Slessor, John Cotesworth (Oral history)

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Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British officer served with 20 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1921-1923; student at Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, GB, 1924; served as staff officer with Plans Department at Air Ministry, London, GB, 1928-1930; served as instructor with Staff College, Camberley, GB, 1931-1934; commanded No 3 Indian Wing, RAF in India, 1935-1937; served as Director of Plans at Air Ministry, London, GB, 1937-1941

Content description

REEL 1 Recollections of period as staff officer with Plans Department, Air Ministry, London, GB, 1928-1930: influence of Lord Trenchard and his attitudes towards the Independent Air Force; Lord Trenchard's views on use of air power; opinion on limitations of air power until, 1943-1944; working for Lord Trenchard; opinion of Lord Trenchard's 'Last Will and Testament'; opinion of Wilfred Freeman; relations with and character of Charles Portal. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as Director of Plans at Air Ministry, London, GB, 1937-1941: disputes with General Staff; relations with Admiralty; tension over anti-submarine campaign during Second World War; Admiralty Director of Plans, Admiral Tom Philip's scepticism of threat of aircraft towards ships; prior recollection of participation in Hendon Air Displays, 1919-1920. Aspects of period as officer with 20 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1921-1923 and commanding No 3 Indian Wing, RAF in India, 1935-1937: problems obtaining spares for new service, 1921-1923; development of views on obsolescence of army co-operation techniques during 1930s; attitude of army officers to army co-operation work. REEL 3 Continues: exercises and practical demonstration on North West Frontier, 1936; responsibilities during aftermath of Quetta earthquake, 1935. Aspects of period as student at Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, 1924 1925 and as instructor at Staff College, Camberley, GB, 1931-1934: question of effective length for courses; attitudes at Royal Air Force Staff College. Aspects of period as Director of Plans at Air Ministry, London, GB, 1937-1941: working hours; Charles Portal's character; concern over public morale during aerial bombardment based on panic caused by Zeppelin raids during First World War.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Interwar (content), Interwar (association), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Brooks, Stephen (Recorder)
Slessor, John Cotesworth (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1978-03-08
Dimensions: whole: Duration 90, Number Of Items 3
Catalogue number: 3176

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Slessor, John Cotesworth (Oral history)

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