Description
Object description
New Zealand officer served as pilot with Reserve of Air Officers and with 600 (City of London) Sqdn, Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Hendon in GB, 1933-1935; served with 15 (Bomber) Sqdn, RAF at RAF Abingdon in GB, 1935-1936; served as personal assistant to Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command, RAF Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt in GB, 1937-1939; served with 108 (Bomber) Sqdn, No 2 Group, Bomber Command, RAF at RAF Bassingbourn in GB, 1939
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB and New Zealand, 1914-1933: background in New Zealand; memories of childhood in London during First World War; education; early flying experiences. Story of flying training at Brough Airfield as member of Reserve of Air Officers at Trinity College, Cambridge University, 1933. Aspects of period as officer with 600 (City of London) Sqdn, Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Hendon, GB, 1935: duties; pay; character of squadron personnel; pattern of training; air defence exercises including fighter tactics employed; interception and communication; participation in Jubilee Review, 1935; decision to become regular Royal Air Force officer.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as officer with 15 (Bomber) Sqdn, RAF at RAF Abingdon in GB, 1935-1936: posting to squadron at RAF Abingdon; effect of Royal Air Force expansion on standards in squadron; qualities necessary for squadron leaders; squadron discipline and degree of flying skills; story of dispute over legality of evidence in deserter's court martial and his subsequent attending of all court martials; special dive bombing training including unrealistic attitude of Royal Navy to dive bombing trials against HMS Centurion, techniques employed and accuracy achieved; character of annual air defence interception exercises; amusing story of bombing display that was instrumental to his next posting.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as personal assistant to Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command, RAF Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt in GB, 1937-1939: posting as personal assistant, 1937; duties and nature of working relationship; Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt's obsession with casualties; amusing story of miscaptioned photograph illustrating Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt's dislike of publicity; duties; illustrations of Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt's inspections including an inspection as Inspector-General of Elworthy's station during Second World War; Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt's role in maintaining standards despite Royal Air Force expansion and inadequate equipment. Recollections of period as officer with 108 (Bomber) Sqdn, No 2 Group, Bomber Command, RAF at RAF Bassingbourn in GB, 1939: posting to squadron, 1939; arrival of new Bristol Blenheims.
REEL 4 Continues: degree of experience of squadron personnel; training programme including bombing, navigation and limited night flying; conversion to operational training squadron; criticism of Central Flying School's operational training particularly the concept of Bristol Blenheim night flying training; success of Elworthy's ideas; explanation of the fascination of flying.