Coryton, William Alec (Oral history)

British officer served with 8th Bn Rifle Bde, 41st Bde, 14th (Light) Div in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1917; served as instructor with Central Flying School, Royal Flying Corps/RAF at Upavon and No 1 Special Flying School, RAF at RAF Gosport, GB, 1917-1919; served as workshop officer with 24 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Kenley, GB, 1919-1920; served with 31 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1920-1924; commanded 16 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Old Sarum, GB, 1925-1928; served as senior instructor at School of Army Co-operation, RAF at RAF Old Sarum, GB, 1928-1932; served with German Section, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence at Air Ministry, London, GB, 1932-1933; served as staff officer with Headquarters, Coastal Area at RAF Lee-on-Solent, GB, 1933-1937 and at Royal Naval College, Greenwich, GB, 1937

REEL 1 Background in Pillaton and Ivybridge, GB, 1895-1914: family; education; early interest in aviation. Aspects of period as officer with 8th Rifle Bde, 41st Bde, 14th (Light) Div in GB and Western Front, 1914-1917: commissioning into 8th Bn Rifle Bde, 1914; wounding on Western Front, 1915; transfer to Royal Flying Corps, 1917. Aspects of period as flying instructor with Royal Flying Corps at Central Flying School, Royal Flying Corps/RAF at RAF Upavon and No 1 Special Flying School, RAF at RAF Gosport, GB, 1917-1919: instructional duties; formation of RAF and initial resistance to uniform, 1918; teaching Duke of York to fly, 1919. Aspects of period as workshop officer with 24 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Kenley, GB, 1919: posting as workshop officer; participation flying Avro 504 in Hendon Air Display; subsequent involvement in Hendon Air Display, 1925. REEL 2 Continues: posting as instructor to Royal Air Force College, Cranwell. Recollections of period as officer with 31 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1920-1924: service conditions at bases at Cawnpore and Peshawar; lack of spares and effects on serviceability; dishonest officers; accommodation at Peshawar; bombing of rebellious villages and army co-operation work; invention of Coryton Miniature Range; shooting expeditions on leave; return to GB, 1924. Aspects of period as commanding officer of 16 (Army Co-operation) Sqdn, RAF at RAF Old Sarum, GB, 1925-1928: posting to unit; army manoeuvres and practice camps; varying qualities of officers; problems with radio telephony. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as senior instructor at School of Army Co-opertation, RAF at RAF Old Sarum, GB, 1928-1932: duties; image of army co-operation. Aspects of period as officer with German Section, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence, Air Ministry, London, GB, 1932-1933: duties; methods used to carry out surveillance of German re-armament; reactions of superiors to intelligence gained. Aspects of period as staff officer with Headquarters, Coastal Area, RAF at RAF Lee-on-Solent, GB, 1933-1937: role investigating role of aircraft in coastal defence; exercises with Home Fleet; posting to Royal Naval College, Greenwich, GB, 1937.