Description
Object description
British officer served as observer with 6 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 10/1917-12/1917; trained as pilot with Royal Flying Corps/RAF at No 3 School of Military Aeronautics, Heliopolis, Egypt, 12/1917-7/1918 and 33 (Training) Sqdn, RAF at Whitney Training Depot, RAF, GB, 8/1918-10/1918; served as pilot with 22 Sqdn, RAF in Belgium, 11/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of transfer as observer to Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 6/1917: reasons for requesting transfer to Royal Flying Corps; interview with commanding officer; loss of seniority on transfer; recieving news of transfer in front line. Aspects of period training as observer with Royal Flying Corps at Brooklands Aerodrome, GB, 7/1917: first flight in Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c; effects of centrifugal force; use of miniature landscape for artillery spotting instruction; opinion of inadequacy of Morse Code training; training on Lewis Gun; question of adequacy of training; photography; infantry contact patrols.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as observer with 6 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Abele, Belgium, 10/1917-12/1917: shortage of observers; officers' mess; custom of photographic reproduction of all officers' head silhouettes; story illustrating relationship with flight commander; first artillery shoot using Morse Code over Ypres area; method of artillery spotting using clock code; Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8's armament; covering role of scout aircraft; contact patrols during infantry attacks.
REEL 3 Continues: question of ineffectiveness of contact patrols during infantry attacks; attitude towards infantry; story of observer shot down in last flight before going on leave after failure of attempt to exchange flight; effects of morning mist on flying; question of becoming pilot and reasons for preference for scout rather than artillery observation flying duties.
REEL 4 Continues: desire to fly and opinion of role of scout pilot. Recollections of period of flying training at School of Military Aeronautics, Royal Flying Corps/RAF, Heliopolis, Egypt, 12/1917-7/1918: prior medical and leave in GB; advantage of Egypt for flying training; lack of adequate aircraft and consequent need for extra training on return to GB; hosptialisation for diphtheria attack after failing of dual flying test; reasons for Airco DH.6's nickname 'clutching hand'.
REEL 5 Continues: dual flying test in Airco DH6 including vertical turns and landing; question of personal morale during first solo in Airco DH6; practising circuits and landings; story of collision whilst landing with aircraft taking off from airfield.
REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of flying training as pilot with 33 (Training) Sqdn, RAF at Whitney Training Depot, RAF, GB, 7/1918-10/1918: background to avoidance of training on Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 due to war record; successful acclimatisation to flying Bristol F.2 Fighter; story of forced landings in Avro 504K; incidents of successive forced landings following engine and Constantineco Synchronization Gear failures during target practice.
REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of period as pilot with 22 Sqdn, RAF at Nivelles, Belgium, 11/1918: cancellation of move to Germany; contour chasing; near accident 'stunting' over Waterloo Memorial; flying characteristics of Fokker DVII and comparison with Bristol F.2 Fighter.
