Description
Object description
British NCO trained as pilot with No 4 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt, 1930; served as pilot with 6 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt and Palestine, 1931-1935; served with 45 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt and Kenya, 1935-1936
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB and India, 1927-1929: enlistment, 1927; training at fitter rigger at RAF Manston; sporting activities; posting to India, 1929; background to selection for flying training. Aspects of flying training at No 4 Flying Training School, Abu Sueir in Egypt, 1930-1931: flying training; soloing; characteristics of Avro 504K; impressions of Ismailia reaction to sight of instructor crashing in middle of airfield; character of Armstrong Whitworth Atlas; daily routine. Recollections of period as pilot with 6 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt and Palestine, 1931-1935: posting to squadron at RAF Ismailia; character of Fairey Gordon; air gunnery training.
REEL 2 Continues: ground target gunnery; bombing practice; communications between aircraft; navigation techniques; instrument flying; flying in poor weather and sandstorms; night flying; role of duty pilot; reconnaissance photography techniques; forced landing practice; degree of parachute training; ground crew and affinity with aircraft; flying clothing worn; reliability of radial and water cooled engines of Fairey Gordon and Fairey IIIF; possibilities of commission; accommodation in Sergeant's Mess.
REEL 3 Continues: servants; relations with Egyptians; character of airfield at RAF Ismailia; visits to RAF Ismailia; recreational activities; involvement in concert parties; relations between NCOs and officers; story of support received by officers after ruining Air Offier Commanding's duckshoot with illegal low flying, 7/3/1933; photographic strip mission in Palestine; 'showing the flag' flights in Kurdistan, Iraq; method of landing at makeshift airfields; flights carrying passengers and mail; shipping reconnaissance flights over Mediterranean; low pass rate of Egyptians on pilots course; contacts with army personnel.
REEL 4 Continues: posting with detached flight for army co-operation duties to RAF Ramleh in Palestine; surveillance of illegal immigrants; flying conditions and night flying; lifestyle in Palestine; accommodation at RAF Ramleh; checking kibbutz and reporting to Royal Air Force armoured car unit; dropping supplies; visit to kibbutz; ground to air communication; character of landing grounds; low key violence; relations with Arab and Jewish civilians; search for missing aircraft; incident of his aircraft being struck by lightning. Recollections of period as pilot with 45 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt and Kenya, 1935-1936: posting to squadron at RAF Helwan, Egypt, 3/1935; artificial training techniques; social life, accommodation and recreational activities at RAF Helwan.
REEL 5 Continues: posting on detachment to Nairobi, Kenya during Abyssinian Crisis, 9/1935; reception on arrival in Nairobi; border patrols and refuelling; role of district officers; taking surrender of Abyssinian troops with Italian hostages on border; posting to GB, 1936; leave in Egypt; relations between officers and NCOs; relations with Egyptians; theft from accommodation by Egyptians; role of British in Middle East.
