Description
Object description
British officer trained with Royal Flying Corps Station Swingate Down, 191 (Night) Training Sqdn at Military Night Landing Ground, Royal Flying Corps Station Marham and Royal Flying Corps Station East Retford, GB, 11/1917-1/1918 served as pilot with 83 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps/RAF on Western Front, 1/1918-5/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of night flying training with 191 (Night) Training Sqdn at Night Landing Ground, Royal Flying Corps Station Marham, GB, 11/1917-1/1918: first night flight including taking off, importance of horizon, danger of turning below 1000 feet and landing; effects of weather conditions on flying; navigation at night; question of adequacy of training; navigation practical test.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspect of flying training at Royal Flying Corps Station East Retford, GB, 1/1918: necessity of passing navigational test; use of course and distance indicator to allow for wind drift; story of getting lost and consequent forced landing whilst flying Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b in triangular test in snowstorm. Recollections of operations as pilot with 83 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps/RAF in France, 1/1918-5/1918: flight out from Royal Flying Corps Station Narborough to Auchel, France; nature of objectives during night bombing raids; prior bombing practice with incendiary bombs; question of accuracy of bombing.
REEL 3 Continues: role of mapping officer; effect of short range bombing; example of inaccurate bombing caused by bombing in cross wind; routine of taking off and landing; daytime preparation prior to night operations against German transport; duration and frequency of missions; effect of weather conditions; story of getting lost following aircraft navigation lights.
REEL 4 Continues: question of effect of bombing raids on concentrations of German troops particularly on Albert-Bapaume Road during German offensive, 3/1918; frequency of missions; daily routine; effects of fatigue; effects of weather and degree of darkness; reconnaissance flights using parachute magnesium flares and German ground fire; attacks on German searchlight installation.
REEL 5 Continues: story of running into German searchlight and machine gun concentration; question of casualties amongst night and day squadrons; story of airfield at Auchel being raided at night by captured Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b; proximity of airfield to new German front line; heavy shell fire directed at airfield and consequent emergency move to airfield near Doullens, 5/1918; German efforts to flatten airfield.
REEL 6 Continues: accident whilst attempting first take off from Doullens airfield; story of hitting haystack whilst taking off from 101 Sqdn, RAF airfield, 5/1918. Reflections on relationship with Captain James McCudden whilst flying training at Royal Flying Corps Station Swingate Down near Dover, GB, 5/1917-7/1917: personality; examples of stunting ability; story of James McCudden's attempt to shoot down Gotha G.V Bombers during raid on London, 7/7/1917.