Powell, Frederick J (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 5 and 40 Sqdns, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1915-1917; served as chief fighting instructor with Northern Groups, Royal Flying Corps in GB, 1917; commanded 43 Training Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in GB, 1917; commanded 41 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1917-1918; shot down and captured, 2/2/1918

REEL 1 Service with territorial units in Lancashire, 8/1913-11/1914. Transfer as observer to Royal Flying Corps, 11/1914: reasons; weight requirement. Recollections of period training with Royal Flying Corps at Farnborough, 11/1914-3/1915: background to volunteering for training as pilot; unorthodox method of learning Morse code; dual flying training and first solo flight in Maurice Farman Longhorn;; comparison of Maurice Farman Longhorn and Shorthorn; recollections of Gordon Bell and his role in developing Royal Flying Corps slang; contact with Colonel Mervyn O'Gorman; billets; passing 'ticket'. REEL 2 Recollections of period of training at Netheravon, 3/1915-4/1915: crash landing in Henri Farman; ruse to pass rigging examination; flying characteristics of Vickers Fighter with Monosoupape engine; Lieutenant Robert Lorraine's introduction of pilot's gun on Vickers Fighter; comparison of Vickers Fighter and BE2 C; comparison of pusher and tractor aircraft. Recollections of period as officer with B Flight, 5 Sqdn at Abeele, Belgium, 4/1915-4/1916: Vickers Fighters; length of patrols; method of evading German anti aircraft fire; role of Scout pilot in squadron; flying DH2. REEL 3 Continues: story of shooting down German Aviatik and 'two-tail' aircraft in Ypres area; aerial combat tactics against Aviatiks; reason for selection of prototype Vickers FE8 in preference to DH2; story of being shot down by Aviatik illustrating inadequacy of FE8 gun mounting and landing near artillery battery in Ypres area; subsequent modifications to gun mounting to allow it to fire upwards; story of Trenchard arranging briefing between O'Gorman and Powell and consequent modifications made to ailerons to reduce excessive lateral control and gun mountings. REEL 4 Continues: story of abortive attempt to lead patrol over lines of Nieuport Scouts of Royal Naval Air Service; relationship with Royal Naval Air Service; pilots reactions to modification ordered by Lorraine without consultation on individual aircraft; squadron joke to highlight Lorraine's affected behaviour; accommodation; ruses to ensure no other pilot flew his aircraft. Period at Cambridge, 4/1916-5/1916: desire for active service posting; crash landing during attempt to loop from ground in Bristol Bullet; story of securing posting back to Western Front despite injured ankle. REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of period as officer with 40 Sqdn at Lillevillas, France, 5/1916-2/1917: bomber escort duties and effects of superior altitude ceiling of Fokker Monoplane; story of shooting down Fokker Monoplane; opinion of formation flying and illustrative story; method of linking up with bomber units prior to crossing lines; increasing numbers of German aircraft, 1916; stories illustrating disadvantages of prevailing westerly wind; Major Lorraine's role in forming squadron theatre; story of visit from George Bernard Shaw. REEL 6 Continues: story of visit from George Bernard Shaw; role of alcohol in maintaining unit morale; use of rum to counter cold when flying at altitude; effects of constant patrolling on personal morale; visits to estaminet and brothels; relationship with French owner of chateau billet; stories illustrating relationship with German pilots. Aspects of period as chief fighting instructor with Northern Group, Royal Flying Corps based at York, 2/1917-4/1917: personal DH2; role; opinion of method of fighting training and proposals for special fighting instruction squadrons. Aspects of period commanding 43 Training Sqdn at Tern Hill, 4/1917-8/1917: role of sqdn in ensuring adequate supply of pilots for active service. REEL 7 Continues: refusal to convert Avro 504s from Gnome to Monosoupape engines without special conversion kit and subsequent amusing exchange with group headquarters; pilot training methods; opinion of Avro 504 as training aircraft and disadvantage of balanced rudder controls; question of formation flying training; story of dealing with malingering US volunteer pilot; desire for active service. Recollections of period commanding 41 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps based at Lillevillas, France, 8/1917-2/1918: flying characteristics of DH5 and failure of attempts to loop; re-equipment with SE5. REEL 8 Continues: role as squadron commander; creating roller skating rink to aid unit morale; opinion of General F A Higgins; role writing letters to relatives of dead or missing pilots; casualties and consequent problem of inexperienced pilots; account of leading offensive patrol in Douai sector, 2/2/1918, including prior briefing, being wounded and engine disabled during dogfight, forced landing on German airfield, reception and initial interrogation as POW at Douai.