Description
Object description
British air mechanic with Royal Naval Air Service aboard HMS Campania in GB coastal waters, 7/1915-11/1917; petty officer served as engineer with Royal Naval Air Service at Royal Naval Air Service Station Killingholme, GB, 11/1917-4/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of enlistment and training as air mechanic with Royal Naval Air Service in GB, 7/1915: enlistment at Portsmouth Dockyard, 7/1915: prior experience in sailing small boats at Portsmouth; question of seasickness; knowledge of naval technicalities including tidal ranges; prior recollection of apprenticeship and employment as lighting engineer; reasons for volunteering for military service; failure of initial application to join Royal Flying Corps; trade test at Royal Naval Air Service Station Hendon Aerodrome; pay; kitting out and initial training at Royal Naval Air Service Station Sheerness.
REEL 2 Continues: prior experience of .22 rifle shooting. Recollections of period as air mechanic aboard HMS Campania in GB coastal waters, 7/1915-11/1917: journey to Scapa Flow and reporting to depot ship HMS Imperieuse, 30/7/1915; role of drifters; rum and tobacco ration; use of steam winches to handle seaplane and launching procedure; use of civilian liner names; boarding ship.
REEL 3 Continues: seasickness caused by ship's sea going qualities and engines; method of handling seaplanes in bad weather including taking off in lea of ship, difficulties in landing, salvaging engine where necessary and possibility of landing at Scapa Flow; installation of flight deck and Sopwith Schneider use detachable wheels on taking off; refit to create longer flight deck; role of seaplane tender; reaction to plan for abortive seaplane raid on Cuxhaven, Germany; contact with Dutch fishing fleet and overhearing their wireless reports to Germany.
REEL 4 Continues: cancellation of raid on Cuxhaven, Germany due to Dutch fishing fleet radio reports; route taken to evade German forces and subsequent gale; opinion of Captain Oliver Swann and reports of accident to Rigid Naval Airship No 1 Mayfly in 1911; early seaplanes; question of use of seaplanes in bad weather; effects of severe weather at Scapa Flow; establishment of temporary seaplane station during refit at Westray Island, Shetland Islands; story of becoming adrift in seaplane whilst replacing compressed air bottles.
REEL 5 Continues: subsequent success in starting engine and taxiing back; background to introduction of convoy system; familiarisation training prior to re-equipment with new engines; opinion of Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII Engine; absence of electrics in seaplanes; introduction of flying boats for anti-submarine patrols; ability to plot submerged submarine's course from air.
REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of detachment as Rolls-Royce engine specialist to help establish new Royal Naval Air Service unit operating Curtiss H-12 Flying Boat at Royal Naval Air Service Station Houton Bay, Orkney Islands, GB, 10/1917-11/1917: description of Curtiss H-12 Flying Boat engine petrol tank feed and pump system; reasons for dispute over returning to HMS Campania; journey to collect Curtiss H-12 Flying Boat from Royal Naval Air Service Station Felixstowe; damage and repair to flying boat during overnight stop at Royal Naval Air Service Station Killingholme; investigating suitability of landing and taking off flying boat at potential base in salt lake near Moray Firth.
REEL 7 Continues: damage to hull during take off in flying boat, landing and supervision of repairs at Dundee; background to drafting to Royal Naval Air Service Station Killingholme; rotary engines; loss of kit and pay left aboard HMS Campania on drafting; flight in flying boat through fog.
REEL 8 Continues: story of flight in flying boat in fog including ditching, taxiing into Middlesborough, refuelling, taking off and successful landing at Royal Naval Air Service Station Killingholme. Recollections of period as petty officer at Royal Naval Air Service Station Killingholme, GB, 11/1917-4/1918: recieving warrant for trip to fetch kit left aboard HMS Campania; promotion as petty officer engineer in charge of A Flight workshops and consequent attitude of other petty officers; differing role of flights; story of starting difficult engine.
REEL 9 Continues: necessity of other ranks and petty officers volunteering for flying duty; stories of starting difficult engine and repairing rev counters; incident of pilot's unwillingness to take off in rough weather and joining replacement crew for patrol; account of call out as part of emergency crew to intercept Imperial German Navy Zeppelin L.56 (LZ.103) off Flamborough Head, 4/1918 including composition of crew, fog, receiving Morse Code transmissions from Zeppelin, sighting and opening fire on Imperial German Navy Zeppelin L.56 (LZ.103), it's successful avoiding action, problem with engines, ditching in sea, take off and return to base.
REEL 10 Continues: reiteration of account of call out as part of emergency crew to intercept Imperial German Navy Zeppelin L.56 (LZ.103) off Flamborough Head, 4/1918 including composition of crew, fog, receiving Morse Code transmissions from Zeppelin, sighting and opening fire on Imperial German Navy Zeppelin L.56 (LZ.103), it's successful avoiding action problem with engines, ditching in sea, successful repairs, take off, return to base and subsequent award of Distinguised Flying Medal (DFM); arrival of Major Edwin Moon as A Flight Commander; incident of pilot's unwillingness to take off in rough weather and joining replacement crew for patrol; background to commission as lieutenant and attending course at Technical Officers School of Instruction, RAF at Henley-on-Thames, 1918.