Description
Object description
Irish officer served as flying instructor with No 4 Flying Training School, RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt, 1933-1936; commanded Communications Flight at RAF Ramleh in Palestine, 1936-1938
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Ireland, 1908-1929: family; education. Aspects of enlistment, training and service with Royal Air Force in GB, 1929-1933: reasons for enlistment in Royal Air Force, 1929; initial training and eye exercises; pattern of pilot training; posting to 19 Sqdn at RAF Duxford, 1930; preference for fighter role; training as flying instructor. Recollections of period as flying instructor with No 4 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt, 1933-1936: expectations for foreign service; advice and preparations for overseas service; issues of solar topee helmets; flying equipment and headgear worn; voyage from GB to Egypt, 1933; initial impressions of Egypt; description of RAF Abu Sueir; organisation of flying training.
REEL 2 Continues: types of aircraft used for training; types of postings available to officers and NCOs who failed flying course; soloing of pupils; his role as flying instructor; further description of flying training; quality of officer and NCO pupils and ground staff; attitude towards senior officers and promotion; quality of Egyptian students; off duty recreational activities including squash, sailing, polo, sand yachting and shooting; mess arrangements; availability of clubs; pay; social activities; attitude towards local leave.
REEL 3 Continues: contrast in social life in Alexandria and Cairo; availability of annual leave and method of returning to Ireland; question of marriage amongst Royal Air Force personnel; distribution of Royal Air Force in Egypt. Recollections of period commanding Communication Flight, RAF at RAF Ramleh in Palestine, 1936-1939: transfer to Palestine; role as pilot to the High Commissioner; description of RAF Ramleh; social activities in Palestine and Levant; availability and use of private aircraft; character of High Commissioner for Palestine and Transjordan's Fairey Gordon and it's use; lack of problems flying in Middle East; nature of insurgent activity; use of 'XX' calls to provide ground support; nature of Arab insurrection.
REEL 4 Continues: attitude towards Jews and Arabs; contact with Bedouin; impartiality of High Commissioner for Palestine and Transjordan; low-key approach to insurgent attacks on neighbouring police station; flying General Archibald Wavell; attitude towards international events; British presence in Middle East; contact with home; sources of information; British presence in Transjordan; character of Communication Flight; leaving Palestine, 6/1939.
