Sanders, Henry John (Oral history)

British NCO served with 10 and 67 Sqdns, Royal Flying Corps in GB, 1915-1917; served with Midlands Area Flying Instructors School at Royal Flying Corps Station Lilbourne, GB, 1918; served aboard HMS Pegasus in Mediterranean and Black Sea, 1919-1922; served as instructor with No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF at RAF Halton, GB, 1922-1925; served with Royal Air Force Depot at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, 1925-1927; served with 208 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Heliopolis, Egypt, 1927-1928; served with Wessex Storage Unit, RAF at RAF Hawkinge, GB, 1928; served with 25 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Hawkinge, GB, 1928-1931 and with 207 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Bircham Newton, GB, 1931-1935; served with RAF Depot at RAF Karachi, India, 1935; officer served with Aeroplane and Armaments Experimental Establishment at RAF Martlesham Heath, GB, 1936-1939

REEL 1 Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Flying Corps in GB, 1915-1918: background to enlistment as aero-engine fitter, 10/1915; posting to 10 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Royal Flying Corps Station Joyce Green; rapid promotion to corporal then sergeant; forced landings during squadron move to Royal Flying Corps Station Tern Hill; experiences with American aircrew; posting to 67 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps, 1917; posting to Midlands Area Flying Instruction School, Royal Flying Corps Station Lilbourne; decision to stay in RAF, 1918. Aspects of period as NCO aboard HMS Pegasus in Mediterranean and Black Sea, 1919-1922: posting to ship, 1919; character of operations in Black Sea; activities in Mediterranean based on Malta; Christmas Party incident on Malta, 12/1921; workshop duties on board ship; ground fire casualty. REEL 2 Continues: recreational activities on board ship; sporting activities; discipline; story of NCO's attempted suicide; lifestyle on board; leaving ship, 7/1922. Recollections of period as instructor with No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF at RAF Halton, GB, 1922-1925: role in charge of basic fitters course; initial exercise for fitters; alleviation of shortage of instructors by introduction of civilian instructors; opinion of system at RAF Halton; other duties of technical staff and illustrations of friction with non technical staff; reasons for volunteering for overseas service. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Air Force Depot at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, 1925-1927: posting to depot; duties in charge of engine shop overhauling engines; squadrons and other service contingents; personal inventions including machine to re-bore engines and mobile crane; construction of pre-fabricated hangar; life in cantonment; flooding around camp; Royal Air Force policing role in Iraq; memories of Alan Cobham; story of narrow escape whilst packing engine for shipment to GB. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 208 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Heliopolis, Egypt, 1927-1928: posting to squadron at RAF Heliopolis; duties; hospitalisation; duties with squadron; obtaining private accommodation and return to GB, 1928. Aspects of period as NCO with Wessex Storage Unit, RAF at RAF Hawkinge, GB, 1928: posting to unit; functions of unit relating to obsolescent aircraft; story of officer refusing to fly Vickers Vimy; obtaining educational certificates; posting to workshops at RAF Hawkinge; use of civilian labour. Aspects of period as NCO with 25 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Hawkinge, GB, 1928-1931: re-equipment of squadron with Armstrong Whitworth Siskin; failed modification of Gloster Grebe; squadron leaders; incident at Christmas party. Aspects of period as NCO with 207 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Bircham Newton, GB, 1931-1935: posting to squadron. REEL 5 Continues: standby status; de-icing trials; electric starting trials; oil cleaning trials; necessity of cars on Norfolk stations; story of meeting Raymond Collishaw; story of King George V's unofficial visit to station and subsequent preparations for official visit; story of nearly running down Royal children. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Air Force Depot at RAF Karachi, India, 1935: mistaken posting to depot, prior to award for back dated commission; test bench duties and modifications needed during monsoon. REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of period as officer with Aeroplane and Armaments Experimental Establishment at RAF Martlesham Heath, GB, 1936-1939: organisation and functions of station; duties in charge of instrument section; previous experience with instruments; improvement in working facilities; preparation of instrument manuals; nature of instrument calibration; introduction of new aircraft types; experiments to prevent freezing at high altitude; description of instrument design particularly of stick force and tail position indicators; accidents on station; outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; confusion over next posting, summer 1939; personnel in instrument section; dive indicators.