Description
Object description
British apprentice served with No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF at RAF Halton, GB, 1925-1927; aircraftman served with Royal Air Force College Cranwell, GB, 1927-1929 and No 3 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Spitalgate, GB, 1929-1930; NCO served with 55, 70 and 203 Sqdns, Royal Air Force Iraq Command in Iraq, 1930-1934; served with 11 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1934-1937; served with Central Flying School, RAF at RAF Upavon, GB, 1937-1939; served Falconer-in-Chief with Air Ministry in GB, 1947-1949
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as apprentice with No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF at RAF Halton, GB, 1925-1927: background to enlistment in Royal Air Force, 1925; entrance examination to school; initial impressions of school; opinion of food; discipline and his poor disciplinary record; daily routine; role of leading apprentices; story of assaulting leading apprentice; comparison with system observed in 1976; drill and Armistice Day parade, 11/11/1926; further details of daily routine; training as carpenter rigger; passing out grades.
REEL 2 Continues: allocation of trades; degree of group rivalries; emphasis on sport; 'ragging' and comradeship; quality of trade and educational instruction; recreational activities; story of accidentally ignoring senior officer. Aspects of period as aircraftsman at Royal Air Force College Cranwell, GB, 1927-1929: posting to college; conditions; work overhauling aircraft; opinion of Avro 504K; memories of Frank Whittle; continued disciplinary problems. Recollections of period as aircraftsman with No 3 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Spitalgate, GB, 1929-1930: relations with NCOs; duties and desire for overseas posting; visit to Schneider Trophy race at Gosport, 1929; reasons for liking Avro 504K.
REEL 3 Continues: reasons for unpopularity of Armstrong Whitworth Atlas; opinion of Bristol Bulldog; unofficial flying lessons; Lord Hugh Trenchard's poor flying skills; modifications to deal with propeller torque; aircraft's fabric construction; Royal Air Force tail colours; personal markings on aircraft; aircraft ground crew; foreign pilots training at RAF Spitalgate; pay and attitude to reduction in pay, 1931; attitude to overseas postings. Recollections of period as aircraftman with 55 (Bomber) Sqdn, RAF at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, 1930-1932: posting to squadron and character of voyage on troopship; frogs at Hinaidi; training as air gunner.
REEL 4 Continues: use of 'zogging' for communication; bombing practice using camera obscura; method of clearing gun stoppages; air and ground target practice; use of Norman Wind Vane sights; character of operations in Iraq with squadron and later 70 Sqdn including bombing villages, treatment of captured airmen and accident caused by inverse tornado; ground-fire; medals awarded; sight seeing in Iraq; opinion of Westland Wapiti. Aspects of period as NCO with 70 Sqdn, RAF in Iraq, 1930-1932: opinion of Vickers Victoria and Vickers Valencia.
REEL 5 Continues: transport flights to Egypt and problems of landing at RAF Ramleh, Palestine; duties with squadron; story of participating in pioneering long distance flight to Singapore, Malaya; thorough testing of Royal Air Force aircraft; use of loudspeakers to communicate with tribesmen on ground; pay allowances. Aspects of period as NCO with 203 (Flying Boat) Sqdn, RAF at Basra, Iraq, 1932-1934: posting to squadron, 1932; role of squadron; opinion of Short Rangoon; shark fishing; living conditions at Basra. Aspects of period as Falconer-in-Chief with Air Ministry in GB, 1947-1949: introduction to falconry in Iraq; background to becoming Air Ministry Falconer-in-Chief in 1947; visits to Kurdistan in company with Kurdish falconer.
REEL 6 Continues: organisation and effectiveness of Royal Air Force falcon units in GB; importance of operational weight of falcons; techniques of falconry; types of birds used; contact with Indian falconry; further techniques of falconry; ability of falcons to recognise handler. Reflections on period as NCO with 55, 70 and 230 Sqdns, Royal Air Force Iraq Command in Iraq, 1930-1934: story of clash between Royal Iraqi Army and Kurdish forces; opinion of discipline of Royal Iraqi Army; opinion of Iraqi Air Force pilot's skills; introduction of parachute and parachute drill.
REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of period as NCO with 11 (Bomber) Sqdn at RAF Risalpur in India, 1934-1937: posting to squadron at RAF Risalpur; troopship and train journey to Risalpur; character of commanding officer Squadron Leader Charles Trench; study and examinations prior to appointment as air gunner; photographic duties and organisation of survey of Black Mountains; operations against Fakirs; bombing raid on Pathan village; opinion of air control methods used against tribesmen; relations with local population including local traders' behaviour and reasons for avoidance of paying barrack servants; opinion and character of Hawker Hart.
REEL 8 Continues: description of bombing Pathan village; warning system prior to bombing; accuracy of ground-fire; flying accidents; reaction to leaving India after extended tour; problems of landing on small airfield at Mergui in Burma. Aspects of period as NCO with Central Flying School, RAF at RAF Upavon, GB, 1937-1939: posting to school; negotiations over pension including extension of service and promotion; aircraft repair duties; history of RAF Upavon; accommodation; character of airfield; testing of new types of aircraft and opinion of their metal construction.