Description
Object description
British cadet trained as pilot at Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, GB, 1923-1925; officer served as pilot with 41 (Fighter) Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1925-1928; served with Royal Air Force Home Depot at RAF Henlow, GB, 1928-1930; served as engineer officer with Royal Air Force Depot Hinaidi at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, 1930-1933; served with 55 Sqdn, RAF in Iraq, 1933; served with 1 and 43 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1934-1936; student with Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, GB, 1937 including inspection tour of Germany; served as staff officer with Flying Operations 1, Directorate of Operations at Air Ministry, London, GB, 1938-1939
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Cricklewood, GB, 1904-1923: family; education; early interest in aviation; employment as civil aviation mechanic. Aspects of period as cadet at Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, GB, 1923-1925: background to obtaining scholarship; character of flying training; ground instruction; accommodation; daily routine; bullying and initiations; failure rate; winning Sword of Honour. Recollections of period as pilot with 41 (Fighter) Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1925-1928: posting to squadron at RAF Northolt, 1925; flying Armstrong Whitworth Siskin; relations with ground crew; modification of head rest; training and inter-squadron competition.
REEL 2 Continues: Sassoon Trophy for map reading; air gunnery at RAF Sutton Bridge; converging bombing; annual interception exercises; participation in Hendon Air Display; drinking habits amongst pilots; story of indisciplined flying by NCO; role of squadron leader; mess life and games; inter-flight competition for Adams Cup; attending court martials as part of training; attitude to pay; effects of posting complaint; Lord Trenchard's plea for general duties officers. Aspects of period on engineering course at Royal Air Force Home Depot at RAF Henlow, GB, 1928-1930: attitude to course.
REEL 3 Continues: flying opportunities and question of insurance. Aspects of period as engineering officer with Royal Air Force Depot, Hinaidi at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, 1930-1933: duties and routine; flying in desert conditions; forced landing in Vickers Vildebeest; story of Air Marshal Sir Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt attitude to being given faulty aircraft. Aspects of period as officer with 55 (Bomber) Sqdn, RAF in Iraq, 1933: brief attachment to squadron; role of squadron in Kurdistan; story of court martial. Aspects of period as officer with 1 (Fighter) Sqdn and 43 (Fighter) Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1934-1936: posting to 1 (Fighter) Sqdn and pattern of service; attachment to 43 (Fighter) Sqdn as engineering officer and introduction of synchronised flight aerobatics; limited advances in equipment; effect of advent of radar in interception exercises; dilution of 1 (Fighter) Sqdn caused by Royal Air Force expansion; attitude to commanding 1 (Fighter) Sqdn.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as student with Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, GB, 1937: qualifying for staff college course; nature of course; visit to Germany on inspection tour; reactions to civilian conditions in Germany; German Air Force strength and British bomber deterrent; course studies. Recollections of period as staff officer with Flying Operations 1, Directorate of Operations at Air Ministry in London, GB, 1938-1939: posting to Directorate of Operations; estimates of fighters needed for defence of GB; working hours; introduction of radar; evacuation to Garston during Munich Crisis, 1938; end of financial restraints; liaison with Fighter Command; vulnerability of GB air defences in 1939-1940.