Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with Royal Naval Air Service in GB, 10/1914-10/1915; served aboard HMS Engadine in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 10/1915-3/1917 including Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916-1/6/1916; served on duties evaluating Sopwith Camel at Royal Naval Air Service Station Killingholme, GB, 4/1917-6/1917; served with No 2 Wing, Royal Naval Air Service/Royal Air Force on Imbros Island, Greece, 7/1917-1/1919
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of aviation activities in Scotland, GB, 1906-1914: attending Lanark Aviation Meeting, 1910; meeting Samuel Cody during 'Circuit of Britain Race' visit to Paisley Racecourse, 1911 including first flight as passenger in British Army Aeroplane No 1 nicknamed the 'Cody Cathedral'; interest in model aeroplanes; question of Scottish aviators; purchase of and experimental flights in Humber-Bleriot, 10/1913; unofficial flying lessons in Short S.38 converted floatplane from Major Robert Gordon of Naval Wing, Royal Flying Corps during their manoeuvres at Leven, 1914; flight with B C Hucks over Glasgow, 1914; question of ability as pilot; failure of initial attempts to join Royal Naval Air Service, 7/1914. Aspects of period as pupil with Beatty School of Flying, Hendon Aerodrome, GB, 10/1914: flying characteristics of Wright Model B biplane.
REEL 2 Continues: sight of crash landing of Wright Model B biplane. Aspects of enlistment and training as officer with Royal Naval Air Service at Royal Naval Air Service Station Hendon Aerodrome, GB, 10/1914-1/1915: question of religion; continuation of training with civilian flying schools; crash landing in Caudron Type D; opinion of Royal Naval Air Service; nature of qualification test as pilot on first solo, 30/1/1915; civilian flying instructors; question of role of Royal Naval Air Service.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with Royal Naval Air Service at Royal Naval Air Station Eastchurch, GB, 2/1915: improving flying skills on patrols with semi-operational section; flying characteristics of Short Tractor biplane, Short Naval No 1 and Maurice Farman MF.7 Longhorn; opinion of Horace Short; opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Eugene Gerrard; story of makeshift repairs to aircraft following crash landing by Lieutenant Redford 'Red' Mulock.
REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with Royal Naval Air Service at Royal Naval Air Station Eastbourne, GB, 3/1915: aircraft; convoy escort patrols; Sub-Lieutenant Arthur Shepherd's fatal crash into English Channel, 10/3/1915; frequency and nature of convoy escort patrols. Recollections of operations as pilot with Royal Naval Air Service at Royal Naval Air Station Calshot, GB, 4/1915: desire for posting to Western Front and reaction to posting to fly seaplanes due to navigational skills; difficulty in taking off and landing Maurice Farman MF.11 Shorthorn seaplane; opinion of different types of seaplanes; training through experience.
REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of period as pilot with Royal Naval Air Service at Royal Naval Air Station Dundee, GB, 5/1915: station layout; flying characteristics of Avro and Short manufactured seaplanes; submarine patrol duties; method of launching seaplane and docking from sheds; story of Lieutenant Christopher Draper flying under Tay Bridge; temporary detachment as sole pilot flying aircraft from Royal Flying Corps Station Montrose, 6/1915-8/1915; anti-submarine and Zeppelin role.
REEL 6 Continues: anti-submarine and Zeppelin patrol routine; difficulty in locating Zeppelins at night, importance of coastal patrol duties and armament carried. Recollections of operations as pilot with Royal Naval Air Service aboard HMS Engadine in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 10/1915-3/1917: nature of seaplane carrier and aircraft carried; basing at Granton; role of ship's aircraft; accompanying Battle Cruiser Sqdn on sweeps into North Sea; impossibility of launching seaplanes in rough weather; method of launching seaplanes using crane.
REEL 7 Continues: procedure for getting seaplanes back on board; development of use of wireless communication in seaplanes; introduction of Lewis Machine Gun on Scarfe Ring mounting for observer; accidental damage to aircraft wing during balloon target practise; relations with Royal Naval personnel; story of attempt to bomb Zeppelin sheds which failed due to inability of Sopwith Schneider seaplane to take off in artificial swell caused by destroyers manoeuvring to counter possible submarine attack, 5/1916.
REEL 8 Continues: temporary posting to HMS Vindex based at Harwich, 11/1915 including use of Bristol Scout taking off from foredeck in anti-Zeppelin role, dangers of landing Bristol Scout in sea, bomb trials using Short Type 184 seaplane in preparation of Tondern Raid and subsequent crash landing into cliffs whilst attempting to land in fog , 4/12/1915.
REEL 9 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot aboard HMS Engadine, Battle Cruiser Sqdn during Battle of Jutland in North Sea, 30/5/1916-1/6/1916: situation; replacement at last moment by Flight Lieutenant Frederick Rutland's for reconnaissance flight to locate German High Seas Fleet; reports recieved from Flight Lieutenant Frederick Rutland; deteriorating weather conditions; sight of sinking of HMS Defence and HMS Black Prince; damage to HMS Warrior and taking her in tow by HMS Engadine; orderly nature of evacuation of HMS Warrior immediately prior to sinking, 1/6/1916.
REEL 10 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with No 2 Wing, Royal Naval Air Service/Royal Air Force on Imbros Island, Greece, 7/1917-1/1919: role patrolling Dardanelles Straits; account of air attack on Ottoman Navy battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim and cruiser Midilli on their emergence into the Aegean Sea, 20/1/1918-30/1/1918 including initial confusion on alarm, escort role of Sopwith Camels covering bombers, success in driving ships into minefield, sinking of Midilli off Imbros Island, 20/1/1918, beaching of Yavuz Sultan Selim at Nagara Point, Dardanelles Straits, failure of attempts to complete destruction, discovery of Yavuz Sultan Selim overnight escape, illustration of ineffectiveness of bombs against armoured ships; Turkish anti-aircraft defences at Nagara Point, reasons for Yavuz Sultan Selim's overnight escape, escort role of Sopwith Camels covering bombers and scale of operation.
REEL 11 Continues: Aspects of period as pilot with Royal Naval Air Service at Royal Naval Air Station Killingholme, GB, 4 /1917-6/1917: participation in tests to evaluate Sopwith Camel; flying characteristics of Sopwith Camel. Recollections of operations as pilot with No 2 Wing, Royal Naval Air Service/RAF on Imbros Island, Greece, 7/1917-1/1919: attacks on retreating Bulgarian Army in Rupel Pass, Greece using base at Royal Naval Air Service Station Stavos, Bulgaria, 9/1918; cancellation of planned raid on Chanak and subsequent salute from Turkish garrison at Nagara Point immediately prior to surrender at 12.00, 31/10/1918; amusing story of subsequent rough landing; 31/10/1918; capture of Captain John Alcock during night raid, 1918.
