish and Albacore squadrons to mark enemy positions with flares on bombing operations for Wellington bombers, with the dangers of fire from below and bombs from above, the thrill he got from seeing the 'fireworks' of Anti-Aircraft fire, bombs and artillery shells, and the terror of being caught in enemy searchlights; a photocopy of ms recollections (10pp) of joining 821 Squadron (Albacores) (October 1942) and flying to Malta (November – December 1942), with details of the conditions, duties providing air cover between Sicily and Tunisia; ts anecdotes (4pp) about his time with 771 Squadron, FRU, at the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) Twatt, in the Orkneys (May – August 1943), with remarks about the base, training, and difficulties attached to flying; photocopies of ms memories (21pp) of his posting to RNAS Burscough, Lancashire, as Signals Officer (September – November 1943) with details of the station, the family he was billeted with, staff, WRNS, preparing Squadrons for Italy landings, and including sketch maps of the base and an aerial photograph; three ms memories (5pp, 2pp and 2pp) of 841 Squadron (Barracudas), at Lee-on Solent, and then RNAS Fearn, Ivernesshire (February – July 1944); a photocopy of a ts eulogy (5pp, 1992) for a colleague and friend, Lt D M Lubbock RNVR, who had served with him on the 40th Observer's Course, 'The Gentlemen Observers' at the Signal School, RN Barracks, Portsmouth; a ts article (1p) about the aircrew knife; A photograph of Walker; a note in Arabic carried by airmen to ask Arab peoples to help and provide assistance to downed airmen (1p); a silk map of North Africa; and a map of the channel and North West Europe.
History note
Cataloguer SJO