Description
Object description
British officer cadet served at No 1 Depot, Royal Air Force at RAF Uxbridge in GB, 1933; trained as pilot at No 4 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Abu Sueir in Egypt, 1933-1934; served with 216 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt, Kenya and Sudan, 1934-1937; served with School of Air Navigation, RAF at RAF Manston and RAF St Athan in GB, 1937-1940
Content description
REEL 1 Background as civilian living in Streatham, GB, 1912-1933: memories of German Zeppelin and air raids on London during First World War; education; attempts to establish business career after period as student at London School of Economics; work as milk salesman and in fish and chips shop during depression. Aspects of enlistment and training as officer cadet at No 1 Depot, Royal Air Force at RAF Uxbridge in GB, 1933: background to enlistment in Royal Air Force as officer cadet; parent's reaction to his enlistment; origins of fellow cadets; arrival at depot, 6/6/1933; reaction to vaccinations.
REEL 2 Continues: induction training; Royal Air Force attitude to bouncing of cheques. Recollections of period of flying training at No 4 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Abu Sueir in Egypt, 1933-1934: reception from senior course and station commander; behaviour of senior pupil; emphasis on training for forced landings; story of forced landing in desert during squadron service; flying training in Avro 504N; method of communicating in aircraft, from ground to air and between aircraft; opinion of Avro 504N; opportunity for armoured car service for failed pilots; attitude to failed pilots; contrast in training between Avro 504N and Armstrong Whitworth Atlas; dangers of high altitude flying; quality of instructors.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as pilot with 216 Sqdn, RAF in Egypt, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia, 1934-1937: posting to squadron at RAF Heliopolis in Egypt, 1934; status as junior pilot; problems landing Vickers Victoria; safety criteria for selection of bomber/transport pilots; need to flatten airfield surface at RAF Heliopolis; accommodation at RAF Heliopolis; drinking habits; story of a visit to neighbouring squadron's mess at RAF Abu Sueir; story of alcoholic pilot's suicide after reprimand in Kenya; reasons for increased accident rate caused by poor equipment and landing grounds during detachment to Kenya during Abyssinia Crisis, 1935.
REEL 4 Continues: motoring accident in which Inspector General Robert Brooke-Popham was injured; air reinforcement and bombing role of squadron; carrying sports teams; establishing forward fuel dumps; developing new air routes; organisation of long distance cruises; use of squadron's aircraft for carrying spares and passengers; discomforts of flying due to turbulence; provision of fuel dumps; Yellow Fever vaccinations for West African cruise.
REEL 5 Continues: heavy responsibility given to young pilots; risks during cruises despite pre-cruise planning; account of reinforcement exercise cruise where squadron accompanied 208 Sqdn from Egypt to Sudan prior to Italian invasion of Ethiopia, 1934 including conditions during short hop flights, leading role of squadron's aircraft, flights along frontier and contact with local inhabitants; squadron's accompanying of detachment of Fairey IIIFs to northern frontier of Kenya during Abyssinian Crisis, 1935.
REEL 6 Continues: situation in northern Kenya; problems with unreliable Fairey IIIF during flight from Cairo, Egypt to Nairobi, Kenya life in tented accommodation in Nairobi, Kenya; varying conditions of service for officers and men in Nairobi; problems flying over Mount Kenya; reception for Royal Air Force at frontier outposts on the delivery of fresh produce; surrender of large number of Eritrean troops; story of encounter with Italian troops whilst bathing, 1/1/1936; nature of conflict and opposing forces.
REEL 7 Continues: impressions of Italian Air Force aircraft; reasons for British public's complacency about Italian military strength; character of Royal Air Force personnels' drinking habits; question of pilots' drinking habits and frequent accidents; story of rescuing German diplomat Eberhard von Stohrer from desert during motor rally, 1936; return to GB, 1937. Recollections of period as officer with School of Air Navigation, RAF Manston and RAF St Athan in GB, 1937-1940: background to posting to school; character of pilots' navigational skills.
REEL 8 Continues: astro-navigation techniques; use of bubble sextants; introduction of astro-domes in aircraft; limited effectiveness of astro-navigation during wartime; use of tables of almanacks; character of navigational training and practice flights in Avro Anson; attitude of Royal Air Force fighter aircrew to navigation; question of wartime consequences of not maintaining navigation skills amongst aircrew; introduction of new navigational equipment including distant reading compass; preparations for war; posting as instructor to school, 1938.
REEL 9 Continues: move of school to RAF St Athan, 9/1939; story of writing Royal Air Force's Volume 1 of 'Manual of Air Navigation', 1939-1940; efforts to de-mystify navigation at School of Air Navigation; continuous nature of navigator's duties whilst airborne; successful battle to secure appointment of navigators as captains of aircraft. Reflections on service with Royal Air Force, 1933-1939: quality of officers; relationships between short service and Royal Air Force College Cranwell trained officers; responsibility placed on junior Royal Air Force officers; pressure on career officers.
