Description
Object description
British aircraftman trained as wireless operator at No 1 Depot, RAF at RAF Uxbridge and at Electrical and Wireless School, RAF at RAF Flowerdown, GB, 1927-1928; served at RAF Gosport, GB, 1928-1929; served with 28 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Ambala in India, 1929-1932; trained as pilot with No 4 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Abu Sueir in Egypt, 1932-1933; NCO served as pilot with 33 Sqdn, RAF in GB, Egypt and Palestine, 1933-1937; served with No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, RAF and 54 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1937-1938; served with School of Air Navigation, RAF at RAF Manston in GB, 1938-1939
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as aircraftsman at No 1 Depot, Royal Air Force at RAF Uxbridge in GB, 1927: early interest in flying prior to enlistment in Royal Air Force; background to enlistment at wireless operator, 1927; initial impressions of service; reception and pattern of basic training; participation in Royal Tournament guard of honour at Olympia Exhibition Centre, West Kensington, London; daily routine and fitness level. Aspects of period training at wireless operator at Electrical and Wireless School, RAF Flowerdown in GB, 1927-1928: posting to school, 7/1927; pay stoppages and sports fund money; bayonet fencing competitions; character of wireless training; passing out as aircraftsman second class, 1928. Aspects of period as aircraftman at RAF Gosport in GB, 1928-1929: posting to station; character of station accommodation; wireless duties; air experience at RAF Worthy Down.
REEL 2 Continues: reaction to first flight as trainee wireless operator; prior recollections of familiarisation training with aircraft; reactions to posting to India, 1929. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Nevasa from GB to India, 2/1929-3/1929: sleeping conditions; relationships with troops on board and comradeship. Recollections of period as aircraftman with 28 Sqdn at RAF Ambala in India, 1929-1932: train journey to station at Ambala; reception on arrival; opinion of Bristol F.2 Fighter; wireless duties including use of long distance Morse Code transmitters with long aerials and unreliability of telephony transmitters.
REEL 3 Continues: various methods of making telephony transmissions to ground; artillery spotting procedure and training techniques; method of picking up and collecting messages from ground; dropping messages to ground; work of barrack servants; duties in hangars prior to breakfast; breakfast; morning work routine; afternoon sporting activities including enjoyment of hockey; character of accommodation; unwillingness to report sick; custom of keeping armaments guarded and carrying them on church parade; army units based at Ambala; character of canteen meals.
REEL 4 Continues: effects of changing seasons on airfield's appearance; snake hunting in monsoon and problems of snakes on airfield; description of layout of airfield; guard arrangements; training as air gunner including familiarisation with Lewis Gun, air photography techniques, bomb aiming training techniques and camera gun aerial combat training; deployment of Royal Air Force in India; period at No 1 Hill Depot, Royal Air Force, Lower Topa including drill and armament refresher courses, educational courses and 'dog and stick' parades.
REEL 5 Continues: flight detachment to army units; competence of NCO pilots; ground crew travelling arrangements; amusing story of arriving during Proclamation Day parade, 1930; posting to North West Frontier including reconnaissance, bombing warnings given to villages and casualties; re-equipping with Westland Wapiti on return to RAF Ambala, 1931 including problems with inter cockpit communication; attitude to being on detachment to British Army; unusual method of collecting message; lifestyle and carrying of bed; studying and examinations for promotion to leading aircraftsman; successful application for flying training.
REEL 6 Continues: hearing news of posting for flying training; relationship with Indian shopkeepers; departure from squadron; voyage from India to Egypt aboard SS Rawalpindi. Aspects of flying training with No 4 Flying Training School, Abu Sueir in Egypt, 1932-1933: organisation of school; training routine; reaction to soloing; camp holiday in Egypt; passing out as sergeant pilot and reception in sergeants' mess. Recollections of period as pilot with 33 Sqdn, RAF in GB, Egypt and Palestine, 1933-1937: return to GB, 1933; posting to squadron at RAF Bicester; start of training as squadron pilot; dive bombing; high altitude bombing; training air gunner; amusing story of final examinations; attending summer camp exercises.
REEL 7 Continues: bombing exercises from RAF Tangmere; dive bombing of HMS Centurion; practising dummy raids and fighter interception; rapid posting to Egypt during Abyssinian Crisis, 1935; move into temporary camp at Aboukir; move to Mersa Matruh; construction of temporary camp; problems with sandstorms; preparation for advanced airstrips; recreational activities; water supply; detachment to Palestine, 1936; leaflet dropping duties; familiarisation with Palestine from air; character of road patrols; return to Ismailia in Egypt; air target towing duties flying Fairey Gordon; studying for civil air navigation licence.
REEL 8 Continues: subsequent success in obtaining civil air navigation licence examination. Aspects of period as pilot with No 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, RAF in GB, 1937: posting to unit; target towing with Westland Wallace. Aspects of period as pilot with 54 Sqdn at RAF Hornchurch in GB, 1937-1938: training on Gloster Gladiator; attitude to being fighter pilot. Aspects of period as pilot with School of Air Navigation, RAF at RAF Manston in GB, 1938-1939: posting to school; duties and status as sergeant pilot; interception exercises in English Channel; background to early discharge from Royal Air Force, 2/1939.
