Description
Object description
British apprentice served with No 1 Electrical and Wireless School, RAF at RAF Cranwell, GB, 1930-1933; aircraftman served with 16 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Old Sarum, GB, 1933-1935; served with Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Shropshire in Mediterranean, 1935-1937; served with 53 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Farnborough, GB, 1937; NCO radar operator served at Bawdsey Manor and RAF Canewdon in GB and RAF Dingli, Malta, 1937-1940
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as apprentice served with No 1 Electrical and Wireless School, RAF at RAF Cranwell in GB, 1930-1933: background to decision to join Royal Air Force; reception at RAF Halton and selection for Electrical and Wireless School at RAF Cranwell; joining band; quality of NCOs; service conditions; health; educational and technical training; nature of wireless equipment; effects of discipline on apprentices; passing out as wireless and electrical mechanic. Aspects of period as aircraftman with 16 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Old Sarum in GB, 1933-1935: question of privileges; flying in Armstrong Whitworth Atlas and Hawker Audax.
REEL 2 Continues: army co-operation work attached to Royal Artillery; opinion of adequacy of training; story illustrating attitude of civilians towards Royal Air Force; cancellation of posting to Iraq due to hospitalisation. Recollections of period as leading aircraftman with Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Shropshire in Mediterranean, 1935-1937: reputation of Fleet Air Arm within Royal Air Force; duties of Royal Air Force personnel aboard ship; spotting duties and ruining fleet exercise; character of ship; method of launching and retrieving aircraft; accidental destruction of Supermarine Walrus during search for mine off Spain during Spanish Civil War.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of Hawker Osprey and Supermarine Walrus and their handling by Fleet Air Arm pilots; attitude towards Italians during Abyssinian Crisis; duties during Spanish Civil War; role shadowing the Nationalist battleship Jaime Primero prior to its sinking; evacuation of refugees; reactions to neutral role; relations with Italians and Germans at Majorca; opinion of Spanish Nationalist and Government naval forces.
REEL 4 Continues: exercises in landing ship's aircraft on aircraft carrier and shore bases; fatal crash of Flight Commander Hale in Egypt; deficiencies of ship's anti-aircraft gunnery practice. Aspects of period as leading aircraftsman with 53 Sqdn, RAF at Farnborough in GB, 8/1937-12/1937: posting; character of Hawker Hector; value as ex-apprentice as Royal Air Force expanded; relaxed service conditions; character of RAF Farnborough; reactions to prospect of war and sight of first Supermarine Spitfire; improvements in wireless equipment. Aspects of period as NCO radar operator at Bawdsey Manor and RAF Canewdon in GB, 1937-1939: reaction to posting to Bawdsey Manor for training, 12/1937; initial reaction to radar; posting to RAF Canewdon strict security; training as radar operator; rapid development of equipment.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO radar operator at RAF Dingli, Malta, 1939-1940: role establishing first transportable radar station on Malta; problems necessitating modifications to equipment; attitude of senior officers towards effectiveness of radar; rescue of lost aircraft; first detection of Italian aircraft and direction of Gloster Gladiators; promotion to flight sergeant; operational work of radar and problems with Royal Air Force rank consciousness; lack of efficient grid system; prior recollection of work with radio/transmitter tender during exercises with 16 Sqdn, RAF in 1934.
REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of period with Fleet Air Arm on detachment to British Consulate in Barcelona, Spain, 8/1936-9/1936: duties maintaining wireless contact with HMS Shropshire; impressions of life in Barcelona; lack of anti-British feeling amongst civilians; relations with consulate staff; role of HMS Shropshire on guard ship duties at Valencia and establishing contact with consulate; successful adaption to Harbour Wave set.