Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 20 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps/RAF in France, 1918; served with 111 and 142 Sqdns, RAF in Palestine and Egypt, 1919-1920; served with 55 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt, Turkey and Iraq, 1920-1921
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1898-1916: family; education. Aspects of period as officer with 28th (County of London) Bn (Artist Rifles), London Regt, 3rd Bn West Yorkshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Own) and Royal Flying Corps in GB, 1917-1918: enlistment in 28th (County of London) Bn (Artist Rifles); posting to 3rd Bn West Yorkshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Own); duties as gas officer; training with Royal Flying Corps; introduction of Gosport Tube; gunnery training. Aspects of operations as pilot with 20 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps/RAF in France, 1918: posting to squadron, 18/3/1918; operating Bristol F.2 Fighter; nature of aerial combat in France; award of Distinguished Flying Cross; opinion of Bristol F.2 Fighter; reasons for invaliding back to GB. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Air Force in GB, 1919: administrative training; supervising closure of RAF Turnberry; application for permanent commission. Aspects of period as pilot with 111 and 142 Sqdns, RAF in Egypt and Palestine, 1919-1920: reaction to posting to Middle East; journey from GB to Palestine via Egypt.
REEL 2 Continues: initial posting to 111 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Ramleh, Palestine; description of RAF Ramleh; posting to 142 Sqdn, RAF at Suez, Egypt; reasons for renumbering of squadron to 55 Sqdn. Recollections of period as pilot with 55 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt and Turkey, 1920: social activities; amount of flying undertaken; description of drinking game 'Cardinal Puff'; duties as armaments officer; introduction of Airco DH.9As; medical treatment received in Suez, Egypt; attitude to service in Middle East; description of squadron's journey to Maltepe, Turkey, 1920; attack of malaria.
REEL 3 Continues: hospitalisation for malaria in Constantinople, Turkey; arrival of trained armaments officer. Recollections of period as pilot with 55 Sqdn, RAF in Iraq, 1920-1921: rejoining squadron and embarking aboard HMS Ark Royal; nature of voyage from Turkey to Iraq aboard HMS Ark Royal; origin of squadron's spearpoint crest; hospitalisation for sandfly fever in Basra; reason for making paddle steamer voyage to Kut-el-Amara; rejoining squadron at RAF Baghdad West; character of E P Tent; complement of squadron; aircraft numbering; reconnaissance flight in Airco DH.9A to check railway line, 11/1920.
REEL 4 Continues: subsequent rescue by accompanying aircraft after forced landing, 11/1920; futility of carrying "blood chits"; take off in aircraft in face of hostile Arabs, 11/1920; organisation of Royal Air Force in Iraq; method of starting aero-engines; refuelling Airco DH.9A; problems with heat in Iraq; uniform worn; origin of squadron motto; detachment of B Flight to Mosul; 1/1921; introduction to area around Mosul; description of punitive bombing raids; story of rescuing downed aircrew after forced landing.
REEL 5 Continues: problem of landing after rescue; award of Distinguished Flying Cross; bombing operations; fire risk when destroying aircraft on ground; bombing techniques; horseback expedition to check whether innocent villages had been bombed; visit to Kurd village; bombing of Rawanduz; construction of Arab huts; journey in motor convoy to Sharqat; living conditions in Mosul; procurement of supplementary rations; cold weather conditions in Mosul; dressing for dinner in mess; polo playing on airfield at Mosul.
REEL 6 Continues: recreational activities at Mosul; relations with British Army personnel; communications between ground and air; duties of squadron's other ranks; atmosphere in squadron; reasons for Royal Air Force not allowing servicemen's wives in Iraq; length of officer commissions; financial restraints on Royal Air Force; senior officers; pay, promotion and allowances; financial difficulties after marriage; return to GB via India, 1921; outbreak of food poisoning in Mosul; lack of professional organisation and training in Royal Air Force; assessment of effectiveness of Royal Air Force in Iraq.
REEL 7 Continues: lack of contemporary realisation of nature of air control policy and purpose of British presence; delays in post and availability of newspapers.